Placement season for India’s top engineering colleges, including the IITs, is facing uncertainty as recruiters adopt a cautious approach. This year, factors like global economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions and a potential US election outcome impacting offshoring policies are influencing hiring decisions. While IT companies remain optimistic, startups, manufacturing, and banking sectors are expected to recruit with measured numbers, leading to a sluggish job market for graduates.
India’s top technology schools are proactively approaching potential employers to secure placements for their 2025 graduates, following the challenges faced by the 2024 batch. Despite uncertainty about hiring numbers, companies are starting to register with the IITs, with some preferring pre-placement offers after internships. Newer IITs are setting minimum compensation levels and focusing on sectors like BFSI and quick commerce to secure placements for their students.
The once-coveted IIT tag, synonymous with lucrative job offers and a secure future, is facing unprecedented scrutiny as the number of unplaced graduates rises. This trend reflects a mismatch between the skills and expectations of graduates and the demands of the industry.
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) has declared the final round seat allocation results for admissions to premier engineering institutes like IITs, NITs, and other CFTIs. Candidates can check their seat allocation status on the official JoSAA website using their JEE Main credentials.
The annual salary packages for graduating students from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have decreased significantly in 2024, with a median salary of ₹15-16 lakh compared to ₹18-20 lakh in 2023. This decline is attributed to a global economic slowdown, industry shifts, and increased competition. Furthermore, the number of unplaced students has risen dramatically, with 38% of IIT graduates remaining unplaced in 2024, compared to 21% in 2023 and 19% in 2022. This trend highlights the challenges facing the job market for engineering graduates.
Rajnish Kumar, an IIT Kanpur graduate, co-founded Ixigo, a travel tech company that has reached a market value of over Rs 6,000 crore. Kumar, who left a software engineering job in France, demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of IITians and the potential for success in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Cousins Shivam and Abhishek achieved remarkable success in the JEE Advanced examination, securing All India Ranks of 2,989 and 2,372, respectively. Their journey was filled with challenges, as they hailed from a humble background where both their fathers worked as painters, earning around Rs. 600 daily. However, their fathers’ unwavering determination to provide a better future for their sons inspired them to work hard and excel in academics. Shivam and Abhishek enrolled in a school and arranged for coaching classes, studying diligently and overcoming financial constraints to achieve their dreams of entering prestigious IITs. Their success serves as an inspiring example of the power of hard work, dedication, and the support of loved ones in overcoming obstacles and achieving aspirations.
