IIT-Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal told PTI that the student was not shortlisted due to a lack of prior cybersecurity experience.
“The admission process for this academic session has already concluded, so admission is not possible now. However, we will invite the student to the institute, assess his technical skills through a proper test and, if he proves his competence, give him an opportunity in the next admission cycle,” Agrawal said.
He confirmed that the student had gained access to certain sections of the official websites of IIT-Kanpur and IIT Madras.
Agrawal said senior faculty members and engineers had been asked to interact with the student and explain that unauthorised access to computer systems is illegal and should not be repeated.
An IIT-Kanpur official, requesting anonymity, said the institute had initially considered filing an FIR but decided to first verify the student’s claims and assess his technical abilities before taking further action.
The official added that IIT-Kanpur has previously supported young cybersecurity talent. Earlier this year, the institute offered a position at its C3iHub to a student who had identified vulnerabilities in the CBSE’s online screen-marking portal.
(With inputs from PTI)
