Starting in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched the 'Sports Excellence Admission' (SEA) program. This initiative will allocate two supernumerary seats in each undergraduate program for Indian Nationals, with one seat specifically reserved for female students.

IIT Madras is the first IIT in the country to introduce such admissions for sportspersons in its undergraduate programs. More details can be found on the portal: jeeadv.iitm.ac.in/sea.

This initiative aims to acknowledge and support talented students who have demonstrated excellence in sports. The program is designed to motivate deserving students to pursue higher education while maintaining their commitment to sports excellence.

The admission process under SEA will require students to qualify in JEE (Advanced), but it will not be conducted through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) portal. Instead, it will utilize a separate portal operated by IIT Madras, which was launched on June 11, 2024.

Professor V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, warmly invites sportspersons to apply through SEA. He remarked, "Sports not only promote good health and discipline among youth but also foster mental maturity to manage success and setbacks. It teaches them how to turn failures into achievements through perseverance and hard work. The sports quota will ensure that our campus is enriched with individuals possessing these qualities, serving as role models for other students."

Candidates who have secured a position in the Common Rank List (CRL) or category-wise rank list of JEE (Advanced) 2024, and have achieved at least one medal in any National/International-level sports competition within the past four years, are encouraged to apply.

A dedicated 'Sports Rank List' (SRL) will be compiled based on the candidates' total scores derived from their performance in specific sports. Seat allocation will be conducted according to this list.

IIT Madras has enhanced its offerings with numerous sports-related electives and boasts state-of-the-art sports infrastructure alongside research facilities. This includes the Center of Excellence in Sports Science and Analytics (CESSA), which provides advanced sports science education and courses. Additionally, the institute is developing sports coaching programs tailored for students and coaches through strategic partnerships.