IIT Placements 2025-2026: Many reject PPOs despite 20% rise in offers, bet on final phase

IIT Jobs: More engineering students of Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are rejecting pre-placement offers (PPOs) this year, despite a 10%-20% increase in such offers across campuses – a sharp reversal from previous cycles when an uncertain job market prompted students to accept guaranteed positions offered ahead of the final placements. The first phase of IIT Placements 2025-2026 begins on December 1.

IIT Delhi, Kanpur, Roorkee and Hyderabad have all seen the trend. “More students have rejected their PPOs this year, so they can sit for final placements starting from December 1,” a former student of IIT Delhi and current advisor to the placement team, said on condition of anonymity. “We have seen in the past when hirings have not been good, people just accept their PPOs. But that wasn't the case this time. Internships have been robust this time and students are expecting a good placement season,” he added.

Students across IITs have confirmed a rise in tech jobs with fewer consulting roles and diversified international companies coming this year. A September Careers360 report had highlighted how increased H1B visa restrictions “negatively” impacted IIT placements at US companies. However, international recruiters are now arriving from Japan and European countries, stated a student from the placement team of IIT Roorkee. Big tech companies are still hiring engineers, said placement cell members, but for India-based roles.

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The second phase of the IITs’ job drive will be in January.

IIT Placements: More PPOs, rejections

The internship season has been “pretty good” this year, said the IIT Delhi student. IIT Madras witnessed a 10-20% increase in the number of PPOs, but rejections also surged 10-15% compared to last year, a student from the placement team of IIT Madras said

At IIT Roorkee, 250 students received PPO offers – up from 200 last year – but 24 rejected them compared to 18 in the previous cycle, stated a student from the placement team.

The student of IIT Delhi explained: “This year, we have seen confidence in students in terms of hiring. They are positive about Phase I placements at IITs, given a strong internship season.”

He said that students believe if they prepare well for the final placements, they can get better, more desirable full-time ‘fresher jobs’.

A student member of IIT Kanpur’s placement cell said, “More companies are going the PPO and internship route because they want to assess students’ skills first.” He asked not to be named.

IIT BTech Jobs: Diverse roles, stagnant salaries

The composition of recruiters has also shifted. Software and big tech companies are returning to campuses in force, with IIT Kanpur, Madras, and Hyderabad all witnessing increased software engineering roles – especially in artificial intelligence (AI). But salaries have remained stagnant, said the IIT Kanpur student.

Opportunities in the consulting sector have also contracted. “While tech is fine, consulting has been a little painful as the three big players – McKinsey, BCG and Bain (MBB) – are not visiting the campuses this year,” said the student from IIT Delhi. However, more new companies are coming with ‘decent’ startups and product companies showing interest.

IIT Hyderabad is seeing a similar trend. However, a student pointed out that fewer students are also applying for consulting roles this year. “There is no requirement of consulting roles in the market as of now,” a student from IIT Hyderabad’s placement team stated.

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At IIT Madras, more AI and digital product firms are visiting. “We have seen a shift towards AI and digital product firms, but with lower salaries from last year,” stated a student from the placement team.

IIT Hyderabad: Exception, not rule

However, there are exceptions. IIT Hyderabad saw “a 50% increase in quant companies this year accompanied by salary hikes of 25-40%,” said a student. Software roles have increased at the campus this year, he added.

Companies from Japan, The Netherlands and others have replaced many of the US ones this year.

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Also, students are increasingly rejecting offers that don't align with their idea of work-life balance. “Students now look for work-life balance and roles that are more passion-oriented rather than mundane ones. They look for a role where they can follow their passion. At our campus, this has been the reason behind many PPO rejection,” said an IIT Madras student.