The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), esteemed for their excellence in engineering education and high campus placement rates, are facing a significant challenge this year. A recent report obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) has revealed that approximately 38% of IIT graduates remain unemployed.
In response to this concerning trend, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) have turned to their alumni networks for support in enhancing placement rates. Particularly, IIT Delhi is struggling with over 400 unplaced students, while the collective number across all 23 IIT campuses exceeds 7,000.
Dheeraj Singh, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, unearthed this issue through multiple RTI applications. The data underscores a persistent struggle in recent years, with over 4,000 students, constituting about 23%, failing to secure placements in 2023, and over 3,000 facing a similar plight in 2022.
IIT Delhi has taken proactive steps by reaching out to its alumni network for assistance. “Despite our efforts, around 400 students have not yet secured jobs. We are contacting our student network to seek help in providing job opportunities,” stated IIT Delhi.
Similarly, BITS initiated efforts to engage its alumni for support two months ago. At IIT Bombay, although the placement process extends until the end of June, approximately 10% of students, or 250 individuals, remain unplaced. Last year, 329 students from IIT Bombay remained unemployed, with 171 graduates from the 2022 session still jobless.
This ongoing struggle emphasizes the urgent need for effective measures to enhance job placement prospects for IIT graduates and underscores the importance of collaborative efforts involving alumni, institutions, and industry stakeholders.