Double the IITs, but getting in is still tough

The number of IITs might have increased from 7 to 15 and the about 3000 seats might have been added, but that does not dilute the demand for IITs amongst students.

The number of IITs might have increased from 7 to 15 and the about 3000 seats might have been added, but that does not dilute the demand for IITs amongst students.

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This year the number of applicants for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), the entrance test for the elite institutes, has jumped by 15 per cent ensuring that the entrance exam to the elite institute is just as competitive as before.

The number of applicants has jumped from 3.98 lakh in 2009 to about 4.60 lakh in 2010.

“With more IITs opening and new seats being added every year, more students are confident of finding a place here. So, the increase in the number of seats and institutes does not dilute the credibility of the IIT system in the public eye,”
said Dr T.S Natarajan, IIT-JEE chairperson, Madras, which is organising the exam this year.

This year 50 aspirants will compete for a seat while last year 48 aspirants competing for a seat. This despite approximately 1000 seats being added to IITs this year. In 2008, 3.11 lakh applied for the IIT-JEE.

Last year, the IITs offered approximately 8200 seats. The IIT-JEE will be held on April 10 across the country. This year the entire 27 per cent OBC quota will be implemented in the seven older IITs. The implementation was phased with 9 per cent being added every year for three years.

Students preparing for the entrance exam feel that it is only fair to maintain the level of competition.

“If the competition is diluted than the thrill of making it would be diluted too. More IITs have come up to give everyone a fair chance so we’ll work just as hard,” said Mayura Prabath, an 18-year-old aspirant who has spent the last two years preparing to get into the premier institution.