IIT M.Tech fee hike introduced due to 50 percent dropout rate; hike not for present students

New Delhi, September 30: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi Director V. Ramgopal Rao has spoken out regarding the decision of the council to hike the tuition fee of M.Tech programmes offered by the institutes. According to Rao, the fee hike has been introduced as a ‘surgical strike’ on ‘uninterested students’ who wish to take M.Tech admissions into the IITs.

Rao, in his Facebook post, has explained that around 50% of the students quit M.Tech studies as soon as they find a job and these students value the jobs after B.Tech more than the career that they can build after completing their M.Tech studies. Rao also cites that among the remaining students, many are preparing for competitive examination and have no interest in the programme that they are currently studying.

This newly introduced fee hike is expected to filter out all of those students who are not completely interested in pursuing M.Tech studies and will help in avoiding expenditure of taxpayers’ money on almost free education to those students who are not committed. While around 38,000 people have already signed a petition at change.org against the decision, IIT council seems to stand strong on their decision.

The fees for M.Tech programmes will increase and be on the same level as B.Tech over the next three years. Rao has also assured that the scholarships and fee waivers will also be extended to students. M.Tech programmes will also be revised to meet the requirements of the market.

Existing IIT students pursuing M.Tech programmes have been assured that the fee hike is not applicable for them. Fresh admissions will be facing the fee hike which will be gradual over the next three years or more.