For months now, media reports have raised alarms about a supposed slump in BTech placements at IITs. This has caused waves of anxiety among engineering aspirants and students. Given that IIT placements often set the benchmark for engineering colleges across India, these claims deserve a closer look. But are placements at IITs truly on the decline, or is there more to the story?
Let’s dig into the facts.
The 2023-24 Placement Snapshot
In the academic year 2023-24, about 16,000 BTech students graduated from 23 IITs nationwide. The quality of placements depends on several factors. These include the percentage of students placed, job profiles, and salary packages. These factors also include the institution’s reputation, student profiles, and the specific branches offered.
To understand the situation better, let’s use IIT Bombay as a case study. IIT Bombay is one of the most sought-after IITs. This is supported by 72 of the top 100 JEE Advanced rankers opting for it in 2024-25. The trends seen here often reflect what’s happening in other premier IITs like Delhi, Kanpur, Madras, and Kharagpur.
Are Placements Actually Declining?
A look at IIT Bombay’s placement data from the last three years reveals some interesting insights:
- Admission Growth: In the last two years, IIT Bombay increased its BTech intake by 18% and 17%, respectively.
- Higher Participation: Fewer students are choosing higher studies. This trend has led to an increase in students opting for campus placements. The rate has risen from 80% to 88% over the last five years.
- COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic caused a sharp decline in placements in 2019-20. However, this rebounded in the following years, particularly in 2021-22, when the economy was expected to recover dramatically.
Over the last decade, placement percentages have consistently hovered between 80% and 90%, barring the COVID dip. The current levels, therefore, don’t suggest a significant drop.
The Branch-Wise Story
Placements vary considerably by branch. In 2023-24:
- Computer Science, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering graduates saw placement rates of over 90%.
- Meanwhile, branches like Aerospace (67%), Metallurgy (70%), and Engineering Physics (71%) fared less well.
Since these lower-performing branches account for about 24% of graduates, they bring down the overall average.
Sector-Wise Trends
The sectoral breakdown reveals some key shifts:
- IT and Allied Sectors lead the pack, with their share increasing from 26% to 36% over the last three years.
- Engineering and Research sectors have maintained their share, though job opportunities in core branches are still limited.
- Many non-CSE graduates have pivoted to sectors like finance, analytics, and consulting, which often offer flexible growth and higher salaries.
However, these sectors are highly sensitive to economic downturns. Placement offers in non-IT sectors have dropped from 52% in 2022 to 39% in 2024.
Salary Insights
Despite the economic slowdown, average domestic salaries have grown steadily, with the financial sector leading at an average of ₹28.4 LPA, followed by IT (₹27.05 LPA) and Engineering & Research (₹24 LPA).
International placements have also seen a modest rise, going from 66 to 76 over the last three years. However, the much-hyped ₹1 crore+ salaries need context. When adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), a ₹1 crore salary in the U.S. equates to roughly ₹26 LPA in India.
The Road Ahead: Suggestions for Improvement
While IIT placements are stable, a changing global economy and rising student expectations call for some strategic changes:
- Strengthen Core Sector Placements: To align with the original mission of IITs, more students should be placed in core engineering roles. Introducing AI, robotics, and emerging tech into traditional branches can make core engineering roles more attractive.
- Industry-Aligned Curriculum: To support India’s goal of becoming a product-driven economy, IITs should collaborate with industries in fields like Electronics, MedTech, SpaceTech, and DefenceTech to design relevant courses.
- Rationalize Admissions: Instead of uniform seat increases, IITs should adjust intake based on market demand for each branch.
- Diverse Career Options: Offer minors and electives in fields like Financial Engineering, Business Analytics, and FinTech. This prepares students for non-engineering careers if they choose.
Conclusion: Not a Crisis, but a Call to Adapt
IIT placements are not plummeting as some headlines suggest. Challenges do exist, particularly for non-IT branches. However, strategic updates to curriculum are necessary. Building industry partnerships and enhancing student training can ensure IITs remain at the forefront of engineering education and employment.
The future is not bleak — it’s evolving. And IITs, as they have always done, are ready to adapt.
