IITM BS Fee Waiver for General Category Students

Yes, general category students can get an IITM BS fee waiver, but only based on family income. If your family earns more than Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh a year, you get 50% off course fees. If it earns Rs 1 lakh or less, you get 75% off. Above Rs 5 lakh, you pay the full fee. To claim it, you need an EWS certificate and a family income certificate.

The rules are the same in Data Science (DS) and Electronic Systems (ES).

The general category rows of the waiver table

OBC students have the same income bands but show an OBC-NCL certificate instead of EWS. SC, ST and PwD students get at least 50% at any income. The full table for every category is in the IITM BS fee waiver guide.

The DS FAQ puts it simply. At the application stage, only SC, ST and PwD candidates get a fee waiver. After you clear the qualifier, students of any category, including General, can get a course fee waiver based on family income.

Why a general category student needs an EWS certificate

The DS FAQ explains this. EWS, as the Government of India defines it, is a sub-group of the general category with family income below Rs 8 lakh a year. It is for people who are not SC, ST or OBC. IIT Madras gives its course fee waiver to general category students whose family income is below Rs 5 lakh. As part of its checks, it asks these students for both an EWS certificate and a family income certificate.

So a general category student cannot claim the waiver with an income certificate alone. If your family income is under Rs 5 lakh but you cannot get an EWS certificate, the official pages do not describe another route. Raise a support ticket before your registration deadline.

Is the limit "up to Rs 5 lakh" or "below Rs 5 lakh"?

The handbook table uses "above Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh" for the 50% band. The FAQ and the income check notice say "less than Rs 5 lakh". If your family income is exactly Rs 5 lakh, confirm with support.

What counts as family income

The FAQ says family income includes the income of:

• you,
• your parents,
• your spouse,
• your siblings and children below 18 years of age.

After the qualifier, you submit a family income certificate in the format given in the fee section of the official website. The certificate is valid for one year. You must submit a fresh one every year to keep the waiver. The EWS certificate also has a set format on the same page.

The extra income check at diploma and degree level

From the January 2026 term, there is a second check for students with family income below Rs 5 lakh who claim an income-based waiver. It applies at the diploma and degree levels only.

• You submit your Income Tax Return (ITR) and/or Form 26AS, and those of your parents or spouse as applicable.
• If the papers are approved, you keep the waiver.
• If they are rejected, the waiver is withdrawn and you pay the course fees for your economic category.

The fee pages say a nominal fee may be charged for this check. The ES handbook names Rs 1,000, not refunded. The DS handbook's copy of the same notice gives no amount. Details are in the income verification guide.

What the waiver is worth

These are our own sums from the official fee tables.

Who cannot get it

• General category, family income above Rs 5 lakh: full fee.
• Students outside India: the fee pages say the fee waiver does not apply to them.
• The qualifier application fee: general category pays Rs 4,000. Only SC, ST and PwD applicants get a lower fee at that stage.

Other help if you do not qualify

• CSR merit-cum-means scholarships: the DS partnerships page lists these for students under 25 whose parents earn up to Rs 5 lakh a year, subject to funds and grades. Category is not one of the listed conditions. See scholarships and fee-free seats.
• SBI education loan: both handbooks describe one. See education loans for IITM BS.
• Taking fewer courses: you pay each term only for the courses you register for.

Common questions

My family earns Rs 6 lakh a year and I am general category. Do I get anything?

Not from the waiver table. Above Rs 5 lakh, general category students pay the full fee. The CSR scholarship is also limited to parents' income up to Rs 5 lakh.

Does the waiver apply at the foundation level too?

Yes. The waiver table sits under the fees for the entire programme, and the FAQ says any category can get it after the qualifier. Only the extra ITR or Form 26AS check is limited to the diploma and degree levels.

Do I have to send the income certificate every year?

Yes. The FAQ says the family income certificate is valid for one year. Submit a new one each year to keep getting the waiver.

I live abroad but my family income is low. Can I get the waiver?

No. The fee pages say the fee waiver is not applicable for students outside India.