IIT Kanpur to cover all costs for top JEE Advanced 2025 top 100 rank holders

IIT Kanpur has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting top talent by announcing the continuation of the Bright Minds Scholarship Program for the 2025–26 academic year.

This prestigious scholarship will fully fund the education of the top 100 rank holders in the JEE Advanced 2025 exam, covering tuition, accommodation, and personal expenses.

The scholarship, valued at ₹3 lakh annually, applies to students enrolling in the BTech or BS programs, effectively making their four-year undergraduate education free of cost.

Each year, 10 full scholarships are awarded under this scheme.

This marks the fifth year of the Bright Minds Scholarship, which began in 2021 with the support of IIT Kanpur alumnus Lokveer Kapoor.

The program aims to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent meritorious students from accessing world-class education at the institute.

“No top-ranked student should have to compromise on academic dreams because of a lack of funds,” said a senior IIT Kanpur official.

Typically, the total cost for a BTech or BS student at IIT Kanpur is around ₹12 lakh over four years, including tuition fees, hostel and mess charges, books, medical insurance, and other miscellaneous expenses.

The scholarship covers all these costs, allowing recipients to focus solely on their studies.

Additionally, IIT Kanpur offers performance-based benefits: students maintaining a Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) of 6.5 or above receive a tuition fee waiver and a monthly pocket allowance of ₹1,000.

Those below this threshold can still access academic support through other programs.

Beyond Bright Minds, IIT Kanpur provides other scholarship opportunities, such as the INSPIRE Scholarship for science stream toppers, donor-funded scholarships, corporate scholarships, and awards for sports and cultural achievements.

Last year’s enrollment saw no top 100 JEE Advanced rank holders choosing IIT Kanpur during the first counseling round, with the highest-ranked student having an All India Rank of 118.

This reflects tough competition from other IITs like Bombay, Delhi, and Madras, emphasizing the importance of initiatives like Bright Minds in attracting elite talent.

According to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024, IIT Kanpur is ranked 4th among engineering institutes and 5th overall in India.

Its excellent infrastructure, strong research environment, and extensive alumni network continue to draw talented students nationwide.

To avail the Bright Minds Scholarship in 2025, candidates must secure a top 100 rank in JEE Advanced and select IIT Kanpur during JoSAA counseling.

Eligibility is automatically reviewed after admission, and successful candidates will receive formal notification before the academic year begins.