Is IIM tag losing value? RTI reveals no placement for 59 Trichy students; only 104 got CTC over Rs 20 lakhs

Time of India

a day ago

An RTI query has revealed that 59 students from IIM Trichy's 2024 batch were left unplaced, accounting for nearly 15% of the cohort. Educator Ravi Handa shared the data on X, calling the situation 'not normal' for an IIM, especially given the high fees and tough entrance process. Only 27% of the batch received offers with a CTC above ₹20 lakh. The post has sparked debate on social media, with users raising concerns about market saturation, dilution of the IIM brand, and lack of transparency in placement reports.
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Once considered a golden ticket to high-paying corporate roles, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) tag may no longer hold the same promise it once did, netizens are concerned. A recent RTI disclosure concerning IIM Trichy has raised tough questions about placement performance at newer IIMs. Shared publicly by educator Ravi Handa, the data shows that 59 students from the 2024 batch remained unplaced, while only 104 secured packages exceeding Rs 20 lakh. The revelations have triggered a broader debate online about the state of MBA education, job market saturation, and whether the IIM brand is slowly losing its edge.According to the data Handa cited from an RTI filed by Sonik Sourabh, IIM Trichy's 2024 batch had 384 students, of which nearly 15% did not secure campus placements. In addition, just 27% of the batch received compensation packages above Rs 20 lakh, which is considered a benchmark for elite business school outcomes. Handa remarked that such numbers are 'not normal' for an IIM, especially one that had reported 100% placement in previous years.He noted the rigorous selection process to enter IIMs and the steep costs involved, around Rs 20 lakh, suggesting that the return on investment may no longer be guaranteed. 'Getting into IIM Trichy isn't easy. You have to crack a really tough exam. It is a dream college for a lot of people,' he wrote.The figures sparked immediate concern across social media, with several users suggesting that the rapid expansion of IIMs has led to brand dilution. Comments pointed out that increasing the number of 'elite' institutions in every state compromises their exclusivity. Some also questioned the transparency of placement data, alleging that many students are pressured to opt out of the process to maintain inflated placement statistics.A post claimed that 'the placement is never 100%; it hovers between 90 to 100%. There's tremendous pressure from admin to sign opt-out forms.' Others highlighted that newer IIMs struggle to attract top-tier companies, unlike their older counterparts in the BLACKI group (Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode, Indore).Multiple responses underlined how shifts in hiring trends are impacting MBAs. Earlier, sectors like FMCG, Big 4 consulting firms, and tech companies were key recruiters. However, several users noted that product roles in tech now often bypass MBAs, preferring graduates directly from IITs or BITS through internships. As one commenter observed, 'Even Tier 1 product companies no longer insist on an MBA… catching the talent young as a PM intern is good enough.'Some hiring professionals echoed this sentiment, noting a growing mismatch between candidate quality and the available opportunities. One user remarked, 'Great kids, high talent, but not finding opportunities… Markets and employers have become merciless with their high expectations.'While some viewed 27% of students getting a ₹20 lakh+ CTC as a positive sign for a newer IIM, Handa remained focused on the 15% who didn't receive any offers, calling it 'a surprise.' Other users emphasized that the primary function of IIMs is education, not guaranteed employment, while some suggested that factors like reservation policies and institutional expansion were influencing outcomes.A few even compared the Indian scenario to foreign B-schools, pointing out that schools like Harvard and Stanford do not offer campus placements but still produce highly employable graduates due to their focus on networking and skill-building.