Can IITM BS Students Take Part in Shaastra and Saarang?

There is no blanket yes. Shaastra and Saarang are IIT Madras's big student-run fests, and their official releases invite students from across India. But no official page we found mentions IITM BS students, gives them a special pass or promises them entry. So you would take part the same way any outside student does, under that year's rules for each event. The fest made for BS students is Paradox.

What Shaastra and Saarang are

Both are run by students on the main campus, for the whole country. They are not part of the BS programme.

What the official pages say about who can join

• Shaastra 2026 release: it asks school students, college students and "techno enthusiasts" to take part in the events. It also describes an Institute Open House that opens IIT Madras labs and innovation centres to all for 3 days.
• Saarang 2026 release: it welcomes students from all over the country, and colleges from across India to perform and compete. It also introduced the Saarang General Championship, an inter-college contest.
• IIT Madras campus festivals page: it says Shaastra draws people from school students to professionals.

None of these pages mentions the non-campus BS programmes. None of the releases we read gives pass prices, fees or stay details either.

Why being an IITM BS student is not a pass

• Campus facilities. The BS FAQ says learners in the programme do not get IIT Madras campus facilities. Fest entry is decided by the fest team, not by your BS enrolment.
• Your ID card. The FAQ says you get an electronic ID card "subject to conditions" on its use. It does not say it opens fest venues.
• Event rules differ. An inter-college contest, for example, has its own rules on who can represent a college. Read the rules of each event before you register.
• Organising teams. We found no official page that says BS students can join the Shaastra or Saarang organising teams. Posts in student groups have claimed that BS students were once invited to propose events. We could not confirm this on any official page, so do not count on it.

How to take part, step by step

1. Use only official sources. The fests' own websites and IIT Madras press releases. Ignore passes sold in chat groups.
2. Register like any outside participant. Pick events whose rules allow you, and follow their registration steps.
3. Check your exam dates first. Both fests fall in January. In the September 2026 term, Programming Quiz 2 (day 2, for courses that have one) is on Sunday 3 January 2027, and the end term is on Sunday 10 January 2027. We found no IIT Madras press release with the 2027 fest dates yet, so check the fests' own sites. See September 2026 exam dates.
4. Plan your stay yourself. No official page promises BS students a room. Read where BS students stay on campus trips.
5. Keep proof of registration. Carry what the fest asks for, not your BS login details.

Paradox: the fest that is yours

The official student life page calls Paradox the flagship fest of the BS programme. It lists two online editions, Paradox in Sāvan (monsoon) and Paradox in Mārgazhi (winter), and an annual summer fest on the IIT Madras campus. It expected 70+ events and 5,000+ students in 2026. Read what Paradox is and how students attend. Your house and society groups are also good places to find events. See houses and student societies.

Common questions

Do BS students get free entry to the Saarang evening shows?

The official pages we read do not say. Look for pass and entry rules on the Saarang team's official site each year.

Can I use my BS e-ID card to enter the campus for Shaastra?

The FAQ does not say the e-ID card gives campus entry. Follow the entry process the fest announces for outside visitors.

Will taking part in Shaastra or Saarang give me credits?

No official page links either fest to BS credits or bonus marks. Treat it as an experience, not coursework.

Is it worth going?

That depends on your time, budget and exams. If you go, choose a few events that match your interests, and plan around your quiz and end term dates. See also what campus access BS students have.