Focussed on formalising Vedic education: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Rajya Sabha

"There was no formal system of Vedic education in the country before the government set up Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Sanskrit Shiksha Board (MSRVSSB) in August 2022, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while replying to a question about Vedic schools during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha. 

The Union Minister for Education said that the Vedas are the basis foundation of Indian knowledge, and it is the government’s priority to take the Indian knowledge tradition to the next generation and connect Veda knowledge with the mainstream modern education system.

“There was no formal system of Vedic education in the country earlier. Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan was given recognition by the Board of Education under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister. Veda Vidya and Sanskrit education should reach every section of the society without any discrimination, it is the priority of this government,” he said.

Dharmendra Pradhan further informed that the government will soon establish five regional centres of Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan at the four Dhams — Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath and Rameswaram – and in Guwahati, to promote Ved Vidya. He further said that currently, there are 123 schools affiliated with the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Sanskrit Shiksha Board (MSRVSSB) across the country with 4600 students and 632 teachers.

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked Dharmendra Pradhan to provide a copy of the Vedas to all members of Parliament to which he accepted the suggestion and promised that copies would be provided to all members of the Upper House.

Soon after the establishment of the board last year, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) requested its approved institution to consider Veda Bhushan and Veda Vibhushan awards given to candidates by MSRVVP as being on par with the Class 10 and 12 certificates issued by the central and state boards of education.