IIT Kharagpur has announced a new placement policy barring students from listing their departmental ranks in CVs during the ongoing placement season. The decision, introduced in September 2025, aims to reduce student stress, curb peer pressure, and promote fairness in the recruitment process.
Why IIT Kharagpur Implemented the Ban
Traditionally, students included their departmental ranks in CVs to highlight academic performance, such as "2nd out of 120" or "10th out of 80." However, this practice often created unhealthy competition and anxiety among peers. Recruiters, consciously or otherwise, were found to give preference to higher-ranked candidates despite similar CGPAs. This led to concerns about discrimination and mental health challenges during the placement process.
Focus on CGPA Over Ranks
Under the new guideline, IIT Kharagpur has asked students to present CGPA as the primary academic indicator instead of departmental ranks. This move is expected to:
- Create a level playing field for all candidates.
- Minimize biases during interviews.
- Encourage focus on overall performance rather than intra-departmental comparisons.
Students have welcomed the change, stating that the policy removes the burden of constant comparison and allows them to face interviews with greater confidence.
Placement Trends at IITs
The directive comes at a time when IIT placements are under scrutiny. For instance:
- IIT Delhi Phase 1 placements (2024–25): Over 1,200 offers, including 50 international offers.
- IIT Bombay (2023–24): Despite a 75% overall placement rate, nearly 36% of students remained unplaced.
A parliamentary panel has also flagged a decline in placement percentages across IITs between 2021–22 and 2023–24, highlighting challenges in the job market for graduates of premier institutes.
Impact of IIT Kharagpur’s Policy
IIT Kharagpur’s decision is being viewed as a potential pilot model for other IITs. By discouraging numerical comparisons, the institute is placing equal emphasis on mental well-being and fairness alongside academic excellence.
Whether other IITs will adopt similar measures remains uncertain, but for IIT Kharagpur students entering one of the most stressful phases of their academic journey, the policy provides timely relief and reassurance.
