IIT Madras: 87 govt school students to receive admission in bachelor of science programme

NEW DELHI: Education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi hands over the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras admission letters to 45 students from government and corporation schools from over 20 districts in Tamil Nadu. Applications opened for the next batch of the IIT Madras BS Program starting in January 2023.

Under the 'Anaivarukkum IIT-M' initiative a total of 87 students, including 39 females have received admission in the bachelor of science (BS) in data science and applications programme of IIT Madras. This four-year course was first introduced in 2021 in line with the initiative aiming of making education accessible and affordable to all.

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As part of the IIT Madras’ vision to make education accessible to all, there are multiple efforts from the Institute targeted at students from the public education system, especially in Tamil Nadu. Under this programme, IITM shortlisted and supported a set of 192 students from 58 different government and corporation schools in TN. After a 14-week in-person training programme 68 students were were shortlisted to write the pan-India qualifier exam for admission to the BS Degree.

The Institute also provides income-based scholarships of up to 75 per cent for students pursuing the degree. In addition to this, students who qualified through a collaborative effort with Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation (TAHDCO) will receive full financial aid from the state government.

The IIT Madras BS degree is designed to offer students multiple entry and exit options where learners can earn a certificate, diploma, or degree providing flexibility. The course offers industry-relevant knowledge and skills that can improve employability. The students who graduate with a BS degree will be eligible to appear for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and pursue master's of technology (MTech) in India or apply to postgraduate degrees offered by universities abroad.

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So far, more than 15,000 students are enrolled in the programme, with the maximum number of students from Tamil Nadu, followed by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Congratulating the students receiving their admission letters at the 'Anaivarukkum IITM' event IIT Madras director, V Kamakoti said: "The ‘Anaivarukkum IITM’ initiative aims to increase the number of Government school students who are enrolled in our BS program. We are excited that the first batch of students through this initiative has now been admitted. We aim to grow this further and make quality education accessible to all, regardless of their socio-economic status. We are glad that the Hon'ble Minister of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu could join us for this event to motivate the students. We also thank the Tamil Nadu Government for all their support,"