Democratic knowledge practices in India are increasingly associated with which of the following educational approaches?

Correct option is B

Democratic knowledge practices in India are increasingly associated with b) Critical pedagogy.

Information Booster :
Critical pedagogy is an educational philosophy and social movement that combines education with critical theory. In the Indian context, it has gained significant traction, especially following the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005, which moved away from traditional "rote learning" toward a more participatory and democratic model.

Challenging the "Banking Model": Critical pedagogy (pioneered by Paulo Freire) rejects the idea that students are empty "bank accounts" to be filled with information by teachers. Instead, it views students as active participants who bring their own social and cultural knowledge to the classroom.

Dialogue and Inquiry: It emphasizes dialogue between teachers and students. Rather than memorizing "facts," students are encouraged to ask why things are the way they are, fostering a critical mindset necessary for a functioning democracy.

Social Justice: In India, this approach is often used to address and question social inequalities like caste, gender, and class. By connecting classroom lessons to real-world power structures, it empowers students from marginalized backgrounds to claim their agency.

Praxis: A core tenet is "Praxis"—the combination of reflection and action. The goal of democratic knowledge is not just to know the world, but to gain the tools to transform it into a more just society.