India, Oct. 14 -- From almanacs (panchangams) and the precise calendrical systems of astrology and astronomy (jyotisa ), to ingenious astronomical instruments such as the Ghatika Yantra and Samrat Yantra for empirical observations, a new book released by the Union ministry of education's Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) division has highlighted India's ancient scientific heritage-and says it is aimed at bridging "ancient insight with modern inquiry" and sparking "scientific curiosity and cultural confidence among students and educators."

The 430-page "Indian Knowledge Systems: Indian Contributions to Science, Volume I," showcases India's contribution to mathematics stating that long before Issac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz formali...