HRD Ministry sets up expert panel for promotion of Sanskrit language

In a bid to promote Sanskrit language in the country, the Human Resource Development Ministry has constituted a 13-member expert panel to be headed by the former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), N Gopalaswami. The committee will study current issues related to teaching Sanskrit as an academic subject.

The committee will also examine the ways in which the language can be integrated with other disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medical Science and Law. Also, it would deal with the changes that can be brought to Sanskrit education in schools and universities. Gopalaswami is currently the chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Tirupati.

He has also been informed about the expert panel over the phone and is yet to receive a statement in writing. HRD officials have confirmed the development and have added that the committee has also been formed to create an action plan to develop Sanskrit language in the next 10 years.

NITI Aayog member, Bibek Debroy, former government of India secretary, VV Bhat, chairman of National Skill Development Corporation, Dr Ramadorai, Delhi University professor, Ramesh Bharadwaj, UGC chairman, Ved Prakash and Chamu Krishna Shastri of the RSS-affiliated Samskrit Bharti, are among the other members in the committee, officials told.

The HRD ministry had earlier set up a panel for promotion of classical languages also.

Meanwhile, The Union Cabinet on November 19 gave a nod to the proposal of including German language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. German will be taught in KVs as an additional subject. In October, last year, it was decided to discontinue the teaching of German language as an option to Sanskrit.

PTI