Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Disability Does Not Stop Student From Securing IIT Madras Seat
J Santhosh is a 17-year-old student who has cerebral palsy and a 90 per cent spinal muscular disability.
He wanted to study at IIT Madras.
He missed an IIT Madras school trip in 2025, but later earned a place at the institute.
He passed the qualifying examination on his second attempt.
Santhosh will study Data Science and Applications for four years.
His father works as an auto driver.
He chose this programme partly because much of the work can be done from home.
Tamil Nadu Volunteers helped him learn about the opportunity and will assist him at the beginning.
IIT Madras praised his determination.
J Santhosh, 17, has secured admission to IIT Madras’s four-year BS programme in Data Science and Applications.
Santhosh has had cerebral palsy and 90 per cent spinal muscular disability since birth.
He earned admission after clearing the qualifying examination on his second attempt.
His father works as an auto driver, and Santhosh learned about the programme through Tamil Nadu Volunteers.
The IIT-M for All initiative will provide Santhosh in-person assistance from Tamil Nadu Volunteers during the programme’s initial stages.
- Who
- J Santhosh, a 17-year-old student with cerebral palsy and 90 per cent spinal muscular disability, secured admission to IIT Madras.
- What
- He earned a place in the four-year Bachelor of Science programme in Data Science and Applications.
- When
- He secured admission in 2026 after missing an IIT Madras school trip in 2025.
- Where
- At the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Tamil Nadu, with much of the programme available to pursue from home.
- Why
- The programme’s home-based accessibility appealed to Santhosh; he learned about it through Tamil Nadu Volunteers.
- Student
- J Santhosh
- Age
- 17
- Disabilities
- Cerebral palsy and 90 per cent spinal muscular disability since birth
- Programme
- Four-year Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Applications
- Admission
- Qualifying examination cleared on the second attempt
- Support initiative
- IIT-M for All
- Assistance
- Tamil Nadu Volunteers will provide in-person help during the initial stages