In a significant trend, more than half of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) witnessed a decline of over 10 percentage points in BTech placements during 2023-24 compared to 2021-22, as per the first-ever official disclosure of placement data by the Union government.
According to data submitted to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports, 22 out of 23 IITs experienced a drop in placements, with IIT (BHU) Varanasi being the only exception.
Sharpest Declines in Placement Rates
Among the worst-hit IITs with a drop of over 10 percentage points in placements between 2021-22 and 2023-24 were:
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IIT Madras: 85.71% to 73.29% (↓12 percentage points)
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IIT Bombay: 96.11% to 83.39% (↓13 percentage points)
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IIT Kanpur: 93.63% to 82.48% (↓11 percentage points)
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IIT Delhi: 87.69% to 72.81% (↓15 percentage points)
The sharpest drop was recorded at IIT Dharwad, where placements fell by 25 percentage points (from 90.20% to 65.56%), followed by IIT Jammu (from 92% to 70%).
Drastic Shift in IIT Placement Trends
In 2021-22, 14 of the 23 IITs recorded placement rates of over 90%, with IIT Goa having the highest at 98.65%. By 2023-24, only three IITs – Jodhpur, Patna, and Goa – managed to cross the 90% mark, with IIT Jodhpur leading at 92.98% and IIT Dharwad recording the lowest at 65.56%.
IIT Kharagpur, the country’s oldest IIT, saw the smallest drop in placements among the affected institutes, declining by just 2.88 percentage points (from 86.79% to 83.91%).
Factors Behind the Decline in Placements
The Parliamentary Standing Committee’s report observed a similar trend in NITs and noted a decline in the average financial packages secured by placed students between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The committee attributed the decline to various factors, including:
Market trends and economic fluctuations
Students opting for higher education or startups over immediate job placements
A possible shift in recruitment patterns by companies
Fluctuating Placement Trends Over the Years
At some IITs, placements improved in 2021-22, followed by a decline in 2022-23, which worsened in 2023-24. For example:
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IIT Kanpur:
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2020-21: 81% placement rate
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2021-22: 94% (sharp increase)
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2022-23: 89% (decline starts)
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2023-24: 82% (further drop)
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Interestingly, all IITs except IIT Tirupati saw an increase in the number of students appearing for placements in 2023-24 compared to 2021-22, indicating rising competition but fewer job opportunities.
Way Forward: Enhancing Employability
The Parliamentary Standing Committee has suggested that the Department of Higher Education explore strategies to improve employability for IIT graduates. As market dynamics shift, institutions may need to adapt their curriculum and enhance industry collaborations to ensure better job opportunities for students in the future.
