About Indian Institute of Technology - IIT Kanpur

The Parliament of India passed the ‘Institutes of Technology Act 1961’ declaring all the IITs as “Institutions of National Importance”. The Institute began functioning in the borrowed building of Harcourt Butler Technological Institute in 1959 with 100 students and a small faculty. The Institute now has its own sprawling residential campus spread over more than 1055 acres, is the largest after IIT Kharagpur. It houses a large population of nilgai and macaques, and is particularly noted for its peacocks and other bird life. The Institute awards Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees in various branches of technology and science. At the Bachelor’s level, the institute offers B.Tech. Programs in Aerospace, Biological Science & Bioengineering, Chemical, Civil, Computer Science, Electrical, Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering. The institute has integrated M.Sc. programs in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics. An integrated M.Sc. program in Economics has also been started. It provides M.Tech. Programs in all the Engineering Branches, mentioned above. In addition, there are M. Tech. Programs in the interdisciplinary areas, such as, Nuclear Engineering, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Laser Technology, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science, and Industrial and Management Engineering. The M.Tech. Students are chosen through an all- India examination, known as GATE. The institute has also adopted a dual degree (B.Tech.- M. Tech.) program. In this program, the students admitted through JEE, are expected to complete the M. Tech. Program in five years. At the end of five years, the student is awarded both B.Tech. and M.Tech. Degrees. In IIT Kanpur, Science Electives have been introduced in order to enhance the science content in engineering. The following Science Electives are worth  mentioning: Quantum Physics, Modern Theories of Material Design, Non-Linear Systems, Order and Chaos, Molecular Modelling, Bio-Inorganic Chemistry, Lasers in Chemistry and Biology, Digital Image Processing, Fourier Analysis, Numerical Linear Algebra, Photons, Molecules and Chemical Dynamics, Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry and Biology, Bio-informatics and Computational Biology are to name a few.  The students get the best of opportunities in the form of highly advanced courses, eminent faculty members, well-equipped laboratories, library, hostels and immense facilities to excel in research and development. The Institute has about 1450 undergraduate and 850 postgraduate students, 300 faculty, and more than 1500 supporting staff. It has one of the finest scientific & technological library with an online information retrieval system over the campus LAN.

Location  - IIT- Kanpur is located on the Grand Trunk Road, 15 km west of Kanpur City. Location Map.

Transportation 

1. Taxis are easily available from the Cantt side of the Kanpur Central Railway Station (from Platform number 1 side). There is a pre-paid auto and taxi booth. The rates are Rs. 180 for a taxi, and Rs. 100 for an auto. Sometimes you may be able to negotiate a few rupees less with the driver, if you don't go to the pre-paid booth.
2. If you asked your host to book a taxi in advance, then the rate is Rs. 200 for non-AC, and Rs. 250 for AC taxi. But they will also take waiting charges, if the train is more than one hour late. Waiting charges are Rs. 25 per hour. (Even though the cost is slightly higher, the vehicles will be much better maintained, and the ride much smoother. The city taxis will be old dilapidated Ambassadors, while these taxis will be like Esteem/Santro/Indica, etc.
3. If it is a Maruti Van, then pay only Rs. 180.) Lucknow Airport also has taxis available, but they can ask for any arbitrary amount. The best thing is to ask your host in IIT Kanpur in advance to book a taxi for you. Depending on the type of vehicle, these taxis will charge between Rs 950 and Rs. 1050. (Charge for Air-conditioned taxi is only Rs. 100 extra).

Departments

• Engineering.
• Humanities.
• Management.
• Sciences.
• Inter Disciplinary.

Facilities

Computer Centre - It has a users base of more than 6000+ users with more than 1000 active users at any given point of time. Computer Centre has a number of state of the art servers, high end linux and windows labs and application software. Computer Centre supports an institute wide 1000 Mbps fibre optic network that connects all the academic departments, hostels, library and other central facilities to the Computer Centre. Internet access is provided through a 100 Mbps dedicated Internet link. Users can use the computing resources of the institute from their residences also through ADSL or by Dialling through a modem. Computer Centre operates 24 hours a day, 365 days an year. It has a power back up through a 180 KVA UPS and a 320 KVA generator set. Air conditioning is provided by the central air conditioning plant and split air conditioners.

P.K. Kelkar Library - P K Kelkar Library (Formerly Central Library) of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IITK) is an academic Library with a collection of more than 3,00,000 volumes and subscriptions to more than 1000 periodicals. it is one of the best Library in the nation housed in three-storey building with the total 6973 sq. m. floor area. The Abstracting and Indexing periodicals, Microform and CD-ROM databases. technical reports, Standards and thesis are important part of this collection.

Hostel - There are seven boy's hostels and two girl's hostel.
      
NICEE  - The National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE ) hosted at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is intended to collect and maintain information resources on Earthquake Engineering and make these available to the interested professionals, researchers, academicians and others with a view to mitigate earthquake disasters in India. NICEE has undertaken a range of capacity building activities towards earthquake safety such as organising Literature Review/Curriculum Workshops in Earthquake Engineering for Students and Teachers from Engineering Colleges across India. Know more - http://www.nicee.org/

NWTF - National Wind Tunnel Facility (NWTF), established in 1999 at IIT Kanpur to meet the national needs in areas of aeronautical and non-aeronautical R&D activities, houses the most versatile and efficient wind tunnel in India. It has various simulation and measurement systems, interchangeable test sections and is capable of testing at wind speed up to 80 m/sec. NWTF is committed to take up sponsored and consultancy projects as well as supporting the academic research at IIT Kanpur.
Know more - http://www.iitk.ac.in/nwtf/

3i-Network - It is a combined endeavour of three institutes namely Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Infrastructure development Finance Company Limited, Bombay and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad to provide a systematic and organized framework in which much of the new agenda can be enunciated and researched with a view to contribute immediately to the unfolding infrastructure climate. The objective of the 3i-network is to take advantage and to enhance the existing intellectual capital working in infrastructure sector and to augment interaction between academia and industry in the country. Know more -  http://www.iitk.ac.in/3inetwork/

Languages Laboratory - Language Laboratory with a computer controlled audio and video components, offers courses in foreign languages like French and German.

SURGE - Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for Excellence - The Under the Summer Undergraduate Research Grant for Excellence (SURGE) program, undergraduate students from IITK and other participating institutions will undertake short duration, but focused research projects and push their intellectual abilities beyond those driven by the classroom. The duration is 10 weeks from early-May to end-July of each year. Students working at IITK will receive a stipend of Rs.10,000 for the entire 10-week duration; an additional Rs.10,000 Award plus a commendation certificate will be given to those SURGE students who produce exceptional quality research during the 10 weeks. IITK students in overseas institutions will receive a stipend as fixed by the agreement between IITK and the participating institutes. Know more - http://www.iitk.ac.in/surge/

Distance Education Program - The following initiatives have been taken under this scheme:

• Courses in the area of Engineering and Biological Sciences delivered to the students of the State of Chhattisgarh using VSAT transmission.
• Indo-French Cyber University in the areas of emerging technologies (University Pierre et Marie curie , Paris is the Partner University).
• NPTEL (National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning) for developing high quality engineering courses using Video and Web-based learning material.

Know more - http://www.iitk.ac.in/doaa/outreach/

Brihaspati - The software developed by IIT Kanpur. It is the open platform of learning. It is the java servlets based content delivery system. Administrator(admin) is the main authority of Brihaspati. The software is free of cost. We can enter in to Brihaspati as a student, instructor & admin mode.Guest can enter direct to Brihaspati but the instructor & student account is created by the admin. Brihaspati provides the features of glossary, calculator. The login & password of guest is guest. Every instructor is independent to register student in their specified course. Instructor & student have their unique password of login. Brihaspati gave full freedom both to the instructor & Student to come in contact with each other through Mail, chat etc.

Research Centres -

1. Advanced Centre for Materials Science.
2. Advanced Centre for Electronic Systems.
3. Centre for Mechatronics.
4. Centre for Laser Technology.
5. Computer Aided Design Laboratory.
6. Prabhu Goel Research Centre For Computer & Internet Security.
7. Nanosciences.
8. Samtel Centre for Display Technologies.
9. SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Centre.

Counselling Service - It provides a confidential environment where you can explore and express aspects of yourself that may be painful or uncomfortable. Our professionals will listen to you and help you in gaining your own insights and making and acting on your own choices, enabling you to work towards relating and living in a more satisfying and resourceful way. Know more - http://www.iitk.ac.in/counsel/

The Students' Gymkhana - It is the students' government organization of IIT. The Gymkhana seeks to cultivate qualities of leadership amongst students to foster a corporate life and to advance the general cause of the student body of the student body of the Institute.

Health Centre - It is equipped with pharmacy, clinical Laboratory and a 30-bed Indoor Ward. Emergency care is provided round-the-clock.

Visitors’ Hostel (Guest House) - Housed in an imposing double storeyed building and located at a central place, Visitors’ Hostel provides boarding and lodging facilities for the Institute’s guests, newly appointed faculty and staff members, delegates and participants attending various conferences, seminars, symposia and workshops. The Visitors’ Hostel has some allied facilities on the campus and in New Delhi also for the benefit of the Institute’s Visitors.
 
Community Centre - The two Community Centres (ComC-1 and ComC-2) are primarily meant to provide the Institute employees a venue for (a) recreational facilities like games etc., (b) private ceremonies like marriage etc. and (c) social/religious group activities. Marriage Lawn is meant to hold the receptions. Room Nos. 2 and 3 in each of the two Community Centres are earmarked for recreational facilities, while Room Nos. 4, 5 and 6 along with the courtyard and the associated amenities  are available for private ceremonies and social religious functions.  

The Faculty Club - It is presently located in House no. 605 (phone 8399). The Club has a fully equipped gym, a TV room and music system, library, outdoor badminton court and some indoor game facilities such as Table Tennis, Carom Board and Chess. It organizes regular music, dance and painting classes. It also periodically organizes social get-togethers. The club has provision for some basic refreshments such as tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits.

Alumni - There are over 21,000 alumni of IIT Kanpur around the world distinguishing themselves in different endeavours. Institute works closely with the Alumni Association to involve IIT Kanpur alumni through various activities towards excellence at IIT Kanpur. Alumni Portal - http://www.iitkalumni.org/. IIT Kanpur alumni association has a number of chapters around the globe.

Campus Schools - The Campus includes three schools for children: Kisalaya (upto KG), Campus School  (upto Standard V), Central School (up to Standard XII).

Banking - There are branches of State Bank of India and Union Bank of India.

Placements - The Placements are held in 2 phases. The pre placement talks during the August-October given by the company representatives’ help the students know about the various company profiles. The campus recruitment phase (December-April) includes the formal interviews and discussion with the students as per the norms of individual companies. The Student Placement Office (SPO) is responsible for organizing all placement related activities in the institute. The SPO has very modern facilities like an auditorium, conference rooms, seminar rooms, high speed wireless internet connectivity and is in the process of setting up video conferencing facility. The SPO works round the year in order to assist companies in recruitment process. Big names like McKinsey & Co., Microsoft, Hindustan Lever Ltd., Lehman Brothers, PWC, Schlumberger, Shell etc. have been regular visitors to the campus during the Placement Season.

Sports - Outdoor Courts for Basket Ball, Volley Ball, Tennis and Indoor Courts for Badminton, Fields for Hockey, Football and Cricket, Gymnastics and Weight-Lifting Facilities. The Sports Meet is held annually in winter among all the IITs. The Sports Meet is hosted by any one of the IITs in turn. An Inter-IIT Aquatics Meet is held separately as part of the main Meet each year preceding the main Inter-IIT Sports Meet. A General Championship is awarded to the team based upon their combined performance in the Inter-IIT Sports meet and the Inter-IIT Aquatics meet.

Students Activities Centre -It houses various Hobby Clubs (e.g., Fine Arts, Photography, Astronomy, Electronics, Debate, Indian Music, Theatre Workshop, Aero-modelling).

Gliding and Soaring Centre - It provides an opportunity for learning gliding. Facilities are offered for obtaining glider pilot's license.

Auditorium - It has the capacity to accommodate 1200 people.

Swimming Pool Membership - It is open only to the IIT Kanpur employees/retired employees and their dependent wards, employees of campus organizations (Post Office, State Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Police Outpost, etc.) officially allowed to stay on campus and their dependent wards, bonafide students of the Institute and their families, alumni and their families.  

Achievements

• In 2009 US News Ranking of World's Best Universities, Indian Institute of Technology,Kanpur(IITK) is ranked 237th in the list.
• Also, it is one of the Top-50 universities in Asia and is ranked 43rd  in the list.
• IIT Kanpur has been rated the no.1 engineering institute in India by India Today in 2007, by the India Today-AC Nielsen-Org-Marg survey.
• IIT Kanpur was rated the no.1 engineering college in India by Outlook India survey in 2006.
• IIT Kanpur was rated the no.1 engineering college in India by IDC-DataQuest-Nasscom survey in 2005.
• IIT Kanpur has developed a close association with the Indian Railways. A new project namely SIMRAN has been rolled out for tracking of trains and providing two directional data connectivity between a stationary server and a moving train. This project has turned out to be a great success.
• Professor D. Chowdhury of the Department of Physics has been invited to be a member of the Board of Editors of the European Physical Journal B (EPJB). The journal is co-published by Springer (Germany), EDP Sciences (owned by French Physical Society, French Chemical Society, French Society of Applied and Industrial Mathematics) and Italian Physical Society.
• Mr. Varun Jain & Mr. Subhonmesh Bose, 2nd Year B.Tech. students of Electrical engineering at IIT Kanpur have bagged the prestigious GOLDMAN SACHS GLOBAL LEADER AWARD, in its second year of inception in India.

Information compiled from: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - website