IIT Kanpur Reserves Seats to Admit Students Based on Olympiad Rankings

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, famously known as IIT Kanpur or IIT-K, has proposed a parallel admission program for the highly meritorious students who participate in the Olympiad exam. IIT Kanpur has launched an exciting new admission route that enables students to register in certain courses without having to clear the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). This admission process is first of a kind in IITs. Till now, there was only one path to get admission to IITK where students had to clear the JEE Main exam followed by JEE Advanced to get admission to IIT Kanpur.

IIT Kanpur to Admit Students Based on Olympiad Rank

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has launched a new entry route for its BTech and BS courses. Admission to IIT Kanpur’s BTech and BS programs will be based on students’ performance in international Olympiads. Commencing with the academic year 2025-26, this program seeks to draw students who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in international Olympiads in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Informatics.

With this initiative, IIT Kanpur will allocate seats in five departments: Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Economic Sciences, and Mathematics & Statistics. This method of admission grants specific seats in every department for individuals trained in Olympiad camps, allowing them a direct path to IIT Kanpur without the need for JEE Advanced.

IIT Kanpur Reserves Seats to Admit Students Based on Olympiad Rankings

Through this program, IIT Kanpur will provide allocated seats in five disciplines: Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Chemistry, Economic Sciences, and Mathematics & Statistics. Entry via this method will provide a restricted number of seats for each department exclusively for students who have participated in intensive preparation and training at appropriate Olympiad camps. This program provides a distinct chance for students eager to follow their interests in these fields at one of India’s top institutions, avoiding the conventional JEE (Advanced) path.

What is the New Admission Initiative?

The new admission initiative at IIT Kanpur seeks to admit students based on their International Olympiad exam rankings. This initiative seeks to expand access to the educational programs at IIT Kanpur and is especially uplifting for individuals wishing to attend the esteemed institution. Through this program, students can secure admission according to their results in competitive examinations such as the Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or Biology Olympiads. This offers a distinctive chance for students with robust subject knowledge in these fields to enroll in IIT Kanpur, regardless of whether they have passed JEE Mains or JEE Advanced.

The official statement of IIT Kanpur reads, ‘’This initiative offers a unique opportunity for those students who wish to pursue their passion in these areas at one of India’s leading institutions, bypassing the traditional JEE (Advanced) route. Through this alternative pathway, IIT Kanpur is reserving seats in select departments for young innovators with exceptional analytical skills, making it one of the few institutes in India to directly recruit talent from prestigious global Olympiad platforms.’’

Eligibility Criteria for Olympiad Based Admission at IITK

The general eligibility criteria is same for the traditional admission route as well as new admission route through Olympiad exam rank.

• To qualify for admission, the applicant’s age must correspond with the age criteria set for JEE (Advanced) candidates for that specific admission year. Additionally, they should have successfully finished their class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either the admission year or the previous year, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics being required subjects.
• The applicant needs to have attained first-class grades in the qualifying examination. Individuals who gained admission to any IIT via JoSAA last year are not eligible, irrespective of whether they remained in the program, accepted a seat online, or showed up in person.
• Additionally, individuals whose admission to any IIT was previously revoked for any reason cannot gain admission through the Olympiad pathway. The applicant must have taken part in the International Olympiad Training Camp for the discipline indicated by the pertinent department.

Which Olympiad is Valid for Admission to Which Course?

IIT Kanpur has reserved seats in the five departments of the institute starting this session (2025-26) for BTech and BS admission for Olympiad students. However, it is important to note that students can take admission only in those program subject in which they have attended the relevant Olympiad training camp. Candidates can check the Olympiads valid for different courses and departments below.

• Computer Science and Engineering: Admission is based on scores from the Mathematics and Informatics Olympiads.
• Chemistry: Only Chemistry Olympiad scores are considered.
• Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics: Mathematics Olympiad ranks are the basis for admission.

How Many Seats are Reserved for Olympiad Based Admission at IITK

The institute has allocated two seats for Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, six seats for Computer Science and Engineering, two seats for Chemistry, three seats for Economic Sciences, and four seats for Mathematics and Statistics. Applicants will be evaluated from Olympiads including INMO/IMO, INOI/IOI, INChO, and IMOTC. All the Olympiads listed are acknowledged by the government.

The International Olympiads are yearly contests for pre-university students that assess their knowledge, critical thinking, laboratory, and problem-solving abilities. For many decades, Indian students have excelled in these Olympiads, attracting an annual enrollment of 20,000 to 60,000 participants in various subjects.

What is the Selection Process for this New Initiative?

The process of selection consists of two phases. At first, every department will evaluate applicants by their Olympiad rankings and select candidates as needed. These applicants will subsequently take a written test, which is compulsory, and an interview, if necessary. At the Institute level, a selection committee headed by the Dean of Academic Affairs will gather the recommendations from each department to facilitate a smooth admissions process, filling every available seat in each department without any duplication.

IIT Kanpur BTech BS Admission Schedule 2025-26 Through Olympiad

Departments involved will release the Olympiad-based admissions announcement during the first week of March for enrollments occurring in July. The application period will end during the fourth week of March. Additionally, the departments will assess applications during the third week of April and carry out the written exam in the first week of May.

The selection procedure, which encompasses assessing the written exam and any interviews, will conclude by the third week of May. The departments are to provide their suggested candidate lists to the Institute’s selection committee by the fourth week of May.

The selection committee of the Institute will issue the initial round of admission offers during the second week of June. The last admission round will finish at least seven days prior to the beginning of the first JoSAA counselling round.

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