IIT Kharagpur To Set Up India’s First Physical AI School With Focus On Robotics, Computational Engineering

Last Updated:October 27, 2026, 11:34 IST

The Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI aims to advance research, education and innovation in artificial intelligence that can interact with the physical world.

IIT Kharagpur director’s message emphasised institutional support for students during difficult periods. (File Photo)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has announced the establishment of the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI with an investment of Rs 35 crore. It aims to advance research, education and innovation in artificial intelligence that can interact with the physical world.

According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB), IIT Kharagpur has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its alumnus and philanthropist Vinod Gupta and the IITKGP Foundation USA to establish the school. The institute describes it as India’s first dedicated academic school focused on Physical AI.

The Rs 35-crore initiative will receive Rs 12.5 crore from the Vinod Gupta family and Rs 10 crore from an alumnus who wishes to remain anonymous. IIT Kharagpur will contribute the remaining amount.

The funding will support infrastructure for the Department of Artificial Intelligence and related interdisciplinary academic and research activities. The school will be named in memory of Vinod Gupta’s late son, Benjamin Gupta.

What Is Physical AI?

Unlike conventional AI applications that primarily process data, recognise patterns and make predictions, Physical AI focuses on developing intelligent systems that can understand and interact with real-world environments. It combines artificial intelligence with physical principles, engineering knowledge, real-world sensing, experimentation and intelligent control.

The proposed school will focus on areas such as physics-informed machine learning, scientific AI, digital twins, intelligent robotics, autonomous systems, advanced sensing, computational engineering and AI-enabled experimentation.

Its research will explore applications across advanced manufacturing, energy systems, climate and environmental technologies, agriculture, healthcare, medical devices, intelligent infrastructure and next-generation engineering systems. The institute also aims to develop AI technologies that are reliable, explainable and responsible, particularly in safety-critical applications.

IIT Kharagpur Physical AI School: Courses And Programmes

Academic programmes are expected to begin in the upcoming academic session, subject to the required approvals. Proposed offerings include hybrid-mode master’s programmes, executive education, professional certification courses and specialised interdisciplinary learning modules.

The programmes are intended for students, researchers, working professionals, industry technologists and graduates from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine.

The school is envisioned as a platform for advanced learning and professional upskilling, enabling engineers, scientists and medical professionals to combine their existing subject knowledge with contemporary AI capabilities. Its approach will include hybrid learning, interdisciplinary projects, industry-linked problem-solving, laboratory exposure and domain-specific AI applications.

IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty said the next major development in artificial intelligence would involve transforming how people understand, engineer and interact with the physical world.

“Our vision is to move beyond treating AI as a black-box solution,” Chakraborty said. He added that engineers, scientists and medical professionals would need to combine algorithmic intelligence with an understanding of physics, scientific principles and clinical or biological knowledge.

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What is the total investment amount for IIT Kharagpur’s Physical AI school?

The establishment of the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI at IIT Kharagpur involves a total investment of Rs 35 crore. This funding is supported by contributions from the Vinod Gupta family, an anonymous alumnus, and the institute itself.

How does Physical AI differ from conventional artificial intelligence?

Unlike conventional AI that primarily processes data and digital applications, Physical AI focuses on intelligent systems that can understand and interact with the physical world by incorporating scientific principles and real-world sensing.

Who are the targeted participants for the academic programs at the new school?

The school’s academic programmes cater to students, researchers, working professionals, and industry technologists from fields such as engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, and medicine.

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