Dear Roopashree,
How do I improve my daily water intake?
Is adding natural flavours to drinking water safe?
Swati

Ans: Your daughter’s OBC-NCL rank of 7,726 falls well outside the closing ranks for Electrical Engineering at the IITs under consideration: IIT Dhanbad’s OBC-NCL cutoff for EE was 2,583 in Round 1, IIT Ropar’s OBC-NCL EE cutoff reached only 2,829 in Round 2, and IIT Bhilai’s OBC-NCL EE cutoff is expected around 3,989–4,000. Even accounting for typical rank relaxations between rounds, these thresholds remain substantially below 7,726. By contrast, she holds a confirmed seat at NIT Jamshedpur EE, where the branch has sustained 92.6% placements in 2024 and around 96.7% in 2023, driven by recruiters such as Amazon, Tata Steel, and Microsoft. All three IITs offer strong infrastructure and research profiles, but their reserved-category cutoffs for EE consistently close near the top 4,000–5,000 OBC-NCL ranks. Given her current standing, switching to an IIT would not be feasible through JoSAA counselling.

Recommendation: Accept the NIT Jamshedpur EE seat—its consistently high 90–97% placement record and robust industry partnerships will provide stronger certainty and career progression than unlikely IIT EE allotments at your daughter’s current rank. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Harsh Sir, IIT Bombay’s B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, ranked #3 by NIRF 2024, placed 70.37% of its 2023-24 B.Tech cohort, reflecting steady core-engineering demand and access to high-end material-science research collaborations. IIT Gandhinagar’s B.Tech in Electrical Engineering, ranked #18 by NIRF 2024, achieved a 76.22% placement rate in 2023, with participation from 134 students and recruiting by 125 top firms across power, electronics, and software sectors. Bombay’s department benefits from a deeper legacy, broader recruiter base, and higher research output, whereas Gandhinagar offers strong EE-specialist training in an emerging campus environment.

Recommendation: Freeze the IIT Bombay MME seat for its premier brand, robust legacy, and consistent placements; pursue IIT Gandhinagar EE only if your son’s passion lies specifically in electrical engineering and you are willing to forego the established reputation of IIT Bombay.

All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: With an OBC-NCL home-state rank of 45,652 in JEE Main and CSAB counselling, the accessible B.Tech branches at NIT Patna in Round 2 (closing ranks) are: Electrical Engineering + M.Tech Power System (49,415), Mechanical Engineering (55,174), Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering (61,684), Civil Engineering (66,151), Construction Technology & Management (66,992), and Materials Science & Engineering (73,343). NIT Patna’s Training & Placement Cell reports 100% placement in Mechanical Engineering for 2022–23 and 2023–24, with an overall UG placement rate of 74.96% in 2023–24 and an average package of ?9.9 LPA in 2024–25. Electrical Engineering secures about 85% placements, while Civil Engineering records around 55% over the last three years. Manufacturing, Civil, and Power System branches feature a good mix of core-sector recruiters and consistent placement drives, but their branch-specific percentages trail Mechanical. Considering both branch availability and the aspirant’s career prospects in Bihar’s core and national job markets, Recommendation: Opt for Mechanical Engineering at NIT Patna for its assured 100% branch placements, strong average packages, and wide recruiter base; consider Electrical + Power Systems as a close second for specialized core roles. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: BMS Institute of Technology & Management’s CSE branch recorded placement rates of 77.32% in 2024 and 93.24% in 2023, while its AI & ML specialization saw 85.71% in 2024 and 97% in 2023. Bangalore Institute of Technology’s Information Science & Engineering and Cyber Security programs achieve near-100% placement rates for IT-related branches, with 80–90% overall placement consistency. Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering’s CSE eligible placement rates were 98.83% (2021-22), 86.05% (2022-23), and 91.90% (2023-24), and ISE placements exceed 95% annually, supported by 200+ recruiters. REVA University’s CSE branch posts placement rates around 80–90%, with average CTCs of ?3.5–4 LPA and top recruiters like Amazon, IBM, and Wipro. RNS Institute of Technology sees nearly 93% of CSE students placed in 2023, with ongoing 2024 drives reporting 93% and 1,386 offers by 305 companies. All five institutes offer strong labs, active placement cells, and AICTE/NAAC accreditation.

Recommendation: Prioritise BIT for guaranteed near-100% IT placements and robust industry ties; consider BMSITM for its strong AI & ML outcomes; choose RNSIT for consistent CSE placements; opt for DSCE if you prefer a balanced CSE/ISE mix; select REVA for steady CSE placements in a growing private university. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: JIIT Noida’s Electronics & Communication Engineering program achieved 98% placements for the 2021–25 cohort, 88% for 2020–24, and 99% for 2019–23, with recruiters such as Atlassian, Microsoft, Amazon, and Adobe driving strong core and telecom hiring. Manipal University Jaipur’s Computer Science & Engineering program reports an 88% placement rate for its 2021–25 batch, average packages of ?6–8 LPA, and top recruiters including Microsoft, Amazon, Deloitte, Infosys, and TCS, while overall engineering placements held at 98% in 2022–23 and 93% in 2024 through 1,142 offers. Both institutes are NAAC A++ accredited, maintain modern labs and active placement cells, but JIIT emphasizes core ECE roles and telecom opportunities, whereas MUJ’s CSE delivers broader software, data analytics, and IT exposure across diverse industries. Recommendation: Choose JIIT Noida ECE if your daughter prioritizes core electronics and high-visibility telecom placements with industry-focused labs; opt for Manipal Jaipur CSE for a wider array of software and analytics roles, larger recruiter diversity, and a strong IT-oriented curriculum. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Anavadya, Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, established in 2015 and NAAC A+-accredited with an NIRF 2024 rank of 64, offers a 4-year BTech CSE program through its Career Development Centre. Its CSE department recorded UG placement rates of 100% (2022–23), 88% (2023–24), and 89% (2024–25), with a median package of ?12 LPA and an average of ?15.88 LPA in 2024. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Goa Campus, a NAAC A-accredited private institute founded in 2004, reports first-degree placement rates of 95.75%, 95.93%, and 91.15% over the past three years, with an average package of ?20.36 LPA, median ?17 LPA in 2024, and CSE branch salaries ranging from ?18 LPA to ?30 LPA. IIT Palakkad provides personalized mentorship, growing industry collaborations, and a lower student-to-faculty ratio, while BITS Goa offers an extensive alumni network, larger recruiter pool, and higher average compensation, both supported by modern infrastructure and rigorous curricula.

Recommendation: Opt for BITS Goa CSE if you prioritize higher average and median packages, broad recruiter engagement, and brand recognition; choose IIT Palakkad CSE for a government IIT environment with close mentorship, rising placement growth, and personalized academic support. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh offers a B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering with a Data Science specialization, admitting 60 students annually. It holds NAAC A++ accreditation and is ranked 101–150 in NIRF Engineering. Its CSE branch recorded 141 placement offers for 124 eligible students in 2021-22, 132 for 119 in 2022-23, and 95 for 119 in 2023-24, averaging around 100% placement consistency; the institute reported a highest package of ?83 LPA, an average of ?15.97 LPA, and a median of ?12 LPA in 2022-23. BITS Pilani, Goa campus provides a four-year integrated M.Sc (Economics) program, emphasizing rigorous analytical, econometric, and policy-oriented training, housed in a NAAC A++ and NIRF 151–200 ranked institute. In 2024, 91.79% of Economics graduates secured placements with an average package of ?21.14 LPA and a median of ?17.65 LPA, backed by 283 recruiters and robust internship opportunities. Both programs feature modern facilities, strong industry linkages, and curricula aligned to data-driven and economic analysis careers.

recommendation: Opt for BITS Goa’s integrated M.Sc (Economics) for superior average placements, rigorous quantitative and analytical training, and diverse industry engagements; consider PEC’s B.Tech CSE (Data Science) for an engineering pathway focused on computing and AI only if a technical degree is the primary priority, as it trails slightly in average placements and curriculum breadth. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: DTU’s BTech CSE achieves consistent placement percentages of 88–93% over the last three years, with an average package of ?15.45 LPA in 2024, and over 350 recruiters—including Salesforce, Samsung, Deloitte, and Adobe—participating in its drives. BITS Pilani’s Electrical & Electronics Engineering records placement rates of 95–98% for its 90-seat first-degree batch, with an average package of ?19.71 LPA and top recruiters such as Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, SanDisk, Nvidia, and Cisco. At BITS Hyderabad, overall undergraduate placement rates were 94.87%, 93.45%, and 87.23% between 2021–23, with a 2024 average package of ?20.36 LPA, and core recruiters including Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Intel, Micron, Nvidia, AMD, MediaTek, and Reliance. DTU CSE offers strong software and data-science exposure, while BITS EEE at Pilani provides core electronics and instrumentation focus with top-tier recruiters, and Hyderabad combines emerging-tech labs with broader industry engagement.

Recommendation: Opt for BITS Hyderabad EEE for its balanced core and software recruiter network and high average packages; choose BITS Pilani EEE if you prioritise peak placement percentages and legacy brand strength; select DTU CSE only if your son’s passion is firmly rooted in software and AI/data analytics. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Rishabh, At IIT Roorkee, admission to the BTech program mandates a minimum of 65% in Class XII for SC/ST/PwD candidates or top-20 percentile in their board, so your 69.2% easily met the entry requirement. The Training and Placement Department does not enforce additional board-mark criteria at placement time; eligibility for campus drives hinges on JEE Advanced rank, current CGPA, technical skills assessments, internships, projects, and soft-skills workshops rather than Class XII scores. While some companies list 60–75% in 10th/12th as a documentary screening criterion, this threshold is uniformly applied and rarely affects shortlisted candidates, since IIT students almost always exceed it. Industry surveys and peer accounts confirm that most recruiters prioritize undergraduate performance, coding aptitude, and interview results over secondary-school marks. Over the last three years, IIT Roorkee CSE placements have consistently surpassed 90%, with a 2024 branch-specific average package of ?34 LPA, underscoring that board marks do not influence recruiters’ confidence. Consequently, your 69.2% in the boards will not impede placement opportunities at IIT Roorkee, provided you maintain strong academic and extracurricular performance throughout your BTech program.

Recommendation: Concentrate on achieving a high CGPA at IIT Roorkee by deeply engaging with course projects and elective labs, securing meaningful internships, and participating in hackathons or research initiatives. Leverage the Career Development Centre’s skill-development workshops, mock interviews, and networking events to hone technical, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Your sustained performance, portfolio of work, and proactive engagement with recruiters will drive placement success regardless of Class XII marks. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.