IIT Madras introduces cultural quota for admissions, JEE Advanced qualification mandatory

NEW DELHI: Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Madras will introduce a "Fine Arts and Culture Excellence" (FACE) quota for admissions starting in the 2025 academic year. Candidates seeking admission through this cultural quota will need to qualify the JEE Advanced examination. The registration process will begin in June.

The IIT Madras cultural quota will offer two seats per programme in all BTech and BS courses, with a total of 34 seats available across all programmes. Out of the two seats, one seat per programme will be gender-neutral, and the other will be reserved exclusively for female candidates.

IIT Madras Cultural Quota: Eligibility criteria

Candidates applying under the IIT Madras FACE quota are required to qualify JEE Advanced and adhere to the existing JoSAA eligibility rules. Additionally, applicants are required to demonstrate achievements in arts and culture by meeting at least one of the following:

1. Receiving a once-in-a-lifetime award for an art form from the Government of India.
2. Securing recognition listed under either Category A or Category B in the official awards recognitions document.
3. List of eligible awards, fellowships, or certifications

• Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar under Arts and Culture awarded by the Ministry of Women and Child Empowerment, Government of India.
• National Bal Shree Honour in creative performance, creative art, and creative painting awarded by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• National Youth Award under Arts/Culture awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
• Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, awarded by Sangeet Natak Akademi, Government of India.
• Active B-grade (or above) certification from All India Radio or Doordarshan, Prasar Bharati, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, within the last six years.
• Empaneled Artists to perform in Indian Festivals Abroad by the Government of India within the last six years.
• Scholarship to Young Artists (SYA), awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• National Youth Festival Competition Award (Stage 4), where the presentation in Arts and Culture is made to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India.

Also read IIT Madras has admitted 5 students through sports quota

IIT Madras FACE Quota: Seat matrix

IIT Madras Cultural Quota: Admission process and schedule

The admission process under IIT Madras FACE quota will follow a timeline that aligns with the JEE Advanced 2025 and JoSAA counseling schedules. Interested candidates can have a look at the tentative IIT Madras FACE quota admission schedule 2025 below.

• Application portal Opens: June 2, 2025

• Application portal closes: June 8, 2025

• Certificate verification: June 9–12, 2025

• Eligibility announcement: June 13, 2025 (10 am)

• FACE rank and seat allotment: June 14, 2025 (5 pm)

• Provisional seat confirmation: June 18, 2025 (5 pm)

V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras is embarking on a new journey to admit students to her much-coveted undergraduate programs in recognition of their excellence in fine arts and culture. The candidates are required to apply through the IITM-FACE admission portal (https://jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/face) for consideration for admission under fine arts and culture excellence to IIT Madras.”