By-ankit sharma
*Jodhpur, September 7, 2025* –
In a groundbreaking move, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has become the first IIT to offer BTech courses with Hindi as a medium of instruction for first-year engineering students. This initiative, launched in the 2024-25 academic session, aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes education in regional languages to enhance accessibility and inclusivity. The program allows students to choose between Hindi and English sections, ensuring quality education while addressing language barriers faced by many students from non-English
The decision to introduce Hindi-medium classes stems from the recognition that many students, despite excelling in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), struggle with English proficiency, which can hinder their academic performance in the rigorous IIT curriculum. IIT Jodhpur’s initiative offers a solution by allowing first-year students to opt for Hindi as the medium of classroom interaction, while maintaining English for written materials, textbooks, assignments, and examinations.
This hybrid approach, often referred to as “Hinglish” for its blend of Hindi explanations and English technical terms, ensures that students grasp complex concepts without the added burden of language challenges
Bhuvnesh Rajpurohit, a second-year chemical engineering student, shared his experience with the program. Initially hesitant, fearing that Hindi-medium classes might put him at a disadvantage, he switched to the Hindi section after a week in the English-medium classes. “I realized that if I stayed in the English section, I would lag behind,” said Bhuvnesh, who completed his schooling in Hindi medium in Bilara, Jodhpur district. The smaller class sizes in the Hindi sections—typically 50-60 students compared to over 200 in English sections—allowed for more personalized attention and interactive learning, significantly boosting his confidence and understanding.
IIT Jodhpur Director Avinash Kumar Agarwal emphasized the initiative’s regional relevance, noting that Rajasthan lies in the Hindi-speaking belt. “We have to look at the language spoken within 500-700 km of the institute. It makes sense for each IIT to adopt the local language to cater to more students,” Agarwal said. He acknowledged the logistical challenges of extending the program beyond the first year, such as the need for additional faculty and classrooms, but stressed that the initiative is a step toward making technical education more inclusive. “To become a good engineer in India, do you necessarily need an English education? The answer is no,” he added, highlighting the importance of connecting with the international community through English augmentation classes while prioritizing accessibility.
The program has seen significant uptake, with 120 students, including 14 female and 106 male students, enrolling in the Hindi-medium sections last year. The same faculty teaches both Hindi and English sections to ensure consistency in academic rigor. Students are expected to transition to English-medium instruction from the second year, supported by language augmentation classes to ease the shift. This approach addresses concerns raised by some IITs in 2021 about the feasibility of regional-language programs, including challenges related to faculty availability, textbooks, and industry requirements.
The initiative has received approval from the Ministry of Education and aligns with the broader push for regional-language education outlined in NEP 2020. At the IIT Council meeting in August 2025, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urged all IITs to explore regional languages as mediums of instruction, citing the success of IIT Jodhpur’s model. While the JEE Advanced is offered in both English and Hindi, IIT Jodhpur currently focuses on Hindi due to its regional context but has no immediate plans to introduce other languages.
Rajlaxmi Chouhan, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and head of the institute’s Centre for Education Technology, highlighted the long-standing issue of language barriers for first-year students. A 2023 survey conducted by Chouhan revealed that among 250 first-year students, 11 came from Hindi-medium schools, and two needed support due to their Gujarati-medium background. The Hindi-medium option has proven particularly beneficial for students from rural areas or state-run schools, where Hindi is often the primary language of instruction.
IIT Jodhpur’s move has sparked discussions about the future of technical education in India. While some critics argue that English proficiency is essential for global competitiveness, supporters of the initiative believe it empowers students to master technical concepts in a familiar language, fostering confidence and reducing dropout rates. The institute’s commitment to maintaining academic rigor, regardless of the medium, sets a precedent for other IITs to follow. As the only IIT among the 23 premier institutes to offer this option, IIT Jodhpur is paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible engineering education landscape in