Acharya Prashant responds to a question about Narayana Murthy's statement that the coaching industry is responsible for India's top universities not ranking globally. The speaker agrees that rote learning is a major issue, but its roots go deeper than just the coaching industry. He states that the problem lies in the familial and social environment of students, where parents are only concerned with their children getting selected for prestigious institutions and securing a good job, regardless of whether they have any conceptual clarity or love for the subject. This focus on selection over understanding is a direct cause of the coaching industry's existence. The speaker explains that this issue is a symptom of a much larger cultural problem. He traces it back to a historical shift in Indian culture from being Vedantic (knowledge-based) to Puranic (story-based). The evaluation criteria for board exams can be met through rote memorization, while competitive exams like the JEE require a deeper understanding, creating a gap that coaching centers fill. He points out that the board exams themselves encourage rote learning, where one can score high marks by memorizing answers. This system has been in place for a long time, even before the British era. Acharya Prashant elaborates that this emphasis on memorization (Smriti) over understanding (Bodha) stems from a culture that has neglected the pursuit of knowledge (Vedanta). He argues that India's culture is predominantly Puranic, which is based on stories and myths that are meant to be believed, not questioned. This has created a society where questioning is suppressed, even in families. When children ask questions about religion or God, they are often silenced. This is in stark contrast to the Upanishadic tradition, which is founded on inquiry and dialogue. He concludes that for India's universities to progress, the entire culture must change. It needs to shift from a Puranic, belief-based culture to a Vedantic, knowledge-based one. The speaker asserts that a country's progress is linked to the quality of its universities, which in turn depends on the prevailing culture. A society that values inquiry and knowledge will produce great universities. He also touches upon the misinterpretation of Karma Yoga, stating that it is not merely doing any action with dedication, but action rooted in knowledge and detachment, a concept that is often lost in the current cultural context.