Prof K S Chandrasekar
kscnair@gmail.com
“Knowledge as the supreme purifier in education. In this world, there is nothing as purifying as knowledge.” Bhagavad Gita 4.38.
After independence, India had witnessed a range of institutions, focusing primarily on the social sciences viz., Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, Centre for Policy Research, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and Institute for Social and Economic Change, came to be with the centres of research in the quantitative and the natural sciences viz., Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Statistical Institute, IIT, and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. Sachar Committee paved way for the IITs over a period. Key institutions of advanced postgraduate training, and research, notably Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Delhi School of Economics were added along with. IIT Kharagpur was established first in 1951 and has transformed into a great seat of learning. Currently India has about 23 IITs including IIT Jammu. Total seats in the 23 IITs have doubled in a decade, reaching 1.35 lakh. During 2025-26, 1,364 seats in the first year, growing to 6,500+ new seats across 5 newer IITs by 2028-29. Along with this, states started major engineering institutions and most of them are now either universities or deemed universities. BITS Pilani is another example.
Many IITs dedicate 15-20 percent of undergraduate credits to HSS courses to build critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills. Apart from the core areas, HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HSS) were not much considered and were the go-to department where students take credits for enhancing their CGPA. However, over a period, HSS departments grew to include diverse disciplines such as Psychology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Economics, and Sociology, offering minor specializations and increasing elective options. Departments rebranded as HSS or HUSS (Humanities and Social Sciences), introducing specialized M.A. and Ph.D. programs. They are now core research hubs specializing in Cognitive Science, Gender and Technology, Development Studies, and Digital Humanities. The evolution reflects a conscious effort to ensure IIT graduates are not only technically proficient but also socially conscious innovators. I would say the thinking has come a bit late as there was pressure of NEP 2020.
The programs during the last one decade have shifted towards interdisciplinary approaches, digital integration, and highlighting career-relevant skills, even as disciplines face scrutiny regarding their professional value.
History, at the intersection of the humanities and the social sciences, has been one of the richest and most distinguished research fields in modern India, though perhaps without the pedagogical appeal of English, which, on the other hand, not produced research anywhere close to the significance or dimension of historical research. Together, history and social sciences such as economics and political science, and perhaps to a lesser degree anthropology and sociology, came to build a vision of the nation both domestically and internationally. Along the way, they trained multiple generations of academics, politicians and policymakers, while also becoming knowledge-portals for various public services examinations for millions of aspirants.
If we see the top optional subjects sought by engineers when they appear for the Civil services examinations, it is surprising to note that they choose Geography, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science & International Relations (PSIR), Anthropology then only we have papers like Mathematics, Engineering Subjects (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical): Some engineers stick to their core, especially if their foundation is strong, as these can be highly scoring. Physics/Chemistry/ Economics comes as the last resort. It needs be noted that 80 percent of the civil services employed are from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) area. About 65 percent of those employed as civil servants in India belong to the Engineering degree. With the new NEP 2020, students of Engineering can choose minor areas in their choice like Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology. This can be included in first, second and third year of Engineering which will enable the student to straight write the civil service examination if they want to pursue in this field.
There is a strong push towards combining humanities with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) to address ethical and human implications of technologies like AI, often branded as STEM+Humanities. Social sciences have adopted a more global outlook, integrating comparative studies. Despite some declines in majors, these fields are heavily focused on fostering critical thinking, communication, and digital literacy, which are highly valued in the workforce. While social sciences like psychology and economics remain among the most popular undergraduate majors, the humanities (e.g., literature, history) have seen more significant declines, forcing a re-evaluation of how these subjects are taught and applied. Each field has its own advantages, and bringing together the knowledge from across can help foster a more comprehensive, intellectual collaboration. While STEM focuses more on analytical and technical skills directed towards problem-solving, the Humanities help nurture creativity, critical thinking, and thoughtful as well as incisive communication. The complex nature of the problems we face in today’s world mandates that we see them from multiple rather than unidimensional perspectives.
Jessen Ramen in December 2024 study says that as the world progresses towards an increasingly technology-driven future, STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) has become more than just a specialized field of study; it is a critical skill set for navigating the complexities of future advancements in medicine, technology, and various scientific disciplines.
A strong foundation in STEM education empowers students to not only develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities but also fosters creativity and the capacity to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios. By cultivating these competencies, STEM education equips students with the tools necessary to not only pursue their dream careers but to also effectively address the challenges that will accompany them. STEM for its potential to foster innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills essential for the modern workforce. However, while the benefits of STEM are widely acknowledged, significant challenges remain in its implementation, particularly in addressing the needs of a diverse and evolving society. Their findings suggest that a more holistic and equitable approach to STEM education is necessary, one that not only preserves disciplinary integrity but also promotes cultural relevance and broadens participation across all demographics. This research highlights and attempts to specify the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure that STEM education can effectively contribute to a more inclusive and fruitful society in the future.
Private universities like Ashoka, FLAME, and Krea are seeing annual enrolment growth of 15 percent in HSS, as Gen Z increasingly values “power skills” like empathy and adaptability. IIMs are reporting that over 50-55 percent of their MBA entrants now come from non-engineering backgrounds, valuing the diverse perspectives HSS graduates bring to leadership. Recently, Cluster University of Jammu in association with IIT Jammu conducted HVAC Operations and Maintenance Training, Students were from diverse subjects including HSS and this specialized training program focuses on developing industry-oriented skills in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. The initiative aims to enhance employability and technical competencies of youth from Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Overall, as per the principal of the college, Prof Archana Kaul, 53 students benefited from the same. We saw how HSS students could get into technical areas and become employed.
The Vedic approach directly aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on value-based education, critical thinking, and experiential learning. The notion of the HSS department taking a tertiary place in a STEM higher education institution needs a serious overhaul through its expansion like other independent departments in the STEM field. Concurrently, there is a need to diversify the courses offered by the HSS department in STEM higher education institutions. Academic collaborations between the STEM and HSS faculty, including but not limited to providing interdisciplinary courses, could not only fill in the void between the departments but also be the way forward.
Any education should be able to fulfil as the Vedas say, Annamaya (Physical): Focuses on health, nutrition, and vitality through practices like Yoga, Ayurveda, and outdoor physical training. Pranamaya (Vital/Energy): Cultivates life force and emotional stability through breathwork and disciplined living. Manomaya (Mental-Emotional): Trains the mind for concentration, clarity, and emotional balance using meditation (Dhyana) and mindfulness. Vijnanamaya (Intellectual): Develops logical reasoning, critical inquiry, and deep contemplation. Finally, Anandamaya (Spiritual): The realization of the true self (Atman) and universal harmony (Brahman), leading to a state of bliss and ethical fulfilment. There is a need for the Engineering education to come out of Vijnanamaya and include all other mayas so that overall development of students take place. The new set of engineering graduates from NEP 2020 will now be able to choose their career whether they want to get into civil services, industry or services. NEP 2020 has become a watershed moment for the higher education in India.
(The author is Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
