IIT Placement Recovery Signals Positive Trend After 2023-24 Slump
Recent data obtained through Right to Information applications has revealed a significant development in the placement scenario at India's premier engineering institutions. According to the findings, 19 out of 23 Indian Institutes of Technology have reported an improvement in BTech placement figures for the 2024-25 academic year compared to the previous year, marking a positive turnaround after the concerning decline witnessed in 2023-24.
The data shows that three-fourths of the IITs that provided information demonstrated increased placement percentages, though the numbers still remain below the peak levels achieved during the 2021-22 academic year. This pattern indicates a gradual recovery in the campus recruitment landscape, albeit with some distance to cover before reaching previous highs.
Comparative Analysis Reveals Mixed Trends Across Campuses
A detailed examination of the placement statistics from 19 IITs presents a comprehensive picture of the current scenario. The parliamentary standing committee report from March 2025 had previously highlighted that more than half of the IITs experienced placement drops exceeding 10 percentage points in 2023-24 compared to 2021-22, describing this pattern as an "unusual decline."
The latest figures show notable variations across different campuses. IIT Kanpur improved from 82.48% in 2023-24 to 87% in 2024-25, while IIT Delhi saw an increase from 72.81% to 79% during the same period. Similarly, IIT Hyderabad registered growth from 69.33% to 79%, and IIT Ropar moved from 75% to 80%.
Among the standout performers, IIT Mandi achieved 95% placements in 2024-25, showing significant recovery from 84.03% in the previous year. IIT Jammu demonstrated remarkable improvement, climbing from 70.25% to 86%, while IIT Dharwad surged from 65.56% to 84%.
Institutional Responses and Changing Student Preferences
IIT directors have attributed the recovery to concerted efforts by institutions to expand their corporate outreach. Professor Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, explained that the uptick in placement figures reflects increased opportunities in "core branches" and manufacturing sectors. "Earlier, there was high demand in IT, and everybody, even students who had done civil engineering, wanted to get into the IT sector. Now, core branches and manufacturing are picking up," he noted.
Professor Ahuja also highlighted evolving student perspectives, stating that stability is becoming increasingly important for graduates. "Looking at the situation in the US, students are also realizing that manufacturing is a more stable sector. In IT, there's a boom, and ups and downs. Earlier, students may have also aimed for countries like the US. Now they know they should look at other possibilities," he added.
The data also reveals that the number of students participating in placement processes has increased across most institutions. At IIT Ropar, the figure grew from 252 in 2021-22 to 292 in 2023-24, and further to 321 in 2024-25. Similarly, IIT Delhi witnessed an increase from 707 to 938 and then to 987 students over the same period.
Sector-wise Distribution and Future Outlook
An analysis of placement patterns across different IITs shows continued dominance of the software sector, though with interesting variations. IIT Guwahati's placement report for 2024-25 indicates that software sector jobs contributed 45% of total placements, followed by core engineering at 17%. Meanwhile, IIT Mandi reported that IT and software accounted for 66% of placements, with core technical roles at 16% and consulting at 10%.
Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, provided context to the evolving scenario. "Job offers have been growing, but the number of students sitting for placements has also been growing. Overall, the nature of jobs, the job market... there are changes globally. The cause and effect are not very clear," he observed.
Despite the overall improvement, only three IITs crossed the 90% placement mark in 2024-25 - IIT Mandi (95%), IIT Goa (over 90%), and IIT Bhubaneswar (90%). This contrasts sharply with the 2021-22 academic year when 13 of the 19 IITs had achieved placement percentages exceeding 90%.
The ongoing recovery in placement figures, coupled with changing sectoral preferences and increasing student participation, suggests a evolving landscape for engineering education and employment in India. While the complete return to 2021-22 peak levels remains a work in progress, the positive trajectory indicates strengthening institutional responses and adapting market dynamics.
