Abstract

The idea of Viksit Bharat @2047 is often understood mainly in terms of economic growth, technology, and infrastructure development. However, explaining this goal only through these aspects does not fully capture its deeper meaning. This paper attempts to show that while moving towards becoming a developed nation, it is equally important to pay attention to the role of Indian Knowledge Systems. The paper highlights that in ancient India, knowledge was not limited to books or scholars alone, but was closely connected with society, governance, economy, and nature in everyday life. The study also draws attention to the fact that during colonial rule, Indian knowledge traditions were gradually weakened, which created a growing gap between knowledge and society. Even after independence, development policies largely prioritised modern science and centralised planning, while traditional knowledge systems continued to remain in the background. As a result, although the pace of development increased, issues such as social inequality and environmental challenges also emerged alongside it. In the present context, especially with reference to the National Education Policy 2020 and the idea of human-centred development, there is a need to look at Indian Knowledge Systems from a fresh perspective. This study does not treat Indian Knowledge Systems as a complete solution to all modern problems. Rather, it presents them as a useful and critical resource that can interact with contemporary policies and forms of knowledge, and contribute towards making the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047 more balanced and inclusive.