IIT Bombay magnet for JEE top rankers

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, continues to be the preferred destination for top ranking candidates of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

After the first round of course allotment, 68 of the top 99 rankers, considered to be the elite, have chosen IIT Bombay. Twenty-four of the ‘elite’ chose IIT Delhi, a marginal increase from 16 in 2009.

The second round of seat allotment will be declared on July 16.

The trend has been consistent since 2005 when 52 of the top 100 rankers opted for IIT Bombay; the number was 69 last year.

Several factors, like academics, overall ambience, location in the country’s financial hub, growing awareness about IIT Bombay in the world and its reputation for attracting some of the best companies, have made it very popular among IIT aspirants, say experts.

“Students are the best judge. They perhaps perceive the overall infrastructure, teaching, facilities and avenues available at IIT Bombay better than the others,” said Anil Kumar, JEE chairman, IIT Bombay.

Besides a vibrant campus life, said an academician, students are also attracted by IIT Bombay’s focus on extra-curricular activities through its “popular technology and cultural competitions like Techfest and Mood Indigo”.

However, other IITs like that of Kanpur, which was considered ‘the place to be’ a decade or so ago, have slipped in popularity among top rankers over the years.

Last five years’ data shows that while IIT Kanpur had 17 among the top 100 in 2005 and 20 in 2006, the figure came down to six in 2009 and this year, the number stands at five (out of 99).

Among top 198 rankers this year, IIT Bombay is again a winner with 100 opting for it, followed by 53 at IIT Delhi. IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur have 23 and 22 of the top 198 respectively.

The other older IITs like Kharagpur, Guwahati and Roorkee or the eight new IITs cannot boast of any among the top 99 or 198.

Similarly, of the top 470, the numbers are 182 at IIT Bombay, 125 at Delhi, 66 at Madras and 97 at Kanpur. Here too, the new IITs or the older ones did not manage to get even one student after the first round.

“Though there won’t be much change in the top 300, the exact picture will emerge only after the second round of allotment,” said Kumar.