Reported by AM
Pune, 22nd March 2005 – In a major shift from the traditional admission process, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and IIT Madras have announced a new pathway for undergraduate admissions. Starting from the 2025-35 academic year, students who excel in International Olympiads will be eligible for direct admission. This initiative provides an alternative route to India’s top engineering institutions beyond the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
IIT Kanpur’s Olympiad-Based Admission Initiative
IIT Kanpur will offer direct admission to students excelling in International Olympiads across five departments:
- Biological Science and Bioengineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Chemistry
- Economic Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
This move aligns IIT Kanpur with other institutions like IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Bombay, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), which have previously introduced Olympiad-based admissions.
Eligibility Criteria for IIT Kanpur
Students applying through the Olympiad route must:
- Be of the same age as JEE Advanced candidates.
- Have appeared for their Class 12 (or equivalent) exam either in the year of admission or the previous year.
- Have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects in Class 11 and 12.
- Have attended the relevant Olympiad training camp for the subject they are applying for.
- Not have been previously admitted to an IIT through JEE or had an IIT admission canceled.
Selection Process
- Initial Screening: Each department will review applications based on Olympiad rankings and shortlist candidates.
- Written Exam and Interview: Shortlisted candidates must take a test and attend an interview.
- Final Selection: A committee, led by the Dean of Academic Affairs, will review recommendations from each department to finalize admissions.
IIT Madras Launches the Science Olympiad Excellence (SOE) Pathway
IIT Madras has introduced the SOE scheme, which offers direct admission to top-performing Olympiad students without requiring JEE Advanced. This pathway will offer extra seats per undergraduate program, with one reserved for female applicants, starting from 2025-35.
Eligibility Criteria for SOE Admission
Applicants must:
- Be an Indian national, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) (OCI/PIO cards must be obtained before March 4, 2021).
- Have attended a recognized Olympiad training camp, such as those conducted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) or the Indian Association for Research in Computing Science (IARCS), within the last four years.
- Have completed Class 12 (or equivalent) or be appearing for it in the year of admission.
Admission Process
- Applications will be processed through a separate IIT Madras portal instead of the usual Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) system.
- Selection will be based on Olympiad performance, with admissions determined through a Science Olympiad Rank List (SORL).
Programs Offered Under SOE Pathway
IIT Madras will offer several undergraduate programs under this scheme, including:
- Aerospace Engineering (B.Tech)
- Biotechnology (B.Tech & M.Tech)
- Chemical Engineering (B.Tech)
- Civil Engineering (B.Tech)
- Computer Science and Engineering (B.Tech)
- Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (B.Tech)
- Electrical Engineering (B.Tech)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.Tech)
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (B.Tech)
- Ocean Engineering (B.Tech)
- Medical Science and Technology (B.Tech)
- Chemistry (B.Sc)
- Physics (B.Sc)
A Growing Trend in IIT Admissions
The introduction of Olympiad-based admissions at IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras reflects a growing trend among India’s top institutions. IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Bombay, IISc, and IISER have already adopted similar approaches. Importantly, these new admission routes will not reduce the number of seats available through JEE, as Olympiad-based admissions are offered through supernumerary seats or alternate pathways.
Experts in the field support this initiative. Kumar Tembayanand, founder of Prime P, stated:
“Directly admitting Olympiad medalists is a progressive step that celebrates deep subject expertise. It won’t affect JEE aspirants, as Olympiad qualifiers usually perform well in JEE too. This simply provides them a different route to the same destination. For students, this opens a parallel path to IIT that rewards passion-driven learning over purely competitive preparation. For IITs, it’s a chance to welcome globally competitive minds who can contribute to research, innovation, and interdisciplinary thinking from day one.”
This move marks a significant shift in IIT admissions, recognizing students with exceptional subject expertise and encouraging research-oriented minds. As IITs diversify their admission process, they aim to attract globally competitive talent and enhance India’s engineering and research landscape.
For more details, interested candidates can visit the official websites of IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras.
