IIT Kharagpur's Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

Campus at a Glimpse

Established in 1951 in West Bengal, IIT Kharagpur has a sprawling campus of 2,100 acres, making it the largest among the IITs. The first thing that strikes you about the campus of IIT Kharagpur is the blend of colonial and contemporary architecture in the main building. With 19 departments, 7 centres, and 8 schools, it offers a wide range of courses such as B.Tech, M.Tech, LLB, MBA, and LLM. In fact, its Central Library is among Asia's largest technical libraries. 

However, despite its strengths, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has areas for improvement. It's in somewhat isolated location, about 120 km from Kolkata, and a gender imbalance, with a male to female ratio of approximately 9:1, are some crucial concerns. This disparity is particularly evident in departments like Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Recent reports by students have also highlighted incidents of ragging at IIT Kharagpur, raising concerns about the need for stricter anti-ragging measures. 

IIT Kharagpur NIRF Ranking

Our take
Overall, the institution has been maintaining a consistency in its performance, however, in the management and law streams, IIT Kharagpur has slipped a few places in its ranking in the last 2-3 years, indicating areas for improvement. The declining NIRF ranking may be a sign of the gradual decline in the quality of education, placement, and infrastructure at the institute. This, in turn, may hurt the institute's reputation among IIT aspirants across the country. Thus, more focus is needed to uplift the standards in management and law. 

IIT Kharagpur Academia & Batch Size

IIT Kharagpur offers a total of 431 UG, PG, and PhD programmes in full-time and online modes. The institute follows a Credit Based Semester System (CBCS), dividing the academic year into Autumn and Spring semesters. An additional seven-week term in the summer has been introduced for first-year students needing extra theoretical training. 
Despite that, students have claimed that the academic pressure at IIT Kharagpur is extremely high, which can be very stressful for students. Another factor is the demand for courses compared to the number of seats available at IIT Kharagpur. While the institute offers a wide range of courses, some IIT Kharagpur courses, like B.Tech CSE, Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering, are in much higher demand than others. These branches observe high demand with limited seats. 

Our Take
Concerns raised by students regarding the high academic pressure at the institute need to be acknowledged. Additionally, the demand for CSE, Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering outweighs the available seats, creating a competitive environment. Aspiring students should consider these factors before enrolling at IIT Kharagpur. It is quite natural that the lower number of seats in some courses at the institute makes the admission process more competitive. At the same time, we cannot undermine the academic prowess of the institute that it has developed over the years by nurturing some of the best minds in the country. 

IIT Kharagpur Infrastructure

Classrooms:

While IIT Kharagpur's classrooms are well-maintained and equipped with modern teaching aids, some students have voiced concerns about overcrowding. As one of India's most sought-after institutions, IIT Kharagpur often sees a large influx of students, and this can occasionally lead to cramped learning spaces.

Auditorium:

A variety of events and activities are hosted at the IIT Kharagpur. That said, some students have suggested improvements in seating arrangements and ventilation. 

Library:

The IIT Kharagpur library operates 24/7 and offers ample space for a large number of individuals. However, a policy allowing SC/ST students to check out more books has raised discrimination concerns, implying they need more support than their general category peers. Despite concerns about its abuse, the institute continues to enforce this policy.

Wifi:

Students have claimed the Wi-Fi connection to be very unreliable. Even when they do manage to connect, the internet speed is extremely slow.

Hostels:

IIT Kharagpur has 20 hostels (14 for males, 6 for females), but a large number of students have raised concerns over platforms like Quora about cramped rooms, water supply, and food quality in the mess.

Activities:

IIT Kharagpur is renowned for hosting a variety of cultural and technical fests like Spring Fest and Kshitij, which are Asia's largest techno-management festival.

Cafe/ Hangouts:

IIT Kharagpur provides diverse eateries on campus, including popular chains like Subway, Cafe Coffee Day, Rooster, and Baskin Robbins, all at subsidised rates. Off campus options like Domino's Pizza and Flavours are available.

Our Take
IIT Kharagpur offers a comprehensive educational experience with facilities such as well-equipped classrooms, a resourceful library, and huge auditoriums. However, there are areas that require attention, such as the overcrowding in classrooms, the Wi-Fi connectivity, and the maintenance of hostels. One more striking area that requires immediate attention is the significant disparity in the number of hostels for male and female students. There are 14 hostels designated for male students, while only 6 hostels are available for female students. However, that might be due to the lower female student enrollment. 

IIT Kharagpur Internships & Placements

Internships

IT Kharagpur internships offer students industry exposure and practical experience. According to a number of alumni, 50-60% of students secure internships at reputed companies like Amazon, Swiggy, JP Morgan Chase, Sprinklr, Mathworks, Google, and Flipkart. Most of the students from specialisations like Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering get internships.

Placements

According to the official NIRF reports, the institute has achieved high placement rates during the 2022 placements across all its undergraduate and postgraduate courses,  with competitive median salaries. The UG courses, spanning 3-years, 4-years, and 5-years, witnessed placement rates of 96%, 84%, and 89% respectively. he PG courses, including the 2-year and the 5-year integrated programs, achieved placement rates of 98% and 95% respectively. The median salaries for these courses ranged from INR 8 LPA to INR 18.75 LPA. Let's look at the IIT Kharagpur placement statistics released by NIRF.

IIT Kharagpur Placements - NIRF 2022

IIT Kharagpur Top Recruiters

Our Take

IIT Kharagpur has indeed set a high benchmark with their placement statistics. The majority of students from both undergraduate and postgraduate courses have secured placement, which is commendable. Furthermore, the median salaries, ranging from INR 8 LPA to INR 18.75 LPA, are quite impressive and reflects the institute's commitment to quality education and career opportunities.

IIT Kharagpur Diversity & Representation 

IIT Kharagpur's diverse student body consists of 12,730 students, with a majority coming from states outside Bengal. However, the gender ratio leans heavily towards males, with approximately 84% males and 16% females, resulting in a 9:1 gender ratio, as per the NIRF report 2023.

IIT Kharagpur Demographic Representation 

Our take: Data shows that the majority of students hail from outside the home state West Bengal. It further emphasises the reputation of the institute as a higher education destination even among the students from outside the state. The presence of international students, although relatively small, adds to the cultural diversity of the student body. 

IIT Kharagpur Gender Ratio

Our take: The data shows significant gender inequality at IIT Kharagpur. The male student population vastly outnumbers the female student population across all courses. There is a need for increased efforts to promote gender diversity and equal representation in the fields of technology and engineering at IIT Kharagpur.

IIT Kharagpur Faculty

IIT Kharagpur's faculty is generally praised for their knowledge and commitment to student growth. However, some students on platforms like Quora have raised concerns about instances of rudeness, unprofessional behaviour, harsh criticism, and dismissive attitudes of a few faculty members. High academic pressure and expectations from some professors have also been reported. Despite these issues, the majority of the faculty are recognised for their supportive and respectful conduct.

IIT Kharagpur Location

IIT Kharagpur, located in West Bengal, is often appreciated by students for its serene and green campus. The sprawling 2100 campus has been praised for its blend of natural beauty and modern infrastructure. However, some students have expressed concerns about the location of the institute. Despite being well-connected by road and rail, the institute is located on the outskirts of Kharagpur, approximately 120 km away from the nearest city, Kolkata. This relative isolation has its impact on students' exposure to urban amenities and the overall student experience.

Expectation vs Reality CollegeDekho Verdict

IIT Kharagpur is known for delivering high standards of education, having a magnificent campus, a wide array of courses, great placement records, and ample internship opportunities. However, there are areas where improvement is needed, such as addressing gender imbalance, improving infrastructure, ensuring a supportive faculty (Just a few), and addressing the persisting issue of ragging. The slight drop in NIRF rankings suggests a need for betterment. Prospective students should be aware of the challenges they might face, such as high academic pressure, limited off-campus amenities, and the issue of ragging within the institution.