Gifted education in India

Abstract

In the backdrop of India’s growing population of 1.21 billion people with diverse, multicultural and multilingual backgrounds, gifted education is yet to be part of a formal educational policy in the country. Research on giftedness in India spans across 50 years, but lacks systematic and empirical grounding. The term “gifted” in the Indian context has not been used till very recently and most Indian studies have focused on creativity. Talented children in India are recognized at both homes and schools but formal identification and nurture of giftedness is sporadic and mostly dependent whether the child has been selected for gifted programs which are far and few. The lack of adequate information and database about programs, policies, practices, and outcomes in gifted education in India make it impossible for accurate review. Through the article, the author attempts to provide an insight about India’s views on gifted education and giftedness, the challenges it faces in introducing gifted education as a part of its national educational policy. A commentary on the contributions made by several individuals and institutions to gifted education in India despite a policy and funding vacuum has also been presented.