IIT placements crisis? IITs face tough season as number of unplaced students surge

The placement season for the graduating class of 2024 at IITs seem to be marred by uncertainty amid a significant rise in the number of unplaced students.

An RTI application filed by Dheeraj Singh, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, says that around 45% IIT Madras students may not receive placement offers by the end of the season.

Singh, who analyzed the RTI data, anticipates a notable increase in the count of students without placements compared to prior years. The statistics show that out of 2,100 students enrolled for placements, merely 1,150 have clinched offers in either Phase 1 or Phase 2. This leaves a concerning 950 students awaiting employment opportunities.

Based on the current trends, Singh estimates that nearly half (approximately 45.2%) of the registered students might not receive placement offers by the end of the season. This raises serious concerns for graduating students and their families, who often rely heavily on securing placements at IITs to kickstart their careers.

Earlier, reports suggested that as many as 36% of IIT Bombay students were not getting placements. In response, in a post on X, IIT Bombay says that as per an exit survey conducted among graduating students in 2022-23 only 6.1% of students are still actively seeking employment.

Lately there has been news that over 30% of IITB students do not get jobs! An exit survey among graduating students in 2022-23 says only 6.1% are still looking for jobs. Here is the survey result for you to decide... pic.twitter.com/ICrAQUdpVt

— IIT Bombay (@iitbombay) April 4, 2024

However, speaking to Hindustan Times, an IIT Bombay official said that for the first time registered students from the computer science and engineering branch, which are usually most in demand, have not seen 100% placement.

Meanwhile, as per a report by Times of India, IIT Delhi's 2024 placements have also been lacklustre so far and that students were feeling the pressure.

At IIT Delhi, the placement process occurs in three stages: initial phases in December and February, and the final phase in May. Students without placements explore alternatives like LinkedIn, networking with peers for recommendations, or pursuing further qualifications and exams like CAT for advanced degrees.