IIT Bombay Director Slams Coaching Culture

Mumbai, April 10, 2026 – IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare has sparked a fresh debate on India’s highly competitive education system by openly criticizing the dominant coaching culture that prepares students primarily to “game” entrance exams rather than develop deep conceptual knowledge.

In an exclusive Idea Exchange interview with The Indian Express on April 6, 2026, Prof. Kedare highlighted a major gap: many students who crack the tough JEE Advanced through intensive coaching often struggle at IITs because they lack genuine understanding and critical thinking skills.

What the IIT Bombay Director Said

“The coaching culture trains students to game the exam rather than build true conceptual understanding and logical thinking. This approach does not work in the IIT system, where deeper understanding is required,” said Prof. Shireesh Kedare.

He added that coaching centres often create a false impression among students and parents that cracking the entrance exam is the hardest part, and life at IIT will be relatively easy. In reality, IIT Bombay and other IITs demand strong application-based learning, problem-solving abilities, and innovation — skills that rote learning and shortcut techniques rarely develop.

Prof. Kedare clarified that he is not against coaching or high parental aspirations, but when the focus shifts entirely to “exam-gaming” tactics (such as quickly spotting wrong answers in MCQs), it becomes counterproductive.

IITs Are Changing JEE Advanced Pattern

To address this issue, IIT Bombay and other premier institutes are gradually modifying the JEE Advanced question pattern. The emphasis is shifting towards more application-oriented and conceptual questions that test real understanding instead of memory power or elimination tricks.

The Pressure on Indian Students – A Concern for NRIs

For NRI and PIO parents, this issue hits close to home. Many overseas Indian families invest heavily in their children’s education, sending them to India for JEE/NEET coaching or enrolling them in expensive online coaching programmes from countries like the USA, UK, Canada, UAE, Australia, and Singapore.

The intense pressure of India’s coaching ecosystem has led to serious concerns:

• Extreme stress and mental health challenges among students.
• Rising cases of student suicides in coaching hubs like Kota, Rajasthan.
• High burnout rates even among those who secure top ranks.

NRI parents often face additional challenges — managing children’s education remotely, high coaching fees in foreign currency, and the emotional toll when children feel overwhelmed by the system.

Growing Calls for Education Reform

Prof. Kedare’s comments have resonated widely among educators, tech leaders, and parents. Many now demand systemic changes, including:

• Stronger focus on conceptual learning at the school level.
• Reduction in toxic competition and coaching dependency.
• Better mental health support for students.
• A more balanced approach that values holistic development over mere rank achievement.

NRIGlobe Perspective for Overseas Indians

As NRI parents, many of you dream of seeing your children study at premier institutions like IITs, NITs, or top medical colleges in India. While coaching can help crack entrances, Prof. Kedare’s warning is clear: long-term success depends on real understanding, not just exam-cracking skills.

This is a timely reminder for families abroad to balance academic pressure with emotional well-being. Encourage your children to focus on conceptual clarity from an early age rather than relying solely on last-minute intensive coaching.

What do NRIs think? Have you or your children experienced the pressure of JEE/NEET coaching? Do you support stricter regulation of coaching centres? Should India move towards a more holistic education system with less emphasis on rote learning? Share your experiences and views in the comments below.

Related Articles for NRIs:

• How to Prepare for JEE/NEET from Abroad Without Excessive Coaching
• Mental Health Tips for Indian Students Under Academic Pressure
• Best Education Options for NRI Children in India and Abroad 2026
• Rising Student Suicides in Kota: What NRI Parents Should Know

NRIGlobe.com will continue to bring you important voices from India’s education sector that directly impact the Indian diaspora.