IIT Kharagpur to build India's first Physical AI school with Rs 35 crore
By TUF News Desk · Published 27 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
Rs 35 crore will go into a new school at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur devoted to a branch of artificial intelligence that works in the physical world. The institute announced the Benjamin Gupta School of Physical AI on Monday, October 26, and described it as India’s first dedicated academic school in the field.
The school is named in memory of Benjamin Gupta, the late son of alumnus and philanthropist Vinod Gupta. It will house the institute’s Department of Artificial Intelligence and support interdisciplinary academic and research work.
The deal behind the school
The school comes out of a three-way agreement between IIT Kharagpur, Vinod Gupta and the IITKGP Foundation USA. Of the Rs 35 crore total, Rs 12.5 crore comes from the Vinod Gupta family and Rs 10 crore from an alumnus who has chosen to remain anonymous. The institute will fund the rest.
That funding split matters for how fast the school can take shape. The money is earmarked for dedicated infrastructure for the Department of Artificial Intelligence and related interdisciplinary work, so the school starts with a building and a department behind it rather than only a plan on paper.
What Physical AI actually means
Most AI systems students meet today work with data: they analyse text, images or numbers and produce a prediction or an answer. Physical AI covers systems that also have to deal with the physical world, using scientific principles, real-world sensing and intelligent control to understand and interact with their surroundings.
The school will work on physics-informed machine learning, scientific AI, digital twins, intelligent robotics, autonomous systems, advanced sensing and AI-enabled experimentation. The stated aim is technology that is reliable, explainable and responsible in safety-critical settings, where physical accuracy, robustness and accountability count for more than a good score on a test set.
For students, that points to a different skill mix. Alongside coding and modelling, the work needs physics, engineering and domain knowledge from fields like medicine, agriculture and manufacturing, where a wrong output has consequences beyond the screen.
What students can expect
Academic programmes are expected to begin in the upcoming session, subject to necessary approvals. Proposed offerings include hybrid-mode master’s programmes, executive education, professional certification and specialised interdisciplinary modules. They are aimed at students, researchers and working professionals from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine.
IIT Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty said: “Artificial intelligence has transformed the way we process information. Its next great leap will be in transforming the way we understand, engineer and interact with the physical world.”
No admission dates, fees or seat numbers have been announced yet. Students interested in the programmes should watch the official IIT Kharagpur website for the formal notification once approvals are in place. Those still weighing where to apply can use our guide to choosing a university in India to compare programmes before a new school like this opens admissions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Physical AI?
Physical AI covers intelligent systems that sense and act in the real world, combining scientific principles, real-world sensing and intelligent control, rather than working only with data and software.
How is the IIT Kharagpur Physical AI school funded?
The Rs 35 crore project gets Rs 12.5 crore from the Vinod Gupta family and Rs 10 crore from an anonymous alumnus, with IIT Kharagpur funding the remaining amount.
When will programmes at the new school start?
Academic programmes are expected from the upcoming academic session, subject to necessary approvals. The institute has proposed hybrid-mode master’s programmes, executive education and professional certification.
Who is the school meant for?
Students, researchers and working professionals from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine, with an emphasis on combining domain knowledge with AI skills.
Frequently asked questions
What is Physical AI?
Physical AI covers intelligent systems that sense and act in the real world, combining scientific principles, real-world sensing and intelligent control, rather than working only with data and software.
How is the IIT Kharagpur Physical AI school funded?
The Rs 35 crore project gets Rs 12.5 crore from the Vinod Gupta family and Rs 10 crore from an anonymous alumnus, with IIT Kharagpur funding the remaining amount.
When will programmes at the new school start?
Academic programmes are expected from the upcoming academic session, subject to necessary approvals. The institute has proposed hybrid-mode master's programmes, executive education and professional certification.
Who is the school meant for?
Students, researchers and working professionals from engineering, physical sciences, life sciences and medicine, with an emphasis on combining domain knowledge with AI skills.
Sources: Business Standard (PTI), The Telegraph, The Statesman