In a first ever initiative, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur announced yesterday it will admit students to its BTech and BS courses at the institute based on the scores from Olympiads, starting from the batch beginning in 2025. Five departments, namely Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Economic Sciences, and Mathematics and Statistics, will also admit students with outstanding performances in Olympiads in the academic year 2025-26. In this way, IIT Kanpur will continue its trend of diversification in admission processes to admit exceptional talent from other scholarly avenues.

There will be a two-stage process, and the Olympiad-qualified candidates will be put through it. Each department will shortlist candidates according to their rankings in the Olympiad, and the shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test; an interview phase will also be included if necessary. This process will be led by the Dean of Academic Affairs and a central selection committee to ensure that this process is fair and consistent across departments.

Different Olympiads will be recognized for the different departments. For example, the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering department accepts students based on the scores in the biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics Olympiads. Computer Science and Engineering department will consider results of the mathematics and informatics Olympiads, whereas the Chemistry department will consider results solely from the chemistry Olympiad. Candidates for Economic Sciences and Mathematics and Statistics will present a ranking in the mathematics Olympiad.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility conditions for entry through the Olympiad channel are as follows:

1. Age Criterion: The age eligibility is the same as for JEE Advanced applicants for the particular year of admission.
2. Class 12 or Equivalent Exam: Applicants must have appeared for Class 12 exam either in the year of admission or the previous year with physics, chemistry, and mathematics as compulsory subjects.
3. First class marks in the qualifying examination.
4. Candidates who had been admitted in the last year through JoSAA process to any IIT are not eligible.
5. Candidates who had been admitted to any IIT earlier but whose admission was cancelled for any reason are not eligible.
6. Training camp of the Olympiad for applicants – Applicants who desire admission into departments listed, have participated in international olympiads/trained camps.
   Application of Candidates – By third or Fourth week of March for Early applicants after all call by Department 
   Departments would publicise Call applications, very close to JoSAA Counselling Schedule 
   Finally all admission processes after Confirm dates of the same should be in perfect Over-lapping and final result also.

This pathway will be new as students get entry into IIT Kanpur, not only through Olympiads but also through talent recognition beyond the entrance examination.