IIT Roorkee Director Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant has raised concern over a growing reluctance among students to pursue core engineering careers, as more graduates turn towards IT, finance, consultancy, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Speaking on the sidelines of the institute’s convocation, Prof. Pant said a significant number of students are skipping placements altogether, choosing instead to build start-ups, explore independent ventures, or opt for higher education — though the latter is now a declining trend.

“Students are not going for hardcore jobs, which is a kind of worry,” he remarked. “They look at IT jobs, banking, finance, and consultancy. In the beginning, they look at the package and job comfort — whether they have an office, computer, AC room.”

While placements in process industries remain steady, Prof. Pant said the allure of multinational tech firms and their lucrative packages — often reaching ₹1–2 crore — is pulling talent away from core sectors such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering. “Hardcore industries offer long-term growth too, but the initial attraction of IT and tech roles is stronger,” he noted.

At IIT Roorkee, placement data shows a dip: 98.5% of students who appeared in 2021–22 were placed, compared to 79.6% in 2023–24. However, Prof. Pant clarified that this decline is not a fall in opportunities but a shift in participation. “On average, about 85% of those who sit for placements are placed. Many don’t register at all because they want to start companies or pursue other paths. That is the real picture,” he said.

Emphasizing the need to reorient mindsets, he called on students and parents to value all branches equally. “Mechanical, electrical, chemical…these are equally important. MSMEs and process industries are vital for GDP and national development,” he stressed.

IIT Roorkee, India’s first engineering college and now a leading IIT, is encouraging students to embrace entrepreneurship and build start-ups. Prof. Pant, who took charge in 2022, said the institute is actively fostering ties with both MSMEs and large industries to create diverse opportunities.

“The mindset of the young generation is changing,” he said. “Some want to join companies, some want to build them. The challenge is to balance aspirations with the country’s industrial needs.”