IIT Madras OOBT 2026 Registration Open for Free Online Course; Apply by July 31, Classes from Aug 6

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has opened registration for its free Out of the Box Thinking (OOBT) 2026 programme. The online course aims to help learners develop creative thinking, logical reasoning, mathematical skills, and problem-solving abilities.

IIT Madras OOBT 2026 Registration Open for Free Online Course; Apply by July 31, Classes from Aug 6

The OOBT programme is open to learners of all ages, including school and college students, teachers, working professionals, and anyone interested in strengthening their analytical and creative thinking skills. Interested candidates can apply online till July 31, 2026, while the programme will commence on August 6, 2026.

The initiative has been developed by the BLoC (Building Learning through Out-of-the-Box Cognition) Technology Foundation at IIT Madras with financial support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The curriculum has also been designed in collaboration with experts in mathematical sciences.

The programme will be conducted completely online and is free of cost. Through the course, participants will learn how to approach problems from multiple perspectives, improve critical thinking, and apply mathematical concepts to solve real-world challenges.

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IIT Madras OOBT 2026: Four-Level Course Structure

The OOBT programme is divided into four levels, with each level spanning 10 weeks. During the course, participants will receive structured study material, guided learning sessions, exercises, and practical activities aimed at improving logical reasoning, creativity, innovation, and analytical thinking.

The programme has been designed to gradually build candidates' problem-solving abilities while encouraging them to develop an innovative mindset through interactive learning.

IIT Madras Director Highlights Benefits of OOBT Programme

Speaking about the initiative, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti said that the OOBT programme has been designed to encourage learners to use mathematical thinking to solve complex problems and create innovative solutions.

He said the course will strengthen participants' critical thinking, decision-making, and analytical reasoning skills while helping them understand different approaches to solving problems.

Students will also gain practical exposure to applying concepts from mathematics and computer science in real-life situations.

According to Prof. Kamakoti, the structured curriculum and guided learning approach will be useful in academics, research, technology, and professional careers.