Announcements
IIT Kharagpur to Establish India's First Physical AI School with ₹35 Crore Investment
Published on
27 October 2026
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is set to establish India's first dedicated academic school focused on Physical Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a proposed investment of ₹35 crore. The new institution, named the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI, aims to advance research and education in technologies that combine artificial intelligence with physics, engineering, biological sciences and real-world applications.
The announcement was made on October 26, 2026, following the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Kharagpur, its alumnus and philanthropist Vinod Gupta, and the IITKGP Foundation USA. The initiative is intended to expand the institute's capabilities in AI research while creating opportunities for interdisciplinary academic programmes and technology development.
Unlike conventional AI applications that primarily process digital information, Physical AI focuses on intelligent systems capable of understanding, interacting with and controlling the physical world. Source: Ministry of Education, Government of India.
The proposed school will receive financial support from alumni contributions and IIT Kharagpur itself. The announced funding arrangement includes:
The school has been named in memory of Benjamin Gupta, the late son of Vinod Gupta. The investment will support dedicated infrastructure for the institute's Department of Artificial Intelligence, along with interdisciplinary academic and research activities.
The project reflects the role of alumni contributions in supporting specialised research facilities and emerging academic areas at higher education institutions. Source: IIT Kharagpur announcement reported by The Indian Express.
Most familiar AI applications work with digital information. Examples include chatbots, image recognition systems, recommendation engines and software that analyses large datasets.
Physical AI takes this concept further by connecting artificial intelligence with physical systems and scientific principles. It involves developing intelligent machines and technologies that can sense their surroundings, understand physical conditions, make decisions and interact with real-world environments.
For example, an intelligent robot operating in a manufacturing facility must understand its surroundings, recognise objects, respond to changes and perform physical tasks safely. Similarly, an autonomous system needs to process sensor information and make decisions while accounting for real-world conditions.
Physical AI therefore combines computational intelligence with physics, engineering, sensing technologies and intelligent control. Its applications could extend to industrial automation, healthcare, agriculture, energy systems and advanced manufacturing.
According to the Ministry of Education's announcement, the proposed school will focus on several emerging areas of research and technology development.
1. Physics-informed machine learning
This approach combines machine learning with established scientific principles and physical laws. It can help develop models that produce predictions consistent with the underlying behaviour of real-world systems.
2. Scientific AI
Scientific AI involves applying artificial intelligence to research, experimentation, scientific modelling and complex problem-solving. It can support researchers in analysing information and exploring scientific questions.
3. Digital twins and computational engineering
Digital twins are virtual representations of physical objects, processes or systems. They can be used to simulate performance, monitor operations and study possible changes before implementing them in real environments.
4. Intelligent robotics and autonomous systems
The school will explore intelligent machines capable of sensing their surroundings, making decisions and performing tasks with varying levels of independence. These technologies have potential applications in manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and other sectors.
5. Advanced sensing and AI-enabled experimentation
Advanced sensing technologies help intelligent systems collect information from their surroundings. AI-enabled experimentation can use this information to support scientific testing, analysis and the development of new technologies.
The research agenda also includes computational engineering and applications across areas such as healthcare, agriculture, energy, environmental technologies and intelligent infrastructure. Source: Ministry of Education.
The proposed school is expected to support academic programmes for students, researchers and working professionals from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine.
The institute intends to use flexible hybrid learning, interdisciplinary projects, industry-linked problem-solving and laboratory exposure to connect AI capabilities with specialised subject knowledge.
This approach could be relevant to professionals who already have expertise in a particular field but want to develop additional AI skills. For example, an engineering graduate may explore intelligent robotics, while someone from a life sciences or medical background could study AI applications in diagnostics, biological research and healthcare technologies.
However, the academic programmes are expected to begin in the upcoming academic session subject to the necessary approvals. Specific course names, eligibility requirements, fees, admission procedures and application deadlines should not be assumed until the institute publishes formal details.
A major objective of the initiative is to move beyond treating AI as a black-box technology. IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty has emphasised the importance of combining algorithmic capabilities with fundamental scientific understanding and domain-specific knowledge.
This is particularly important in applications where incorrect predictions or system failures can have serious consequences.
For instance, an autonomous machine operating in an industrial environment must respond reliably to changing physical conditions. Similarly, AI-supported healthcare technologies need to work alongside medical and biological understanding rather than replace professional judgement.
The school will therefore focus on developing AI systems that are reliable, explainable, safe and responsible, especially in safety-critical applications.
IIT Kharagpur also plans to build partnerships with companies, healthcare institutions, research laboratories, start-ups and international organisations.
These collaborations are expected to support research, technology development and professional reskilling. They could also help translate academic research into practical solutions for industries that are increasingly adopting intelligent systems.
The initiative highlights a growing shift in AI education: future professionals may need more than programming knowledge or the ability to use AI applications. They will also need a strong understanding of the physical, scientific or professional environments in which these technologies operate.
For students considering engineering, computer science, robotics or interdisciplinary research, the development of specialised Physical AI education could create additional opportunities to explore emerging technology fields.
