IIT Placements Rebound in 2024-25, But Still Lag Behind 2021-22 Peak
As the academic year progresses, data from 14 of the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) indicate a significant rebound in BTech placement percentages for the year 2024-25. This recovery follows a sharp decline in placements during the previous year, 2023-24. However, despite this improvement, the placement rates remain below the peak levels achieved in the 2021-22 academic year.
Placement Statistics Overview
According to a report by The Indian Express, three-fourths of the surveyed IITs—11 out of 14—recorded higher placement rates in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. Notably, the data was obtained through Right to Information (RTI) applications, while earlier statistics covering the years 2021-22 to 2023-24 were highlighted in a March 2025 report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.
2023-24: An Unusual Decline
The parliamentary panel, chaired by Digvijaya Singh, reported that more than half of the IITs experienced a drop of over 10 percentage points in placement rates during the 2023-24 academic year compared to 2021-22. This decline was characterized as “unusual,” with only one IIT not experiencing a significant drop in placements.
2024-25 Placement Rates
In the 2021-22 academic year, 13 out of the 14 IITs had placement rates exceeding 90%. However, in 2024-25, only IIT Mandi (95%), IIT Goa, and IIT Bhubaneswar (90%) achieved or surpassed this benchmark. The lowest placement rates this year were recorded at IIT Guwahati (75.65%) and IIT Bhilai (78%).
Factors Contributing to Lower Placement Rates
Several factors have been identified by IIT Directors that contribute to the current placement statistics being lower than those of 2021-22:
- Student Choices: An increasing number of students are opting for start-ups, pursuing higher studies, or securing jobs outside the official placement process, which are not included in the institute statistics.
- Rising Batch Sizes: Thirteen of the fourteen IITs reported a higher number of students registering for placements in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. For example, IIT Delhi saw an increase from 707 students in 2021-22 to 987 students in 2024-25.
- Shift in Job Preferences: There has been a noticeable shift in the job landscape, with students increasingly gravitating towards core engineering and manufacturing jobs rather than solely seeking opportunities in the IT sector.
Changing Job Landscape
Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, noted that previously, there was a high demand for IT roles, with many students from various engineering disciplines aiming for jobs in this sector. However, he indicated that perceptions are changing, with students recognizing the stability offered by core branches and manufacturing sectors. He stated, “Looking at the situation in the US, students are also realizing… manufacturing is a more stable sector. In IT, there’s a boom, and ups and downs.”
Software and IT Still Dominate Offers
Despite the shift in student preferences, software and IT roles continue to dominate job offers. For instance, in 2024-25, IIT Guwahati reported that 45% of its offers were in software, while core engineering roles accounted for 17%. Similarly, IIT Mandi saw 66% of its offers in IT/software and 16% in core technical fields.
Efforts to Improve Placement Rates
Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, mentioned that while job offers have been increasing, the number of students participating in the placement process has also grown. He emphasized that institutions are making concerted efforts to reach out to more companies to enhance placement opportunities. “There was a blip in the year before, and that has sort of been restored,” he noted.
Conclusion
The rebound in IIT placements for the 2024-25 academic year is a positive sign following the unusual decline of the previous year. However, the current placement rates still lag behind the impressive figures of 2021-22. As the job landscape continues to evolve, both students and institutions must adapt to the changing dynamics to ensure successful placements in the future.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on data available up to October 2023 and may be subject to change as new statistics emerge.
