IIT Scholarships, Fellowships for Exam Rankers: IIT Kharagpur’s Rs 90,000 Grant to IIT Kanpur’s Rs 3 Lakh Aid

IIT scholarships for JEE Advanced rankers: As IIT Kharagpur marks its Platinum Jubilee — 75 years of education, research and innovation — the institute has announced a special fellowship to reward high-performing candidates in national-level entrance exams. The move highlights a broader trend among IITs: using scholarships and fellowships linked to exams like JEE Advanced, GATE, and JAM to attract and retain top academic talent.

Here’s a look at what some of the leading IITs currently offer to exam achievers.

IIT Kharagpur: Up to Rs 90,000 a Month for Top GATE Rankers

IIT Kharagpur has introduced the Director’s Platinum Jubilee Excellence Fellowship (DPEF) for candidates ranking among the top 50 in GATE 2026 who choose to pursue a PhD at the institute.

Under this fellowship, selected candidates receive Rs 80,000 per month for the first two years and Rs 90,000 per month for the following three years, subject to meeting the institute’s admission criteria. No separate application is needed — eligible candidates can apply through IIT Kharagpur’s rolling PhD admission process.

The institute has also extended DPEF benefits to JAM 2026 toppers ranked 1 to 50 who opt for a master’s degree at IIT Kharagpur, broadening its merit-based incentive beyond just JEE Advanced achievers.

IIT Kanpur: Rs 3 Lakh a Year for Top 100 JEE Advanced Rankers

IIT Kanpur’s Bright Minds Scholarship is among the most substantial merit-linked scholarships offered by any IIT. It’s meant for students ranking among the top 100 in the All India JEE Advanced ranking who join the institute’s BTech or BS programmes.

Selected students receive Rs 3 lakh per year, broken up as Rs 2 lakh towards full tuition fees and Rs 1 lakh towards hostel, mess fees, books, medical insurance, and other living expenses. The scholarship can continue for all four undergraduate years, provided the student maintains a minimum CPI of 8.0.

IIT Roorkee: Rs 25,000 Every Month for JEE Advanced Achievers

IIT Roorkee offers the James Thomason Scholarship to students with an All India Rank up to 250 in JEE Advanced who join the institute. Selected students receive Rs 25,000 per month for the entire duration of their programme.

This benefit comes with an academic condition — students must maintain a CGPA of 8.0 or above at the end of every academic year to continue receiving it, making it distinct from a one-time admission incentive.

IIT Delhi: JEE Rank Plus Family Income Determines Scholarship

IIT Delhi’s Amit and Deepali Sinha Foundation Scholarship is available to first-year undergraduate students in BTech or dual-degree programmes. Fifteen students are selected each year based on JEE Advanced rank, subject to a family income limit of below Rs 9 lakh per annum, and applicants must not be availing the Vidya Lakshmi Loan Scheme.

Separately, IIT Delhi has received a Rs 10-crore endowment from alumnus Dr Amit Sinha to establish a full-ride fellowship for the top five undergraduate students joining each year based on JEE Advanced rank — with one fellowship specifically reserved for the top woman JEE ranker, aimed at encouraging more women in STEM.

Why This Matters for Students?

For students appearing in JEE Advanced, GATE, or JAM, a high rank can now translate into more than just admission — it can unlock substantial financial support throughout their academic programme, easing the cost burden of pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, or research education at these institutes.

Key Highlights