The education system in Ancient India consisted of residential gurukul schools using oral traditions and palm leaves for teaching. Students studied Sanskrit, Vedas, phonology, etymology and metrics under a guru. Over time, education expanded with the invention of concepts like zero and exposure to subjects like ritualistic literatures and Upanishads. British rule in the early 1900s increased literacy rates but most Indians remained uneducated. After independence in 1947, the government established central control over education, introducing new policies and programs. Access to education has expanded greatly, though challenges remain in ensuring quality, infrastructure, and participation especially for women and in rural areas.