A year after his disability prevented him from joining a school trip to IIT Madras, 17-year-old J Santhosh has secured admission to the institute’s four-year BS programme in Data Science and Applications.

Santhosh, who has had a 90 per cent spinal muscular disability and cerebral palsy since birth, is the only student from his class to gain admission to the programme.

His interest in IIT Madras began after hearing his classmates discuss their visit to the campus in 2025. Although he initially planned to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination, health-related difficulties prompted him to focus on his school studies. He subsequently topped his Class 12 examination at his school.

Santhosh learnt about the BS programme through a video by Hari Krishnan, head of Social Initiatives and Outreach at IIT Madras. Tamil Nadu Volunteers, an NGO, assisted him with the application process and preparation for the qualifying examination.

He cleared the examination on his second attempt. The programme’s flexible format will allow him to complete much of his coursework from home.

Under the ‘IITM for All’ initiative, Tamil Nadu Volunteers will provide Santhosh with in-person support during the initial stages of the programme, including artificial intelligence training. The organisation will also cover his first-year tuition fees.

“Dreams don’t always follow an easy path, but determination can take you where you aspire to be,” IIT Madras said in a social media post announcing his admission.

Inputs from PTI

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