View source for IIT Kanpur

{{short description|Research Institute in Kanpur, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
 | native_name            = 
 | image                  = IIT Kanpur Logo.svg
 | image_size             = 200px
 | caption                = 
 | motto                  = [[Sanskrit]]: ''Tamaso mā jyotirgamaya''
 | mottoeng               = From darkness, lead me to light
 | established            = {{start date and age|1959}}
 | budget                 = {{INRConvert|853|c}} (2025 - 2026)<ref>https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/data/Finance_Officer_Office/Budget-Allocation-under-Support-to-IITs-Scheme-for-the-F-Y-2025-26-29-04-25.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=July 2025}}</ref>
 | chairman               = [[Koppillil Radhakrishnan]]
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[Institute of technology]]
 | director               = [[Manindra Agrawal]]
 | city                   = [[Kalyanpur, Uttar Pradesh]]
 | country                = India {{flagicon|India}}
 | academic_staff         = 655<ref name=nirf_2024_data>{{cite web |title=NIRF 2024 |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/nirfpdfcdn/2024/pdf/Overall/IR-O-I-1075.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref>
 | students               = 8,346<ref name=nirf_2024_data/>
 | undergrad              = 4,410<ref name=nirf_2024_data/>
 | postgrad               = 1,808<ref name=nirf_2024_data/>
 | doctoral               = 2,128<ref name=nirf_2024_data/>
 | colours                = {{color box|blue}}{{color box|silver}} Blue & silver
 | sports_nickname        = IITians, Kanpur-IITians
 | campus                 = Urban, {{convert|1055|acre}}
 | affiliations           = 
 | website                = {{URL|http://www.iitk.ac.in/|iitk.ac.in}}
 | logo                   = [[File:Iitk-wordmark.svg|250px]]
 | logo_upright           = 22
}}

The '''Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur''' ('''IIT Kanpur''' or '''IITK''') is a [[Public university|public]] [[institute of technology]] located in [[Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh]], India. As an [[Indian Institute of Technology]] (IIT), it was declared an [[Institute of National Importance]] by the [[Government of India]] under the [[Institutes of Technology Act]]. As of January 2025, at least 17 [[Padma Shri]], 4 [[Padma Bhushan]], 1 [[Padma Vibhushan]], and 33 [[Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize]] recipients have been affiliated with IIT Kanpur as alumni or faculty members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni Awards and Honours|url=https://iitk.ac.in/dora/career.php|publisher=IIT Kanpur|access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Shri for Prof. Ashutosh Sharma|url=https://x.com/IITKanpur/status/1883200935117398282|access-date=26 January 2025|website=x.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Shri for Dr. Pawan Goenka |url=https://x.com/IITKanpur/status/1883397062508883999|access-date=26 January 2025|website=x.com}}</ref>
[[File:IIT Kanpur.jpg|thumb|PK Kelkar Library at IIT Kanpur]]

==History==
IIT Kanpur was established by an Act of [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] in 1960 by the Government of India. The institute was started in December 1959, initially in the campus of [[Harcourt Butler Technological Institute]] at Agricultural Gardens in Kanpur. In 1963, the institute moved to its present location, on the [[Grand Trunk Road]] near Kalyanpur locality in Kanpur district.<ref>{{cite web|title=IITK History|url=http://iitk.ac.in/new/iitk-history|publisher=Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404175309/https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/iitk-history|url-status=live}}</ref> The campus, which is planned and landscaped with the goal of environmental freedom, ease of movement and communication, was designed by [[Achyut Kanvinde]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History - IIT Kanpur|url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/iitk-history}}</ref>

During the first ten years of its existence, a consortium of nine US universities (namely [[MIT]], [[University of California, Berkeley|University of California at Berkeley]], [[California Institute of Technology]], [[Princeton University]], [[Carnegie Mellon University]], [[University of Michigan]], [[Ohio State University]],
[[Case Western Reserve University]] and [[Purdue University]]) helped set up IIT Kanpur's research laboratories and academic programmes under the Kanpur Indo-American Programme (KIAP).<ref name="History">{{cite web
 |last        = Kelkar
 |first       = P.K.
 |date        = 17 March 2006
 |url         = http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/iitk/newhtml/history.htm
 |title       = IIT Kanpur&nbsp;— History
 |publisher   = IIT Kanpur
 |access-date  = 27 May 2006
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091010172800/http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/iitk/newhtml/history.htm
 |archive-date = 10 October 2009}}</ref> The first director of the institute was [[P. K. Kelkar]] (after whom the Central Library was renamed in 2002).<ref name="Desk">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=28 March 2014 |title=Know IIT Kanpur's journey, from a canteen to India's swanky biotech centre |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/latest-news-iit-kanpur-journey-canteen-to-biotech-centre-34907.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220181437/https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/latest-news-iit-kanpur-journey-canteen-to-biotech-centre-34907.html |archive-date=20 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019 |website=indiatvnews.com}}</ref>

Under the guidance of economist [[John Kenneth Galbraith]], IIT Kanpur was the first institute in India to offer [[Computer science]] education.<ref name="Desk"/><ref>E.C. Subbarao: ''An Eye for Excellence, Fifty Innovative Years of IIT Kanpur''; Harper Collins Publishers, India, 2008.</ref> The earliest computer course was started at the institute in August 1963 on an [[IBM 1620]] system. The initiative for computer education came from the [[Electrical engineering]] department, then under the chairmanship of Prof. [[H.K. Kesavan]], who was concurrently the chairman of Electrical Engineering and head of the Computer Centre. Prof. [[Harry Huskey]] of the [[University of California, Berkeley]], who preceded Kesavan, helped<ref name="Desk"/> with the computer activity at IIT-Kanpur.<ref name="Desk"/> In 1971, the institute began an independent academic program in Computer Science and Engineering, leading to MTech and PhD degrees.<ref name="Desk"/>

In 1972 the KIAP program ended, in part because of political tensions between India and Pakistan (as the USA supported Pakistan). Government funding was also reduced as a reaction to the sentiment that the IIT's were contributing to the [[human capital flight|brain drain]].

The institute's annual technical festival, [[Techkriti]], was first started in 1995.

==Campus==
{{wide image|IIT Kanpur 3.jpg|350px|IIT Kanpur Entrance from [[GT Road]]}}
IIT Kanpur is located on the [[Grand Trunk Road]], {{convert|15|km}} west of Kanpur City and measures close to {{convert|420|ha}}. This land was donated by the Government of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in 1960 and by March 1963 the institute had moved to its current location.
[[File:IITKLibrary.jpg|thumb|PK Kelkar Library]]
The institute has around 6478 students with 3938 undergraduate students and 2540 postgraduate students and about 500 research associates.

The academic area comprises the central library, departmental buildings, research centres, lecture hall complex, tutorial block and auditorium. The student hostels and other facilities like Student Activities Centre (SAC), Sports Complex lie outside the academic area. There are 15 Halls of Residence which are allotted to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. Additionally, married research scholars are allotted Single Bedroom Apartment (SBRA) facility on campus.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.iitk.ac.in/dosa/wardens-of-all-halls-of-residences|title= Dean of Student Affairs - Halls of Residence|access-date= 25 November 2023|archive-date= 25 November 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231125194317/https://www.iitk.ac.in/dosa/wardens-of-all-halls-of-residences|url-status= live}}</ref>

===Noida Extension centre===
IIT Kanpur has its Extension Centre in [[Noida]] with a small convention centre there for supporting outreach activities. Its foundation was laid on 4 December 2012 on 5 five acres of land allocated by Uttar Pradesh state government in the sector-62<ref>{{cite web | url=https://maps.google.co.in/maps?q=sector+62+noida&amp;hl=en&amp;ll=28.621634,77.367697&amp;spn=0.031606,0.066047&amp;sll=26.629195,73.873558&amp;sspn=16.435889,33.815918&amp;t=m&amp;hnear=Sector+62,+Noida,+Gautam+Buddh+Nagar,+Uttar+Pradesh&amp;z=15sector-62 | title=Google Maps }}</ref> of Noida city, which is less than an hour's journey from [[New Delhi]] and the [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]]. The cost of construction is estimated to be about 25 crores. The new campus will have an auditorium, seminar halls for organising national and international conferences and an International Relations Office along with a 7-storey guest house. Several short-term management courses and refresher courses meant for distance learning will be available at the extension center.<ref>{{cite web |title=News from IITK |url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/drpg/social_media/Greeting_2012.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202100045/http://www.iitk.ac.in/drpg/social_media/Greeting_2012.htm |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

===Transportation service===
Being a major industrial town, Kanpur has good connectivity by rail and by road, but lags behind in terms of air connectivity. IIT Kanpur was suffering significantly in comparison to IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay due to this reason as far as visiting companies and other dignitaries are concerned. On 1 June 2013, a helicopter ferry service was started at IIT Kanpur run by [[Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited]]. In its initial run the service connects IIT Kanpur to Lucknow, but it is planned to later extend it to New Delhi. Currently{{when|date=April 2015}}  there are two flights daily to and from [[Lucknow Airport]] with a duration of 25 minutes. Lucknow Airport operates both international and domestic flights to major cities. IIT Kanpur is the first academic institution in the country to provide such a service.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.iitk.ac.in/aero/home/index.php/latest-news/199-iit-kanpur-to-lucknow-helicopter-service-begins|title= Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur – IIT-Kanpur to Lucknow Helicopter Service Begins|work= Iitk.ac.in|date= 9 October 2013|access-date= 28 June 2013|archive-date= 12 June 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130612023859/http://www.iitk.ac.in/aero/home/index.php/latest-news/199-iit-kanpur-to-lucknow-helicopter-service-begins|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/IIT-Kanpur-first-to-have-helicopter-service/articleshow/20341567.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608212950/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-30/news/39627988_1_helicopter-service-chakeri-air-connectivity |url-status=live |archive-date=8 June 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=IIT-Kanpur first to have helicopter service |date=30 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spo.iitk.ac.in/reach_us.html|title=Students' Placement Office, IIT Kanpur|website=spo.iitk.ac.in|access-date=12 September 2016|archive-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913123022/http://spo.iitk.ac.in/reach_us.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The estimated charges are Rs. 6000 (US$100) per person. If anyone would like to avail the facility, he/she has to contact the Student Placement Office (SPO) at IIT Kanpur, since the helicopter service is subject to availability of chopper rights. The campus also has airstrips which allows flight workshops and joyrides for students.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Dreams-take-wings-at-IIT-Kanpur-workshop/articleshow/45863273.cms|title=Dreams take wings at IIT-Kanpur workshop|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-03-07|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215022147/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Kanpur/Dreams-take-wings-at-IIT-Kanpur-workshop/articleshow/45863273.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Currently [[Kanpur Airport]] has a domestic airport terminal at [[Chakeri]], with flight connectivity to New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru airports.

The IIT campus has links to the [[Kanpur Metro]] at [[IIT Kanpur metro station]]. The Metro links the campus to [[Kanpur Central railway station]].

===New York Office===
The institute has set up an office in [[New York City|New York]] with alumnus Sanjiv Khosla designated as the overseas brand ambassador of the institute. It is located at 62 [[William Street, Manhattan]]. The office aims to hunt for qualified and capable faculty abroad, facilitate internship opportunities in North American universities and be conduit for research tie ups with various US universities.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://nyc.iitk.ac.in/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180724093441/https://nyc.iitk.ac.in/| archive-date = 24 July 2018| title = IITK-NYC Office}}</ref> The New York Office also tries to amass funds through the alumni based there. A system that invites students and faculty of foreign institutes to IIT Kanpur is also being formulated.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/iit-kanpur-opens-office-in-new-york/articleshow/22939102.cms|title=IIT-Kanpur opens office in New York - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=23 September 2013 }}</ref>

==Organisation and administration==
===Governance===
{{see also|Indian Institutes of Technology#Organisational structure}}
All IITs follow the same organization structure which has the [[President of India]] as the visitor at the top of the hierarchy. Directly under the president is the IIT Council. Under the IIT Council is the board of governors of each IIT. Under the board of governors is the director, who is the chief academic and executive officer of the IIT. Under the director, in the organizational structure, comes the deputy director. Under the director and the deputy director, come the [[Dean (education)|deans]], the heads of various departments, and the registrar.

===Departments===
The academic departments at IIT Kanpur are:
{| style="width:auto; height:auto; margin:auto;" class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Engineering]] !! [[Humanities]] !! [[Interdisciplinarity|Inter-Disciplinary]] 
|-
|
* [[Aerospace Engineering]]
* [[Bioengineering|Biological Sciences and Bio-engineering]]
* [[Chemical Engineering]]
* [[Civil Engineering]]
* [[Computer Science and Engineering]]
* [[Electrical Engineering]]
* [[Materials Science and Engineering]]
* [[Mechanical Engineering]]
* [[Energy Engineering|Sustainable Energy Engineering]]

|
* [[Humanities]] and [[Social Sciences]]

| rowspan="3" |
* [[Cognitive Science]]
* [[Environmental Engineering|Environmental Engineering and Management]]
* [[Photonics|Photonics Science and Engineering]]
* [[Design]]
* [[Material Science]]
* [[Nuclear engineering|Nuclear Engineering and Technology]]
|-
! [[Sciences]] !! [[Management]]
|-
|

* [[Economic Sciences]]
* [[Mathematics]] and [[Statistics]]
* [[Physics]]
* [[Earth Sciences]]
* [[Chemistry]]
|
* [[Management Sciences]]
|}

==Academics==
[[File:Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.jpg|thumb|IIT Kanpur Faculty Building]]

===Undergraduate===
IIT Kanpur offers four-year [[BTech|B.Tech]] programs in [[aerospace engineering]], biological sciences and bio-engineering, chemical engineering, [[civil engineering]], [[computer science and engineering]], electrical engineering, materials science and engineering and mechanical engineering. The admission to these programs is procured through [[Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination|Joint Entrance Examination]]. IITK offers admission only to bachelor's degree now (discontinuing the integrated course programs), but it can be extended by 1 year to make it integrated, depending on the choice of student and based on his/her performance there at undergraduate level. IIT Kanpur also offers four-year B.S. Programs in Pure and Applied Sciences (Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry in particular), Earth Science and Economics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa |title=Dean of Academic Affairs – IITK – Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur |publisher=IITK |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612082415/http://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===New academic system===
[[File:ESB-2 IIT Kanpur.jpg|thumb|271x271px|Engineering Sciences Building-2 IIT Kanpur]]
From 2011, IIT Kanpur has started offering a four-year BS program in sciences and has kept its BTech Program intact. Entry to the five-year MTech/MBA programs and Dual degree programme will be done based on the CPI of students instead of JEE rank.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/faqs.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425021730/http://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/faqs.pdf |url-status=dead |title=FAQ on the new academic curriculum|archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref> In order to reduce the number of student exams, IIT Kanpur has also abolished the earlier system of conducting two mid-term examinations. Instead, only two examinations (plus two quizzes in most courses depending on the instructor-in-charge, one before mid-semesters and the other after the mid-semesters and before the end-semesters examination), one between the semester and other towards the end of it would be held from the academic session starting July 2011 onward as per Academic Review Committee's recommendations.

===Postgraduate===
Postgraduate courses in Engineering offer Master of Technology (MTech), MS (R) and PhD(Doctor of Philosophy) degrees. The institute also offers two-tier MSc (Master of Science) courses in areas of basic sciences in which students are admitted through Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM) exam. The institute also offers M.Des. (2 years), M.B.A. (2 years) and MSc (2 years) degrees. Admissions to MTech is made once a year through [[Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering]]. Admissions to M. Des are made once a year through both [[Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering]] (GATE) and Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED). Until 2011, admissions to the M.B.A. program were accomplished through the [[Joint Management Entrance Test]] (JMET), held yearly, and followed by a Group Discussion/Personal Interview process. In 2011, JMET was replaced by [[Common Admission Test]] (CAT).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/shot-inarm-for-cat-as-b-schools-seek-credibility/447694/ |title= Shot in the arm for CAT, as B-schools seek credibility |work= Business Standard |access-date= 11 September 2011 |archive-date= 12 March 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120312174631/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/shot-inarm-for-cat-as-b-schools-seek-credibility/447694/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/design/apply.html|title=Design Programme IIT Kanpur|first=Design|last=Programme|website=iitk.ac.in|access-date=11 November 2013|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111195208/http://www.iitk.ac.in/design/apply.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Admissions===
Undergraduate admissions until 2012 were being done through the national-level [[Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination]] (IIT-JEE). Following the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Ministry of Human Resource Development]]'s decision to replace IIT-JEE with a [[common engineering entrance examination]], IIT Kanpur's admissions are now based on JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) -Advanced level along with other IITs.

Postgraduate admissions are made through the [[Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering]] and [[Common Admission Test]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/iitk/newhtml/admissions.htm |title=Admission to IIT Kanpur |publisher=Iitk.ac.in |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524004315/http://www.iitk.ac.in/infocell/iitk/newhtml/admissions.htm |archive-date=24 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rankings===

{{Infobox India university ranking
| type = University
<!----------International---------->
| QS_A_2023 = 66
<!----------India------------->
|QS_W_2026=222|NIRF_O_2024=5|NIRF_R_2024=7| QS_INDIA_2020 = 6
<!----------Engineering---------->
|NIRF_E_2024=4|NIRF_B_2024=29| IT_E_2022 = 3
| OUTLOOK_E_G_2022 = 5
}}

Internationally, IIT Kanpur was ranked 222nd<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-15 |title=QS World University Rankings 2026: Top global universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |access-date= |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref> in the world by the [[QS World University Rankings]] of 2026 and 6th in India.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-19 |title=QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT Delhi leads the way, see the full list of Indian universities and their rankings |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/qs-world-rankings-2026-iit-delhi-leads-the-way-see-the-full-list-of-indian-universities-and-their-rankings/articleshow/121944658.cms |access-date= |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

IIT Kanpur was also ranked 5th in the overall category,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=India Rankings 2024 : Overall |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/OverallRanking.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=National Institutional Ranking Framework}}</ref> 5th in Innovation Category,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=India Rankings 2024 : Innovation |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/InnovationRanking.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=National Institutional Ranking Framework}}</ref> 7th among research institutions,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=India Rankings 2024 : Research Institutions |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/ResearchRanking.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=National Institutional Ranking Framework}}</ref> 4th among engineering colleges<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=India Rankings 2024 : Engineering |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/EngineeringRanking.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=National Institutional Ranking Framework}}</ref> and 29th among management schools<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=India Rankings 2024 : Management |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/Rankings/2024/ManagementRanking.html |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=National Institutional Ranking Framework}}</ref> in India by the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) in 2024. ''[[Outlook India]]'' ranked IIT Kanpur 5th among government engineering colleges<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-30 |title=Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2023: Top 25 Government Engineering Institutes |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/education/outlook-icare-rankings-2023-top-25-government-engineering-institutes-magazine-299108 |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Outlook India |language=en}}</ref> In [[India Today]] Best Engineering Colleges 2024, IIT Kanpur was ranked 3rd.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Top Engineering Colleges in India 2024, Courses, Fees, Admission - India Today |url=https://bestcolleges.indiatoday.in/rankings/engineering |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Centres and labs==
[[File:Department of Computer Science and Engineering IIT Kanpur.jpg|thumb|Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur]]
[[File:Samtel Research and Development Building, at IIT Kanpur.jpg|thumb|Samtel Research and Development Building]]

The campus is spread over an area of {{convert|4.3|km2|acre}}. The institute has its own [[Flight Laboratory, IIT Kanpur|airfield]] for flight testing and gliding. The departments have their own libraries, laboratories and research facilities including the National Wind Tunnel Facility.

Research centres at IIT Kanpur include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/centres-and-facilities |title=Centres and Facilities |publisher=IITK |access-date=14 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114223046/https://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/centres-and-facilities |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Advanced Centre for Electronic Systems (ACES)
* Advanced Centre for Material Science (ACMS)
* Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering
* Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies
* Centre for Lasers and Photonics
* Centre for Mechatronics
* Centre for Nanosciences
* Centre for Technology for Sustainable Development
* DIA Centre for Excellence
* Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defense of Critical Infrastructures
* Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine
* National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering
* Prabhu Goel Research Centre for Computer and Internet Security
* Samtel Centre for Display Technologies

PK Kelkar Library (formerly Central Library) is an academic library of the institute with a collection of more than 300,000 volumes, and subscriptions to more than 1,000 periodicals. The library was renamed to its present name in 2003 after Dr. [[P K Kelkar]], the first director of the institute. It is housed in a three-story building, with a total floor area of 6973 square metres. The Abstracting and Indexing periodicals, Microform and CD-ROM databases, technical reports, Standards and thesis are in the library. Each year, about 4,500 books and journal volumes are added to the library.
[[File:Computer Center at IIT Kanpur India1.jpg|thumb|The Computer Lab]]
The New Core Labs (NCL) is 3-storey building with state of the art physics and chemistry laboratories for courses in the first year. The New Core Labs also has [[Linux]] and [[Windows]] computer labs for the use of first year courses and a [[Mathematics]] department laboratory housing machines with high computing power.

IIT Kanpur has set up the '''Startup Innovation and Incubation Centre (SIIC)''' ''(previously known as "SIDBI" Innovation and Incubation Centre)'' in collaboration with the Small Industries development Bank of India (SIDBI) aiming to aid innovation, research, and entrepreneurial activities in technology-based areas. SIIC helps business Start-ups to develop{{clarify|date=April 2015}} their ideas into commercially viable products.

A team of students, working under the guidance of faculty members of the institute and scientists of [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO) have designed and built India's first nano satellite [[Jugnu (satellite)|Jugnu]], which was successfully launched in orbit on 12 Oct 2011 by ISRO's PSLV-C18.<ref>''The Economic Times'' "[http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-10-25/news/30320349_1_nano-satellite-jugnu-iit-kanpur Nano satellite 'Jugnu' launch by IIT-Kanpur marks watershed in Indian space technology]". Dated 25 October 2011 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Computer Centre===
The Computer Centre hosts the IIT Kanpur website and provides personal web space for students and faculties. It also provides a spam filtered email server and high speed fibre optic Internet to all the hostels and the academic areas. Users have multiple options to choose among various interfaces to access mail service. It has Linux and windows laboratories equipped with dozens of high-end software like [[MATLAB]], [[Autocad]], [[Ansys]], [[Abaqus]] etc. for use of students. Apart from departmental computer labs, computer centre hosts more than 300 Linux terminals and more than 100 Windows terminals and is continuously available to the students for academic work and recreation. Computer centre has recently adopted an open source software policy for its infrastructure and computing. Various high-end compute and GPU servers are remotely available from data centre for user computation.

The computer centre has multiple super computing clusters for research and teaching activity. In June 2014 IIT Kanpur launched their second supercomputer which is India's fifth<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/iit-kanpur-unveils-its-second-supercomputer/articleshow/36037756.cms|title=IIT-Kanpur unveils its second supercomputer &#124; Kanpur News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=4 June 2014 |access-date=1 September 2021|archive-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923125616/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/iit-kanpur-unveils-its-second-supercomputer/articleshow/36037756.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> most powerful supercomputer as of now. The new supercomputer 'Cluster Platform SL230s Gen8' manufactured by [[Hewlett-Packard]] has 15,360 cores and a theoretical peak (Rpeak) 307.2 TFlop/s and is the world's 192nd most powerful supercomputer as of June 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top500.org/list/2015/06/?page=2|title=TOP500 List – June 2015 – TOP500 Supercomputer Sites|website=top500.org|access-date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003221424/http://www.top500.org/list/2015/06/?page=2|archive-date=3 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Recently, IIT Kanpur has developed a compressed air-based mineral transport system. The project was presented at the Global Investors Summit, in 2023. It received good feedback for its less material loss, reduced air pollution, and efficiency to reduce travel time to a great extent. The main objective of the system is to transport coal and slurry.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gktoday.in/topic/iit-kanpur-develops-energy-efficient-system-to-transport-minerals |website=www.gktoday.in |title=IIT Kanpur develops energy-efficient system to transport minerals - GKToday |access-date=16 February 2023 |archive-date=16 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216164107/https://www.gktoday.in/topic/iit-kanpur-develops-energy-efficient-system-to-transport-minerals/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===ŚIKṢĀ: Study Centre for Indian Knowledge System for Holistic Advancement===
The mission of the ŚIKṢĀ Centre for Indian Knowledge System at IIT Kanpur is to promote, facilitate, and benefit from IKS-related studies, research, content development and outreach. The vision of the Centre is to establish IITK at the forefront of IKS studies in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=ŚIKṢĀ Website |url=https://iks.iitk.ac.in/ |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>

=== Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory ===
In February 2024, IIT Kanpur built and evaluated the Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, referred to as S2, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering's Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL). [[Ballistic missile]] launches, [[scramjet]] flights, and extreme hypersonic conditions of [[atmospheric entry]] can all be replicated at the S2 facility. It is anticipated that the facility will support [[ISRO]] and DRDO's [[Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle]], [[RLV Technology Demonstration Programme]], and [[Gaganyaan]]. The facility can generating flight speeds between [[Mach number|Mach]] 8 to 29.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility |url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/new/hypervelocity-expansion-tunnel-test-facility |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.iitk.ac.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tripathi |first=Sibu Kumar |date=2024-02-05 |title=Hypervelocity facility at IIT Kanpur: How it will propel India's high-speed dreams |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/hypervelocity-facility-at-iit-kanpur-how-it-will-propel-indias-high-speed-dreams-2497864-2024-02-05 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

==Students' research and related activities==
Research is controlled by the Office of the Dean of Research and Development (DoRD). Under the aegis of the Office the students publish the quarterly NERD Magazine (Notes on Engineering Research and Development) which publishes scientific and technical content created by students. Articles may be original work done by students in the form of hobby projects, term projects, internships, or theses. Articles of general interest which are informative but do not reflect original work are also accepted. The institute is part of the European Research and Education Collaboration with Asia (EURECA) programme since 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mrtc.mdh.se/eureca/contact.html |title=EURECA Participating institutes |publisher=Mrtc.mdh.se |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004213221/http://www.mrtc.mdh.se/eureca/contact.html |archive-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Defence===
Assisting the [[Indian Ordnance Factories]] in not only upgrading existing products, but also developing new weapon platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spslandforces.com/story/?id=464&h=Ordnance-Factory-Board-Fourth-Pillar-of-India%27s-Defence|title=Ordnance Factory Board Fourth Pillar of India's Defence|website=www.spslandforces.com|access-date=1 September 2021|archive-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923125612/https://www.spslandforces.com/story/?id=464&h=Ordnance-Factory-Board-Fourth-Pillar-of-India%27s-Defence|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 26, 2024, IIT Kanpur introduced Anālakṣhya, a [[Metamaterial|Meta-material]] Surface [[Metamaterial cloaking|Cloaking]] System (MSCS) for [[multi-spectral camouflage]] capabilities. In collaboration with Mr. Gagandeep Singh, Dr. Kajal Chowdhary, and Dr. Abhinav Bhardwaj, Professors Anantha Ramakrishna from the Department of Physics, Kumar Vaibhav Srivastava from the Department of Electrical Engineering, and J. Ramkumar from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Kanpur came up with the idea for the Anālakṣhya MSCS. This broadband Meta-material Microwave Absorber improves stealth capabilities against [[Synthetic-aperture radar|Synthetic Aperture Radar]] (SAR) imaging by wave absorption across a wide spectrum. Additionally, it provides great defense against radar-guided missiles. From 2019 to 2024, it was tested in both lab and field settings under various circumstances. Meta Tattva Systems is the licensee of the technology for industrial production and is currently under acquisition by the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. This technology is of interest to [[DRDO]] for [[HAL AMCA|AMCA]] development.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shukla |first=Ajai |date=27 November 2024 |title=IIT Kanpur develops revolutionary tech to make aircraft invisible to radar |url=https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/iit-kanpur-develops-revolutionary-tech-to-make-aircraft-invisible-to-radar-124112701035_1.html |access-date=28 November 2024 |work=Business Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-28 |title=IIT Kanpur Unveils Groundbreaking Revolutionary Camouflage Technology for Defence |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-iit-kanpur-unveils-groundbreaking-revolutionary-camouflage-technology-for-defence-3678988/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

===Jugnu{{anchor|Jugnu (satellite)}}===

The students of IIT Kanpur made a nano satellite called [[Jugnu (satellite)|Jugnu]], which was given by president [[Pratibha Patil]] to [[ISRO]] for launch. Jugnu is a [[remote sensing]] satellite which will be operated by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. It is a nanosatellite which will be used to provide data for agriculture and disaster monitoring. It is a 3-kilogram (6.6lb) spacecraft, which measures 34 centimetres (13&nbsp;in) in length by 10 centimetres (3.9&nbsp;in) in height and width. Its development programme cost around 25 million rupees. It has a design life of one year.
Jugnu's primary instrument is the Micro Imaging System, a near infrared camera which will be used to observe vegetation. It also carries a GPS receiver to aid tracking, and is intended to demonstrate a microelectromechanical inertial measurement unit.

===Programming club {{anchor|IITK Motorsports}}===
The Programming Club at IITK is one of the most sought-after clubs in the SNT council and is considered among the best programming clubs in India. Its roadmaps for various domains are highly regarded and rank among the top resources on the internet. The club comprises 4 coordinators, 4 LSTMs, and 27 secretaries.<ref name=":0" />

===IITK Motorsports{{anchor|IITK Motorsports}}===
IITK motorsports is the biggest and most comprehensive student initiative of the college, founded in October 2010. It is a group of students from varied disciplines who aim at designing and fabricating a Formula-style race car for international [[Formula SAE]] (Society of Automotive Engineers) events. Most of the components of the car, except the engine, tyres and wheel rims, are designed and manufactured by the team members themselves. The car is designed to provide maximum performance under the constraints of the event, while ensuring the driveability, reliability, driver safety and aesthetics of the car are not compromised.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=P Club |url=https://www.sntiitk.com/clubs/programmingclub/ |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date=}}</ref>

===Maraal UAVs===
Researchers at IIT Kanpur have developed a series of solar powered [[UAV]]s named MARAAL-1 & MARAAL-2. Development of Maraal is notable as it is the first solar powered UAV developed in India. Maraal-2 is fully indigenous.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iitk.ac.in/aero/maraal/|title=MARAAL UAVs|website=iitk.ac.in|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406040412/https://www.iitk.ac.in/aero/maraal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Student life==

===National events===

[[File:IIT Kanpur 4.jpg|thumb|IIT Kanpur During [[Diwali]] ]]

*[[Antaragni]]: The annual cultural festival of IIT Kanpur, which was started in 1965, is held in October every year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/big-fm-ties-with-iit-kanpurlsquos-annual-festival-antaragni-07 |title=Big FM ties up with IIT Kanpur's annual festival- Antaragni 07 |author=RnM Team |date=23 October 2007 |publisher=Radioandmusic.com |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-date=16 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816050045/http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/big-fm-ties-with-iit-kanpurlsquos-annual-festival-antaragni-07 |url-status=live }}</ref> The festival includes musical performances, dramas, literary games, folk dances, fashion shows and quizzes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antaragni.in/|title=Antaragni, IIT Kanpur|publisher=antaragni.in|access-date=15 November 2023|archive-date=14 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114223105/https://www.antaragni.in/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Techkriti]]: The annual four-day inter-collegiate technical and entrepreneurship festival usually held in March. It was started in 1995 with an aim to encourage interest and innovation in technology among students and to provide a platform for industry and academia to interact.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techkriti.org/ |title=Techkriti, IIT Kanpur |publisher=techkriti.org |access-date=3 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102044140/http://www.techkriti.org/ |archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Megabucks (a business and entrepreneurship festival) used to be held independently but was later merged with Techkriti in 2010. Notable speakers at Techkriti include [[APJ Abdul Kalam]], [[Vladimir Voevodsky]], [[Douglas Osheroff]], [[Oliver Smithies]], [[Rakesh Sharma]], [[David Griffiths (physicist)|David Griffiths]] and [[Richard Stallman]].
* [[Udghosh]]: IIT Kanpur's annual sports festival usually held in September.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.udghosh.or/ |title=Udghosh, IIT Kanpur |publisher=udghosh.or |access-date=3 November 2014 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It started in 2004 as an inter-college sports meet organised by the institute. Udghosh involves students from across India competing in the university's sports facilities. The festival includes motivational talks, a mini-marathon, gymnastic shows, and sport quizzes related to various sports events.
* Vivekananda Youth Leadership Convention: An annual convention organised on the birth anniversary of [[Swami Vivekananda]] by Vivekananda Samiti, under Students Gymkhana with a focus on leadership, social innovation, and youth empowerment among students.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iitk.ac.in/vs/ |title=Vivekanand Samiti, IIT Kanpur |publisher=iitk.ac.in |access-date=3 November 2014 |archive-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028173138/http://www.iitk.ac.in/vs/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://iitk.ac.in/vs/activities/vylc/ |title=Vivekananda Youth Leadership Convention (VYLC) |publisher=iitk.ac.in |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114223046/https://iitk.ac.in/vs/activities/vylc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The convention has included [[Kiran Bedi]], [[Bana Singh]], [[Yogendra Singh Yadav]], [[Raju Narayana Swamy]], [[Arunima Sinha]], [[Rajendra Singh (environmentalist)|Rajendra Singh]] and other personalities from different fields in previous years.
* E-Summit: Started in 2013 as the flagship event of [[Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Kanpur]], E-Summit is held annually for three days to promote entrepreneurship among students. It consists of various competitions, workshops and talks by eminent personalities in the domains of [[venture capital]], [[product design]] and [[social entrepreneurship]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ecelliitk.org/esummit/ |title=E-Summit, IIT Kanpur |publisher=ecelliitk.org |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=14 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114223046/https://www.ecelliitk.org/esummit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''2017 Ragging case-''' On 20 August 2017, some students of 2nd year organized a introductory event at hostel no. 2 at night. The seniors did ragging to the freshers. Afterwards, 16 students were suspended for 3 years and 6 students were suspended for 1 year.

===Students' Gymkhana===

The Students' Gymkhana is the students' government organization of IIT Kanpur, established in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://students.iitk.ac.in/gymkhana/|title=Home – Students' Gymkhana, IIT Kanpur|website=students.iitk.ac.in|access-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524141515/http://students.iitk.ac.in/gymkhana/|archive-date=24 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Students' Gymkhana functions mainly through the Students' Senate, an elected student representative body composed of senators elected from each batch and the six elected executives:
* President, Students' Gymkhana.
* General Secretary, Media and Culture.
* General Secretary, Games and Sports.
* General Secretary, Science and Technology.
* General Secretary (UG), Academics and Career
* General Secretary (PG), Academics and Career

The number of senators in the Students' Senate is around 50–55. A senator is elected for every 150 students of IIT Kanpur.

The meetings of the Students' Senate are chaired by the chairperson, Students' Senate, who is elected by the Senate. The Senate lays down the guidelines for the functions of the executives, their associated councils, the Gymkhana Festivals and other matters pertaining to the Student body at large.

The Students' Senate has a say in the policy and decision-making bodies of the institute. The president, Students' Gymkhana and the chairperson, Students' Senate are among the special invitees to the Institute Academic Senate. The president is usually invited to the meetings of the board of governors when matters affecting students are being discussed. Nominees of the Students' Senate are also members of the various standing Committees of the Institute Senate including the disciplinary committee, the Undergraduate and Postgraduate committee, etc. All academic departments have Departmental Undergraduate and Post Graduate Committees consisting of members of the faculty and student nominees.

==Notable alumni==
{{Main|List of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur people}}

==See also==
*[[Indian Institutes of Technology]]
*[[Institutes of National Importance]]
*[[Indian Institute of Technology Varanasi]]
*[[Harcourt Butler Technical University]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline|IIT Kanpur}}

{{Kanpur}}
{{Indian Institutes of Technology}}
{{Kanpur division topics}}
{{BRICS Universities League}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|26.511383|80.23493|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur}}
[[Category:IIT Kanpur| ]]
[[Category:Indian Institutes of Technology|Kanpur]]
[[Category:Engineering colleges in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Kanpur]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1959]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Uttar Pradesh]]