Petition Flags 'Grave Defects' in UGC's Draft Mathematics Curriculum

More than 900 researchers and educators from all over India have expressed grave reservations over the University Grants Commission's (UGC) draft undergraduate mathematics curriculum, cautioning that the proposed structure is "sewered with grave defects" and would impact negatively on generations of students if adopted.

 

The UGC put out its draft curricula for nine subjects, including mathematics, last month and sought public comments. The academic community, however, reacted sharply, calling on the regulator to pull back the draft and form a new committee of competent mathematicians and seasoned undergraduate teachers to rework the syllabus.

 

Signatories in a petition to the UGC chairman contend that the curriculum is shallow in its academic content, excludes fundamental areas, and distorts the proportion of pure and applied mathematics.

 

Mahan Mj, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research professor, and winner of the coveted Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, described the draft as containing "omission and commission" errors.

 

“We have been accustomed to incremental changes. This kind of drastic overhaul has not happened before,” he told reporters.

 

Among the omissions highlighted are insufficient coverage of algebra, real analysis, and applied mathematics — subjects considered foundational to higher studies and research.

 

"Analysis is a basic tool, and to take only one semester of it, as the draft proposes, is grossly insufficient. We suggested a minimum of three, ideally four, courses in analysis of various types," Mahan elaborated.

 

He pointed out, likewise, that algebra — the core of contemporary mathematics — has been "short-changed" in the draft. "At least three algebra courses are required in an undergraduate curriculum," he pointed out.

 

Teachers warn that if the draft is approved, India's undergraduate students will be denied substantial gaps in mathematical training, weakening their chances to continue with advanced studies or compete internationally.

 

The petition arrives at a moment when India is spearheading a future "Vishwaguru" role in education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and therefore designing strong, internationally competitive curricula is of utmost importance.

 

The UGC has not responded officially to the issues that have been raised.