UNIQUE SERIES AKTU Syllabus
AAS104AAS204

Introduction to Indian Knowledge System

L-T-P2-0-0 Credits2 Session2026-27 TypeTheory
Appears in 78 semesters · 39 branches

B.Tech Civil Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Civil Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Mechanical Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Mechanical Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Computer Science & Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Computer Science & Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Information Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Information Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Artificial Intelligence & Data Science · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Artificial Intelligence & Data Science · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech CSE (Artificial Intelligence) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech CSE (Artificial Intelligence) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech CSE (AI & ML) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech CSE (AI & ML) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech CSE (Data Science) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech CSE (Data Science) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech CSE (Cyber Security) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech CSE (Cyber Security) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech CSE (Internet of Things) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech CSE (Internet of Things) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Computer Science & Design · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Computer Science & Design · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Computer Science (Hindi) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Computer Science (Hindi) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Computer Science & Business Systems · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Computer Science & Business Systems · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Cyber Security · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Cyber Security · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Data Science · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Data Science · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electrical Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electrical Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electrical & Electronics Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electrical & Electronics Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electrical & Computer Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electrical & Computer Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electronics & Communication Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electronics & Instrumentation / Instrumentation & Control · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electronics & Instrumentation / Instrumentation & Control · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electronics & Computer Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electronics & Computer Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech ECE (Advanced Communication Technology) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech ECE (Advanced Communication Technology) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design & Technology) · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design & Technology) · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Automobile Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Automobile Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Aeronautical Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Mechanical & Industrial Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Mechanical & Industrial Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Production & Industrial Production Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Production & Industrial Production Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Manufacturing Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Manufacturing Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Mining Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Mining Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Chemical Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Chemical Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Plastic Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Plastic Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Food Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Food Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Textile Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Textile Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Handloom & Textile Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Handloom & Textile Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Carpet & Textile Technology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Carpet & Textile Technology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Biotechnology · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Biotechnology · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Bioinformatics · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Bioinformatics · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204) · B.Tech Agricultural Engineering · Sem 1 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS104) · B.Tech Agricultural Engineering · Sem 2 (Indian Knowledge System / Professional Communication, code AAS204)

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Syllabus

5 units · weightage in %
Unit1

Unit 1: Foundations of the Indian Knowledge System

20%

Definition, scope, characteristics and significance of IKS; the IKS vision of NEP 2020; the fourteen (Chaturdasha) Vidyasthanas — four Vedas, four Upavedas and six Vedangas; Schools of Indian Philosophy: Orthodox and Heterodox Schools; Oral and Written Knowledge Systems, Knowledge validation (pramanas). Case study: relevance of IKS for a present-day engineer.

Unit2

Unit 2: Indian Mathematics, Astronomy and Scientific Thinking

20%

Number Systems: Decimal place-value system, zero and infinity; Bhutasankhya and Katapayadi numeration; Pingala’s Chandahshastra and binary representation; Sulbasutras; contributions of Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Bhaskara and the Kerala School; Indian astronomy and the Panchanga. Numerical: encoding numbers using the Katapayadi scheme/Observing Panchang and Reflecting on the Patterns

Unit3

Unit 3: Engineering, Technology and Material Sciences

20%

Metallurgy — Wootz steel, zinc distillation and the Delhi Iron Pillar; town planning and architecture (Harappan, Vastu and Shilpa Shastra); water management — stepwells, tanks and irrigation, textile engineering Case study: materials-science analysis of the Iron Pillar/ Architecture of Stupas

Unit4

Unit 4: Health, Wellness, Environment and Governance

20%

Ayurveda (Charaka and Sushruta), Tridosha; Yoga (Patanjali’s Ashtanga) and wellness; environment and sustainability in Indian thought; governance and management — Kautilya’s Arthashastra; ethics from the Bhagavad Gita. Case study: Yoga for well-being / Arthashastra management principles/ Learnings from Geeta

Unit5

Unit 5: Contemporary Relevance, AI

20%

and Applications of IKS Digital preservation (CSIR-TKDL, IKS Division) and IPR; Sanskrit and computational linguistics — Panini’s Ashtadhyayi, NLP and AI for ancient texts; IKS-inspired sustainable engineering and innovation. Case study: AI/NLP applied to a Sanskrit corpus. Teaching- Learning Methodology Delivery through interactive lectures, documentaries and IKS Division resources, expert talks, heritage field visits, assignments and a mini-project connecting IKS to a contemporary problem, supported by NPTEL / SWAYAM MOOCs, in line with NEP 2020 and OBE.

Course Objectives5 points
  • To introduce the meaning, scope, classification and significance of the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) and its corpus.
  • To develop an understanding of India’s contributions to philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and the sciences.
  • To familiarise students with indigenous engineering, technology, metallurgy and architecture.
  • To create awareness of Indian traditions of health, wellness, environment, governance and ethics.
  • To expose students to the contemporary relevance of IKS — digital preservation, AI-enabled study and sustainable applications.
Course Outcomes (COs)5 outcomes

After completion of the course student will be able to:

  1. CO1Learn the nature, scope and classification of the Indian Knowledge System.K1
  2. CO2Understand India’s contributions to mathematics and astronomy and relate them to modern concepts.K2
  3. CO3Understand indigenous engineering, metallurgical and architectural achievements.K2
  4. CO4Interpret Indian traditions of health, wellness, governance and ethics.K2
  5. CO5Recognize the contemporary relevance of IKS, including AI-enabled study and sustainability.K2

Suggested References (latest editions)

  1. Mahadevan, Bhat & Nagendra Pavana, Introduction to Indian Knowledge System: Concepts and Applications, PHI Learning.
  2. Kapil Kapoor & Avadhesh Kumar Singh (Eds.), Indian Knowledge Systems, Vols. I & II, D. K. Printworld.
  3. Pride of India: A Glimpse into India’s Scientific Heritage, Samskrita Bharati.
  4. B. V. Subbarayappa, Science in India: Past and Present, Nehru Centre. Online / e-Resources
  5. IKS Division portals — iksindia.org and iks.aicte-india.org.
  6. SWAYAM / NPTEL course on Indian Knowledge Systems; CSIR-TKDL; NDLI; Bharatavani.

Official AKTU syllabus

This subject is on page 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 of the original AKTU PDF.

Official AKTU syllabus PDF ↗