IIT Kanpur: A Brief History

In its formative years (1962-1972), the institute was mentored by a consortium of nine leading US universities under the Kanpur Indo-American Program (KIAP). These included California Institute of Technology, Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), Case Institute of Technology (now called Case Western Reserve University), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Ohio State University, Princeton University, Purdue University, University of California at Berkley, and University of Michigan. The vision was to build an institution imparting the highest level of education in science and technology to create an intellectual reservoir that can meet the needs of our developing nation with the ability to compete at a global level.

IIT Kanpur is situated on the Grand Trunk Road, approximately 15 kilometers west of the Kanpur City. It occupies a sprawling area of around 1055 acres. The land for the institute was generously provided by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 1960, and by March 1963, the institute had relocated to its present location. The residential campus was meticulously carved out of a typical countryside in India boasting of standing crops, stately acacia woods and mango orchards, flocks of peafowl and other species of birds, most of which continue to adorn the campus to date. The central academic area surrounded by the halls of residence, residential houses for faculty and staff, community buildings, and other social infrastructure was created retaining the sub-Himalayan biodiversity characterizing the area. This painstaking transformation was brought about by Mr. Achyut Kanvinde, an architect based in Delhi. From its very inception, the institute has attracted scholars from all corners of the country resulting in a cultural and linguistic diversity that truly epitomizes India.

Since its inception, IIT Kanpur has remained in the forefront of research and teaching. It has firmly established itself as an academic institution of high repute in the country as well as at the international level. Over the years, the institute has redefined itself and brought in new paradigms of science-based engineering education, semester system, creation of Computer science engineering – which have been emulated by many institutions in India. Its emphasis on academic rigor, cutting edge disruptive research, participative non-hierarchical governance, flexible credit-based program advancement is well-regarded by its peers and is being adopted across institutions. Its alumni have received high accolades worldwide for their outstanding contribution to academia, industry and research labs, diverse arenas of public administration and social work.

IIT Kanpur is a center for quality education, a research powerhouse and an engine of innovation. The Institute aspires to be a vibrant creative hub, comprising the very best of academic research and outreach with a global impact and a strong emphasis on national development.