In a bid to alleviate student stress, six Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have decided to discontinue the branch-change option available to students after their first year. This move increases the number of IITs that have ceased this practice to nine. The branch-change option allows students to switch to a different engineering discipline at the end of their first two semesters, provided they meet the required Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) score.
IITs Abolishing Branch-Change Option:
- Newly Discontinued:
- IIT Madras
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Dhanbad
- IIT Dharwad
- IIT Mandi
- IIT Bhubaneswar
- Previously Discontinued:
- IIT Bombay (2023)
- IIT Hyderabad (2021)
- IIT Jammu (2018)
The decision to eliminate the branch-change option aims to reduce the intense pressure on students. Traditionally, students could apply for a branch change at the end of their first year if they achieved a CGPA above 7.50 and earned more than 32 credits. Branch changes were granted based on merit, with each branch having specific cut-off scores.
Impact and Rationale:
- Student Stress: The high competition for branch changes often leads students to spend extensive time studying, sometimes at the expense of participating in social and extracurricular activities. This can isolate students and negatively affect their overall college experience.
- Competition: With only about 10% of students successfully changing their branch out of nearly 50% who wish to, the competitive environment can be overwhelming. Students typically focus heavily on achieving high CGPA scores, missing out on other aspects of college life such as clubs, festivals, and social interactions.
Experts believe that removing this option could help students balance their academic and personal lives better, reducing the stress associated with the branch-change process and allowing them to engage more fully with their college community.
