In an interview with Kajal Mehra from TimesTech, Nishant Chandra, Co founder of Newton School, shared how NST is revolutionising engineering education with a coding-first approach, AI-driven mentorship, and real-world projects from day one. From launching India’s first UG coding entrance test to fostering student-led innovations and startups, NST is grooming industry-ready tech leaders through hands-on, scalable, and product-led learning experiences.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: NST positions itself as a coding-first institute right from admissions through NSAT. How does this approach ensure better alignment with real-world tech roles compared to conventional entrance exams?
Nishant: Most entrance exams test theoretical knowledge—great for marks, not so great for preparing engineers. At Newton Schoopl of Technology, we flip the model. From the start, we look for real problem-solving ability. That’s why our admissions process includes Coding NSAT, India’s first UG entrance test focused on logic and programming. It doesn’t replace academics, but it adds a layer that aligns with how the tech industry hires. By selecting students based on how they think and build, not just what they memorise, we set them up to grow into strong developers, not just degree holders.
TimesTech: Your curriculum kicks off with project-based learning from semester one. How does this early exposure to real-world product cycles shape a student’s mindset and technical depth over time?
Nishant: Right from day one, students build real software. You’ll see them create everything from backend APIs to algorithmic tools:
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This foundation feeds into:
- ICPC success: First-year NST students (Priyanshu, Sai Kiran, Amod) secured a top-114 finish at the ICPC Amritapuri regionals—outranking even some final-year seniors from IITs and NITs.
- Open-source impact: These project-first habits foster an open-world mindset—students contribute to real-world repos, mentor each other, and build communities.
- GSoC achievements: Five first-year students got selected for Google Summer of Code, contributing to projects that millions of developers now use across the globe
- Internship traction: That practical depth pays off—93% of our first batch went on to secure paid internships in their second year
So, early projects don’t just teach—they spark confidence, collaboration, leadership, and real-world impact.
TimesTech: With tools like cloud IDEs, GitHub workflows, and DevOps environments built into the curriculum, how does NST scale this for large student batches?
Nishant: Newton School has always been a product-led company, which makes scaling much smoother. We’ve built our own LMS, IDE and learning app, where students write, run, and submit code—without ever leaving the platform.
We also have cutting edge AI tools so that the students can see where they stand in real time, track progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and get targeted feedback. Smaller doubts are handled instantly by our AI-powered doubt solver, while bigger conceptual issues are taken up in live doubt-clearing classes.
So whether it’s one campus or ten, this tech backbone ensures every student gets the same hands-on experience and personalised support.
TimesTech: Can you share an example of a student-led project or innovation that came out of Innovation & Research Labs of NST Campuses?
Nishant: Across our campuses, students are already building exciting, high-impact projects—many of them in their very first year. A few quick examples:
- Voice-controlled drone navigation using GenAI – A first-year team built a voice-guided drone system integrating GenAI with robotics APIs.
- AI-powered health monitoring bot – Students created a bot that reads vital signs and flags anomalies using machine learning.
- Warehouse automation rover – A compact rover built for autonomous navigation in warehouse environments.
- Smart greenhouse using IoT + AI – A setup that uses sensors and AI to regulate climate and water in real time.
These aren’t final-year projects. These are first- and second-year students, solving real-world problems from the start.
TimesTech: NST’s proprietary LMS integrates AI-driven feedback and mentorship. How does this system personalise learning and bridge the gap between academics and job-readiness?
Nishant: We’ve built AI tools that plug directly into the learning journey, and students use them over 1 lakh times a month.
- NEO answers doubts in real time—used 70k+ times/month.
- CodeLens helps debug code step by step—used 45k+ times.
- AI Mock Interviews simulate coding interviews with instant feedback.
- And free tools like Tryout and Resume Evaluator let anyone assess their skills or fix their CVs.
Combined with human mentorship, this gives every student a real edge, both in class and during placements.
TimesTech: The ₹1 Cr startup fund per batch is a bold move. What kind of ventures have emerged so far, and how do you support them?
Nishant: We’ve seen students pitch ideas in agritech, edtech, devtools, even social impact—all in their first year. That’s what led us to launch the ₹1 Cr StartX fund, which backs serious student ventures with capital, mentorship, and go-to-market support.
But support doesn’t stop at funding. We’re also partnering with communities like TPF (The Product Folks) to give students access to one of India’s top product communities. They get mentored by experienced founders and product leaders, learn how real products are built and scaled, and stay ahead of the tech curve.
One of our first-year students, Soham, pitched an agro-tech idea that’s now being actively developed with guidance from the StartX network. That’s the kind of hands-on, founder-first culture we’re building on campus.
