The volumes of the Project on the History of Science, Philosophy & Culture in Indian Civilization aim at discovering the main aspects of India's heritage and present them in an interrerated way. In spite of their unitary look, these volumes recognize the difference between the areas of material civilization and those of ideational culture. The project is not being executed by a single group of thinkers and writers who are methodologically uniform or ideologically identical in their commitments.

The Project is marked by what may be called 'methodological pluralism.' Inspite of its primarily historical character, this project, both in its conceptualization and execution, has been shaped by scholars drawn from different disciplines. It is for the first time that an endeavour of such a unique and comprehensive character has been undertaken to study critically a major world civilization.