IIT Kharagpur signs pact for ₹35 crore Physical AI school

IIT Kharagpur has signed an agreement with alumnus Vinod Gupta and IITKGP Foundation USA to establish the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI, according to an October 26 Education Ministry release. The ₹35 crore initiative would connect artificial intelligence with physics, engineering and other disciplines to develop systems that can operate in the physical world.

The proposed school is an institutional and funding announcement. Academic programmes are expected from the upcoming academic session, subject to the required academic approvals; the release does not announce an open admissions window.

Funding and infrastructure

The initiative includes ₹12.5 crore from the Vinod Gupta family and ₹10 crore from an unnamed alumnus. IIT Kharagpur will provide the balance. The investment is intended to support infrastructure for the Department of Artificial Intelligence and related interdisciplinary work. The school will be named in memory of Benjamin Gupta, Vinod Gupta’s late son.

What physical AI would cover

The planned research areas include physics-informed machine learning, digital twins, robotics, autonomous systems, sensing and AI-enabled experimentation. The institute envisages applications in manufacturing, energy, agriculture, environmental technologies, healthcare and infrastructure. These are proposed research directions, not announcements of completed products or clinically validated tools.

The approach would combine data-driven AI with scientific knowledge and constraints such as physical laws, safety and system behaviour. The release also emphasises explainability and accountability in applications where failures could have serious consequences.

Proposed learning options

Potential offerings include hybrid-mode master’s programmes, executive education, professional certification and interdisciplinary modules. They are intended for students, researchers and working professionals across engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine. All remain subject to academic approval.

The ministry describes the school as India’s first dedicated academic school for Physical AI. That description is attributed to the announcement. Applicants will still need a subsequent approved programme and admissions notice for authoritative course, eligibility and application details.