MUMBAI: As the new placement season kicked off across the premier IITs on Monday, more than 20 companies were barred from participating after they rescinded job offers made to students last academic year—some as late as June or July, right before the joining date. Since many IITs prevent students with existing offers from sitting for additional interviews, these last-minute withdrawals jeopardised career opportunities and had a severe impact on students’ mental well-being, officials said. In response, all IITs collectively agreed to exclude these firms from the current placement cycle, though they continued assisting affected students despite the delay.
The blacklist was finalised after these companies were found to have revoked offers at multiple IITs. Several of them operate in data analytics and software. While barred from campus placement, they may still hire students through off-campus channels.
An IIT professor involved in placements said the list was cross-verified by placement coordinators from 15 IITs. “We reviewed their history as well. Some companies had repeatedly revoked offers, and six to seven IITs had already banned them,” the professor noted.
In some cases, offers were withdrawn even from companies where IIT alumni are employed. A few firms also slashed the salary packages promised in offer letters. “Placement teams are now trying to reach out to the senior management of these companies,” the professor added.
A computer science graduate from IIT-Bombay’s Class of 2025 shared his experience: he had been hired by a trading platform in December with a joining date of June 1, 2025, and an annual package of ₹30 lakh. “My offer was revoked on May 29—just two days before joining. Luckily, I secured a better opportunity through an alumnus soon after, so I didn’t need IIT-Bombay’s assistance,” he said. Several of his peers also faced revoked offers, though some later found alternative roles. “By June and July, it becomes difficult for institutes to help, since phase II of placements typically concludes by then,” he explained.
The professor added that the IITs plan to increase engagement with start-ups supported by the Centre under the Viksit Bharat initiative. “The job market may be slow, but we are reaching out to more companies and encouraging campus-incubated start-ups to hire IIT students. So far, the placement season looks promising,” he said.
