Mumbai, Sept. 18 -- Over 900 mathematicians, researchers and academics from India and abroad have petitioned the University Grants Commission (UGC) to withdraw its proposed curriculum for undergraduate mathematics. The draft, published in August by UGC for BA and BSc mathematics in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, adds concepts like Vedic mathematics, Bharatiya Bijaganit, the Puranas and ideas of ancient Indian astronomy. On Thursday, the petition, signed by leading mathematicians, including 20 Padma awardees and recipients of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, was sent to the UGC chairperson Vineet Joshi. It highlights the key problems with the draft curriculum and recommends that the draft curriculum be redrafted by a committee drawn from experts in mathematics research and education. "The future of mathematics and indeed all scientific endeavour in the country is at stake," it states. P4...