The new initiatives aim to widen access to academic support. Students should distinguish the AI learning assistant from the separate competitive-examination preparation platform.
Kolkata, October 13, 2026: IIT Kharagpur has launched an AI-powered academic tutor and a free online preparation platform for GATE and JAM aspirants, offering additional learning support to students who may find commercial coaching difficult to access.
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar inaugurated the initiatives on October 12 at the institute’s Research Park in Rajarhat, Kolkata, during its Platinum Jubilee celebrations, according to reporting based on the institute’s announcement.
The launch brings together two related but distinct services: the NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor for personalised academic assistance and a separate platform for examination preparation. PTI report via The Economic Times.
What Is the NDLI-FERMI AI Tutor?
Developed in collaboration with Fermi AI, the tutor has been integrated into the National Digital Library of India, or NDLI. Registered users can access its academic assistance free of charge.
The announced approach emphasises understanding rather than simply delivering finished answers. The assistant uses questions, hints and explanations to guide learners through problems.
Its “Scan & Ask” feature allows students to seek help with questions in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. The intended purpose includes identifying mistakes and understanding the reasoning needed to solve similar problems. NDTV’s report on the tutor and its features.
How Is the GATE–JAM Platform Different?
The examination-preparation platform is the second initiative. It is intended to provide online resources for students preparing for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering and the Joint Admission Test for Masters.
The distinction matters: an academic assistant that supports four broad subjects should not automatically be described as a complete preparation course for every GATE paper or JAM test.
Students should inspect the resources available for their particular examination and compare them with the relevant official syllabus. The launch announcement alone does not establish comprehensive coverage of every topic. Indian Express report on the two initiatives.
Where Should Students Start?
For the AI tutor, students should begin at the official National Digital Library of India website, register or sign in, and follow the platform’s current instructions.
Reporting on the launch says the tutor is available to registered NDLI users. This article has not independently tested a logged-in session, so it does not provide an unverified sequence of menu buttons or promise that the interface will look identical for every user. Careers360’s account of access and availability.
A Practical Way to Use an AI Tutor
The following is study guidance, rather than a description of independently tested platform performance:
- Attempt the question before requesting help.
- Ask for an explanation of the first step you cannot understand.
- Check the reasoning against your textbook or course material.
- Solve a similar question without assistance.
- Record recurring errors for revision.
The purpose is to use assistance to strengthen independent problem-solving, rather than replace it.
What Does “Free” Mean Here?
The announcements describe free access to the learning initiatives. They do not announce a waiver of examination application fees, admission charges or other costs associated with higher education.
Students should also check whether the available materials match their examination year and chosen subject. A resource’s institutional origin does not remove the need to verify its suitability.
What Remains to Be Evaluated?
The launch establishes the announced availability and intended functions of the services. It does not, by itself, demonstrate improved examination scores, reliable answers to every question or a replacement for teachers and other study resources.
Those outcomes would require evidence from actual use and evaluation.
The initiative’s potential value is broader access to guidance and preparation material. For students, the immediate opportunity is to explore the official resources, assess their relevance and use them alongside a structured study plan.
The Tech Desk covers technology, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
