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Journalism of Courage
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has admitted nine students to its BTech programmes through the Fine Arts and Culture Excellence (FACE) admissions scheme for the first time this year. Under the scheme, two seats per programme are allotted in all BTech and BS courses – one reserved for female candidates and the other gender-neutral. The objective of FACE admission is to reward and encourage students who have achieved excellence in fine arts and culture.
Candidates who opted to be treated at par with Indian nationals during JEE Advanced 2025 registration were eligible for FACE admission and had to apply via the dedicated portal – jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/face.
Alongside FACE, the institute runs the ‘Science Olympiad Excellence’ (ScOpE) scheme and had earlier introduced the Sports Excellence Admission (SEA) from the 2024-25 academic year, becoming the first IIT to offer a dedicated pathway for sports persons. SEA requires students to qualify JEE Advanced, however, admissions are handled through a separate IIT Madras portal, instead of the JoSAA system.
These admissions are offered through supernumerary seats, ensuring that the overall intake via JEE Advanced remains unchanged.
Students admitted to IIT Madras through ScOPE, who are often academically inclined, receive guidance under the institute’s regular faculty advisor scheme at the institute. For the newly joined FACE students this year, a mentorship structure similar to that for sports excellence admissions has been designed, focusing on nurturing their talents and encouraging participation in relevant programmes and competitions, the institute said.
“Support to nurture their talents will be enabled and they will be encouraged to participate in suitable programmes and competitions,” the indianexpress.com was told.
The initiatives have drawn positive responses from parents, with several appreciating the alternative routes to IIT Madras for students excelling in sports, fine arts, or Olympiads. As these schemes are only in their first and second year respectively, their wider impact is still taking shape.
