Draft UG maths curriculum has grave defects: Over 900 researchers, mathematicians tell UGC

New Delhi, Sep 18 (PTI) Over 900 researchers and mathematicians have urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to withdraw the draft undergraduate curriculum for mathematics, claiming it is "riddled with grave defects" and if adopted will damage the prospects of generations of students.

Last month, the UGC released the draft undergraduate curriculum for nine subjects including mathematics, and invited comments on them.

The petition sent to the UGC chairman has claimed there is inadequate coverage of topics such as algebra, real analysis and applied math.

"Algebra has been short-changed...at least three courses in algebra would be necessary in the undergraduate curriculum. The future of mathematics and indeed all scientific endeavour in the country is at stake," the petition said.

The signatories have cautioned that vital applied subjects such as programming, numerical methods and statistics are absent from the core or provided superficially without hands-on training.

"Applied mathematics is short-changed; programming and numerical methods are outside the core. Statistics is stuffed into one course. In courses on statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence etc. it is natural and customary to have a practical and application-based component; this opportunity has been squandered," it said.

Kala Ganpana (traditional Indian timekeeping), Bharatiya Bijganit (Indian algebra), significance of 'Puranas' in Bharatiya tradition, focus on the mathematical concepts and techniques related to basic arithmetic operations and geometry found in the Narada Puran, are among the concepts that UGC wants undergraduate students to study in mathematics.

According to the draft curriculum, which is aligned with the Learning Outcomes-based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he UGC has recommended teaching the history and development of Bharatiya Bijaganita, division of polynomials using the Paravartya Yojayet Sutra (a traditional Vedic Mathematics technique meaning 'transpose and apply').

The curriculum also includes teaching of concepts such as panchanga (Indian calendar) and how it determines mahurtas (auspicious time) used in rituals and festivals.

The proposed course blends blends astronomy, mythology and culture - bringing India's rich time-science heritage to life. It also covers covers ancient observatories, the prime meridian of Ujjain, and how ancient Indian Vedic time units of Ghatis and Vighatis compare with modern systems like Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Indian Standard Time (IST). PTI GJS ZMN