India’s network of elite universities is known by the abbreviation IIT—Indian Institute of Technology.
There are 25 such universities in the country, all operating under a unified curriculum. In Kharagpur, the campus spans several dozen square kilometers, consisting of over a hundred buildings. It includes 19 departments (faculties), 60 research centers, two academies, four general education schools, dormitories, training and production sites, several stadiums and sports centers, dormitories, cafeterias, and even its own traffic controllers, who navigate the area on bicycles and scooters to manage the intense traffic flow.
It all began in 1951, immediately after India’s declaration of independence. It started with this typical British colonial building—a prison. This facility once held political prisoners and participants in numerous protests against the "white man's burden". Today, it houses a museum of history and technology.
In 2020, India adopted a National Education Policy with a declared goal—to become the most educated nation in the world by 2040. This is not just an aspiration for first place; it is a strategy to achieve an overwhelming lead with its 1.5 billion population. It bears resemblance to the Soviet Union’s revolutionary literacy campaign, which was successfully implemented by the mid-1930s. By 1961, Gagarin had flown into space, and Kennedy publicly acknowledged that this was entirely the achievement of the Russian education system. By prioritizing education, India aims to redefine its position among highly developed nations within the next 20 years.
And a crucial role in this process is played by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), particularly IIT Kharagpur. Today, 17,000 students pursue their education here—60% are undergraduates, 30% are master’s students, and 10% are doctoral candidates. They are guided by 850 faculty members, who, in addition to teaching, produce 350 patents annually, publish 3,000 research papers, and generate 37,000 citations.
We have already mentioned that getting admitted as a student here is incredibly difficult. The selection process consists of two written exams—the first is equivalent to Russia’s Unified State Exam (USE), and the second is an advanced-level test. Out of four million applicants, only 40,000 students are admitted across the entire IIT network, with 2,000 of them allocated to IIT Kharagpur. The second challenge is tuition fees, which amount to 200,000 rupees per year, while the average annual salary in India is 120,000 rupees. Without admission quotas, many students would simply be unable to afford higher education—but more on that later.
To become a faculty member and earn 100,000 rupees as an assistant professor (roughly the same in rubles) or 300,000 rupees as a senior professor, one must first secure admission to a master’s program, followed by doctoral studies. The selection process is rigorous: All universities in the country submit examination questions for the national doctoral entrance exam conducted by the Ministry of Education. The ministry selects the most challenging questions, which applicants must tackle. The second stage is a personal interview at the university. Competition ranges from 10 to 15 applicants per position, meaning admission is akin to winning a lottery ticket. Even after passing, another exam is required for a faculty position. But this is no surprise—knowledge bearers in India are considered the nation’s greatest asset.
Let’s take a look at the infrastructure. The Saint Petersburg delegation grew tired of constantly removing and putting on their shoes before entering the laboratories. Everything here is so sterile that it is hard to believe you are in a country often stereotyped as a symbol of unsanitary conditions in the minds of many Russians.
Here, for example, is the supercomputer, which has been allocated not only an entire building but also its own cooling and power supply systems. It even has its own name—PARAM Shakti. This powerful machine can almost instantly model various scenarios, from hurricane trajectories to resource deposit forecasts.
The supermicroscope at the Federal Shared Research Facility can examine materials down to the level of the crystal lattice. Nanotechnology specialists from across Asia, working on the development of new material properties, bring their samples here to get precise analyses—sometimes revealing that even a single missing atom could make a difference. In industries like space exploration, such imperfections are entirely unacceptable. Orders for its use are booked months in advance.
Another supermicroscope, which also functions as a spectral analysis device. In biomedicine, for example, it is used to compare tablets from different manufacturers. After plasma cleaning, a microparticle from each sample is analyzed to ensure it meets declared specifications. However, this device is also capable of analyzing core samples from ultra-deep boreholes to assess the efficiency of natural resource extraction.
Even in the "standard" laboratories of the Department of Geophysics, the equipment is so advanced that only faculty members and doctoral candidates are allowed to operate it. Students gain access only after six months of training.
And here is the Center for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Automation Research. The initial government investment amounted to half a billion rupees. From there, the center operates independently—either seeking contracts from enterprises or attracting clients thanks to its established reputation. For example, the center developed the "Smart Inspector" system for military ships, which assesses weld quality, detects corrosion, and identifies potential defects. The center’s director, Mr. Dhiraj Kumar, has a vision—to make artificial intelligence programs accessible to all of India's half a billion small enterprises. He believes it is achievable.
«There is significant potential for collaboration with Saint Petersburg Mining University in areas such as mass spectrometry for the exploration of rare earth materials, as well as determining the age and genesis of rock formations. The expertise of our colleagues in developing new materials at the atomic level for microelectronics, composite materials, and advanced alloys in metallurgy is also of great interest. Additionally, we can share valuable insights in the field of drilling fluids and enhanced oil recovery techniques.
A working model for such collaboration already exists at our university—developed through partnerships with Iran. Temporary research teams, composed of scientists, doctoral candidates, and students from both universities, work closely together on solving specific tasks in laboratories in Saint Petersburg and Shiraz», - said Evgeny Lyubin, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at Saint Petersburg Mining University.
The secret behind India’s scientific renaissance lies, as always, in its model. A doctoral student in a dual-degree program studies in Canada, Australia, or Germany. Upon returning, they bring both technical skills and insights into acquiring cutting-edge equipment tailored to industry needs and assembling specialized research teams. Proposals are evaluated and funded, leading to the establishment of self-sustaining research centers. The university earns 20% of the center’s profits, while the administration treats such individuals as "golden geese"—not just in terms of financial gain but in driving the country’s innovation and technological development.
Here are some additional key features of the "Kharagpur model" of education: Every student has a personal profile in a national database, giving potential employers a comprehensive view of their competencies. Professional retraining programs and additional competency courses are highly popular. All students—including those in the humanities—are required to complete coursework in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Great importance is placed on extracurricular and personal development activities for students. During the first two years of study, when fundamental natural sciences and socio-humanitarian disciplines are taught, every student is required to participate in student clubs and societies. There is a wide variety of options to choose from—foreign languages, sports, digital technologies, dance, choir, and many more. Failure to engage in these activities results in being ineligible for a diploma.
Here, they "return to the roots" of the traditional Indian education system—emphasizing individual mentorship and the study of Sanskrit, much like Latin was taught in pre-revolutionary Russian gymnasiums.
And finally, regarding quotas: At least 25% of admitted students must be female. At least 10% must come from low-income families. 20% of students must be from lower castes and nomadic tribes, many of whom receive free education.
Overall, around 50% of students at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are admitted through quota-based programs.
