Delhi University’s School of Open Learning Introduces Sanskrit Courses on Dharmashastra and the Vedas

New Delhi: Starting this academic year, Delhi University's School of Open Learning (SOL) has introduced courses on Dharmashastra and the Vedas into its Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme. This move aligns with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 (UGCF 2022) and the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which aim to provide students with a well-rounded education rooted in India’s cultural and philosophical traditions.

New Sanskrit Courses Introduced

From the fourth semester onward, second-year BA students will have the option to study two newly introduced Sanskrit courses:

• Sanskrit: Dharmashastra Studies (Minor)

• Sanskrit: Readings from the Vedas (Major)

These subjects will be delivered through Self Learning Material (SLM), following the distance education format adopted by SOL. Their inclusion is part of a broader academic revamp, with Delhi University’s executive council having approved 38 new papers across various disciplines, according to the report.

“This is part of the Sanskrit curriculum and the officially approved syllabus of Delhi University. These papers have not been specially introduced — they are already available under the choice-based credit system and the annual mode as well,” said Payal Mago, Director of SOL, to the Times of India.

The new offerings aim to deepen students’ engagement with classical Indian knowledge systems and enhance their understanding of texts that have influenced the country’s intellectual heritage.

Additional Curriculum Enhancements

Apart from the Sanskrit papers, SOL has expanded its academic offerings further by introducing:

• Value-Added Courses (VACs):

  • Sanskrit: Yoga: Philosophy and Practice

  • Sanskrit: Panchkosha: Holistic Development of Personality

• General and Discipline-Specific Electives across various fields

• Ability Enhancement Courses (AECs) focused on building practical skills

These additions are designed to enrich the learning experience for distance education students and to offer more diverse and meaningful academic pathways.