After more than a decade, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its curriculum, aiming to reduce academic burden, align with evolving industry demands, and foster hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.
Director Rangan Banerjee, in an interview with PTI, stated that the last major revision was made in 2013. The current revamp, initiated in 2022, followed extensive feedback from stakeholders including students, faculty, and alumni.
“The industry landscape is changing rapidly—with the rise of AI and the growing importance of sustainability. We’ve worked hard to create a more flexible, engaging curriculum that prepares students for these realities,” Banerjee said.
Key Changes in the Curriculum
- Reduced Academic Load: The number of core credits per semester has been limited, especially in the first year, to ease student pressure. Class sizes in the initial two semesters have also been halved—from 300 to 150—to ensure more personalized attention.
- Hands-On Learning: A major emphasis has been placed on experiential learning. Tutorials, labs, and projects are embedded early in the program, allowing students to engage deeply with their departments from the first year.
- New Degree Options:
- An Honours program has been added as an enhancement to the existing BTech degree.
- Students can now opt for a combined BTech-MTech path, allowing them to earn both degrees in five years.
- AI and Ethics Training: All BTech students will be trained to use AI tools, such as code generators, responsibly and ethically. This module will be part of an overhauled introductory programming course.
- Focus on Sustainability: Training in environmental and sustainability topics will be integrated across the curriculum, preparing students to address global challenges.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Students can now explore courses outside their core department and pursue minors or specialisations across various domains.
- Industry-Ready Graduates: The revamped curriculum introduces mandatory internships and capstone projects to strengthen real-world application and teamwork skills. Master’s theses can also be undertaken in collaboration with industry.
Global Benchmarks and New Courses
To shape the updated structure, a 15-member committee benchmarked leading global institutions including Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Harvey Mudd, and others, alongside IIT Bombay, Gandhinagar, and Hyderabad.
Three new academic programs will also launch in 2025:
- BTech in Design
- BSc in Chemistry
- MTech in Photonics
Additionally, the MTech-MS (Research) program has been redesigned to emphasize industry connections and project-based learning.
“This is not just a curriculum update; it’s a cultural shift towards greater flexibility, creativity, and societal relevance,” Banerjee concluded.
