New Delhi, Dec 14: The Narendra Modi government does not appear convinced by the Sangh parivar's claims of the superiority of Vedic mathematics over conventional mathematics.

Junior human resource development minister Upendra Kushwaha told Parliament there was no proposal to introduce Vedic mathematics in the syllabus at any level. He said this on Monday in a written reply to MPs' questions.

The first question was "whether it is a fact that Vedic mathematics enables to calculate much faster as compared to the conventional system".

Kushwaha replied: "Some methods are applied for quick calculations in Vedic mathematics. However, these methods do not work at all places in mathematics." The second question was "whether the government is considering to introduce Vedic mathematics in the syllabi at various levels". Kushwaha said: "No such proposal is under consideration of the government."

Vedic mathematics is widely believed to have its origin in the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda, although many mathematicians dispute this. It provides for 16 sutras (formulas) and 11 sub-sutras that can be applied to all kinds of arithmetic problems.

The Siksha Sansthan Uthan Nyas, headed by RSS ideologue Dinanath Batra, had proposed to the ministry to introduce Vedic mathematics in schools. The Nyas has drawn up syllabi for all classes.

Rajendra Kumar, a senior Nyas functionary, said with their help the BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had introduced the subject in schools.

The Punjab Technical University in Kapurthala started offering an online six-month certificate course for Class-XII graduates in 2014. The Kavikulaguru Sanskriti University in Nagpur started a one-year diploma course last year.

Kumar expressed displeasure at the government's reply in Parliament.

Hukum Singh, a former head of the mathematics department at the National Council for Educational Research and Training, said he had studied six of the 16 main sutras of Vedic mathematics. "They are very stressful. They take more time for calculation. The conventional system is easy and logical," he said.

Singh said the NCERT's position that Vedic mathematics should not be part of the syllabus was based on feedback received from eminent mathematicians.

"The NCERT has been holding this position for the last few years that Vedic mathematics cannot be part of school syllabus. It may be prescribed as supplementary reading material," Singh said.

Birendra Nayak, a retired mathematics teacher at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar, said certain Vedic mathematics formulas are effective in computing specific types of problems, such as multiplication, but may not be of much help for all types of problems.

Nayak added that these formulas have no connection with any Veda, and that the Sankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth in Puri first wrote a book on Vedic Mathematics in 1965 after which it was taken up by RSS-backed organisations.