IIT makes learning 1 AI, machine learning course for UG, PG students mandatory

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) has recently made at least one course in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) mandatory for each of the 19 undergraduate and 42 postgraduate programmes.

The courses will begin from the next academic session in July, said an administrative official of the institute.

This introduction, a part of a larger curriculum review which has taken place after 12 years, is aimed at giving students a “structured pathway to using AI” and “keeping up with industry trends”.

Each of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will have its own AI-related paper. Although some AI and ML courses are being taught at the institute, this is the first time the institute has mandated that every student take these courses.

“Every department has been asked to ensure that there is at least one paper related to AI and ML so that every graduate knows the subject,” IIT-Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee told The Hindu.

The initiative has been introduced after taking feedback from students and alumni, he added.

The courses vary from ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’, and ‘AI for Computational Biology’ to ‘Applied Mechanics to Textile and Fibre Engineering in the Engineering Sciences’.

Prof. Narayanan D. Kurur, the Dean of Academics, said that students will be taught AI in their respective fields of study to give them an “introduction to AI”.

“For instance, in the postgraduate course titled ‘Machine Learning for Textile and Fibre Engineering’, students would be able to apply ML in yarn and fabric engineering and textile chemical processing,” said Mr. Kurur.

Associate Dean of Curriculum Prof. Shouri Chatterjee said that students will also be taught how to use AI ethically.

‘AI expanding rapidly’

“The scale of AI is expanding rapidly, and students are already working with it. This will give them a structured pathway and show students how to use it productively and ethically,” he said.

In 2024, the Director formed a committee to develop guidelines for the use of AI in teaching, research, and examinations.

The report, released in October 2024, showed that 80% of students (out of 427 surveyed) have used Generative AI tools, with nearly 81% reportedly using the tools several times a week.