Former IIT Delhi Director Proposes 5-Year BTech With Flexible Exit
· India · Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan Times
Former IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao has proposed a 5-year BTech structure with a flexible exit option, allowing students to graduate once they earn the required credits. The suggestion responds to a widening academic gap in IIT classrooms, where JEE Advanced ranks among students in Computer Science and Engineering can range from single digits to five digits. Rao said coaching prepares students to solve familiar question types quickly, but many struggle with unfamiliar problems, and language differences further affect learning pace. His proposal came after protests at IIT Bombay following a BTech student's death, with students raising concerns about academic pressure and welfare. The circumstances of the death, including allegations of caste discrimination raised by the family, are under investigation.
Why it matters
IIT students and faculty are directly affected if the proposal reshapes degree timelines, academic mentoring, and pressure around classroom pace. The IIT Bombay student's death and the family's caste discrimination allegations have intensified scrutiny on academic welfare and institutional accountability.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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