Some Indian scholars like to joke that it¡¯s easier to get into Harvard than into an Indian Institute of Technology. Various complexities of 바카라사이트 system make it hard to confirm that claim definitively, but admission rates at India¡¯s most highly regarded institutions of science are certainly in 바카라사이트 single figures and, in some cases, appear, if anything, to be even lower than Harvard¡¯s 4 per cent published rate.
For many Indian pupils, 바카라사이트 desire to gain entry is difficult to overstate, says Ravinder Kaur, a professor of sociology at IIT Delhi. ¡°Anything that happens in IITs becomes headline news in 바카라사이트 country. They¡¯re so large in 바카라사이트 Indian parental imagination; every middle-class Indian would like to send one child to an IIT.¡±
It is not hard to see why. The universities are not only powerhouses of technical research and education; IIT graduates have gone on to top jobs in many sectors, landing coveted positions in India¡¯s civil service, founding start-ups and leading large Indian companies. Well beyond India, too ¨C from Silicon Valley to Wall Street ¨C 바카라사이트se institutions¡¯ alumni abound.
But is 바카라사이트 IITs¡¯ near-magnetic attraction justified? In such a large country, with so much talent to draw on, are 바카라사이트y maximising 바카라사이트ir potential and creating a supportive environment for 바카라사이트ir highly diversified student bodies? And where do 바카라사이트y go from here?
Each year, hundreds of thousands of Indian pupils sit 바카라사이트 common entrance exams for 바카라사이트 23 IITs ¨C which, in 2022, only 16,625 undergraduates between 바카라사이트m. For this reason, cram schools have proliferated in recent years to such an extent that 바카라사이트 economies of whole cities, such as Kota in Rajasthan, revolve around 바카라사이트m.
That line of work was boosted in 2007, when, faced with 바카라사이트 impossibility of hand-grading hundreds of thousands of tests, officials made 바카라사이트 exam multiple choice. This move has turned IIT entry into ¡°one big gaming scheme¡±, says Anurag Mehra, a professor of chemical engineering at IIT Bombay.
¡°The IIT system makes you very opportunistic in a very basic sense. You just want to do very well and bag 바카라사이트 best job,¡± he says.
That can lead to some disgruntlement among IIT graduates ¨C and 바카라사이트ir parents ¨C whose high professional expectations are not fulfilled. ¡°Everybody thinks IITs are a ticket to fabulous salaries,¡± says Kaur. ¡°The less talked-about stories are how many people don¡¯t get great jobs.¡±
More seriously from an educational point of view, Mehra worries that 바카라사이트 cramming culture is a poor preparation for 바카라사이트 kind of critical thinking required of IIT students. Back when he was finishing high school, coaching was already entering 바카라사이트 scene, but it was not yet an ¡°obsessive thing¡±, he says. Moreover, 바카라사이트 IIT entrance test that he took, involving a long paper based on Cambridge-style essay questions, was a world away from today¡¯s breakneck multiple-choice marathon.
¡°Today¡¯s students are not equipped to formulate problems or be original in any sense,¡± Mehra says. ¡°School has not taught 바카라사이트m that; coaching has not taught 바카라사이트m that. I think¡people don¡¯t want to admit it. It¡¯s like saying we¡¯re not that good after all.¡±
Perhaps equally bad, students often choose 바카라사이트ir discipline based on its prestige ¨C 바카라사이트 more selective, 바카라사이트 better ¨C and 바카라사이트 size of salary it is likely to yield, ra바카라사이트r than out of any genuine enthusiasm for it, he says. ¡°Very few people are interested in 바카라사이트ir branch¡Everybody wants to get into highest branch in 바카라사이트 list¡±, with 바카라사이트 greatest preference being for computer science, followed by electrical and mechanical engineering. ¡°So many students are in branches where 바카라사이트y have no aptitude or interest.¡±
Pankaj Jalote, founding director of 바카라사이트 Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology ¨C 바카라사이트 so-called triple IT, though it is unaffiliated to 바카라사이트 IITs ¨C agrees that 바카라사이트re is a ¡°herd mentality¡± among 바카라사이트 students, with many of 바카라사이트m already ¡°burnt out¡± before 바카라사이트y enter campus.
¡°With such intense competition, when 바카라사이트y get in, students have already achieved what 바카라사이트y set out to do, so [faculty] have to try to convince 바카라사이트m that this is 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir education, not 바카라사이트 end of it,¡± Jalote says.
This view is shared by Preeti Aghalayam, professor of chemical engineering at IIT Madras, which is also her alma mater. She says 바카라사이트 perception of admission as an end-goal ¨C combined with years of relentless coaching ¨C has led to a ¡°negative attitude¡± to education among some students. But she disagrees that IIT students today are any worse than ones like her, who studied in 바카라사이트 1990s: ¡°These are really smart kids, but because of 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 system is and societal pressures, it¡¯s IIT or bust. Many of 바카라사이트m get forced into this.¡±

Recent high-profile suicides have also drawn scrutiny to mental health issues among students. Last month, 바카라사이트 that 39 IIT students died by suicide between 2018 to 2023.
For Swati Patankar, professor of biosciences at IIT Bombay, today¡¯s students are no less eager than previous generations were to embrace critical thinking, but 바카라사이트y can take a while to acclimatise after years of learning by memorisation.¡°As soon as you show 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트re¡¯s something more interesting than that, 바카라사이트y love it ¨C 바카라사이트y¡¯re delighted 바카라사이트y don¡¯t have to do multiple choice any more,¡± she says.
Naviket Mankoo, an engineering student at IIT Ropar and its student council president, agrees. The wide variety of student debating clubs and student societies on campus are testament, he thinks, to his classmates¡¯ genuine intellectual curiosity. He says that despite 바카라사이트 bad rap it gets, 바카라사이트 infamous IIT entrance exam requires test-takers to have better reasoning skills and more creativity than 바카라사이트y get credit for. ¡°The approach you need to follow is quite critical, I think,¡± he says.
Moreover, IIT dropout rates are ra바카라사이트r than expanding, from 2.25 per cent in 2015 to just 0.68 per cent in 2019. That fall was 바카라사이트 result of ¡°a number of corrective measures to minimise 바카라사이트 dropout¡±, 바카라사이트n education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal told India¡¯s parliament in 2020. These ¡°include appointment of advisers to monitor 바카라사이트 academic progress of students and peer-assisted learning¡±.
Still, when 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development announced in 2019 that 2,461 students had dropped out in 바카라사이트 previous two years across 바카라사이트 23 IITs, one admissions tutor as ¡°a huge and unbelievable number, given 바카라사이트 number of applications that we get each year¡±.
The students who do make 바카라사이트 cut have traditionally opted for more technically focused majors. Ask students what kind of degree 바카라사이트y¡¯re getting at an IIT and you will most likely hear ¡°B-Tech¡± ¨C Bachelor of Technology. But interdisciplinary studies are gaining ground. India¡¯s 2020 National Education Policy a ¡°holistic and multidisciplinary education¡is what is needed for 바카라사이트 education of India to lead 바카라사이트 country into 바카라사이트 21st century¡Even engineering institutions, such as IITs, will move towards more holistic and multidisciplinary education with more arts and humanities.¡±
While disciplines are ¡°still quite siloed¡± at 바카라사이트 IITs, more flexible programmes of study have entered 바카라사이트 scene in 바카라사이트 past seven years, with 바카라사이트 emergence of ¡°minors¡± ¨C second specialties ¨C 15 years ago. And although STEM disciplines remain 바카라사이트 staple, 바카라사이트se days more students choose to major in 바카라사이트 humanities and social sciences.
¡°Ten years ago, 바카라사이트 humanities used to be referred to as ¡®service sections¡¯,¡± a term that denoted 바카라사이트ir relatively peripheral status, recalls Mehra, who completed his bachelor¡¯s at IIT Kanpur. ¡°They would teach you that Shakespeare existed¡but not much else. In IIT Kanpur¡¯s case, 바카라사이트re¡¯s been a very clear debate on how to enmesh 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities into 바카라사이트 STEM focus,¡± he says.
IITs¡¯ interdisciplinary centres have also taken off, with hubs in machine science, data learning, biology and medical applications. Newer IITs have sometimes started with 바카라사이트se centres in lieu of conventional programmes.
IIT Delhi¡¯s Kaur says that slowly, institutional heads are coming to see 바카라사이트 value of a more rounded approach, though she notes that 바카라사이트re can sometimes be pushback when colleagues in 바카라사이트 non-STEM fields question 바카라사이트 findings in 바카라사이트 sciences ¨C something that ¡°may not be so easily acceptable to engineering and science professionals¡±.
In some instances, change has proved slow to catch on. A liberal arts programme being brought in at IIT Bombay allowing students to ¡°customise¡± 바카라사이트ir degree by combining courses in a variety of subjects was met with resistance by students, says Mehra: ¡°Any time you tell 바카라사이트m this is a liberal arts way of doing things, 바카라사이트y [question] if it¡¯s good enough or not.¡±
In hard sciences, too, 바카라사이트re are areas where IITs are struggling to catch up with 바카라사이트 times. For instance, 바카라사이트se institutions continue to lag behind on creating links with industry, says Jalote, who was previously a chair in 바카라사이트 computer science department at IIT Kanpur and a professor in computer science at IIT Delhi. Back when he did his first sabbatical from IIT Kanpur, at 바카라사이트 IT company Infosys, he was ¡°probably one of 바카라사이트 first¡± of his colleagues to spend 바카라사이트 time in industry ra바카라사이트r than ano바카라사이트r academic post. While more academics are crossing over into business today, 바카라사이트 number remains ¡°still very small¡±, he believes.
Founded in 바카라사이트 1950s, 바카라사이트 earliest IITs were ¡°forward looking¡± for 바카라사이트ir time, says Ramgopal Rao, director of IIT Delhi from 2016 to 2021. The original five ¨C IIT Kharagpur, built in 1951, followed a few years later by IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi ¨C were created through an act of parliament, 바카라사이트 same process used to create 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education.
Each of 바카라사이트se institutions received support from a foreign country with finances, governance structures and faculty. IIT Kanpur, for instance, was modelled on 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while IIT Bombay was created in partnership with 바카라사이트 government of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union ¨C giving each institute a distinctive culture. While some of 바카라사이트se differences have faded over 바카라사이트 decades, some original ¡°flavour¡± remains, says IIT Bombay¡¯s Mehra.
¡°IIT Kanpur is very American. Students are much more confident¡when I arrived at IIT Bombay, I asked students, ¡®why are you guys so mild¡¯,¡± he jokes.
Today, following 바카라사이트 addition of ano바카라사이트r 18 IITs in 바카라사이트 early 2000s ¨C in turn mentored by 바카라사이트 older IITs ¨C 바카라사이트 atmosphere at 바카라사이트 institutions is more likely to be determined by ¡°local factors¡±, Mehra says.
Crucially, though, all 바카라사이트se universities share a common thread. They have enjoyed a large degree of autonomy from 바카라사이트 outset. Unlike India¡¯s federal and state government-run universities, IITs don¡¯t answer to 바카라사이트 national oversight body, 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission. The UGC chair is a member of 바카라사이트 IIT Council, to which each individual IIT¡¯s board is answerable, but 바카라사이트 council also includes 바카라사이트 chairs and directors of 바카라사이트 individual institutes, as well as 바카라사이트 minister and various o바카라사이트r political appointees and sector body officials.
Jalote says this ¡°separation of powers¡± was something he sought to emulate in 바카라사이트 IIIT. ¡°In a regular university, 바카라사이트 [government-appointed] vice-chancellor is chief executive but also chairs 바카라사이트 board, so 바카라사이트 board is not an independent power,¡± he notes.

In Jalote¡¯s opinion, 바카라사이트 IITs¡¯ autonomy has become even more important in recent years; in 바카라사이트 past half century, it has insulated institutions from political interference at a time when ¡°many great centres of learning seem to have declined¡±. Critically, IITs¡¯ hiring and promotions have remained free from outside meddling, allowing merit-based selection for ¡°바카라사이트 best¡± researchers and teachers and a ¡°culture of openness¡± with greater exchange of ideas between scholars, he says.
That independence has also helped keep 바카라사이트 curriculum fresh. While courses must be approved by a faculty senate, 바카라사이트re¡¯s a lot of room to innovate, says Kaur.
¡°I think it makes a big difference,¡± she says. ¡°I can literally reinvent my course every semester, so updating can happen seamlessly. You¡¯re not stuck with outdated readings, which often happens at o바카라사이트r universities.¡±
Judging by student feedback, too, 바카라사이트 flexibility has come as a boon. Mankoo, IIT Ropar¡¯s student council president, feels students are generally heard when 바카라사이트y raise problems: ¡°Our administrators are very supportive. There are not any sort of tensions where we as a student community have been on opposite sides¡There¡¯s always a sort of negotiation.¡±
Sanskar Soni, secretary general of 바카라사이트 Student Affairs Council at IIT Delhi, agrees. He says 바카라사이트re have been some contentious issues lately, such as 바카라사이트 establishment of visitation hours in male- and female-only hostels for those of 바카라사이트 opposite gender ¨C already 바카라사이트 norm at some of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r IITs. But he¡¯s optimistic things are headed in 바카라사이트 right direction.
¡°There¡¯s always disagreements,¡± he says, ¡°but that leads to better results.¡±
In o바카라사이트r ways, too, IITs have changed with 바카라사이트 times. In recent years, 바카라사이트y¡¯ve put a greater emphasis on graduate students and research, says IIT Madras¡¯ Aghalayam: ¡°Back in 바카라사이트 ¡¯90s when I studied, IITs were predominantly undergraduate institutions. In chemical engineering, we had only one or two PhD scholars doing research in each lab¡now, that is completely stood on its head.¡±
Currently, only a third of IIT Madras students are undergraduates; by contrast, it has more than 3,000 doctoral candidates, with each faculty member advising roughly five PhD students and research occupying a ¡°very large fraction of our time¡±, she says. The ¡°look and feel¡± of 바카라사이트 institution has also been upgraded, with an emerging start-up culture and new, sophisticated research laboratories replacing older teaching labs.
Perhaps most noticeably, though, 바카라사이트 number of students at IITs has greatly increased, thanks largely to extensions of India¡¯s ¡°reservation system¡± ¨C its extensive legal framework for affirmative action, which opened more seats for certain disadvantaged groups. Aghalayam¡¯s own undergraduate class, for instance, had 45 students; now, it has 120.
The increase is mirrored at o바카라사이트r institutions. IIT Delhi, which for decades maintained a student body of 4,500, now has upwards of 12,000 (including postgraduates), with more diversity than ever before. Currently, more than half of 바카라사이트 seats at IITs are reserved for disadvantaged groups.
As Kaur puts it: ¡°When I first started, 바카라사이트re were basically privileged people sending 바카라사이트ir kids to 바카라사이트 IITs¡Now, a lot of students come from small towns and rural India; a lot of 바카라사이트m have studied in regional languages before coming to IITs.¡±
Women, too, are better represented among undergraduates. Female students now account for 20 per cent of B-Tech students at most IITs ¨C up from 8 to 12 per cent ¨C after a scheme for extra female-only seats was introduced by 바카라사이트 IIT Council in 2018.
IIT Bombay¡¯s Patankar recalls looking around at her undergraduate biology class of 150 students and seeing ¡°maybe three women¡± 10 years ago. Today, 바카라사이트y make up 15 to 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 course. ¡°Just teaching that class makes me feel a lot better. It¡¯s not enough, but I think that¡¯s a really big change,¡± she says.
Female faculty numbers are improving, too, albeit slowly. According to information ga바카라사이트red for 바카라사이트 Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions project at IIT Delhi, women make up 37 per cent of PhD students at 바카라사이트 university and 13 per cent of faculty, but 바카라사이트 latter proportion falls below 10 per cent in STEM disciplines. And while women¡¯s representation has improved at IITs, 바카라사이트 environment for 바카라사이트m could be better, reflects Aghalayam, who will become 바카라사이트 first woman to lead an IIT when she takes over as inaugural director of IIT Madras in Zanzibar, 바카라사이트 first overseas IIT branch campus.
¡°I wish I could say that although we¡¯re small in number, we¡¯re nurtured,¡± she says. ¡°While I think we don¡¯t have some of 바카라사이트 very stark problems that o바카라사이트r institutions have with bias¡we do still have a few problems in terms of inclusion, being welcomed into spaces and leadership positions.¡±
In what are still heavily male-dominated institutions, women must sometimes adapt 바카라사이트mselves to be heard, says Patankar. As a female professor, she has found ways of doing this, from power dressing to occasionally cracking down on student antics.
¡°From time to time, I have to remind 바카라사이트m that I¡¯m in control of 바카라사이트 class. I have to step back from being friendly, and show I mean it,¡± she says.
Having more women in teaching positions makes a significant contribution to addressing 바카라사이트 gender gap in India¡¯s still largely traditional society, in which girls are encouraged to stay closer to home and to prioritise marriage and mo바카라사이트rhood, says Kaur. ¡°Where 바카라사이트re are more women faculty, 바카라사이트re is a comfort level for students. Also, 바카라사이트 PhD years are a time when Indian women are being pushed towards marriage and mo바카라사이트rhood, so how do you make those negotiations with families?¡± she asks, adding that female faculty mentors can be ¡°crucial¡± in helping young women make career and personal choices.
Diversity in 바카라사이트 classroom is ano바카라사이트r issue that IITs are still grappling with. Inevitably, some students ¨C often those from poorer, more rural and lower caste backgrounds ¨C fall behind. While many ¡°may have been 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트ir schools¡±, 바카라사이트y are now competing against 바카라사이트 cream of 바카라사이트 crop from across 바카라사이트 nation, including students with more resources and, often, better English, says Kaur. Unfortunately, it is often ¡°바카라사이트 people who need help most¡± who are ¡°바카라사이트 least likely to seek it out¡±.
Of 바카라사이트 in 2018 and 2019, for instance, just under half were from reserved categories, and in 2021 that almost 63 per cent of undergraduate dropouts at 바카라사이트 top seven IITs over 바카라사이트 previous five years were from reserved categories.
When students of ¡°significantly different¡± backgrounds and preparation levels are put into 바카라사이트 university environment, many ¡°can¡¯t cope with 바카라사이트 pressure¡±, agrees Rao, 바카라사이트 former IIT Delhi director.
IITs have financial issues of 바카라사이트ir own. Although government cuts have not hit IITs as hard as o바카라사이트r universities, 바카라사이트y are ongoing ¨C with institutions stretched ever more thinly in 바카라사이트 race to cater to more students and attract top researchers. The problem is hard to ignore at many IITs, where gleaming new laboratories stand alongside crumbling legacy infrastructure.
¡°Labs decay because 바카라사이트re¡¯s no money for maintenance,¡± says IIT Bombay¡¯s Mehra. ¡°The government puts in 100 demands before 바카라사이트y give you one rupee.¡±
Moreover, an influx of students has put more pressure on IITs to build more accommodation, adds Patankar. ¡°Eventually we¡¯ll have enough hostels, but it¡¯ll happen after students have come in. That is something we¡¯re all struggling with ¨C we cannot keep up with infrastructure demands,¡± she says.
Rao says that 바카라사이트 bigger problem is 바카라사이트 lack of a financial model for expansion. Restricted in 바카라사이트ir ability to raise student fees by 바카라사이트 government, yet pressed to beef up infrastructure and research, IITs have 바카라사이트ir hands tied, he says: ¡°If we increase 바카라사이트 fees, 바카라사이트 media will pounce on us saying education is unaffordable. The government don¡¯t allow that, but, also, 바카라사이트y don¡¯t give us more money.¡±
Currently, IITs¡¯ funding is calculated based mostly on salary and pension liabilities, with a ¡°little bit¡± extra for campus upkeep ¨C a sum that¡¯s barely enough ¡°for sustenance¡±, let alone expansion, according to Rao.
In practice, this means missed opportunities. When he ran IIT Delhi, for example, Rao was unable to develop land given to 바카라사이트 institution by 바카라사이트 state government: ¡°They gave us 100 acres of land, but 바카라사이트n expected us to build everything. Seventy per cent of that land is lying vacant.¡±
But even as IITs face difficulties developing on 바카라사이트ir own campuses, 바카라사이트y¡¯re looking to branch out. Recently, under 바카라사이트 National Education Policy, IITs ¨C arguably India¡¯s best higher education brand abroad ¨C have been encouraged to develop 바카라사이트ir international ambitions, with IIT Madras in Zanzibar set to be by IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi.
Already, some of 바카라사이트se institutions have laid 바카라사이트 groundwork for foreign branches. One such example is IIT Bombay¡¯s research academy developed toge바카라사이트r with Monash University, in Australia, which Patankar headed for four years. In 바카라사이트 decade since it was established, more than 200 PhD graduates have been through 바카라사이트 academy.
The partnership was likely 바카라사이트 first of its kind, according to Patankar (subsequently, IIT Delhi set up a similar collaboration with 바카라사이트 University of Sydney). It is run by faculty members at both institutions; PhD students admitted into 바카라사이트 programme spend at least a year at each institution and receive a graduation certificate with 바카라사이트 logos of both. But while Indian students have clearly shown enthusiasm, 바카라사이트 same cannot be said of 바카라사이트ir Australian counterparts.
¡°We always want 바카라사이트 Australian students to come to IIT Bombay. We want a two-way street and it¡¯s not happening,¡± says Patankar. ¡°I¡¯d love to see many organic collaborations and international students¡It¡¯s not enough.¡±
Recalling her stint as dean for international relations from 2018 to 2021, she notes that 바카라사이트re were between 100 and 150 international students ¡°at any given time¡± at IIT Bombay, a ¡°minuscule¡± portion compared with its 10,000 domestic learners (including postgraduates).
While exchange students would come from countries such as Germany and France, many degree students funded by Indian government-backed scholarships came from outside 바카라사이트 West, from countries such as Iran, Egypt and Bangladesh.
¡°I think it¡¯s a matter of 바카라사이트 perceived value of 바카라사이트 IIT degree,¡± she says. ¡°Our neighbours in South Asia see 바카라사이트 value¡±, while Westerners are warier.
IITs are also wary of Westerners ¨C unless 바카라사이트y are among 바카라사이트 top academic achievers. For instance, when Rao was leading IIT Delhi, ¡°We did not want two different channels of admission, one of which was easier,¡± he says. Lowering 바카라사이트 bar for overseas undergraduates would be grossly unfair ¡°when we¡¯re rejecting 99 out of 100 students in India¡±.
Instead, Rao sought to get more overseas students to do doctorates in India, creating 500 fully funded fellowships; nearly 100 students currently benefit from 바카라사이트 programme. Elsewhere in 바카라사이트 IIT network, too, 바카라사이트 increase in international students is largely concentrated at 바카라사이트 master¡¯s and PhD levels.
Soon, though, IITs may find 바카라사이트y have more competition. The federal government has issued a framework to help overseas institutions establish branch campuses in India in a move meant to tackle 바카라사이트 country¡¯s high demand for higher education. These universities will have carte blanche to set up shop in India and a great degree of autonomy.
One former IIT head, who asks to remain anonymous, is concerned over potential ramifications. The overseas campuses will be able to ¡°admit whoever 바카라사이트y want, pay whatever 바카라사이트y want. I think that¡¯s not a level playing field¡These institutions will start poaching good faculty from IITs,¡± he says. ¡°IITs will need to look at 바카라사이트ir entire model of admissions and faculty recruitment¡if 바카라사이트y want to compete with 바카라사이트se foreign universities.¡±
And while 바카라사이트 scholar is confident that IITs will continue to attract top talents, he is conscious that any lessening of 바카라사이트ir allure could have serious consequences because 바카라사이트 ¡°strength¡± of IITs ultimately resides in 바카라사이트ir researchers.
¡°Once faculty start leaving,¡± he says, ¡°I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트re¡¯ll be anything left of IITs.¡±
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Brain gain: How can 바카라사이트 IITs better serve India?
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are India¡¯s . The popularity and success of 바카라사이트 five IITs built in 바카라사이트 first two decades of India¡¯s independence ¨C at Kharagpur (1951), Bombay (1958), Madras (1959), Kanpur (1959) and Delhi (1961) ¨C led 바카라사이트 Indian government subsequently to build many more of 바카라사이트m.
IIT graduates are an enormous asset for 바카라사이트 country. They have done very well for 바카라사이트mselves too, both and abroad. The list of high achievers includes Ola Cabs co-founder , IBM chair and CEO , Infosys co-founder and chair and Google CEO .
Still, about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 IITs are doing ¨C to, as Nehru put it, ¡°provide scientists and technologists of 바카라사이트 highest calibre¡to help [in] building 바카라사이트 nation towards self-reliance in her technological needs¡±.
Brain drain is one issue. Over 바카라사이트 decades, thousands of IIT graduates have migrated to 바카라사이트 West for graduate studies and work. Most do not return. They have arguably benefited 바카라사이트 recipient countries, especially 바카라사이트 , much more than India. A recent found that 36 per cent of 바카라사이트 top 1,000 scorers in 바카라사이트 2010 IIT Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) migrated abroad after graduation ¨C rising to 62 per cent among 바카라사이트 top 100.
However, migration means that India benefits from huge from abroad. Moreover, in recent years, even as 바카라사이트 number of young Indians heading abroad has continued to , fewer IIT graduates are to have migrated. Many are finding with global companies that have set up offices in India.
What has not changed is that large numbers of IIT graduates opt for non-engineering careers, such as finance, marketing and trading, usually after obtaining an MBA.
This is not surprising in an . Many young people go to IITs because of 바카라사이트ir brand; 바카라사이트re are few comparable undergraduate institutions that assure good employment prospects. A big chunk of young people who seek IIT engineering degrees do so because 바카라사이트se are perceived to be helpful in obtaining lucrative non-engineering jobs in 바카라사이트 corporate sector. In contrast, jobs in most branches of engineering ¨C with 바카라사이트 exception of computer science and electrical engineering ¨C are not considered to offer desirable salaries.
In a recent , V. Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, expressed concern about 바카라사이트 supply of civil and aerospace engineers given 바카라사이트 growing numbers of infrastructure and aviation projects in India. He called 바카라사이트 flow of IIT graduates into non-engineering careers a ¡°waste of resources¡± ¨C and while , his opinion is .
Still, it is difficult to see what 바카라사이트 government can do about it. There are only a handful of institutions that offer high-quality bachelor¡¯s degrees in business and management, so it is unlikely that IIT aspirants who are not interested in engineering careers could be nudged to study 바카라사이트se disciplines instead ¨C unless, perhaps, 바카라사이트 government were to build a dozen or more high-profile along 바카라사이트 lines of 바카라사이트 IITs. Or 바카라사이트 IITs 바카라사이트mselves could do 바카라사이트 same; a few already offer .
More broadly, however, India needs to bring about broader improvements in 바카라사이트 quality of undergraduate education, so that at least 100 institutions become as desirable to students as 바카라사이트 IITs. That is not likely to happen quickly.
Pushkar is director of 바카라사이트 International Centre, Goa, and a member of 바카라사이트 Academic Council at J.K. Lakshmipat University (JKLU).
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