IITM BS Ordinances and Regulations: The Original Rulebook Explained
By Editorial TeamLast reviewed
6 min readOn this page
The Ordinances and Regulations are the original rulebook of the IIT Madras online degree. They apply from the 2020 batch onwards and were written for the BSc in Programming and Data Science and the Diplomas in Programming and in Data Science. Many details have changed since 2020. Where this document and the current student handbook differ, follow the handbook.
Ordinances and regulations: what is the difference?
The document has two parts.
- Ordinances (O.1 to O.7) are the short, top-level rules. They say what the programme is, who can apply and who has authority over it.
- Regulations (R.1 to R.24) are the detailed working rules on qualifying, registration, exams, grades, fees and awards.
Both come under the IIT Madras Senate, and the document gives the Senate the power to change them.
The seven ordinances in plain words
| No. | What it says |
|---|---|
| O.1 | You enter by passing the qualifier. There are three levels: Foundation, Diploma and Degree. A separate exam gives direct entry to the diploma only. You get the award for the stage you complete, and entering a level does not by itself earn its award. |
| O.2 | Who can apply for the Foundation qualifier (details below). |
| O.3 | For direct entry to the diploma, you must have completed the first 2 years of any bachelor's degree. |
| O.4 | A Steering Committee, appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate, oversees how the programme runs. |
| O.5 | The Senate can change all eligibility, progress and exit rules. |
| O.6 | Merit scholarships follow rules the Senate frames from time to time. |
| O.7 | The diplomas and the BSc are awarded under the Senate's regulations. |
O.5 is the one to remember. It is why the rules keep changing, and why today's handbook differs from this document in many places. R.24 gives the Senate the same power over every regulation.
Who could apply in 2020 (O.2)
You needed to have studied Maths and English in Class 10. On top of that, you needed one of these:
- Enrolment, now or earlier, in any on-campus bachelor's degree
- A completed 1-year on-campus diploma
- A completed CA Intermediate course
- A pass in a Class 12 level exam at least 2 years before the qualifier exam
The accepted Class 12 level exams were:
- Class 12 of any recognised central or state board, such as CBSE or CISCE
- An Intermediate or 2-year pre-university exam
- The final exam of the 2-year Joint Services Wing course of the National Defence Academy
- GCE A level (London, Cambridge or Sri Lanka)
- The Cambridge High School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate Diploma
- Any Indian or foreign board exam that the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) treats as equal to Class 12
- The HSC Vocational exam
- The Senior Secondary exam of national open schooling, with at least five subjects
- A 3 or 4-year diploma recognised by AICTE or a state board of technical education
If your final exam was not a public exam, you also needed a pass in at least one public board or pre-university exam at an earlier level.
Today's rule is wider. The current DS handbook lets anyone with Class 12 or an equivalent apply, and school students can apply after their Class 11 final exams. See who can apply for IITM BS.
What the regulations cover
| Regulations | Topic |
|---|---|
| R.1 to R.3 | Qualifying for the Foundation, Diploma and Degree levels |
| R.4 and R.5 | Structure and credits of the BSc and the diplomas |
| R.6 and R.7 | The Class Committee and Credit Clearing Capability (CCC) |
| R.8 to R.10 | Student status, enrolment, registration and duration |
| R.11 and R.12 | Discipline, welfare and attendance |
| R.13 to R.16 | Assignments, proctored quizzes and the end-term exam |
| R.17 to R.21 | Grading, results, course repetition and the grade card |
| R.22 to R.24 | Fee waivers, award eligibility and the power to modify |
What has changed since 2020
A few examples, checked against the current DS handbook:
| Topic | 2020 rulebook | Current DS handbook |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Class 12 passed at least 2 years before, or one of the other routes | Class 12 passed, or Class 11 final exams taken |
| BSc credits | 116 minimum, 120 maximum | 114 |
| 4-year BS degree | Not in the document | BS in Data Science and Applications, 142 credits |
| Time limit | BSc within 6 years, each level within 9 terms | Diploma level 12 terms, full BS within 8 years |
The document does not cover Electronic Systems at all. For more on how the rules have moved, read the timeline of IITM BS rule changes and the maximum duration rules.
What still matches today
These parts still hold today:
- There are three terms a year: January to April, May to August and September to December.
- Instruction, assignments, exams and reports are in English.
- No class, division or rank is awarded, and percentage is 10 times the CGPA. The Dean's letter of 14 June 2024 says the same. See IITM BS CGPA to percentage.
How to use this document
Read it for background: how the programme was first designed and who can change the rules. Do not rely on it for current numbers such as credits, fees or time limits. If you quote it in a support ticket, quote the current handbook too.
Common questions
Are the Ordinances and Regulations still valid?
They are still listed on the ES important documents page. But the Senate has changed many rules since 2020, as O.5 and R.24 allow. Where the handbook differs, follow the handbook.
What does the Steering Committee do?
It is appointed by the Chairperson of the Senate to oversee the programme. In the 2020 rules, it sets the qualifier cutoffs, approves the method for working out CCC and decides the assignment thresholds for exam eligibility.
Does this document apply to Electronic Systems students?
No. It covers only the BSc in Programming and Data Science and the two diplomas. ES rules are in the ES student handbook.
Official sources
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