UGC: Draft undergraduate mathematics syllabus contains deficiencies, withdraw it; over 900 mathematicians appeal to UGC..

UGC Draft Mathematics Curriculum: Last month, the UGC released a draft undergraduate curriculum for nine subjects, including mathematics, and sought suggestions. More than 900 researchers and mathematicians have appealed for the withdrawal of the draft undergraduate mathematics curriculum. They say the curriculum is "riddled with serious flaws" and that, if implemented, it will adversely impact the future of future generations of students.

Algebra Not Given Adequate Space
The petition, sent to the UGC Chairman, states that subjects like algebra, real analysis, and applied mathematics have not been given adequate space.

The petition states, "Algebra has been neglected... At least three courses in the undergraduate curriculum should be devoted to algebra. The future of mathematics, and indeed the entire scientific endeavor of the country, is at stake."

Neglect of Applied Mathematics
The signatories have warned that crucial topics related to applied mathematics, such as programming, numerical methods, and statistics, are either not included in the core curriculum or are covered superficially, without practical training.

The petition states, "Applied mathematics has been neglected; programming and numerical methods are excluded from the core. Statistics has been crammed into a single course. It is natural for subjects like statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to have a practical and application-based component, but this opportunity has been missed."

Almanac reading and auspicious time information are also included
The UGC has included Kala Ganapana (traditional Indian time measurement), Indian algebra, the significance of the Puranas, and the arithmetic and geometry techniques found in the Narada Purana in the proposed curriculum.

In the draft curriculum, which is aligned with the Learning Outcome-Based Curriculum Framework (LOCF) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the UGC recommends teaching the history and development of Indian algebra, and division of polynomials using the Paravartya Yojyeta Sutra (a Vedic mathematics technique involving the "transpose and apply" method).

The curriculum also includes information on the Panchang (Indian calendar) and the resulting Muhurtas (auspicious times used for marriages, pujas, and festivals).

India's Time-Reckoning Traditions Also Included
The proposed course blends astronomy, mythology, and culture. It will cover India's time-reckoning tradition in detail. The curriculum will cover ancient observatories, the Prime Meridian of Ujjain, and a comparison of Indian Vedic time units (Ghati and Vighati) with modern systems such as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Indian Standard Time (IST).

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