D Parthasarathy

The IITs, like all government institutions contribute to the furthering of the constitutional mandate of inclusiveness in higher education, by implementing the policy of affirmative action for students from scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, and other backward class backgrounds. In addition, students who may be from financially indigent backgrounds are awarded a range of scholarships to complete their course of study. Affirmative action is not simply in the form of ensuring representation to students from these backgrounds in UG and PG programmes, but also in the form of other diverse methods aimed at ensuring that such students go on to benefit from the educational opportunities on offer at IITs. These include concessions in fees and other financial matters, access to learning material such as books, concessions in hostel fees, additional remedial classes where needed, and an SC/ST Cell to address any issues of discrimination or harassment that may be reported.