Fail, Repeat, Re-exam: From F Grades To Suspension, What FR Policies State Across IITs

Last Updated:September 23, 2026, 12:36 IST

From repeating failed courses and taking re-exams to probation and disciplinary action, different IITs have different rules for students caught violating exam rules.

The death sparked protests on the IIT Bombay campus, with students seeking an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. (Image: ANI/PTI)

FR is not a common failing grade across all IITs. Each IIT has its own academic rules, grading system and disciplinary process. While some IITs use F as the failing grade, others use grades such as U, W or FR. The rules for re-examinations, repeating courses, academic probation and clearing backlogs also vary from one IIT to another.

However, even though the terms are different, the basic question remains the same: What happens when a student fails a course or is caught cheating? It depends on whether the consequence is academic or disciplinary. While academic consequences include repeating a course, clearing a backlog through another examination, or academic probation, disciplinary action may follow cases of cheating, plagiarism or other academic misconduct and may involve a separate inquiry and additional penalties.

A look at the academic rules of some of the country’s leading IITs shows how these provisions differ.

IIT Bombay:

IIT Bombay’s undergraduate rule book uses grades including FR and DX in its academic-performance framework. A student is transferred to the Academic Support Programme (ASP) after receiving FR/DX grades for at least 36 credits in core courses. The student can register for a maximum of 24 credits with help from an ASP Faculty Adviser. If the student reduces their total FR/DX credits to below 36, they return to regular student status. If they fail to exit the ASP after three consecutive semesters, termination of registration may be recommended.

The important distinction is that an FR grade is an academic outcome, while cheating or another exam malpractice can trigger a separate disciplinary process. IIT Bombay maintains a separate Academic Malpractices framework for such cases.

IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi’s Undergraduate Programme Rules 2025–26 state that an F grade in a core course requires the student to repeat the course. For an elective, the student can repeat the course or, subject to the rules, take another course in the relevant category.

The institute also provides a re-major exam for eligible students who receive an E grade. If the student does not meet the required performance in that opportunity, the grade can become F.

IIT Delhi also has broader academic-progression rules. Students who fall below the prescribed minimum number of earned credits can be placed on probation, with academic monitoring, mentoring and restrictions on their course load. If a student on probation again fails to meet the required performance criterion, termination can follow, although the student may be permitted to register if the department makes a favourable recommendation.

This means an F grade itself is not the same as suspension. Academic probation and possible termination are tied to academic performance, while disciplinary action follows a separate route.

IIT Madras

IIT Madras’ B.Tech ordinances state that a U, F or W grade indicates failure in a subject. The rules provide specific provisions for course repetition.

A student who receives a U or W grade in a core course has to repeat the course when it is offered next. For an elective course, a student receiving U or W may repeat it to obtain a successful grade. The grade record also indicates the number of attempts made in the course.

IIT Kanpur

IIT Kanpur’s manual states that D and S are passing grades, while E and F are failing grades. A student who receives an E or F in a course is required to repeat it. The institute also offers summer courses primarily for clearing backlogs and helping students complete degree requirements on time.

The rules therefore provide students with mechanisms to clear academic backlogs rather than treating one failed course as an automatic end to their programme.

IIT Kharagpur

IIT Kharagpur’s current student portal provides its UG Manual and Regulations and lists supplementary examinations among the academic provisions available to undergraduate students. Its 2024 undergraduate curriculum also sets out the current framework for students’ academic progression.

The institute’s rules also connect academic progression with backlogs. For example, students seeking eligibility for certain academic options such as a double major or minor must meet specified CGPA and backlog requirements.

But what happens if the failure is because of cheating?

IIT Delhi explicitly lists cheating in examinations and plagiarism among academic disciplinary issues. Its official disciplinary guidance says minor infringements may be handled by faculty, while major violations are to be brought before the academic unit and institute authorities, including the Dean-level offices.

Therefore, a student caught cheating may face an academic penalty as well as a separate disciplinary proceeding, depending on the circumstances and the applicable institute rules.

The same distinction is important across the IIT system: failing a course because of poor academic performance is not automatically equivalent to being suspended for exam malpractice.

Repeated academic failure can have more serious consequences than a single failed course. IIT Delhi, for example, has continuation, probation and termination provisions based on credit accumulation and subsequent academic performance. IIT Bombay’s Academic Rehabilitation Programme similarly provides a structured mechanism for students with serious academic deficiencies.

The exact outcome, however, depends on the IIT, the programme and the student’s academic record.

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What happens when an undergraduate student receives an FR or DX grade at IIT Bombay?

At IIT Bombay, receiving FR or DX grades for at least 36 credits in core courses transfers a student to the Academic Support Programme (ASP). Students can register for up to 24 credits with an ASP Faculty Adviser to reduce their failing credits below 36 and return to regular status. However, failing to exit the ASP after three consecutive semesters can result in a recommendation for termination of registration.

How does IIT Delhi handle failing grades in core versus elective courses?

Under IIT Delhi’s undergraduate rules, receiving an F grade in a core course requires the student to repeat that specific course. For an elective course, the student has the option to either repeat the same course or take a different course within the relevant category, subject to institute rules.

What is the difference between academic failure and disciplinary action for cheating across IITs?

Academic failure—such as getting an F, U, or FR grade due to poor performance—results in academic consequences like repeating courses, summer classes, or academic probation. In contrast, cheating, plagiarism, or exam malpractice triggers a separate disciplinary process handled by institute authorities and Dean-level offices, which can involve distinct penalties.

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