IITs Allot Seats To 3,814 Women In 2026, Up From 3,310 In 2022; Share Rises To 20.22% | Education and Career News
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IIT Admissions: In 2026, the number of women candidates allotted seats rose to 3,814 out of 18,861 total allotments, taking their share to approximately 20.22%.
Only 34 female students got seats through a gender neutral pool in 2022. (AI Image)
The share of women among candidates allotted seats at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) increased from 19.90% in 2022 to 20.22% in 2026, according to figures reported from the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) reports for JEE (Advanced). The increase over the four-year period was 0.32 percentage points.
The supernumerary-seat policy, introduced in 2018, was intended to increase female enrolment, with a target of at least 20% women in undergraduate programmes.
In 2022, around 3,310 women candidates were allotted seats out of 16,635 total allotments, accounting for approximately 19.90% of the total. Of this, only 34 female students got seats through a gender neutral pool.
In 2026, the number of women candidates allotted seats rose to 3,814 out of 18,861 total allotments, taking their share to approximately 20.22%. This represents an increase of 504 women candidates receiving allotments between the two years. Total allotments also increased by 2,226 over the same period.
The comparison indicates that the number of women candidates allotted seats grew, while their proportion of total allotments increased more modestly.
Supernumerary Seat Policy
The IIT system introduced supernumerary seats for female candidates in 2018 to improve gender representation in undergraduate programmes. These seats were created in addition to the existing seat capacity, with the broader objective of increasing women’s participation in IIT admissions.
However, the number of seats designated for female candidates and the number of women ultimately allotted seats are different measures. A comparison of supernumerary seats across years must use the same category and definition in each year’s report. It should also distinguish seats available from seats allotted.
The reported figures for women’s allotments show an increase between 2022 and 2026. However, admission figures alone cannot explain changes in participation. Seat availability, examination participation, qualification and final allotment each measure a different stage of the admission process.
The official JIC reports for 2022 and 2026 provide the basis for a year-on-year comparison. Until the corresponding supernumerary-seat tables have been checked using consistent definitions, however, the change in women’s share of admissions remains the clearer figure to report.
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Ask News18The share of women among candidates allotted seats at the IITs increased from 19.90% in 2022 to 20.22% in 2026, according to Joint Implementation Committee reports.
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October 26, 2026, 10:13 IST
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