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December 4, 2025Modi Promotes ‘Global Traditional Knowledge Repository’ in G20 Summit at Johannesburg
It is characteristic of Prime Minister Modi to introduce innovative concepts at multilateral forums. To name a few, in his speech at the UN General Assembly in 2014, he proposed International Yoga Day that was adopted by 177 member states; the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a treaty-based intergovernmental organization, was launched in 2015 at the COP21 climate conference by India and France to promote solar energy as a sustainable solution to address climate change; at the behest of India, the Food and Agriculture Organization under the United Nations recognised 2023 as International Year of Millets; and now the Prime Minister has appealed for setting up a ‘Global Traditional Knowledge Repository’.
“There are many communities in the world that have preserved their traditional and eco-balanced lifestyles. These traditions not only reflect sustainability, but also embody cultural knowledge, social cohesion, and a deep respect for nature… This global platform will help pass the collective wisdom of humanity on to future generations,” said Prime Minister Modi at the recently concluded G20 Johannesburg summit in November 2025. The global platform that the Prime Minister is referring to is the ‘Global Traditional Knowledge Repository’ (GTKR) that aims to encourage the global community to harness, preserve and share humanity’s collective wisdom.
It is fair to assume that the idea of GTKR draws liberally from the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) which is premised on a belief that millennia-old intellectual capital should be collated, and the ancient wisdom, philosophical thought, scientific knowledge-practice, and cultural heritage be recalled and put to use. These can address emerging challenges such as food security, human health, green energy, climate change, etc. In essence, the IKS is a useful tool to link “ancient wisdom and modern challenges”. The IKS has been mainstreamed in the Indian higher education curriculum through the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The IKS is rich in content — historical texts, oral traditions and practices — and covers a broad range of issues under humanities and sciences including thematic areas such as traditional knowledge in mathematics and astronomy; chemical and material science; health, wellness, and consciousness studies; political and economic thoughts; arts, traditions, culture, environmental sustainability, etc. It is rooted in the Indian subcontinent and transmitted across regions through traders and missionaries, adapting to local conditions.
The Indian government has set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) and a pilot project on Indian traditional medicinal knowledge has started. Under the TKDL, Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Sowa Rigpa as well as Yoga, collectively referred to as Indian Systems of Medicines, are studied and promoted. The library has successfully “systematically and scientifically” collated the texts into English, Japanese, French, German, and Spanish.
The TKDL aims to preserve the science and practice of Indian traditional medicine given that “healthcare needs of more than 70% population and livelihood of millions of people in India is dependent on” traditional knowledge. Importantly, indigenous and local communities depend on such knowledge for their livelihoods.
The TKDL also curbs theft of Indian traditional medicinal knowledge that remains vulnerable to exploitation in the form of patents. For instance, the grant of a US patent on turmeric’s wound-healing properties highlighted the dangers of complacence in guarding traditional knowledge. In this context, TKDL is an innovative step to “protect and prevent” appropriation of medicinal IKS by foreign patent offices.
Given the width and depth of IKS, it is an important source of wisdom-inspired practices that can stimulate and support sustainable and innovative futures. India’s ancient intellectual capital can empower global communities to manage contemporary challenges inclusively while preserving local knowledge.
There are at least three important reasons for Prime Minister Modi to propose the GTKR. First, the GTKR can help create a more equitable and inclusive society by empowering diverse societies to pursue and develop their knowledge regardless of socio-economic inequalities.
Second, it ensures that traditional knowledge transcends borders and economic barriers. Besides being inclusive, it supports tailored needs for diverse societies to grow in traditional and eco-balanced environments.
Third, GTKR fosters entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring societies to become initiators rather than mere receivers of knowledge. This mindset instills a systematic approach to problem-solving which is vital for modern societal challenges.
Finally, GTKR can help societies develop ecological consciousness and adopt eco-friendly practices. The emphasis on “Mindful Eco-Consciousness” can contribute to creating environmentally responsible future generations.
The article was originally published by Kalinga International Foundation.
Dr Vijay Sakhuja is an Hon. Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala, India.
Views expressed by the authors are personal and need not reflect or represent the views of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR).
Dr Vijay Sakhuja is Honorary Distinguished Fellow with CPPR and associated with our Centre for Strategic Studies. Dr. Sakhuja, a former Indian Navy officer, is also former Director, National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. He earned his MPhil and PhD from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He specializes in issues of national security and public policy, particularly in the context of ocean affairs, geopolitics, Climate Change, Arctic, Blue Economy and 4th Industrial Revolution Technologies.
