As AI reshapes Engineering, IITs reassert the role of humanities and creative arts

In India’s premier engineering institutions, innovation is no longer defined solely by algorithms, patents, or coding prowess. Across the IIT system, a quiet but significant transformation is underway—one that recognizes the role of humanities, social sciences, and creative arts in shaping engineers who can think ethically, communicate effectively, and innovate responsibly. From popular Psychology electives in old IITs to the recent launch of the Centre for Creative Arts at IIT Hyderabad, humanities education is emerging as a critical pillar of engineering training in an AI-driven world.

When the first IIT—IIT Kharagpur—was established in 1951, humanities and social sciences courses were already embedded in the engineering curriculum as elective or core components to complement technical learning. Over the decades, the older IITs institutionalised these offerings through established Departments of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The newer IITs followed suit, with IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Indore, and IIT Mandi taking a distinctive approach by setting up Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences to offer structured humanities education to engineering graduates.

A new turn: Centre for creative arts at IIT Hyderabad

In a recent step that further redefines humanities education in IITs, IIT Hyderabad (IITH) has launched a Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) aimed at nurturing well-rounded professionals in an AI-disrupted world.

“Almost six years ago, IIT Hyderabad began emphasizing innovation to the extent that it adopted the motto ‘Inventing and Innovating in Technology for Humanity’,” says Prof. B. S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad. “Innovation requires an intuitive mind alongside an analytical one. A balanced engagement of the left and right brain is essential”, he said.

He explains that five years ago, when IITH revised its undergraduate curriculum, the institute mandated that every UG student earn 10% of total credits from Liberal Arts and Creative Arts courses, a policy that continues to this day. The CCA aims to strengthen this ecosystem by associating accomplished artists from across disciplines as adjunct or distinguished faculty.

The emphasis on creativity at IITH is reinforced through initiatives such as BUILD (Bold and Unique Ideas Leading to Development) projects, the BHARATI (Bold Hearted Aspirants Raising to Transform India) initiative, flexible undergraduate programmes like B.Tech in Engineering Sciences, and a 1.5 lakh square feet Technology Innovation Park (TIP). Together, these efforts have resulted in 710+ patents (including 249 filed in 2025) and 335+ startups, generating revenues exceeding ₹1,500 crore and creating over 1,100 jobs.

Student experience

Bhavesh Mishra, a final-year B.Tech Computer Science student at IIT Bombay took Psychology classes as electives during his undergraduate years. Although his strengths lie in mathematics and coding, his love for the humanities was nurtured through these classes. “During our discussions in the mess, we had a lot of fun pretending to read the minds of friends based on their actions,” he says .

Mr. Mishra took a few other humanities courses along with Psychology. He says that Psychology was the most sought-after course for undergraduates, with the closing CGPA often above 8 out of 10. “I was deeply impressed by the course content and the way the professor engaged us through thought experiments. This was one course I studied with genuine interest and not merely for grades. I never missed a single lecture,” says Bhavesh.

Challenges and pedagogy

Reflecting on the challenges of introducing creative arts in a technical ecosystem, Prof. Murty notes, “The primary challenge was not resistance, but reframing perceptions—helping stakeholders understand that creativity and rigour are not opposites. There were also practical challenges related to pedagogy, assessment frameworks, and infrastructure suited to creative practice.”

Unlike conventional humanities electives, CCA courses emphasize practice-based, experiential, and studio-style learning. “The courses integrate creative production—music, visual arts, and performance—along with reflective writing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with cultural traditions and contemporary social issues,” says Prof. Murty. Learning outcomes focus on process, expression, and reflection, not just content mastery.

He believes the CCA sets IITH apart from other IITs. “While many IITs are strengthening their humanities offerings, IITH’s approach is distinctive due to its early adoption of interdisciplinary thinking and its commitment to embedding creative arts as part of institutional identity, not merely a curriculum requirement.”

Humanities across IITs

At IIT Delhi, humanities electives are a compulsory part of the B.Tech programme. “As B.Tech students, we must complete four humanities courses over four years,” says Vikas Meena, an alumnus of IIT Delhi. “Each semester, the department floats over ten courses, giving students a tremendous choice.”

Mr. Meena completed four humanities courses, including Psychological Basis of Behaviour, International Economics, Macroeconomics, and Science, Technology and Society. “Some courses were so popular that unless you had a CGPA of 8.5 or higher, getting a seat was extremely difficult,” he recalls.

The Science, Technology and Society course, he says, examined issues such as pesticide use, digital technology’s impact on society, and the debate over whether technology shapes society or vice versa.

At IIT Kharagpur, courses such as Science and Humanism and Environmental Humanities are popular electives. “They are considered easy to score, but attendance is critical—at least 90 percent—because much of the grading depends on in-class activities,” notes P. Deepan, a student at the institute.

Humanities in an AI-driven world

“In an AI-led world, technical skills can be automated, but human judgment cannot,” says Prof. Murty. “Creative arts develop capacities machines cannot replicate—ethical reasoning, empathy, imagination, and the ability to frame meaningful questions.”

Industry response, he notes, has been encouraging. “Employers increasingly value engineers who can communicate clearly, collaborate across cultures, think ethically, and innovate creatively. In areas like AI, design, sustainability, and policy-linked technology, these attributes are becoming decisive advantages.”

In the long run, Prof. Murty hopes the CCA will help define IIT Hyderabad as an institution that produces technologists who are also thinkers, creators, and responsible citizens. “Our vision is to graduate engineers who build technology with imagination, creativity, and humanity—true to our motto of inventing and innovating in technology for humanity.”

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