Theoretical Framework of Multidisciplinary Higher Education in India
The theoretical conceptualisation of multidisciplinary higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 repositions Indian tertiary learning from fragmented disciplinary compartmentalisation toward integrated cognitive, ethical, and practical development. Scholarly perspectives diverge significantly in their underlying theoretical framing of this structural transition. One dominant theoretical approach conceptualises the reform as an epistemological and philosophical resurgence of holistic pedagogy rooted in historical traditions, emphasizing curriculum flexibility, cross-disciplinary integration, and the dissolution of artificial boundaries between sciences, humanities, and vocational subjects (IJFMR, 2025). This perspective posits that multidisciplinary curriculum design inherently cultivates 21st-century problem-solving capabilities, conceptual understanding, and ethical engagement, transforming learners into adaptable contributors within contemporary knowledge societies (IJFMR, 2025). In contrast, structural and governance-oriented theoretical frameworks analyze the multidisciplinary mandate primarily through the lens of institutional adaptability, resource distribution, and operational execution (IJFMR, 2026). Rather than focusing exclusively on philosophical ideals, this critical orientation examines the systemic dissonance between policy ambitions and institutional realities, including faculty readiness, infrastructure deficits, regional disparities, and the digital divide (IJFMR, 2026). Furthermore, this framework underscores a theoretical shift from aspirational policy design toward refined outcome-based mechanisms, digital governance, and industry-academia alignment necessary to address practical execution barriers (IJFMR, 2026). Consequently, whereas holistic frameworks treat multidisciplinarity as an organic pedagogical ideal, structural analyses conceptualise it as a highly contingent institutional process requiring targeted governance interventions.