Over 3,000 BTech, MTech seats unfilled in IITs, NITs in less popular courses

The issue raises concerns about outdated intake capacities and the disconnect between course offerings and student interests

A significant number of seats in top-tier engineering institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) remain vacant, highlighting inefficiencies in the use of academic resources. Data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act reveals notable vacancies, particularly in the undergraduate BTech and postgraduate MTech and MSc programs. This issue raises concerns about outdated intake capacities and the disconnect between course offerings and student interests.

For the 2024-25 academic year, RTI data shows that 276 BTech seats and 1,165 MTech and MSc seats remained vacant across 13 IITs. In the NITs, the vacancies were even more pronounced, with 401 BTech seats and 2,604 MTech/MSc seats unfilled across 19 institutions. Vacancy rates vary across IITs, with some institutions experiencing higher rates than others. For example, IIT Dhanbad had 72 vacant BTech seats out of 1,125 available, alongside 234 vacant MTech seats. This is a sharp increase from 2023-24, where 53 and 67 seats were vacant. Similarly, IIT Guwahati reported 37 vacant BTech seats in 2024-25.

The issue extends beyond newer IITs and affects older, more reputable institutions. At IIT Bombay, 332 postgraduate seats were vacant in 2022-23, 345 in 2023-24, and 257 in 2024-25. IIT Delhi reported 416 vacant MTech seats in 2024-25, compared to 438 and 376 in the previous years. Despite these IITs' strong reputations, the vacancy issue remains prevalent in postgraduate programs.

NITs face similar challenges. Prestigious institutions like NIT Surathkal and NIT Rourkela had 24 and 28 vacant BTech seats, respectively. These elite NITs also struggle with low enrolment in specific branches.

Experts attribute the vacancies to the low demand for certain courses. Rajeev Kumar, a former IIT Kharagpur faculty member, reportedly suggests reassessing the course offerings at these institutions. He proposes reducing or reallocating seats based on student interests and market demands, especially for unpopular fields. Kumar points out that each vacant seat represents a waste of resources, including faculty time and infrastructure, which are publicly funded.

The problem is especially pronounced at the postgraduate level due to the absence of common counselling. While BTech courses are managed through centralized counselling, MTech admissions lack this system, leading to blocked and unfilled seats. Kumar advocates for a common counselling system for MTech programs across IITs and NITs to streamline the process.

Another issue contributing to vacant seats is the upfront seat allocation fee (SAF) required during counselling. Although SAF aims to ensure that only serious candidates accept the seats, it has sparked controversy, especially among students unable to pay. A case involving a Dalit student at IIT Dhanbad highlighted how the SAF policy can exclude deserving candidates. Despite the government defending SAF as a tool to prevent dropouts, the high vacancy rates suggest it is ineffective.

Additionally, many MTech students drop out due to better opportunities in private institutions, foreign universities, or public sector jobs, further contributing to vacant seats. A faculty member at IIT Delhi noted that students sometimes leave for better options after initially securing a seat.