Mumbai, April 10, 2026 – In a hard-hitting interview that has sparked nationwide debate, IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare has strongly criticised India’s massive coaching industry for teaching students to “game” competitive exams rather than developing genuine conceptual understanding and critical thinking.

Speaking during an Idea Exchange session with The Indian Express on April 6, 2026, Prof. Kedare pointed out that the coaching approach — focused heavily on spotting wrong answers in multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and shortcuts to crack exams — fails miserably once students enter the rigorous academic environment of IITs.

What 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 further explained that many students arrive at IIT Bombay with the false belief that cracking JEE is the hardest part and life at IIT will be easy. In reality, the institute demands strong application-based thinking, problem-solving, and innovation — skills that rote-learning and exam-gaming strategies simply cannot provide.

Prof. Kedare clarified that he is not against coaching or parental aspirations in general, as long as they remain constructive. However, when coaching centres turn education into a mechanical “exam-cracking factory,” it creates long-term damage.

IIT Bombay’s Response: Making JEE Advanced Tougher

To counter this trend, IIT Bombay and other premier institutes are actively tweaking the JEE Advanced pattern. The focus is shifting towards more application-based and conceptual questions that test real understanding rather than memory or elimination techniques. This change aims to ensure that only students with genuine depth make it through.

The Harsh Reality of India’s Coaching Industry

India’s coaching industry, valued at tens of thousands of crores, has turned cities like Kota into pressure cookers. Every year, lakhs of students migrate to coaching hubs, enduring 14–16 hour study schedules, constant testing, and intense parental expectations.

The human cost has been alarming:

• Repeated reports of student suicides in Kota and other coaching centres due to academic pressure, failure, and mental health issues.
• High dropout rates and severe stress among aspirants who don’t make it to top ranks.
• A system that rewards speed and shortcuts over creativity and holistic learning.

Tech leaders, educators, and parents are increasingly divided. While some defend coaching as a necessary evil for cracking hyper-competitive exams like JEE and NEET, others are calling for urgent systemic reforms — including reducing reliance on coaching, promoting school-level conceptual learning, and introducing better mental health support.

Bharat Tone Takeaway

Prof. Shireesh Kedare’s candid remarks have reignited an important national conversation: Are we producing exam warriors or future innovators? India needs engineers and scientists who can think deeply, solve real-world problems, and drive innovation — not just rank-getters trained in elimination tricks.

The coaching culture may help crack entrances, but it often leaves students unprepared for the actual demands of higher education and professional life. True education reform must focus on building strong foundations at the school level, reducing toxic competition, and prioritising understanding over mere selection.

What do you think? Should coaching centres be regulated more strictly? Is the current JEE/NEET system broken? Should India move towards a more holistic, less coaching-dependent education model? Share your honest views in the comments below.