No. 1 in engineering
What makes you the best among engineering colleges in India?
One of the best things that distinguishes IIT Delhi from [others] is its faculty. We follow a three-level reviewer selection process to recruit our faculty….
In the last four years, we have started nine new departments and centres. This means that we have created a new IIT within an existing IIT. Among the new centres are the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology that focuses on electric vehicles (EVs). We also have three new schools—School of Public Policy, School of Artificial Intelligence and the School for Interdisciplinary Research.
We have a dynamic process in place that keeps evolving…. Institutions have to emphasise on new things that are important in society today such as EVs. If we do not, then India will have to import all those technologies…. We are now recruiting at least 20 new faculty members in the EV space….
Any new innovations you have worked on?
During the pandemic, we have undertaken and licenced at least 13 innovations. For instance, we have the cheapest low-cost RT-PCR kit. We also developed a Rs50 antigen test. Around 70 lakh Kawach PPE suits, developed by IIT Delhi, have been sold until now. [Likewise,] N95 masks were very expensive and were not freely available. We launched masks under the Kawach brand for just Rs40, which met all the N95 specifications.
How do you see the academic year 2021-22?
During Covid times, we have pushed our infrastructure projects. Around 1.8 million square feet of new space [will be] handed over to us in 2021. It will ensure that when students come back, we will be able to maintain some social distancing. There are two new hostels coming up, and we are planning [another] one. A sports complex and a laboratory space are also coming up. A research and innovation park will be inaugurated soon. We hope to see at least 100 industries come and do their research on the campus.
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