A New Player on the Field : Sports Quota in IITs

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are renowned for their rigorous academic standards and role in producing some of the brightest minds in the world. However, these institutions also recognize the importance of holistic development, including physical fitness and sports excellence. Many IITs have some of the best sports facilities in this country, and recently, there have been discussions that have led some IITs to consider expanding their admission process to include a sports quota. This is a big change from the system that only judges students’ academic and analytical capabilities as a measure of admission.

This proposal was brought forth by the director of IIT Madras during the 55th meeting of the Council of IITs, where he suggested introducing supernumerary seats for students excelling in sports from the academic year 2024-25. IIT Madras plans to implement a sports quota system aimed at rewarding the exceptional sports achievements of talented athletes with an opportunity to continue their passion for sports while receiving education at IIT.

This article will delve into the logistics of the sports quota system as it exists in IITM and other Indian colleges, examining its criteria, selection process, and the benefits it potentially offers student-athletes. We will also explore the challenges of introducing a sports quota-based admission process at IITs.   

Sports Quota currently in other Colleges

Why is there a sports quota in colleges in India?
Recognizing the importance of sports in the holistic development of students, the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020 emphasizes the need to promote sports in education. In alignment with this vision, the government has extended grants for sports facilities at the primary education level and launched initiatives like the Khelo India games and various other sports facilities to further encourage sports participation among students.

Several top colleges and universities, including Delhi University (DU), colleges that take admission through Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA), and St. Xavier’s, offer admission to students through a sports quota.

DU, for instance, reserves 2.5% of its seats for students excelling in sports and another 2.5% for those excelling in extracurricular activities (ECA). Students who have represented India at prestigious international events such as the Olympics and World Championships directly receive admission under the sports quota. For other students, the final score for admission will be calculated based on the weightage of the sports selection trials, certificates, and performance in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Students are also required to fulfill the basic academic qualifications necessary for admission to the course. A separate merit list is then declared for each sport, after which admission is allotted based on their respective sport and course availability. 

Some of these colleges require student-athletes to attend classes, practice at specific times, and represent the college in tournaments. They offer support by rescheduling missed exams and providing flexibility for missed classes due to tournaments, ensuring a balance between academic and athletic commitments.

In the USA, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) manages many school sports leagues. Admissions to the NCAA colleges involve a holistic application process, with scholarships often offered to high school athletes. These colleges provide excellent coaching, top-tier sports facilities, and academic support to help student-athletes balance their sports and studies. Student-athletes must meet specific academic milestones and progress standards to continue playing. The NCAA regulates practice hours, eligibility criteria, scholarships, and academic standards. This comprehensive approach supports student-athlete development, emphasising education alongside athletic excellence.

IITM Sports Quota

IIT Madras has recently introduced a new program called the Sports Excellence Admission (SEA), which will begin accepting students starting in the academic year 2024-25. To be eligible for admission through SEA, students must clear the JEE (Advanced) cutoff. However, unlike the standard admission process, SEA admissions will not be conducted through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) portal but through a separate portal operated by IIT Madras.  

Qualifications: 

The candidate should have obtained a position in the Common Rank List (CRL) or category-wise rank list in the JEE (Advanced). 

Candidates should have secured at least one medal in national-level sports achievements within the last four years or have participated in international competitions. Points for these achievements will be allocated according to the following table.

Table 1: Proposed Points System

Competition	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Participation
National Level	35	25	15	0
International Level	100	90	80	50

As can be seen from the table, the points awarded for each competition will depend on the level of competition of that tournament, with the highest number of points to be given to tournaments such as the Olympics and world championships at the International level and SAF games at the National level.

Each level has subdivisions with different weights to be multiplied with the respective points; the weighted sum of these points in turn, is used to create a sports rank list for the applicants. For more information, visit their website here.

The sports included under the sports quota include the 13 inter-IIT sports

Aquatics, Athletics, Chess, Cricket, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Squash, Table Tennis, Lawn Tennis, Volleyball and Weight Lifting.

The seat allotment will be done based on the sports rank list only which will be made using a weighted sum of the points the candidate has gained using the above tables. No weightage will be given to JEE Advanced marks once the candidate has met the aforementioned qualifications.

Vision for Sports Excellence at IIT Madras 

In our discussion with the General Secretary of Sports Affairs (GSSA) at IIT Madras, he shared the director’s vision: to encourage students who had paused their sports pursuits due to JEE preparations to resume and excel in them. The facilities and academic support at IIT Madras are designed to help athletes play with greater freedom and focus. Additionally, IIT Madras has established partnerships with local clubs and sports associations, providing athletes with excellent competition opportunities and a clear pathway to advance in their sporting careers.

IIT Madras has also introduced facilities for research in sports analytics and performance enhancement, allowing students to engage in projects that advance sports science and technology in India. A new indoor sports complex with a specialised lab for Sports Science and Analytics has been inaugurated to support this initiative, fostering startups and industrial collaborations. Numerous students are involved in sports analytics projects, and plans for an IDDDP in sports analytics are underway. The institution has also introduced eight sports electives, including ‘mechanics of sports’. Students from the sports quota must complete 60% of fixed electives, with the freedom to choose the remaining 40% from other electives, similar to other students studying in IITM. You can read more regarding the admission process here.

Our Thoughts

Potential Challenges:

IITs have long been renowned as institutions of academic and scientific specialization. Even when they were established, their purpose was seen to be ‘to provide trained technical personnel of international class to the nation who would act as leaders in technology for the newly born independent India.’  

The question now, that remains to be answered is if IITs still serve the same purpose?

Over the years, IITs’ resources have been directed to cultivating the scholastic and scientific capabilities they are known for. Most students and people in the country associate IITs with institutions to be entered for education and intellectual development. Even though life at IIT allows students to explore other avenues and activities through its extracurricular opportunities and facilities, the primary student life seems to revolve around academics. Can these facilities be used to facilitate a career in sports? Are they adequate in a professional sense (beyond pleasure and exercise)? Do IITs have enough resources, appropriate training personnel, and the required competitive space for a potential athlete to be able to develop their skills and further their career in the institute? Would this sports talent not be better developed in other sports universities and specialized sports academies designed to provide athletes the necessary training and support?

If the idea of sports quotas is to allow athletes to continue competitively pursuing their sport while also pursuing a degree in the institute, all of these are questions that become important to ponder upon. 

Additionally, one also has to question if the athletes admitted through sports quota will go through the same academic rigor that students admitted based on entrance exam scores undergo. Considering the often difficult nature of the academic workload in IIT, balancing that and furthering a professional sports career could be very mentally and physically taxing. On the other hand, if one argues that there could be academic concessions offered to student-athletes to afford them more time to devote to sports, what would these degrees look like, and would they be of the same level of professional value and academic merit as the ones offered to the students who do not have these concessions?

Further, if the primary purpose of introducing admissions through sports quota is to help student-athletes develop professional capabilities in the sport of their choice, it might also be worth considering whether the level of competition they would face at IITs be sufficient to enhance their skillset adequately. Another facet of the same could be how the landscape of the Inter-IIT sports meet might change if/when such sports quotas are implemented across IITs.

If one were to compare IITs to the Ivy League institutions of the US, there is a large difference in resources, infrastructure, and cultural mindset. The Ivy League seems to serve a broader purpose in terms of promising not only academic excellence but also excellence in athletics, arts, and leadership. Their curricula, selection processes, and institute lives are all designed for the same to some extent. Are IITs conducive to replicating that model at present? This is another complex question that warrants a lot of thoughtful consideration.

The questions of sports quotas in IITs bring forth broader questions about the evolving purpose and identity of IITs. Are they ready to redefine and mold their role to open them up to a more diverse set, or should they stick to their founding mission of technical excellence for now? 

A New Perspective:

IIT Bombay has changed drastically since its establishment in 1958. It has grown in renown, facilities, and purpose. In addition to technology, engineering, and research, it now encompasses departments such as the Industrial Design Centre (IDC) School of Design, Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), and Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), increasing the scope of what IIT has to offer. Additionally, student participation in non-academic extracurricular activities on campus, such as sports, cultural events, and event organization, has also seen an increase. These opportunities contribute to a more well-rounded experience at the institute.

Are IITs not at a stage, then, to extend this purpose beyond academics?

IIT Bombay boasts some impressive sports facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a turf football ground, indoor courts, and more. Funds are allocated by the institute annually to the Gymkhana for the upkeep of these facilities, for the benefit of the students of the institute.

Many colleges in India lack adequate training equipment and funding for sports activities, which causes many student-athletes to decide whether to give up their academics completely and focus on sports. In light of this factor, this opportunity may allow student-athletes to pursue their sports careers while also continuing to pursue their education in the institute. For the institute, it would mean an added dimension with a new diverse section in the student populace excelling in these fields. 

Drawing parallels with other institutes worldwide, we can also take a look at some of the Ivy League institutes where academic excellence exists alongside excellence in other fields, including sports. Many of these colleges have a well-established ecosystem to support student-athletes, including top sports facilities, exposure to national tournaments, academic aid, and scholarships. Although the existing culture at IITs may not be as sports-oriented as these other colleges, sustained support and engagement can gradually shift the focus and bring about a significant change in the long run.

At the Ivy Leagues, student-athletes are selected based on both their academic and athletic prowess. Whereas, for IITs, entrance exams stand as the primary way of admissions as of now. If a sports quota is introduced, we would need a more nuanced admissions process that carefully assigns weight to be given to a student’s academic and sporting abilities.

Embracing sports quotas could also contribute to enhancing the global reputation of IITs and establishing them as institutes of more diverse and holistic development. It would foster a more inclusive environment and attract a wider range of applicants, including those who might otherwise overlook IITs due to a perceived lack of support for non-academic pursuits. Such diversity in the student body can lead to a richer campus culture, with varied perspectives.

The integration of sports quotas in IITs could represent a step forward in broadening the institute’s purpose beyond pure academics. Whether this step is feasible and favorable at this time and whether the alterations required to accommodate this shift are welcome or not are things that need a great extent of thought.

Editorial Credits: Radhika Goyal, Shubham Agarwal, Tanvi Sharma

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