‘Need to lower entrance exam stakes, reduce coaching burden’: IIT-K prof Manindra Agrawal

Ankur Tewari / TNN / Updated: May 5, 2025, 15:54 IST

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IIT-Kanpur is collaborating with the UP government to boost development, focusing on becoming a drone hub and enhancing healthcare through AI. Director Prof. Agrawal highlights the need for aptitude-based tests to reduce student stress and emphasizes holistic, industry-relevant engineering education as per NEP-2020.

Prof Manindra Agrawal

Director of the Indian Institute of TechnologyKanpur (IIT-K), Prof Manindra Agrawal , says that the institute is helping the UP govt in accelerating the pace of development. In an exclusive interview with Ankur Tewari , Prof Agrawal spoke about the future of AI tools in speeding up evaluations, challenges facing higher education in India and the role of IIT-K in the overall development of engineering education Edited excerpts:
Is there a need to lower examination stakes and reduce the burden of coaching on students?

Yes. Too many UG entrance exams have become a burden, leading to a lot of stress and neglect of school education. This was also a part of the recommendation of NEP-2020 that we should aim for transition to an aptitude-based test. There are several studies for SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test), which is a similar examination, which shows that after 30-40 hours of coaching, the impact of coaching becomes minimal.

What are your views on the recent shift in engineering education in India in view of NEP?

NEP-2020 emphasises holistic and transdisciplinary learning in engineering education. It aims to make the system more adaptable, inclusive, research-oriented and industry-relevant. The focus on integrating technology and digital learning helps in creating engineers and entrepreneurs who are adaptable and updated with the latest technical and academic advancements. NEP-2020 also emphasises on curriculum revisions to introduce arts and humanities. IIT-K has been a pioneer in this. It was the first to introduce humanities subjects into the engineering curriculum. Department of humanities and social sciences at IITK was established in 1960. We are also working on a proposal to admit students through a hackathon into a special programme on cybersecurity and is currently being discussed in the Education Policy Committee (EPC).

Poll

Do you think the examination stakes should be lowered to reduce student stress?

No, exams are important.Yes, absolutely.

What are the broader challenges facing higher education in India?

Higher education in India is undergoing a significant shift, marked by increased digitisation, emphasis on skill-based learning and implementation of NEP-2020. The emphasis is moving from memorisation learning to holistic, multidisciplinary education aimed at fostering innovation and critical thinking. However, this transition faces broader challenges, such as unequal access to quality education, digital divide, lack of adequate infrastructure and faculty shortages. In this dynamic world of technology, globalisation, and shifting job markets, the primary issue is the gap between traditional curricula and skills required in the modern workforce, such as critical thinking, digital literacy, and adaptability. Though there are policy reforms, the pace of this transformation gets slowed down because of outdated teaching methods and an exam-centric approach. This gets further hampered by unequal access to quality education, especially in rural and marginalised communities.

From IIT-K’s tech aiding healthcare delivery at Maha Kumbh to the institute’s team visiting Prayagraj togather inputs for a study, how was the experience of being associated with the world’s largest religious gathering?

The Maha Kumbh was a great learning experience. It was incredible to see how every cog in the system worked in sync to manage an event of such scale.

The Yogi govt is planning to make Kanpur the drone hub. How is IIT-K contributing to it?

IIT-K has a unique infrastructure for aerospace research and development. We have our own airstrip, wind tunnel facility, and flight laboratory. Hence, we are perfectly suited to become a drone hub with capabilities for design, development, testing, accreditation, simulators, and a night testing facility. We have also established a drone centre of excellence in collaboration with the UP govt, and we are working on design, development and deployment of cuttingedge drone solutions. The CoE includes access to a 1km long runway, DGCA approved flight-testing zones, state-of-the-art fabrication labs and facilities for hands-on training. Several drones have already been designed and manufactured at IIT-K. Some have been transferred to the defence sector while others are in the pipeline.

How is IIT-K helping UP in accelerating the pace of development? Are there any MOUs signed with other states?

IIT-K, in collaboration with the UP govt, is embarking on a journey to establish the state as a deep tech hub. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class faculty and staff, and a network of accomplished alumni, IIT-K is uniquely positioned to drive this initiative. In the healthcare sector, we signed an MoU with the UP govt in R&D efforts of UP Digital Health Stack (UP-DHS) under the National Health Stack (NHS) programme of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This will enhance healthcare delivery by integrating AI into telehealth and point-of-care diagnostics. In Andhra Pradesh, we are working with Kuppam Area Development Authority to transform Kuppam into India’s first net zero constituency by integrating advanced technical interventions such as renewable energy adoption, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable waste management.

How will IIT-K enhance its role in uplift of engineering education in future?

We have always believed in assisting students through a curriculum that improves skills and generates 21st-century engineers and entrepreneurs. IIT-K keeps adding new courses in cutting-edge fields while broadening its academic offerings to meet industry demands and technological breakthroughs. We are considering establishment of a common data analytics course across all branches. We established the Centre for Educational Research and Teaching Excellence (CERTEX) to support IIT-K’s mission of fostering a research-backed, and technologically advanced educational environment.

What is the future of AI-based tools in speeding up evaluations?

Research groups at IIT-K, especially those led by Prof Amey Karkare, have made significant progress in creating AI-based teaching assistants with particular emphasis on introductory programming. The Prutor platform developed at IIT-K, which is in use at multiple institutions such as IITBombay, and IISc, Bengaluru provides a fertile surface for AI tools that assist both students and teachers. By harnessing techniques from diverse areas, AI-based e-tutors have been developed that offer beginner students a 24x7 companion that helps them correct mistakes using AI-generated hints. The e-tutor can present a report to the teacher on mistakes which enables the teacher to both grade the student, as well as modulate lesson plans or pay extra attention to difficult concepts. IIT-K has pioneered the use of test-case-based autograders that enables it to offer its introductory CS1 course to over 1,000 students each year with significantly reduced human effort.

With cases of suicide increasing across iit s , how do you plan to cope with this challenge?

We have a team of six clinical psychologists, faculty advisors, and student volunteers working with the institute counselling service (ICS) in addition to three affiliated psychiatrists who visit the campus weekly. We have hired additional counsellors and hostel managers to strengthen the support system. We plan to bring the clinical part of mental health management and strengthen it by bringing psychiatrists on campus who will be available 24x7. We have also strengthened the PG core counselling team for individualised support, regular department-level discussions to identify issues like academic stress and isolation. The institute is working towards establishing a professional counselling wing, ensuring access to support without fear of judgment or academic repercussions. An independent five-member review committee comprising external experts, students, and a staff member — has been formed to assess systemic issues. It has submitted its report with recommendations. We have also introduced significant reforms to ease pressure including flexible PhD admissions, enhanced financial assistance, reduced coursework, faster thesis evaluations, and MS exit options.

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