Hi. Getting in IITs is never easy. One has to qualify the second phase of the IIT exam that is JEE ADVANCED. Yet the seats remain vacant in IITs for SC/ST/PWD categories in case the students do not meet the minimum passing criteria.

As there is a huge demand for admissions in the IITs, so reserved seats for SC, ST & PWD candidates cannot remain vacant for long even if they could not clear cut off. So, there comes a need to fulfill the seats for SC, ST and PWD reserved quota in the IITs.

Allowing general candidates for the same seats is wrong due to the prescribed constitutional reservation, so that has to be followed by the IITs and they cannot allow candidates for direct admission who have not cleared the JEE ADVANCED cutoff. If they get them admitted directly, it may lead to hampering the quality of admission at IITs.

So, preparatory courses in IITs as well as in ISM Dhanbad are introduced. With the help of preparatory courses in IITs, limited quota students get a chance to secure a seat in the IITs.

In this course, basic subject skills of physics, chemistry and maths are polished through special training in a one-year duration so that they can make sure if the candidates are fit for their B.tech programs. The rank one gets in this is called as preparatory rank.

Hope this helps. Thanks.

Dear aspirant

I am afraid to confirm you that " preparatory rank" is not really a rank . Every IIT has separate quota seats for SC , ST , OBC etc. These seats ho vacant in every year . So the vacant seats are allotted to students of that respective category for a one year course . If they pass then they are eligible for undergraduate courses at IITs and they get direct admission in those . However students  doing preparatory courses can sit for JEE ADVANCED next year also.

For more details you can check its official website also.

Best wishes.