An important choice about the branch upgrading option for students was recently taken by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, along with numerous other esteemed IITs and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). According to rumours, 12 NITs and about three IITs—IIT Bombay, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Jammu—have decided to stop offering the branch switching option. For the applicants to these prestigious institutions, this decision has important ramifications.
1. The Branch Upgrade Option Has Been Discontinued
One of the top universities in India, IIT Bombay, has declared that it will no longer offer the branch upgrading option to help first-year students cope with their stress. The institute realised that pushing students to get better grades merely for the purpose of switching branches was burdening them unnecessarily. As a result, IIT Bombay has decided to completely do away with this system.
2. Affected Organisations
In addition to IIT Bombay, two other notable IITs—IIT Hyderabad and IIT Jammu—have also decided to stop allowing students to change their discipline of study. Additionally, about 12 NITs have done the same. NIT Delhi, Tiruchi, Warangal, Suratkal, Jaipur, Rourkela, Calicut, Kurukshetra, Jamshedpur, Surat, Pondicherry, and Nagaland are among the NITs that have abandoned the branch upgrade option. These prestigious institutions’ joint choice represents a fundamental change in how branch changes are approached.
3. Justification for the Choice
To lessen the intellectual and emotional burden on first-year students, it was decided to discontinue the branch upgrade option. IIT Bombay has emphasised that this adjustment will lessen the pressure that comes with getting good grades simply in order to switch to a preferred branch. The institute wants to establish a healthy learning atmosphere and all-around development in its pupils by getting rid of this system.
4. Advice from Professionals in Career Counselling
Amit Ahuja from the ALLEN Career Institute, a renowned expert in career guidance, has highlighted the motivations for this choice. Many IITs and NITs, according to Ahuja, opted to discontinue the branch upgrade option after evaluating the performance of first-year students. Many students enrol each year in a branch that they think is less desirable with the idea of transferring later to their core branches of choice. The subsequent removal of this option, however, means that students must now give priority to their preferred branch from the outset.
JOSAA Counselling 2023 Has Been Started
It is significant to note that JOSAA Counselling 2023 has begun and will serve as the venue for admissions to IITs, NITs, IIEST Shibpur, IISER, IIIT, and other CFTIs throughout India. On June 19, 2023, the registration period for JOSAA Counselling 2023 officially opened. Applicants have until June 28 to submit their applications. Aspiring students must keep up with the most recent developments and make sure that all necessary steps are taken on time.
The branch upgrading option has been eliminated by IIT Bombay and several other top IITs and NITs, signalling a substantial change in the academic environment. The decision to do away with this system is meant to lessen the pressure on first-year students and encourage a more well-rounded approach to learning. In order to establish their academic paths, students must carefully analyse their branch interests as they get ready for JOSAA Counselling 2023.
