IIT Madras Director Calls for Wider Access to IIT Education Beyond JEE Advanced
IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti says IIT education should not be limited to JEE Advanced qualifiers, citing the institute's online BS programme.
IIT Madras Director Professor V Kamakoti has argued that education at premier institutions such as the IITs should reach well beyond the ranks of those who clear JEE Advanced. The gateway examination, he suggested, should not be the only route into an IIT-level education.
Speaking about the need to widen access, Kamakoti said many capable learners — especially those in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities — never get the exposure that an IIT environment offers. Opening up that exposure to a larger pool of students is central to the institute's thinking, he added.
He pointed to the IIT Madras BS degree programme as a step in that direction, describing its aim as the democratisation of education. More than 50,000 people have already benefited from the programme, he said.
Kamakoti also underlined the importance of data science fundamentals, noting the rapid pace of development in artificial intelligence.
The institute is currently accepting applications for its four-year BS degree in Data Science and Applications. The programme allows students to exit at the foundation, diploma or degree level. The last date to apply is September 27, and applications can be submitted through the official portal, study.iitm.ac.in.
Apart from the BS in Data Science and Applications, IIT Madras offers a BS in Electronic Systems, a Diploma in Programming and Data Science, a BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology, and a BS in Management and Data Science.
There is no age limit for applicants; anyone who has completed Class 12 is eligible. All courses are delivered online, with proctored examinations held across India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
The programme includes lectures by IIT Madras faculty, interactive mentor sessions, peer study groups, and the flexibility to study at one's own pace and choose how many courses to take in a term. The institute has cited the growing demand for well-trained programmers and data scientists as a reason for students to consider the offering.