Question : Development of Sanskrit

(a) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought suggestion from Universities
regarding development and spread of Sanskrit and Hindi in secondary and higher education and
if so, the details thereof including the purpose behind the move and the response of each
University in this regard;
(b) the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
(c) whether the University Grants Commission has asked the Universities in the States/UTs to
prepare a database of teachers engaged in the teaching of Sanskrit to promote the subject and
make tests available online and if so, the details and objectives thereof;
(d) whether the New Education Policy, 1986 underlined the importance of Sanskrit and Hindi and
recommended the bridging of gaps between the existing formal educational process and rich
Indian culture and if so, the steps being taken by the Government for widespread propagation of
Sanskrit and Hindi; and
(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to encourage the study of Sanskrit and
Hindi at first and second degree levels in subjects such as Ancient Indian History, Modern Indian
Languages, Indology and Indian philosophy?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has informed that it has
requested, on 6th January, 2016, the Vice-Chancellors of 18 universities for suggestions and
views regarding development and spread of Sanskrit right from the school up to the higher
education levels. The UGC letter is at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2168590_UGC-Notice-regSanskrit0001.
pdf. The letter was issued by the UGC in the context of the Ministry setting up an
Expert Committee to prepare a road map for wide spread propagation and promotion of Sanskrit
for ensuring the development of Sanskrit in the ensuring ten years. The Committee has
submitted its report recently.
(c): Yes, Madam. The UGC has informed that it had sought information from Vice
Chancellor/Directors of all universities, where Sanskrit Teaching exists, for further development
and promotion of Sanskrit teaching and learning in the country. The details of the letter are
available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5819537_Sanskrit.pdf .
(d) & (e): The National Policy on Education, 1986 , regarding Sanskrit and Hindi, emphasizes
development of Hindi as the link language, as provided for in Article 351 of the Constitution and
teaching of Sanskrit at the university stage as part of certain courses like Indology, Indian
History, Archaeology etc.
The UGC provides assistance for establishment and development of Hindi
Departments in Universities. The guidelines of the UGC scheme are at
http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/2836102_Final-guidelines-for-Hindi-Department.pdf . The UGC
has further informed that it has been providing development assistance to Sanskrit universities
and colleges. The Commission also provides assistance to other universities which are having
the Department of Sanskrit.
Under the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) the UGC has given the option to the
universities to change the syllabus to the extent of 30% keeping in view the expertise of the
universities in a subject domain.
Central Hindi Directorate, a subordinate organisation under this Ministry, has been
engaged in propagation of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking States by implementing various
schemes. Further, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS), an autonomous body under this Ministry,
promotes & propagates the teaching and training of Hindi nationwide as per the provisions of the
Article 351 of the Constitution of India. KHS, having its Headquarter at Agra, and through its 8
Regional Centers established at Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Shillong, Mysore, Dimapur,
Bhubaneswar and Ahmedabad, is working to improve the standard of teaching Hindi at various
levels, to train Hindi Teachers, to provide avenues for the advance study and comparative
linguistics related to different Indian languages, to organize research, to formulate, undertake
and facilitate such courses.
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