{
  "id": 2202779,
  "title": "CBSE-JEE killing diversity in academic thought: BITS VC, former IITD director",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/cbse-jee-killing-diversity-in-academic-thought-bits-vc-former-iitd",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T19:04:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/cbse-jee-killing-diversity-in-academic-thought-bits-vc-former-iitd-director-10842488/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Professor V Ramgopal Rao, the Group Vice-Chancellor of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, recently warned that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and CBSE schooling are eroding diversity of thought in India's academic institutions. Speaking on August 20 at an event organized by IISER Pune and Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, Rao, a former Director of IIT Delhi and respected Nanoelectronics researcher, lamented that the uniformity imposed by CBSE and JEE has stifled the diverse perspectives that should thrive in India's universities.\n\nRao argued that by the time students reach prestigious institutions like his own, they have been conditioned through the same educational system, leading to a homogenization of ideas and problem-solving approaches. He warned that JEE further erodes any remaining diversity in thought, as students arrive at his institution with identical perspectives and methodologies. This monoculture, Rao believes, is detrimental to fostering innovation and breakthrough scientific discoveries.\n\nTo encourage true innovation, Rao stressed the importance of bringing together individuals with vastly different backgrounds and expertise. This includes interdisciplinary collaboration among academics from various disciplines, as well as pairing industry professionals with academic researchers. He emphasized the need for the Indian scientific community to learn from diverse cultures and mindsets.\n\nWhile acknowledging India's progress in educational infrastructure and research output, Rao argued that more must be done to cultivate a critical mass of researchers commensurate with India's population. He highlighted the necessity of improving research quality, securing adequate funding, fostering private sector research and development, and promoting stronger collaboration between academia and industry.\n\nRao, who has authored over 500 research papers and holds 50 patents, including 20 US patents and 15 licensed for commercial use, is particularly passionate about deep technology and its potential to drive innovation. He has co-founded two deep tech startups, Nanosniff and Soilsens, and his group's CMOS-SoC intellectual property is integrated into hundreds of millions of electronic devices worldwide.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "CBSE and JEE uniform education stifles diverse academic thought, warns BITS VC",
    "JEE further erodes remaining diversity, as students arrive with identical perspectives",
    "Rao advocates interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse expertise to foster innovation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}