IIT Kharagpur Launches Free AI Tutor, Online GATE-JAM Preparation Platform for Students

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has launched an artificial intelligence-powered learning assistant and a free online preparation platform for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM), expanding access to personalised academic support and competitive examination resources for students across India.

The two initiatives, the NDLI-FERMI Learning Enabled AI Tutor and the Free Online Preparatory Platform for GATE-JAM, were formally launched on October 12 by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar at the IIT Kharagpur Research Park in Rajarhat, Kolkata, as part of the institute's platinum jubilee celebrations.

While the AI tutor is designed to help students understand academic concepts and develop independent problem-solving skills, the GATE-JAM platform seeks to provide free examination preparation resources, particularly for learners from rural areas and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

According to the Ministry of Education, both initiatives are intended to widen access to educational resources and reduce barriers associated with location and the cost of additional academic support.

How does IIT Kharagpur's NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor work?

Developed through a collaboration between IIT Kharagpur and Fermi AI, the NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor has been integrated into the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), a Ministry of Education-supported digital learning initiative.

Unlike AI applications that generate direct answers to academic questions, the new tutor uses a guided learning approach based on the Socratic method, which encourages learners to reach conclusions through questions, hints and explanations.

The system is intended to help students identify mistakes, examine the reasoning behind a problem and work towards solutions independently.

One of its main features, Scan & Ask, allows students to upload a photograph of a question, problem or attempted solution and receive interactive assistance.

The feature primarily supports four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.

For example, rather than immediately producing the solution to a mathematics problem, the tutor is designed to guide the learner through relevant concepts and intermediate steps. Students can use the system to understand where their calculations or reasoning went wrong.

The platform was developed in partnership with Fermi AI, co-founded by IIT Kharagpur alumnus Peeyush Ranjan.

According to IIT Kharagpur, the beta version of the AI tutor became available to registered NDLI users on September 30, ahead of the formal national launch on October 12.

How can students access the free AI tutor?

The NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor is available without charge to registered users of the National Digital Library of India.

Students can visit the official NDLI website, www.ndl.gov.in, register for an account or log in using their existing credentials and access the Fermi AI Tutor through the platform.

According to information shared by NDLI, users do not need to download a separate application or create an additional account to use the learning assistant.

The integration gives the AI tutor access to NDLI's existing educational ecosystem. The government states that the National Digital Library of India serves more than one crore learners and hosts over 130 million learning resources.

The broader objective is to extend the digital library's role beyond providing academic materials by offering students interactive assistance as they study.

IIT Kharagpur launches free online GATE-JAM preparation platform

Alongside the AI tutor, IIT Kharagpur introduced a separate online preparation initiative for students appearing for GATE and JAM, two national-level examinations associated with admission to postgraduate programmes and, in the case of GATE, certain recruitment opportunities.

GATE is primarily used to assess candidates' understanding of undergraduate-level subjects in engineering, technology, science and other approved disciplines. Its scores are used for admission to several postgraduate programmes and may also be considered by participating public sector undertakings for recruitment.

JAM is conducted for admission to various postgraduate science programmes at participating institutions, including IITs.

Preparation for these examinations often involves reference books, online courses, mock tests and private coaching. The new IIT Kharagpur initiative aims to provide an alternative source of academic preparation without charging students for access.

According to the ministry, the platform is intended to build a structured preparation ecosystem using IIT Kharagpur's academic expertise and digital educational resources.

The programme particularly targets students from rural, non-metropolitan and lower-income backgrounds who may face difficulties accessing commercial coaching services.

However, the October 12 government release does not specify the complete subject-wise course catalogue, number of mock tests, teaching schedule or registration procedure for the GATE-JAM platform. These details will need to be confirmed through the institute's official announcements.

Government emphasises AI that encourages independent learning

Speaking at the launch, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar said AI-based academic tools should help students develop reasoning skills rather than encourage dependence on automatically generated solutions.

“The true power of Artificial Intelligence lies not in providing instant answers, but in nurturing the ability of young minds to think, question and discover solutions independently,” Majumdar said.

He linked the initiative to the National Education Policy 2020 and said educational technology should support teachers, improve conceptual understanding and make academic assistance available to students regardless of geographical circumstances.

IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty also emphasised the institution's responsibility to extend educational support beyond its campus.

“India's educational future must be built on a simple but powerful principle: excellence should never be limited by access,” he said.

Chakraborty said the AI tutor and GATE-JAM preparatory platform were intended to expand academic opportunities for students who might otherwise struggle to obtain individual learning assistance or examination coaching.

He added that artificial intelligence should strengthen independent learning rather than replace students' thinking processes.

Why IIT Kharagpur is focusing on guided AI learning

The launch comes amid wider debate over the use of generative artificial intelligence in education, particularly concerns that students may use automated tools to complete assignments without developing a sufficient understanding of the subject.

Ahead of the launch, IIT Kharagpur professor Plaban Kumar Bhowmick, from the Department of Artificial Intelligence and principal investigator of NDLI, discussed the distinction between two forms of AI-assisted learning: cognitive offloading and cognitive scaffolding.

Cognitive offloading occurs when a learner delegates a task to technology, potentially reducing the intellectual effort involved. Cognitive scaffolding, by contrast, involves using technological assistance to support the learner while they continue to perform the task themselves.

Bhowmick argued that AI systems designed to complete students' assignments could undermine learning, while tools that provide guidance and targeted assistance may help strengthen understanding.

The Fermi AI Tutor has been developed around the second approach, although its long-term effect on learning outcomes has not yet been independently established in the sources reviewed.

The launch event also included demonstrations of both platforms. Former IIT Kharagpur Director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti demonstrated the AI tutor, while Professor Haimanti Banerji presented the GATE-JAM preparation initiative.

Fermi AI co-founder Peeyush Ranjan also addressed the gathering. A discussion titled Every Learner, One Tutor Away examined the potential role of AI-assisted tools in improving access to personalised education.

Both initiatives form part of IIT Kharagpur's 75th anniversary activities, with the institute seeking to make its academic resources available to learners beyond its enrolled student community.

The AI tutor is already accessible through NDLI, while the practical reach of the GATE-JAM platform will depend on the availability of preparation materials, subject coverage and students' ability to access the service.