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News18
6 days ago
- Health
- News18
Should You Worry About The New Covid-19 Scare? This Is What IIT-Kanpur Experts Say
Last Updated: A new Covid-19 sub-variant, JN.1, is causing a rise in cases across the country, experts from IIT Kanpur predict the surge will be short-lived and less severe. Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases emerging across the country, public anxiety has once again begun to simmer, reminiscent of the traumatic early days of the pandemic. The new sub-variant of Omicron, labeled JN.1, has been identified as the primary cause of the current uptick, with infections surfacing in major states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Kerala. The renewed unease was exacerbated by a tragic development in Bengaluru, where a young girl reportedly succumbed to the virus. This incident has reignited fears among the public, already wary after the devastating impact of earlier waves of the pandemic. However, a measure of reassurance has come from IIT Kanpur, where experts are offering a more measured perspective on the unfolding situation. Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director of the institute and a noted voice during previous Covid-19 modeling efforts, has sought to temper the rising anxiety. Speaking to local media, he emphasised that although the number of Covid-19 cases is increasing, the absolute figures remain low when considered against the country's vast population. When the case numbers are so minimal, it becomes challenging to draw reliable conclusions using mathematical models, however, past trends suggest this surge is unlikely to persist for long, Agrawal noted. According to him, the JN.1 variant is a sub-lineage of Omicron, similar to those that caused brief spikes in cases over the past two years. We have seen time and again since 2022 that sudden increases occur with new variants, but the situation typically stabilises within a few weeks, Agarwal explained, expressing confidence that the current wave will follow a similar trajectory. In the wake of these developments, the Union Health Ministry has issued fresh advisories, urging all states and union territories to remain vigilant. Hospitals have been directed to prepare for any potential surge, and the public has been asked to adopt basic preventive measures – wearing masks in crowded areas, maintaining hand hygiene, and monitoring for symptoms like cough, fever, and breathlessness. Importantly, officials and health experts alike are urging the public not to panic. The Health Ministry has reiterated that the country's population now possesses a significantly stronger immune defence, owing to widespread vaccination and prior exposure to the virus. This built-up immunity, they say, is likely to cushion the impact of the current wave. This isn't a return to 2020 as we are in a far better place today; medically, logistically, and socially, said a senior health official. Indeed, the analysis from IIT Kanpur aligns with that sentiment. The institution's report concludes that while the virus may be reasserting itself, the current wave is expected to be short-lived and far less severe than previous ones. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-K starts training on data-driven governance for govt officials
Lucknow: IIT- Kanpur, through a joint initiative of the Department of Economic Sciences and the Wadhwani Centre for AI Policy and Outreach, has launched a five-day titled "Technology, Economics and : A Training on ." The programme is sponsored by the (NCGG). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Held from May 19 to 23, the training is tailored for senior govt officers, including directors and deputy secretaries from various ministries and departments of the Government of India. Prof. Manindra Agrawal, director of IIT-K said, "This training designed for officers involved in public policy is an apt step toward enabling data-driven governance. While this is the first event under the aegis of Wadhwani School of AI and Intelligent Systems, we hope this marks the beginning of many such joint initiatives and continuous interactions that will lead to impactful outcomes." He also encouraged participants to explore the IIT-K campus and engage with faculty members during their stay. Shri Surendra Bagde, director general of NCGG, emphasized the growing role of technology in governance and policy-making. "Collaborative training initiatives like this are essential to prepare officers for the demands of a data-centric governance environment. This programme marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership, and we hope it sets a benchmark for future training efforts," he noted.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
JEE (A): At 14k, highest girl count from IIT-Hyd zone; IIT-B zone 2nd
Mumbai: One in three girls or (14,411 girls) who registered for the JEE (Advanced) 2025 held on Sunday were from the IIT-Hyderabad zone, followed by the zone under IIT-Bombay with close to 9,000. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Girls accounted for over 23% of the total 1.87 lakh registrations this year, shows data from IIT-Kanpur, the organising institute of JEE (Advanced) this year. The IIT-Hyderabad zone comprises the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, while the IIT-Bombay zone includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa. Of the nearly 1.9 lakh candidates, the IIT-Hyderabad zone also reported the highest numbers at 45,622. It was followed by the IIT-Bombay zone with 37,002 candidates and the IIT-Delhi zone with 34,069. These three zones, incidentally, also produced most of the top 100 rankers last year. Candidates, who took the exam on Sunday, found the test papers were slightly easier compared to those of 2024, but lengthier. Data from IIT-Kanpur, showed that over 30% of the students who registered from the southern states — 45,622 — were girls, contributing significantly to the higher number of candidates in the region. "The participation of over 43,000 female candidates this year was a strong indicator of the growing interest among young women in STEM fields. With such enthusiastic participation from across the country, we look forward to welcoming the bright minds this year," Prof Manindra Agrawal, IIT-Kanpur director, told TOI. "As the host of the , IIT-Kanpur ensured a seamless process... and the examination was conducted smoothly across centres." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Prof Shireesh Kedare, IIT-Bombay director, urged more girl students to appear for JEE as there are a host of options available in IITs, not just in engineering, but also pure sciences, economics, among others. "The number of girl students taking JEE is encouraging but still not enough," he said, adding that the premier institutes continuously take efforts to improve the gender ratio on their campuses. About more students registering from the southern states and the IIT-B zone, Prof Kedare said he has not seen the numbers, but there is a lot of emphasis on education in these states and they are also popular for their coaching hubs. About Sunday's exam, Sreedhar Babu, an IIT-B alumnus and a mathematics teacher fr-om a leading coaching institute, said mathematics was lengthy and time-consuming, but solvable, and many students found it difficult to complete the paper on time. He said the scores of top 10 rankers could be similar to last year, but the overall cut-offs could go down compared to last year's 109. Mumbai: One in three girls or (14,411 girls) who registered for the JEE (Advanced) 2025 held on Sunday were from the IIT-Hyderabad zone, followed by the zone under IIT-Bombay with close to 9,000. Girls accounted for over 23% of the total 1.87 lakh registrations this year, shows data from IIT-Kanpur, the organising institute of JEE (Advanced) this year. The IIT-Hyderabad zone comprises the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, while the IIT-Bombay zone includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa. Of the nearly 1.9 lakh candidates, the IIT-Hyderabad zone also reported the highest numbers at 45,622. It was followed by the IIT-Bombay zone with 37,002 candidates and the IIT-Delhi zone with 34,069. These three zones, incidentally, also produced most of the top 100 rankers last year. Candidates, who took the exam on Sunday, found the test papers were slightly easier compared to those of 2024, but lengthier. Data from IIT-Kanpur, showed that over 30% of the students who registered from the southern states — 45,622 — were girls, contributing significantly to the higher number of candidates in the region. "The participation of over 43,000 female candidates this year was a strong indicator of the growing interest among young women in STEM fields. With such enthusiastic participation from across the country, we look forward to welcoming the bright minds this year," Prof Manindra Agrawal, IIT-Kanpur director, told TOI. "As the host of the JEE Advanced 2025, IIT-Kanpur ensured a seamless process... and the examination was conducted smoothly across centres." Prof Shireesh Kedare, IIT-Bombay director, urged more girl students to appear for JEE as there are a host of options available in IITs, not just in engineering, but also pure sciences, economics, among others. "The number of girl students taking JEE is encouraging but still not enough," he said, adding that the premier institutes continuously take efforts to improve the gender ratio on their campuses. About more students registering from the southern states and the IIT-B zone, Prof Kedare said he has not seen the numbers, but there is a lot of emphasis on education in these states and they are also popular for their coaching hubs. About Sunday's exam, Sreedhar Babu, an IIT-B alumnus and a mathematics teacher fr-om a leading coaching institute, said mathematics was lengthy and time-consuming, but solvable, and many students found it difficult to complete the paper on time. He said the scores of top 10 rankers could be similar to last year, but the overall cut-offs could go down compared to last year's 109.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Time of India
‘Need to lower entrance exam stakes, reduce coaching burden': IIT-K prof Manindra Agrawal
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). 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 to gather 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.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
IIT-K turns SATHEE for Punjab govt school students as 85 crack JEE 2025
Kanpur: Eighty-five students from govt non-SOE (schools of excellence) schools in Punjab have cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2025, through SATHEE programme. This initiative, offering free mentoring and academic support, was created by IIT-Kanpur in partnership with the Union ministry of education. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials said that the number of successful candidates has risen by 74% compared to the previous year's figure of 49 qualifiers, crediting this improvement to SATHEE initiative. SATHEE, launched in 2023, offers an organised preparation regimen for competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET to students in govt schools across India. It includes live interactive classes, short-term crash courses and recorded lectures delivered by IIT faculty, alumni and senior students, as well as weekly practice tests, full-length mock examinations, personalised one-on-one mentoring sessions with IIT undergraduates and a study plan based on the Punjab School Education Board syllabus. Officials from the Punjab school education department credited the increase in successful candidates to the availability of high-quality, structured learning resources through SATHEE, bridging the gap between board curricula and the rigor of national-level entrance examinations. Keeping in line with the National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on mother-tongue instruction, IIT-K is now introducing Punjabi-dubbed lectures on SATHEE platform later this academic year. This initiative aims to make complex STEM concepts more accessible to first-generation learners and further enhance the reach and effectiveness of the platform. Prof Manindra Agrawal, director of IIT-K, said: "True progress in education happens when opportunities are made accessible to every talented student, regardless of background. We are proud to see the impact SATHEE initiative is making in Punjab and across the country." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Punjab, have also indicated plans to further expand outreach under SATHEE to ensure that more deserving students across the state can aspire and secure admissions in India's premier engineering institutes.
