IIT Admissions Show Low Female Enrollment Under Gender-Neutral Quotas
Only 37 female candidates gained admission through gender-neutral quotas in IITs, highlighting ongoing challenges in gender representation.
Only 37 female students secured seats in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) under gender-neutral quotas for the 2026 academic year, according to a report from the Joint Implementation Committee. This represents a mere 0.19% of the total 18,861 students admitted across various courses.
For the past six years, from 2021 to 2026, only 133 female candidates have gained admission through gender-neutral categories, indicating that more than 99.8% of female students relied on ‘supernumerary’ seats. These seats, which are specifically reserved for women, comprised the majority of female admissions: in 2026, 3,777 women were admitted through this route out of 3,814 total admissions.
Education expert Dev Sharma commented on the low number of female candidates entering through the gender-neutral quota, stating, “The report shows that the lack of representation remains a significant challenge for female students in IIT admissions.” He suggested that the underlying issue may stem from a general disinterest in mathematics among many female students, which affects their performance on entrance exams.
The report also noted that among 147 international students who registered for the exam, only three secured admission. Sharma emphasized the need for improvement in mathematics education for girls, advocating for initiatives such as a national mathematics talent search exam for females to boost their interest and skills in the subject.
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