Adi Vidya Foundation launches India’s first Spiritual Science Curriculum in Delhi NCR at India’s first National Conference on Spirituality in Schools
New Delhi: Adi Vidya Foundation, a non-profit public charitable knowledge trust, today launched India’s first spiritual science curriculum at the first National Conference on Spirituality in schools held at the India International Centre, New Delhi. This first-of-its-kind national platform aims to bring structured, policy-backed dialogue on inner development and spiritual quotient to mainstream school education.
The programme aims to introduce structured learning focused on self-awareness, emotional resilience, values-based thinking, and inner well-being, marking an important step towards embedding holistic education and spiritual quotient within mainstream schooling.
Supported by The Millennium Schools Group, leading spiritual figures and mental health professional and leaders, the one-day conference brought together policymakers, education leaders, school principals, mental health and wellness professionals, and important spiritual leaders. The discussions focused on nurturing the education system beyond academic outcomes, towards a holistic approach that encompasses emotional well-being, ethical grounding, and self-awareness. The conference addressed spirituality not in religious terms, but as a framework for inner development that aligned with globally recognised principles of meaningful learning and long-term well-being.
Commenting on the initiative, Shantanu Prakash, Founder of Adi Vidya Foundation, said, “We have built an education system that focuses on everything except what matters most. We track marks, ranks and percentages, but we have no framework for how students feel, how they handle failure, or whether they have a sense of purpose beyond the next examination. Our aim is to bring the focus on SQ (Spiritual Quotient) on an equal footing with IQ and EQ. This conference is not about adding another subject to the timetable. It is about asking whether our schools are truly preparing students for life. The time to have this conversation, seriously and at a national scale, is now.”
The conference builds on the vision outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises holistic development and promotes the integration of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being into education through values-based learning and Indian Knowledge Systems. Despite this policy direction, implementation at the school level remains limited. The National Conference on Spirituality in Schools aims to bridge this gap by promoting an evidence-based approach to building a scalable, framework for the development of Spiritual Quotient and purpose among students rooted in ancient Indian principles.
The event commenced with a formal inaugural session featuring keynote speakers, senior government officials, and representatives from leading educational institutions. Distinguished speakers included Gauranga Prabhu Das ji, Pundrik Goswami Ji Maharaj, Renuka Goswami Ji, Swamini Pramanandi Ji (Amma Ji), Dr R Balasubramaniam, Himanshu Gupta IAS, Praveen Chaturvedi, Rahul Dewan, Veditha Reddy IAS, Acharya Giriratna Mishra Ji.
This was followed by a series of panel discussions centred on key themes such as integrating spirituality and Indian Knowledge Systems into curricula, addressing student mental health, fostering institutional cultures that support spiritual development, and creating policy frameworks to scale such initiatives nationally.
The event concluded with a synthesis session outlining a forward-looking national roadmap to advance spirituality in education. The day ended with a cultural evening featuring a classical music performance by the Mohan Brothers.
