The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are grappling with a severe placement crisis, as 38% of their students remain unplaced this year. According to data obtained through RTI by IIT Kanpur alumnus Dheeraj Singh, approximately 8,000 students from 23 IIT campuses are still searching for jobs. This situation has led to increased stress and anxiety among the student population.

In 2024, out of 21,500 students who registered for placements, only 13,410 have secured jobs. This marks a significant rise from two years ago, when only 19% of students were unplaced. The older nine IITs have been notably affected, with 37% of their 16,400 registered students still without jobs. The newer 14 IITs are in an even worse position, with 40% of their 5,100 registered students unplaced.

Dheeraj Singh highlighted the gravity of the situation by sharing data on LinkedIn. He noted that 33% of students at IIT Kharagpur were unplaced last year. At IIT Delhi, 22% of students have been unplaced over the past five years, with the number reaching 40% in 2024. Singh reported that 600 students were unplaced at IIT Delhi in the last two years alone.

This trend indicates a worrying increase in the number of unplaced students. From 2022 to 2024, the number of registered students at the older nine IITs grew by 1.2 times, while the number of unplaced students doubled. In the newer IITs, registered students increased by 1.3 times, but unplaced students surged by 3.8 times.

The mental health impact of this crisis is severe. This year alone, six IIT students have died by suicide, highlighting the intense pressure and anxiety faced by students. Singh emphasized that 61% of postgraduates are still unplaced, pointing to an unprecedented job crisis in India’s top engineering institutions.

In response to this crisis, IITs are reaching out to their alumni networks for assistance. IIT Delhi has appealed to its alumni to help place current students or recommend them to potential employers. The institute’s Office of Career Services has issued a call for support, recognizing the critical role alumni can play in guiding new graduates.

Similarly, IIT Bombay has contacted its alumni network for support. Despite ongoing placement efforts, about 10% of its batch, or approximately 250 candidates, remain unplaced. Last year, 329 candidates were unplaced, including 171 from the class of 2022.

Other institutions, such as the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), have also sought help from their alumni. V Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor of BITS, noted a 20% to 30% decrease in placements across various institutes. He attributed this decline to the emergence of technologies like ChatGPT and other large language models, which have affected hiring practices.

The current placement scenario at IITs is a critical issue that requires urgent attention and effective solutions. The doubling of unplaced students and the high stress levels among graduates underscore the need for immediate action to address this crisis.

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