Bangalore: Engineering has always been the top preference of the Indian Youth, and parents also want their children to take up engineering for higher studies. Unlike other engineering schools in India, admissions in IITs are completely based on merit and it is the dream of every Indians to hit the prestigious IITs.  However out of the millions who appear for the world toughest “I.I.T-J.E.E” examination every year only few can actually make it to the top IIT’s. But, the question arises here is that has the quality of Indian Engineers declined? Or has the quality of education in the engineering institutes deteriorated?

According to the International Herald Tribune last year in October, the co-founder of Infosys and an I.I.T. alumnae, Narayana Murthy have stated to the audience in New York that the new generation of  IITians are substandard. ‘‘They somehow get through the Joint Entrance Examination. But their performance in I.I.T.’s, at jobs or when they come for higher education in institutes in the U.S. is not as good as it used to be,’’ he said. Not only Narayana Murthy, many IIT graduates and professors have also admitted the fact the present graduates are no longer of the same quality then it used to be in the past.

The “I.I.T-J.E.E” joint entrance examination that is considered to be the toughest in the world has today become completely democratized as it has become quite easy and affordable for middle class segment of the society to take up coaching classes and prepare for the joint exam. The rising demand to get into the top IITs have resulted in multi-billion-rupee preparation industry. Some coaching classes are so much in demand that they have their entrance exams as well. As a result people somehow get into the IIT’s but are unable to showcase their talent in the long run.

 Further, is it possible for the most prestigious meritocratic and incorruptible institute of education, Indian Institute of Technology to regain its lost charm and glory? According to Manu Joseph of “The New York Times”, it is doubtful that the IITs will ever regain its glory. The Indian government is not contributing much on the  IITs,  as a result the quality of education have gone down and have compelled the talented scientific minds to enroll in the outstanding learning schools in the western countries.  However, the situation of the country has also changed now as it is no longer a necessity for talented Indians to have an engineering degree for a comfortable living in the world.