Archive · 21 Aug 2026
BITS Vice-Chancellor Says CBSE and JEE Reduce Academic Diversity
V. Ramgopal Rao spoke about education in India.
He said students often study through the same CBSE system.
Many also prepare for the same national entrance test, called JEE.
Rao believes this makes students learn and solve problems in similar ways.
He said India is culturally diverse but its academic institutions have become less diverse in their thinking.
He made these comments at a lecture in Pune.
The lecture was about helping India become more successful in science and innovation.
IISER Pune and the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences organized the event.
BITS Pilani Group Vice-Chancellor V. Ramgopal Rao criticized CBSE schooling and JEE examinations.
Rao said standardized preparation reduces diversity in academic thought across Indian institutions.
He argued students exposed to CBSE and JEE tend to think and solve problems similarly.
Rao made the remarks during a lecture in Pune on August 20.
The lecture on India’s scientific potential was organized by IISER Pune and the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.
- Who
- V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani and former Director of IIT Delhi.
- What
- He said CBSE schooling and JEE preparation are reducing diversity in academic thought.
- When
- August 20; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- Pune, at a lecture organized by IISER Pune and the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences.
- Why
- Rao was discussing ways to strengthen India’s scientific potential, innovation, and academic diversity.
- Speaker
- V. Ramgopal Rao
- Current role
- Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani in Pune
- Previous role
- Director of IIT Delhi from 2016 to 2021
- Lecture title
- “Unleashing India’s Scientific Potential: Breaking barriers and igniting Innovation”
- Organizers
- IISER Pune and the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences
- Main criticism
- Rao said CBSE and JEE standardize how students think and solve problems.