Baishali Mukherjee

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, IIT Kanpur will offer a new admission route for its BTech and BS programs by considering scores from prestigious Olympiad competitions. This move introduces an alternate way for highly talented students to gain entry into IIT Kanpur, alongside the traditional JEE Advanced exam, marking a significant shift in the institute’s admission process. Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Economic and Mathematics and Statistics departments will admit candidates through Olympiads.

The institute will consider scores from both national and international Olympiads in subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Informatics for admission to its BTech and BS programs. Students with top ranks in these Olympiads will be eligible for direct admission, potentially bypassing the need for JEE Advanced scores in some cases.

By including Olympiad results, IIT Kanpur aims to attract students who excel in specialized academic fields but may not perform as well in the JEE exams. This change is expected to diversify the student pool and offer opportunities to those with exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity, and deep subject knowledge.

Although the final weighting of Olympiad scores in the admission process is still being determined, high-achieving Olympiad students are expected to be given significant consideration. This initiative aligns with IIT Kanpur’s commitment to recognizing excellence beyond traditional entrance exams and promoting innovation in technical education.

The introduction of Olympiad scores allows IIT Kanpur to reward a broader range of academic accomplishments, emphasizing attributes such as critical thinking, deep subject knowledge, and a passion for research—qualities highly valued in fields like engineering and science. By offering this pathway, IIT Kanpur is encouraging a more holistic approach to selecting students.

The participating departments will advertise the call for applications for admission through Olympiads in the first week of March for the admissions to be made in the month of July of the respective academic year. The submission deadline will be the fourth week of March. Final admission offers will be issued in July, following the conclusion of JoSAA counselling. A selection committee at the institute level, led by the Dean of Academic Affairs, will consolidate the departmental recommendations to finalize the candidates for admission. 

Eligibility Criteria for Admission Through Olympiads include – 

1. Candidates must meet the same age requirements as those for JEE Advanced applicants in the corresponding year.
2. Candidates should have appeared for their Class 12 (or equivalent) exams in the year of admission or the previous year, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
3. Candidates must have secured first-class marks in their qualifying exam.
4. Candidates who have previously been admitted to an IIT through JoSAA or whose IIT admission was cancelled are not eligible.
5. Candidates must have attended the relevant International Olympiad Training Camp for their respective disciplines.

According to the academia of the country, this new initiative at IIT Kanpur could serve as a model for other IITs and top universities in India, encouraging a more diverse range of students to pursue world-class education in engineering and sciences based on their exceptional talents in Olympiad competitions.

Also read: IIT Kanpur Launches ‘Online Rural Education Initiative’ to Bridge Educational Gap in Uttar Pradesh