In a sharp rebuke of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) proposed curriculum framework, the Kerala government this week officially rejected the draft, calling it an ideologically driven document that threatens the intellectual independence of universities.

The decision follows a report by a high-powered panel headed by economist Prabhat Patnaik, which criticised the framework for imposing “Hindutva-inspired content” under the guise of the so-called Indian Knowledge System, perpetuating outdated material, and undermining the autonomy that Indian universities are legally mandated to uphold.

“The draft fails to respect the standards of intellectual rigour, disciplinary integrity, and academic freedom that our universities require,” the report stated, adding that the UGC’s approach is “unprecedented, even globally,” in attempting to dictate syllabus content across all disciplines.

The panel, which included historian Romila Thapar, Rajan Gurukkal, NJ Rao, and Vani Kesari, described the curriculum as a “patchwork of British and American textbooks, glossing over imperial exploitation, and presenting Indian knowledge as a solely Hindu enterprise.”

It condemned the omission of contributions from Buddhist, Islamic, and other communities, as well as the historical interactions between Indian and Arab scholars that shaped global knowledge.

Quoting Thapar, the report highlighted the ambiguity and arbitrariness of the framework: “None of them have defined what they mean by the Indian Knowledge System… It cannot be treated as a solely Hindu contribution.”

The Kerala government’s rejection signals a growing resistance to centrally imposed educational reforms perceived as ideologically skewed, calling instead for a comprehensive rethink of the UGC’s approach rather than piecemeal corrections.