IIT Kanpur Exam Question Sparks Outrage

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The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has found itself at the center of a controversy after a question from one of its exams went viral on social media. The question, which was part of an electrical engineering quiz, asked students to design a filter to help former Delhi Chief Minister and IIT Kharagpur alumnus Arvind Kejriwal tune into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat on Vividh Bharti FM. The question was unusual in that it referenced a political scenario, with Kejriwal's "crushing defeat" in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections being used as a premise for the problem.

Students were tasked with creating the filter using only a 50-ohm resistor, along with a variable inductor and capacitor, with the restriction being that Kejriwal had already spent heavily on his election campaign. The filter needed to allow one radio channel to pass while attenuating adjacent channels by -60 dB. The problem was worth four marks, requiring students to calculate the quality factor and determine the values of inductance and capacitance. The question sparked a range of reactions on social media, from laughter to concern, with many criticizing the institution for incorporating political references into academic questions.

Some users praised the creativity of the question, with one saying that it "deserves ten marks" and that every student who answers the question without laughing out loud should get 10 grace marks. However, others were not amused, with one user criticizing the institution for taking a "cheap jibe" at an opposition leader. The user said that this not only lowers the dignity of an institution like IIT Kanpur but also proves that politics has hijacked even educational institutions. IIT Kanpur responded to the backlash by issuing a clarification, stating that incorporating pop culture and political figures into academic questions is a common practice meant to make learning more engaging.

The institute emphasized that there was no ulterior motive behind the reference, saying that "the mention of the reference in the question was intended to make the topic more relevant." They added that past exam questions had also featured characters like Tony Stark, highlighting the use of popular culture in academic questions. The controversy surrounding the IIT Kanpur exam question has sparked a debate about the role of politics in education and the use of real-world examples in academic questions. While some see it as a creative way to make learning more engaging, others view it as a distraction from the main topic and a potential source of bias.

The incident has also raised questions about the use of social media in highlighting and criticizing academic questions. The question was initially posted by a user on X, where it quickly gained traction and sparked a range of reactions. The use of social media in this way has highlighted the potential for academic questions to be scrutinized and debated by a wider audience, and has raised questions about the potential impact on institutions and individuals involved. Here are some key points related to the incident: * The question was part of an electrical engineering quiz at IIT Kanpur * It referenced Arvind Kejriwal and PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat * The question sparked a range of reactions on social media * IIT Kanpur issued a clarification stating that incorporating pop culture and political figures into academic questions is a common practice * The incident has sparked a debate about the role of politics in education and the use of real-world examples in academic questions