The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) has announced it will roll out alternative admission pathways for its undergraduate BTech and BS programmes from the 2026-27 academic session, shifting its admission process beyond just the top ranks in the Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE Advanced).
What the new pathways involve?
Two tracks are proposed:
- SCOPE (Science Olympiad Excellence Admissions): For candidates who have attained significant achievements in international science Olympiads — including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology or informatics.
- SEA (Sports Excellence Admissions): For candidates who have won medals in national or international sports competitions in the last four years, such as Senior Nationals, All India University Games, Khelo India University Games, World Championships or Olympics.
Although the JEE Advanced qualification (appearance) will still be required, IIT Kharagpur has indicated that the rank will no longer be the sole determinant for admission under these routes.
Why the change?
The institute’s leadership has emphasised that the “traditional reliance on rank alone” may exclude talented individuals who excel in other domains. According to the Director, the change aims to bring greater diversity and recognise multiple forms of merit — not just examination performance. IIT Kharagpur is following in the footsteps of some peer IITs like Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, which have already introduced similar admission channels.
Implementation and next steps
The IIT Kharagpur Senate has approved the principle of this change, with final modalities to be worked out. A committee with departmental representation will frame the detailed criteria, seat allocation and eligibility. The institute may create supernumerary seats for these categories, ensuring the core admission process via JEE remains unaffected.
Potential impact
- Widening access: Students who might not have the top JEE rank but have excelled in Olympiads or sports will now have a route into one of India’s premier engineering institutes.
- Talent diversity: The move is likely to attract a broader talent pool across academics, athletics and co-curricular areas.
- Maintaining standards: While the rank requirement persists, the alternate routes complement rather than replace the main JEE channel, preserving institutional standards.
Important reminders for aspirants
- Prospective candidates should continue to prepare for the JEE Advanced exam to meet the eligibility requirement.
- Interested applicants in Olympiad or sports routes should document their achievements and stay alert for the official notification from IIT Kharagpur.
- Complete details such as number of seats, criteria, evaluation process and deadlines will be announced once the institute’s committee finalises rules.
