No need for more technocrats, IIT Kharagpur to focus on human-centric R&D, says Director

The Hindu

16-07-2025

On the 71st convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology on Tuesday (July 15, 2025), Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) director Dr. Suman Chakraborty said 'the world does not need more technocrats', highlighting the institute's renewed focus on human-centric, multidisciplinary technology research.
'Let me be clear: the world does not need more technocrats. It needs humans who can think and feel — who can use algorithms, but are not ruled by them. The future belongs to those who can combine emotional intelligence with technical intelligence,' the director said.
In an exclusive interaction with select media, Mr. Chakraborty elaborated that earlier, technocrats relied on extensive research and skill-learning, whereas in the current day scenario, AI systems like ChatGPT can generate answers to most science and tech questions.
'Unfortunately, it will take a whole lot of time to create a four-year undergraduate programme where answers will not be generable by ChatGPT. So, when these things are already there, students have to elevate themselves where they can innovate, interpret between lines, converge between domains, and come up with solutions that are both technologically advanced as well as human-centric,' the director said.
He added that IIT KGP is looking to equip future students with the knowledge of using AI more ethically.
Focus on convergence
Mr. Chakraborty also highlighted how the research on AI, deeptech, cloud computing, etc., at IIT KGP is advancing in converging domains, with a mix of traditional and non-traditional subjects like AI in diagnostics, medicine, law, humanities, etc.
'In terms of research on AI, we are also thinking of exploring certain domains where the research will be led by non-AI domain experts… Usually, the engineering and science departments kick off science and tech projects, taking humanities and social sciences as complementary aspects in some cases. In that way, we are concerned with how AI can be more empathetically used to bridge the gap between AI and humans,' he said.
Mr. Chakraborty also said that IIT KGP is pushing boundaries with research across cybersecurity, AI, cloud computing, and disease modelling. He added that the AI models designed by the institute are being used for disaster response and precision agriculture.
'Our AI department, now a full-fledged academic unit, offers BTech., MTech., and interdisciplinary dual degree programs. It has become a national leader in responsible and explainable AI with real-world applications in healthcare, climate, and linguistics, and with emphasis on human-centric AI… we are therefore not just building machines, we are building meaning,' he added.
The Director also unveiled PLATO, an AI-powered coding tutor that offers real-time, personalised guidance to students learning computer programming.
Better amenities at IIT KGP
The director said that the institute is working on its 'shortcomings' to make itself a more preferred choice for nationwide talent.
'We are good at classroom teaching, but beyond that, we are working on improving infrastructure, improving quality of life, and making campus life more vibrant. We should connect everything. As part of our Platinum Jubilee, we are also building a special amenities centre, an all-in-one unit that can help students have an enjoyable lifestyle while facilitating all-round growth,' Mr. Chakraborty said.
More women in STEM
Mr. Chakraborty also touched upon the global gender disparity in science, technology, medicine and engineering,
'Women are not just contributors — they are disruptors, creators, and changemakers — and at IIT KGP, we thrive not merely to preach this spirit but portray the same in practice,' he added.
Notably, gender ratios in several branches of the IIT remain skewed despite girl students excelling in all-India examinations. On Tuesday, less than half of the graduating students being awarded prestigious medals at IIT KGP's convocation ceremony were women.
71st convocation
This year, IIT KGP awarded a total of 3,731 degrees across various disciplines, including 277 PhD, 18 MS, 956 M.Tech, 50 MCP, 142 MBA, 23 EMBA, 58 PGDBA, 5 MMST, 28 MHRM, 18 M.Arch, 47 LLM, 31 LLB, 786 Dual Degree, 614 B.Tech (Hons), 46 B.Arch (Hons), 151 Four-Year B.S, 260 Five-Year M.Sc, 214 Two-Year M.Sc, 3 M.Sc M.Tech, 3 Three-Year M.Sc, and 1 Certificate of Excellence in Research (CER).
Awards such as the President's Gold Medal, Prime Minister's Gold Medal, and others were conferred upon graduating students and scholars.
Dr. S. Somanath, former chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was the chief guest.