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The Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT Delhi) is strengthening its focus on research, innovation and responsible technology use to prepare students for the future. In an exclusive interaction with News18, Director Prof. Ranjan Bose outlined how the institute is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into learning, expanding research areas and offering one of the most competitive PhD fellowships in the country. “IIIT Delhi has always aimed to be a research-led university, and our new initiatives are designed to attract bright minds who want to solve real-world problems through technology,” said Prof. Bose. Responsible Use Of AI In Classrooms and Exams With AI tools like ChatGPT becoming increasingly popular among students, IIIT Delhi has adopted a progressive approach toward their use. “We are not banning AI in any way,” said Prof. Bose. “Instead, we are teaching students how to use it responsibly. The goal is to help them become better creators, thinkers, and innovators rather than passive consumers of technology.” The institute is now exploring ways to assess how students use AI tools during assignments and projects. This includes evaluating their interaction with AI — such as the prompts they use and how they refine responses. “We’re interested not just in the final output but also in the thinking process behind it. This is where real learning happens,” Prof. Bose explained. To make AI use more transparent and accountable, students will now be required to submit the prompts they used along with their final answers. “This will help teachers understand how students are approaching problems and using AI to solve them. We’ll also make it mandatory for students to mention if they used any AI tool and take full responsibility for the final output,” he added. Boost For Research And Doctoral Studies The institute is offering PhD fellowships of up to Rs 60,000 per month to attract top research talent. Prof. Bose said the enhanced stipend is intended to make pursuing doctoral studies more appealing to students who might otherwise choose corporate roles. “We realised that to retain talent within the academic and research ecosystem, we must make PhD programmes financially sustainable. The idea is to give students the freedom to focus entirely on their research without worrying about basic expenses,” he explained. IIIT Delhi has also expanded its interdisciplinary research centres, covering emerging domains such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and health informatics. These centres aim to bring together faculty and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on socially relevant projects. Focus On Innovation And Entrepreneurship IIIT Delhi has built a strong innovation and incubation ecosystem, encouraging students and faculty to convert their ideas into tangible solutions. “We support start-ups through mentorship, incubation, and access to resources. Our aim is to ensure that innovation doesn’t stop at the lab but reaches the market and benefits society,” Prof. Bose said. Several student-led start-ups from IIIT Delhi have already made a mark in sectors like fintech, healthcare, and edtech. The institute is also working closely with industry partners to promote collaborative research and internships. ALSO READ: ‘Research, Innovation & Patents Are Key To India’s Education Future’: Amitabh Kant | Exclusive Looking ahead, IIIT Delhi plans to strengthen its global collaborations and expand opportunities for student exchange and joint research. “We’re building partnerships with top international institutions to provide our students with exposure to global standards in research and innovation,” Prof. Bose added. He concluded that the institute’s vision is to produce technologists and researchers who can contribute meaningfully to India’s growth story. “We want to nurture responsible innovators — people who not only build technology but also think deeply about its societal impact,” he said.
