CAIC SOP Tracker - Mid Term Review '25

Check out the Mid Term Review of the Co-Curricular and Academic Interaction Council (CAIC) below - an interview with the General and Deputy General Secretaries of the institutes' boards, where we get to know about the status of their visions and their tenure so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI-3Hy9FT68

Interviewed by: Samridhi Roy, Maanya Gupta

Shot, edited by: Ayush Tiwari

Updated on: 28/11/2025

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Take a look at the current status of the SOPs of the General and Deputy General Secretaries of the  Co-Curricular and Academic Interaction Council (CAIC).

☑ - finished

☐ - in progress

☒ - not started

☐ - check '*'

Please note: We have reported on the status of the SOPs as communicated to us by the respective General/Deputy General Secretaries. In case you find any discrepancy or inaccuracy in the status, kindly inform us.

General Secretary - Abhayveer Singh

Updated on: 28/11/2025

Research and Academic Initiatives

☑ Formation of a Comprehensive CAIC Yearly Calendar: I propose developing a well-structured CAIC Yearly Calendar that includes all academic events, research workshops, skill sessions, curriculum reviews, and collaborative board activities. This initiative will enhance visibility, streamline planning, and ensure a steady academic rhythm throughout the year.

☒ Stabilized Examination Schedules: To ensure fair academic performance, I propose guidelines that ensure examinations are a maximum of two per day for most of the students. Post-semester exam slot changes will require approval from the Dean of Academics and consent from all enrolled students, reducing academic burnout and ensuring transparency.

☐ Tutorial Series for Postgraduate Students on Research Software and Tools. To empower PG students with essential technical capabilities, I plan to introduce a curated tutorial series on widely used research software and tools such as MATLAB, LaTeX, Python, COMSOL, Ansys, and Origin.

☐ Framework for master’s & PhD Internships: A centralized internship framework will be developed to help students discover and access meaningful internship opportunities. This will involve partnerships with OCS, alumni, and industry collaborators, along with mentorship programs to guide students through application strategies, resume building, and aligning internships with long- term research or professional goals.

☑ RSF and other Club - Board collaboration for soft skill activities.

In collaboration with other boards, I will establish a framework for soft skills development focusing on academic writing, public speaking, research presentations, and interpersonal skills — equipping students with competencies critical beyond technical expertise.

☑ To revive the technical culture among clubs and societies at IIT Delhi.

I propose introducing monthly progress reports to track activities, collecting structured feedback from newly recruited members to improve engagement, and establishing a clear governance framework defining roles, recruitment processes, lecture series and mentorship structures. These steps will ensure better accountability, stronger participation, and a vibrant, sustainable technical ecosystem on campus.

☒ Empowered Department Welfare Committees (DWC).

DWCs will have clearly documented roles, including oversight of course policy consistency, facilitation of student feedback, and policy advocacy. DWCs will be encouraged to work closely with CAIC and departmental convenors to present concerns and suggestions, ensuring student voices shape academic experiences.

☒ Alternative to Attendance-Based Credit Reduction

In place of rigid attendance penalties, I propose an alternative mechanism where students falling below the 75% attendance threshold can complete meaningful assignments or reflective assessments to demonstrate their engagement and grasp of course material.

☐ Streamlined Maintenance of Research Facilities

I will work toward regular maintenance protocols and a transparent issue-reporting system for Centralized Research Facility (CRF) and National Research Facility (NRF) instruments. Additionally, proper training sessions for instrument usage will reduce downtime and ensure research continuity.

☐ Flexible Fellowship Usage:

Advocate for adjustments to institute fellowship funds to align with UGC guidelines. This allows expenditures on essential research tools – electronics, consumables, and stationery – in addition to travel and conferences.

☐ Regular and Inclusive Feedback.

I will advocate for periodic course reviews to ensure alignment with industry demands and emerging academic trends. This will include inviting feedback from industry experts and integrating real-world relevance into the academic fabric.

☑ Student Participation in Curriculum Reforms.

Curriculum development must be inclusive. I will initiate mechanisms such as student surveys, open forums, and student representation on review panels to ensure that changes reflect genuine student needs, experiences, and aspirations.

☑ Empowering Clubs and Societies: - Enhanced CAIC Support System

A thriving student community hinges on the success of its clubs and societies. I propose a multi- pronged approach through CAIC to empower these organizations and unlock their full potential.

> Streamlined Logistics: CAIC will offer full logistical support, simplifying administrative tasks for student organizations. This includes:

> Effortless Room Booking: Facilitate online or email-based room booking within the Lecture Hall Complex (LHC), eliminating tedious procedures.

> Flexible Budgeting: Advocate for a budget split system for clubs and societies. This could include:

> Contingency for Consumables & Miscellaneous Expenses: Allocate a portion of the budget for essential supplies and unforeseen costs.

> Travel and Outreach Budget: Provide dedicated funding to support travel for competitions, conferences, and outreach initiatives.

Co-curricular and Outreach

☑ Revamped Tech General Championship (Tech GC).

To boost engagement and inclusivity in co-curricular activities, I propose a renewed format for the Tech GC, to be held in September, allowing sufficient time for preparation and enthusiasm building. Teams will be structured to include both UG and PG students, with active encouragement for day scholars and PhD participants to take part. In addition to ECA credits and medals, monetary prizes will be introduced to increase motivation. To further recognize excellence, a Tech GC Wall of Fame will be established to honour winning teams and individuals across departments.

☑ Structured Inter IIT Technical Meet Participation.

Inter IIT should reflect the diverse and collaborative talent of IIT Delhi. I propose a fixed timeline for team formation, ensuring adequate preparation time. The appointment of a dedicated faculty prof-in-charge will bring consistency and guidance. I will also push for design credits for teams securing top positions, recognizing their hard work academically.

☑ Establishing New Clubs/societies or Subgroups within Existing Clubs

I propose the establishment of new clubs or the formation of specialized subgroups within existing clubs to represent emerging departments and interdisciplinary fields. This initiative aims to provide platforms for students to collaborate, innovate, and pursue shared interests, thereby enriching the overall academic and extracurricular experience. By aligning these groups with departmental objectives and student aspirations, we can cultivate a more inclusive and dynamic environment that encourages holistic development and cross-disciplinary interaction.

☐ Strengthening the Alumni Network through ‘Scholarly Echoes’. Building on the success of the Scholarly Echoes alumni talk series, I will expand its reach by inviting alumni from diverse domains to share their journeys, challenges, and insights. These interactions will provide invaluable mentorship and career guidance to students across departments, especially at the postgraduate and doctoral levels.

☒ Bridging Academia and Industry through Enhanced Exposure. I advocate for a stronger focus on industry-academia interaction. This includes curated panel discussions, seminars by industry leaders, collaborative workshops, and short- term industrial projects. These initiatives aim to bridge the academic learning process with real-world applications, helping students become industry ready.

☐ Mentorship Programs for PhD Scholars.

Research can often be an isolating journey. I plan to launch a structured mentorship program pairing early-stage or struggling PhD students with experienced seniors or alumni. This peer-driven support system will focus on academic, mental health, and career-related guidance to improve retention, productivity, and well-being.

☑ Effective Orientation and Outreach for Postgraduate Students.

A focused CAIC orientation session will be organized for all incoming PG students, introducing them to the structure, role, and opportunities provided by CAIC and the Academic Unit conveners. This will help students understand their support ecosystem from Day 1.

☑ Exclusive Tour of Stalls for PG Students Post-Orientation. In collaboration with BSW, I propose a dedicated tour of BRCA and technical club stalls exclusively for PG students following their orientation. This initiative aims to increase club visibility among PGs and promote better integration into the cultural and technical fabric of the campus.

☑ Enhanced Seminar Outreach through Inter-Committee Collaboration. I plan to collaborate with the IL Committee, Academic Outreach, and Alumni Relations teams to improve seminar visibility through better publicity and scheduling. More seminars from niche departments and cutting-edge research areas will be incorporated, ensuring comprehensive representation of IIT Delhi’s academic depth.

☒ Incentivizing Student Research Publications on Outreach Platforms. To showcase student research and academic work beyond traditional journals, I will introduce a student-led research publication series on the CAIC Outreach website. Students will be incentivized through recognition and possible ECA points for well- written articles, promoting science communication and interdisciplinary understanding.

Operational Initiatives:

☐ TRYST

The dates for Tryst should be thoroughly decided to ensure maximum participation from our college. Tryst should focus more on technical aspects by showcasing new technologies and experience zones. The Tryst team should work annually, similar to teams in other colleges, to elevate the benchmark and introduce new innovative technical events. Initiate partnerships with technical and cultural clubs of other premier institutions (like other IITs, nearby colleges) to co-host competitions, workshops, and lectures, thereby enhancing exposure, visibility, and innovation at TRYST.

☐ Proposal for Reducing Minimum CGPA Requirement for Master's Stipend I propose a revision to the minimum CGPA requirement for receiving a stipend during master’s programs at IIT Delhi. Currently, a CGPA of 7.0 is required. I advocate for lowering this threshold to 6, aligning with the practices at other leading institutions like IIT Bombay and IIT Madras.

Justification:

A stipend provides crucial financial support for master’s students, particularly those facing economic limitations in a city like Delhi. Lowering the bar allows more deserving students to benefit, even if their CGPA falls slightly below the current standard.

☑ Advance Communication of Regulatory and Budget Committee (RBC) Schedules. To enhance the operational efficiency of technical clubs and student-led initiatives, the Regulatory and Budget Committee (RBC) schedule will be shared well in advance each semester. This will help clubs and societies plan more effectively, align with deadlines, and optimize the proposal and approval process for funding, ultimately leading to better budgeting and resource utilization.

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Deputy General Secretary, UG Curriculum and Research - Parth Gautam

Updated on: 28/11/2025

☑ Expanding the Intern-Mentorship Program to support all UG students appearing for the upcoming internship season by pairing them with seniors from their preferred profiles. This will offer focused guidance on preparation strategies, resumes, and mock interviews through relatable peer mentorship.

☐ I aim to boost corporate tie-ups by facilitating MoUs(Memorandums of Understanding) through the Corporate Relations(CSR) team, targeting global firms for UG research, PG/PostDoc internships, and collaborative projects. Mailings will be handled by the Corporate Relations Admin and faculty. We plan to bring at least one reputed company per department, focusing on core sectors, to strengthen research, entrepreneurship, and global exposure.

☒ Launching a dedicated Tech-Newspaper to share regular tech updates, innovations, and research highlights—both from within the campus and globally. This platform will keep students informed and engaged with ongoing technical reforms, events, and opportunities in a quick, accessible format.

☑ Building on my experience creating a departmental resource bank, I will collaborate with the Board for Student Welfare (BSW) to expand this into a single, institute-wide platform. This hub will feature a repository of course materials, an integrated review system to help students navigate electives and Open Category (OC) courses, and curated guides connecting academic choices to career pathways, empowering students to make more informed decisions.

☐ Launch and integrate our newly-built project portal to serve as a one-stop platform for all academic projects. This portal will centralize opportunities—from B.Tech. Projects (BTPs) to research and projects for Design and Practical Experience (DPE) units —and will streamline the entire process from discovery and application to progress tracking and final submission. This will make engaging in hands-on work more accessible and transparent for all students.

☑ Initiated a structured preparation plan for Inter-IIT Tech Meet by introducing practice with past problem statements from the beginning of the semester. This was aimed at building familiarity with the competition format and nurturing a strong tech culture, with the broader goal of improving IIT Delhi’s performance and ranking in future Tech Meets.

☒ Facilitated active coordination between the Branch Convenor and the Departmental Society to collaboratively plan and execute departmental events such as STIC-D, aiming to enhance faculty-student engagement. Also worked towards organizing initiatives that foster stronger interaction between postgraduate and undergraduate students, promoting a more inclusive and collaborative academic environment.

☐ Proposing the establishment to the admin for departmental libraries equipped with subject-specific books and research papers, providing a dedicated space for students to study, collaborate, and engage in academic discussions —especially during exams—thereby fostering a focused and supportive departmental learning environment.

☐ Develop a comprehensive course review system that captures feedback on all courses along with the respective course coordinators. Begin by implementing it within individual departments, with a structured plan to gradually expand the initiative institute-wide, ensuring transparency and informed academic choices for students.

☑ As the incoming batch will be the first to experience the new curriculum, I will establish a dedicated feedback system to ensure a smooth transition. By collaborating with convenors, we will regularly collect student insights on new graded courses and non-graded units (NGUs). This feedback will be compiled into structured reports for the academic administration, ensuring the student voice is central to refining the new curriculum's implementation.

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Deputy General Secretary, PG Curriculum and Research - Ishant Singh

Updated on: 28/11/2025

Ongoing initiatives to be carried forward:

☒ Extended PhD Support: Advocate for financial assistance for scholars beyond five

years, benchmarking with top institutes.

☒ Flexible Contingency Fund Use: Push for broader usage of contingency funds to

include electronics, consumables, and stationery, not just travel.

☑ CRF/NRF Instrument Maintenance: Ensure timely repairs, streamlined issue reporting, and proper user training.

☒ Paid Industrial Internship: Support the proposal for two-month paid internships for PhD scholars.

☑ Academic & Cultural Engagement: Continue RSF events such as the 3-Minute Thesis Competition, debates, and "Scholarly Echoes" alumni talks.

☒ Faculty Profile Transparency: Promote regular updates of faculty profiles to assist

students in supervisor selection.

☑ Grievance Redressal: Strengthen an active grievance mechanism with anonymous reporting and clear accountability.

CAIC Meetings:

☑ Meeting Agendas: Review and raise feedback on academic policies related to course registration, credits, ERP, minors, research, and scholarships during GB, BAP, and Senate meetings.

Focus on BAP:

☑ Ex-officio Student Members: Incorporate ex-officio student members into BAP without affecting the seven nominated seats.

☑ Minutes of Meeting: Promote transparency between students and representatives by regularly circulating MoMs with key points raised during BAP, Senate, Open House and placement-related meetings so that the key stakeholders are always appraised of their issues.

Placement Related Activities in Collaboration with OCS:

☒ Policy Discussion: Establish smooth collaboration channels to discuss and ratify placement policies transparently.

☑ Provision for PhDs: Allow PhDs to sit for placements with supervisor permission.

☐* Internship Provisions: Advocate for internship opportunities for M.Tech and PhD students through OCS or departments.

Academic Provisions:

☒ Academic Mentorship: Collaborate with BSW to support academic mentorship and reduce dropouts and extensions.

☒ Resources: Create a repository of past-year papers, course policies, and essential academic contacts.

☒ Self-study Courses: Introduce SWAYAM, NPTEL, and IMPARTUS materials for credit in Summer and Winter sessions.

☒ Exchange Programs: Expand student exchange programs and internship opportunities in collaboration with the Office of International Programs.

Publicity:

☑ Collaboration with Societies: Partner with BSP, Technical Clubs, Departmental Societies, and Outreach Cells for regular academic newsletters.

☒ Website Update: Maintain an updated CAIC website with updated information.

☒ Digital Sign Boards: Install boards at key locations to showcase upcoming seminars, talks, and events.

Student Activities:

☒ Department Day: Introduce annual Department Day celebrations recognizing academic,

technical, cultural, and sports achievements.

☑ Tech Week: Reward participation in workshops with CAIC merchandise to encourage tech club engagement.

Provisions for PhD Students:

☒ Degree Collection: Enable scholars to receive degrees shortly after defense rather than waiting for convocation.

☒ Feedback Collection: Allow PhD students to give semester-wise feedback on

supervision and research support.

☒ TAship Verification: Institutional certification of TA duties for CV enhancement.

Provisions for M.A./M.Sc:

☒ Stipend Opportunities: Advocate for merit-cum-means scholarships.

☒ MSR/MSc Grading: Implement regular project progress evaluations each semester.

☒ Representation: Include MSR student representatives in CAIC.

☒ TAship: Include M.Sc. students in TA opportunities.

☒ Survey: Ensure departments have at least three TA positions for M.Sc. students.

Provisions for M.Tech:

☒ Research Incentive Grants: Monetary incentives for students publishing in peer-reviewed journals/conferences, bonus for patents or impactful interdisciplinary work

☒ Teaching/Research Assistantships (TA/RA) with Extra Pay: Additional pay for those taking extra lab or tutorial responsibilities beyond standard TA

duty

☒ Industry-Sponsored Fellowships: Collaborate with companies to fund high-performing students working on aligned research problems. E.g., Infosys Fellowship, DRDO Projects, or Healthcare-AI grants

☒ Entrepreneurial Seed Grants: INR25,000–INR1 lakh microgrants for M.Tech students building startups or innovative tech solutions under FITT or eDC

Need-Cum-Merit Scholarships: Sliding scale support based on family income and CGPA; enables support for talented students from economically weaker sections

☒ M.Tech Alumni Funded Scholarships: Build an endowment for alumni to sponsor deserving M.Tech students yearly.

> Public recognition to donors and scholars via IITD website/convocation

Tech Evangelist Fellowship

> Event + travel support for students giving talks or showcasing projects on behalf of IITD.

> Promotes IITD visibility and boosts student resumes.

☒ MBA Schedule: Internship Alignment: Align MBA semester schedules with internship seasons across national MBA schools.

☒ Experimental Labs and Research Environment: Equipment Maintenance: Prioritise NRF/CRF equipment maintenance to facilitate better research.

☒ Interaction Between Students:

> Mentorship Sessions: Organize mentorship from seniors to juniors for career and academic guidance.

> Mid-Term Project Review: Ensure mid-term project evaluations and timely

communication of termination decisions.

Infrastructure Issues:

☒ Study Spaces: Provide study spaces for MA (Humanities), School of AI, and other departments.

☒ Wifi Issues: Resolve connectivity problems in new buildings.

☒ Labs: AU lab relocation to new facilities.

☒ Academic Spaces: Develop conducive academic spaces across campus

* done for M.Tech but not PhD

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Deputy General Secretary, Co-curricular and Academic Outreach - Arush Ramachandran

Updated on: 28/11/2025

Inter-IIT and CAIC Trophy

☑ Cross Problem Statement Reviews: Regular check-ins through cross problem statement reviews. This improves accountability, solution delivering skills and provides a bird’s eye view to problem statements in similar domains

☑ Support team members: In addition to the regular inter-IIT Contingent, a support team will be hired from the first and second year batch. They will be responsible for compiling research, reading through guidelines and basic tasks. This will help improve the pipeline for the next year as well as improve efficiency in the current year

☑ Inter-IIT PS mapping for CAIC Trophy: Each technical society will be mapped to a domain of frequently asked Problem statement and certain collaborative PS will be pre-decided to replicate Inter-IIT PS.

☑ Contention-related orientations: An orientation session mapping out all the possible ways to avoid contentions and create awareness on possible contentions that can be pointed out in the other teams

Technical Clubs and Departmental Societies

☒ Recognition and Awards: Partnering with BSP, departments, and external publications to showcase student accomplishments across diverse domains, such as research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

☐ Co-curricular committee: Dedicated towards improving CAIC Trophy performance Inter-IIT performance, nominated from active members within co-curricular clubs having inter-IIT experience

☑ CAIC Orientation: Dedicated orientation conducted to inform freshers about tech culture of IIT Delhi

☐ End-term RBC Meeting: To review club expenditure and the effectiveness of budget utilised, also to provide a timely budget to the upcoming team.

☐ CAIC Trophy: A year-long CAIC trophy similar to the BRCA template will be established to increase hostel level penetration of clubs

☑ External-sponsored projects: Will assist clubs with onboarding companies for external funding of projects to improve quality & experience of students working in tech clubs & departmental societies

Trsyt

☑ Recruit events and marketing teams 4 months prior for comprehensive planning and broader reach Select tryst dates strategically to maximise participation from Delhi NCR

☒ Conduct regional qualifiers for events to spread awareness throughout the country about our annual Tech-fest

☐ Conduct more events attracting participation from school students to improve UG interaction and pipelining

☐ Focusing more on the technical aspect of the Fest rather than promoting culture. Clearly defining a vision to attract smart minds for the 3-day event.

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