IIT Madras' NIPTA to train, test, certify students nationally; plans placement, internship in early 2026

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has launched an ambitious initiative – 'National Internship, Placement Training, and Assessment' (NIPTA) – to transform the way employability is assessed in India.

The first-of-its kind initiative aims to equip engineering and diploma students across India with curated training programmes and credible, standardised benchmark of their employability.

The programme will also enable recruiters to identify the right talent. “Through NIPTA, IIT Madras continues its mission of pioneering impactful, scalable and inclusive initiatives to enhance employability of India’s youth,” the institute said.

IIT Madras will also share assessment results of the participants with recruiters and organise a national job and internship mela in hybrid mode – both virtual and in-person – in early 2026. During this placement drive, the platform will directly connect assessed students with potential employers, bridging the gap between talent and career opportunities.

IIT-M's NIPTA: Free training, assessment

As part of the initiative, participants will be provided with free training resources, including video lectures and sample questions, ensuring that every student has equal access to preparatory material. However, students will have to pay a nominal fee to take the assessment.

“The curated preparation period will culminate in a three-hour, proctored evaluation will be conducted in designated centres across the country in in-person modem” it added. The assessment is held to evaluate students’ technical knowledge, mathematical aptitude, logical reasoning, and communication skills.

Each participant will receive a performance-based certificate issued by IIT Madras, serving as a transparent and credible indicator of skills and competencies. This will help students benchmark themselves against peers and identify areas for improvement, while providing recruiters with an objective metric to evaluate candidates, the institute said.

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IIT Madras NIPTA 2025: Highlights

Engineering students who are in third or final-year, recent graduates, final-year diploma students, and diploma holders will be eligible to participate in the programme.

• Candidates will undergo 10 to 12 weeks of training focused on technical subjects, mathematical aptitude, logical reasoning, and communication skills, followed by an assessment exam.
• The assessment exam will be conducted in physical mode for a 3-hour duration administered at various exam centres across India.
• An IIT Madras certificate will be issued on the basis of performance of participants.
• The assessment results will be shared with companies for national job and internship mela.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the NIPTA initiative at IIT Madras campus recently.

Srikanth Vedantam, Faculty, Department of Medical Sciences and Technology and Editorial Board Chair of IITM Shaastra Magazine, said, “NIPTA represents a major step forward in making employability measurable and transparent. With this initiative, IIT Madras is committed to empowering students nationwide to hone their skills and obtain a standardised credential to find the best internship and employment opportunities.”