UPSC Mains 2014 · GS I · Q3 · 10 marks · 150 words

Taxila university was one of the oldest universities of the world with which were associated a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense. Discuss.

हिन्दी में

तक्षशिला विश्वविद्यालय विश्व के प्राचीनतम विश्वविद्यालयों में से एक था जिसके साथ विभिन्न शिक्षण-विषयों (डिसिप्लिन्स) के अनेक विख्यात विद्वानी व्यक्तित्व सम्बन्धित थे । उसकी रणनीतिक अवस्थिति के कारण उसकी कीर्ति फैली, लेकिन नालन्दा के विपरीत, उसे आधुनिक अभिप्राय में विश्वविद्यालय नहीं समझा जाता । चर्चा कीजिए ।

Ancient India

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Compare and contrast the features of ancient Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshashila with modern state-funded universities in India. What lessons can modern universities learn from ancient ones to improve their effectiveness?”

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 307 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The recent opening of Nalanda 2.0 has stoked the needs to revisit our rich pasts & derive critical lessons for today's ailing universities.

Body · points and prose

Contrasting Features

Basis	Nalanda-taxila	modern univ.
(1) curriculum	Highly Independent & cutting-edge learning, topmost discourse	Fixed, no Autonomy to colleges except the premiere ones (like IITs)
(2) Regulatory	more freedom & Autonomy	Regulatory jungle today & over restrictions
(3) multidisciplinary Education	Buddhism, Indian School, etc.	Focus upon stream specialization & watertight separation
(4) Relationships	Guru-shishya parampara	Teachers as absent Ring masters, Profit motive

Comparable Features

Basis	Nalanda-taxila	modern univ.
(1) Global connect	mahayanists from round the world came to study @taxila, nalanda	NEP 2020 encourages Cross-border branch opening
(2) merit basis	Nalanda had its own Entrance Exam, very strict	today's: paper leaks controversy etc
(3) Dedicated learning centres	large campus sizes, with dedicated facilities like hostels, etc.

Ancient produced : Buddha, Kautilya

Today's Production : Satya Nadella

What lessons need to be drawn today?

(1) Autonomy a) ↳ Institutions must be allowed to frame own curriculum & design courses.

(2) Expenditure a) ↳ we are much behind the levels recommended by TSR Subramanian committee (6%) b) ↳ need to invest more in R&D, Infra Boost

(3) Objective & Aims a) ↳ older Institutions focussed more upon value-based & skill based Education

(4) Pedagogy

Discourse & Debate based --> marks & Exam based

Today only ~50.3% Graduates Employable (India Skills Report, 2023)

It's now high time, the cultural pasts & its grandeur is revived by India once again: 'VidyaDhanam Sarvapradhanam'

8 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Q3. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.