Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is extending an invitation to JEE candidates and their parents to explore the campus through its flagship 'Demo Day' initiative — both offline across key Indian cities and online.

The events offer an opportunity to interact with faculty, alumni, and current students and gain first-hand insights into academics, campus life, and new programmes.

This outreach will be held in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Vijayawada. For those unable to attend in person, an online Demo Day session is scheduled for June 3, 2025. Chennai campus visits will be held on June 7 and 8.

Demo Day is part of the broader 'AskIITM' initiative, run by IIT Madras alumni and students. Over 5,000 participants have engaged with these events since 2022. The platform also provides over 400 informative videos on YouTube and Instagram, answering aspirants' questions on academics, placements, and campus life.

Highlighting the institute's strengths, Director Prof. V. Kamakoti noted, “IIT Madras continues to lead in innovation and research, with 417 patents filed and 104 startups incubated in 2024-25 alone. We invite aspirants to experience why we're consistently ranked NIRF #1.”

The institute also introduced two new B.Tech. programmes in Computational Engineering and Mechanics (CEM), and Instrumentation and Biomedical Engineering (iBME), alongside last year's AI and Data Analytics (AIDA) programme.

IIT Madras also announced the 'First Principles Teachers Award', recognizing schoolteachers who inspire deep conceptual learning over rote memorization. “These teachers shape future engineers who thrive in IIT,” said AskIITM coordinator and alumnus Amrutash Misra.

The institute has enhanced academic flexibility by allowing students to choose up to 50% of their courses, pursue interdisciplinary dual degrees, and removed the branch change option. The credit requirement has been reduced from 432 to 400, easing student workload.

Other recent initiatives include admissions under Sports and Fine Arts Excellence categories, compulsory recreation courses, and entrepreneurship electives. Additionally, IIT Madras ensures full financial support for B.Tech. students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds through alumni-backed scholarships.

For registration and further details, candidates can visit: www.askiitm.com/demo-day.