NITI Aayog advisor pushes for experiential learning over rote learning in science education

India presently accounts for under 10 per cent of global chip design facilities. In the last decade, much emphasis at the policy level has been placed on transforming the country from a service-based nation to a “product one”. Dr Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Advisor in Science & Technology Division at NITI Aayog, emphasised on Wednesday the need to shift from rote learning to experiential learning as the core of science education.

Speaking at the ninth Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National School Education Summit 2025, Singh underlined that labs and hands-on exposure should begin from Class 6 onward, supported by AR/VR-based immersive tools, coding, app design, and robotics. Highlighting that India needs to be a “product-development nation” rather than a “product-use nation”, Singh stressed the importance of nurturing creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills from the school level.

“Experiential science is vital — learning by doing is the only way to sustain curiosity and interest among school children. India is among the top three countries in research publications. In terms of making products, we are not among the top countries. If you want to learn science, you need to move toward experiential learning,” he said.

Speaking about transformative pedagogy, Dr Swaroop Sampat Rawal, a former member of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), highlighted the need for Indian education to shift from rote learning to experiential learning, from marks to competency and character, and from mere information to wisdom. Calling NEP 2020 the finest policy document on education, she highlighted the importance of bringing it to life in classrooms through initiatives like “bagless days” that offer hands-on vocational experiences, multiskilling, and exposure to India’s 2,500 arts and crafts traditions, ranging from loom weaving to artisan-led workshops.

She also stressed embracing Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) that bridge the ancient with the modern, turning tradition into a foundation for innovation. “Bagless days provide the time, art provides the medium, IKS provides the roots, and life skills provide the resilience,” Sampat said. Art-integrated learning, she argued, makes education experiential for both students and teachers. This is especially vital as one in seven children between 8-19 years struggles with mental health issues.