In a landmark move, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has become the first IIT to introduce a sports quota for its undergraduate admissions.Starting from the 2024-2025 academic session, the institute will offer two supernumerary seats per undergraduate program under the ‘Sports Excellence Admission’ (SEA) initiative.One of these seats is designated as gender-neutral, while the other is exclusively reserved for female students.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for admission through the SEA program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- JEE (Advanced) Qualification: Applicants must have secured a position in the Common Rank List (CRL) or a category-wise rank list in the JEE (Advanced) examination.
- Academic Requirements: Candidates should have obtained the minimum required Class XII marks as per the eligibility criteria for IITs.
- Sports Achievements: Applicants must have won at least one medal in national or international-level sports competitions within the last four years. A point-based system will be used to evaluate achievements, with different points assigned for various levels of competition and types of medals.
Admission Process
The admission process through SEA is distinct from the regular Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) procedure.Eligible candidates are required to apply through a separate portal operated by IIT Madras.A ‘Sports Rank List’ (SRL) will be prepared based on the total score obtained by candidates, reflecting their performance in a specified list of sports. Seat allotment will be conducted based on this
Inaugural Admissions
For the academic year 2024-2025, IIT Madras admitted five athletes under the SEA program:
- Arohi Bhave (Volleyball, Maharashtra)
- Siddharth Singh (Tennis, Uttar Pradesh)
- Neha Sharma (Squash, Delhi)
- Rajesh Kumar (Water Polo, Tamil Nadu)
- Priya Patel (Swimming, Karnataka)
These students have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their respective sports at the national level.
Official Statements
Announcing this initiative, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, stated, “This is a very progressive step to ensure holistic education as envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020. This step is to acknowledge achievements in sports by young children and also give them an opportunity to further understand their respective sports from an engineering and technology perspective.”
Conclusion
IIT Madras’s introduction of the SEA program marks a significant milestone in integrating sports excellence with academic pursuits. By recognizing and rewarding talented athletes, the institute aims to foster a more holistic educational environment, encouraging students to excel both in academics and sports.
