The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur invites students to apply for a free 12-week online course in blockchain technology, which is mainly used in cryptocurrency and secure data sharing.

The course will cover the basic design principles of blockchain technology and its application in different industries. The course also offers tutorials on setting up blockchain applications using one of the well-adopted unauthorized blockchain platforms, Ethereum, and an authorized blockchain platform, Hyperledger.

The course will be led by Sandip Chakraborty, who works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kharagpur, and by Professor Shamik Sural, a full-time professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the ‘institute.

To be eligible for this course, participants will need to have basic knowledge of computer networks, operating systems, cryptography, and network security.

The course will run from January 24 to April 15, 2022. Interested candidates should register by January 31, 2022 in order to continue this course online.

Course layout:

• Introduction to blockchain technology and its importance.

• Basic cryptographic primitives: cryptographic hash and digital signature.

• Evolution of blockchain technology.

• Elements of a blockchain.

• Blockchain consensus: models without authorization and with authorization.

• Convenient smart contract: Ethereum smart contracts and Hyperledger fabric.

• Decentralized identity management.

• Blockchain interoperability.

• Blockchain applications.

The course has been developed with the understanding that blockchain technology has aroused wide interest among governments, businesses and academics due to its ability to provide a transparent, secure and tamper-proof solution to interconnect different stakeholders. The course also has three credit points.

There is no registration fee for this course. However, those who wish to obtain electronic certificates with the logos of IIT Kharagpur and National Program on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) will have to pay Rs 1,000 and take an exam on April 23, 2022.