38 percent of IIT graduates from 2024 batch still unemployed: Report

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• May 23, 2024 | Pinaki Goswami

The alarming rise in jobless students has not only economic ramifications but profound implications for mental health as well...

Digital Desk: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), long praised as the epitome of engineering education in India, are grappling with an unprecedented challenge in job placements this academic year, sending shockwaves through the student community. Recent data obtained through Right to Information (RTI) proposals, spearheaded by concerned alumnus Dheeraj Singh from IIT Kanpur, paints a concerning picture: a staggering 8,000 IIT students, representing 38 percent across 23 campuses, remain jobless this year.

In 2024, out of 21,500 students vying for placements, only 13,410 have secured jobs, leaving a daunting 38 percent still navigating the uncertain terrain of job hunting. This marks a significant uptick compared to previous years, highlighting a burgeoning crisis in one of the country's most esteemed educational institutions.

The impact is particularly acute at the older nine IITs, where 37 percent of the 16,400 registered students find themselves without job offers. The situation is scarcely better at the newer 14 IITs, where 40 percent of the 5,100 registered students remain unplaced.

Compounding the issue, IIT Delhi, one of the flagship institutes, has witnessed a disconcerting trend with 22 percent of its students remaining unplaced over the past five years, a figure that has now ballooned to 40 percent in 2024.

The alarming rise in jobless students has not only economic ramifications but profound implications for mental health as well. Tragically, six IIT students have succumbed to suicide this year alone, underscoring the intense pressure and anxiety pervading the student populace.

Dheeraj Singh, the whistleblower behind the revealing RTI data, asserts that this crisis demands urgent attention. He highlights a doubling in the number of unplaced students over the past two years, signaling a precarious situation in the country's premier engineering colleges.

In response to the crisis, IITs are mobilizing their alumni networks for support. IIT Delhi, for instance, has issued a heartfelt appeal to alumni, urging them to assist in placing current students or connecting them with prospective employers.

As the IITs navigate this unprecedented challenge, it's clear that collaborative efforts and innovative solutions are imperative to safeguard the future of the students and uphold the reputation of these esteemed institutions in the face of adversity.