All 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have introduced several initiatives to support students from reserved categories. These measures are designed to ensure that financial and academic barriers do not prevent deserving students from accessing quality education at the country’s top engineering institutes.
One of the key initiatives is the full tuition fee waiver for students whose parental income is less than Rs 1 lakh per year, regardless of their category. This initiative aims to make education at IITs more accessible to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Additionally, students from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories benefit from relaxed cut-off scores, helping to increase their admission chances.
To further ease the application process, a multilingual call centre has been established to address queries from candidates, ensuring they have access to guidance in their preferred language. For students in rural areas, "Citizen Service Centres" have been set up nationwide to assist with filling out choices and paying fees online, making the process smoother for those with limited internet access.
SC and ST students who do not meet the relaxed selection cut-offs are eligible for special preparatory courses to bridge the academic gap. Upon completing these courses, students are directly admitted to IITs, giving them a second chance to join these prestigious institutions. Additionally, SC, ST, and PwD students must only pay 50% of the acceptance fee, easing their financial burden.
A two-thirds tuition fee waiver is provided for students from the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) with a parental income between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. This initiative and other measures demonstrate the IITs' commitment to level the playing field for students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
By implementing these supportive measures, the IITs are promoting greater diversity within their student bodies and ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds can pursue their academic aspirations without financial or social obstacles. These initiatives underscore the IITs' dedication to creating a more inclusive educational environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.