IIT-Madras suspends option to change branch for 2020-21 – Times of India

CHENNAI: IIT-Madras has suspended the branch change option for 2020-21 batch students. Students in Tamil Nadu were distraught after learning the decision as it takes away a second chance to change their branch if they perform better in the first semester.
Usually, around 10% students are allowed to change their branches if they score more than 8 CGPA in the first semester. Due to Covid-19 crisis, students are preferring IITs near their regions compromising the choices of branches due to safety reasons.
Students urged the institute to reconsider the decision as it would affect only the students who choose IIT Madras as all other prominent IITs including IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur are giving the option to change branches for 2020-21 batch.
“Whatever the reasons for suspending it, all other IITs have the same problem. But, they all are continuing with branch change. It is unfair on the part of IIT Madras,” a student who is planning to join IIT Madras said.
A city student who got all India rank in excess of 2000 in JEE Advanced said he would get chemical engineering at IIT Madras going by the previous year’s cut-off. “I would try my best to change the branch to electrical engineering in the first semester. If I go to a faraway place it would be tough to adjust amid the pandemic,” he said.
Another aspirant who secured a rank closer to 300 in JEE said he may not get computer science engineering in IIT-M as he belonged to general category. “It gives students an opportunity to change the branch if he or she does not like it after a semester,” he said.
Parents said the decision will lead to deciding students future based on just one exam. “My son prepared for IIT JEE for several years. But, this year’s JEE advanced exam was tough and he got the rank above 200. We were hoping that he would join his favourite computer science branch as there was an opportunity to change the branch. But, IIT-M’s decision was huge appointment for us,” Kumar, a parent from the city said.
Naresh, a relative of the aspirant, said no proper reason was given by the institute for the move. “Going by the ranking, my cousin would get aerospace or mechanical engineering. But, he is not interested in either of the branches,” he added.
“The senate of IIT-M has suspended branch change at the end of the first semester for incoming students for 2020-21 batch. Reinstatement of this facility for incoming students in future academic years will be considered once we are able to restart normal classes and examinations on campus,” an IIT-M official said. “However, students of the 2020-21 incoming batch will be permitted to upgrade to 5-year dual degree (BTech + MTech) within their BTech discipline, or to an interdisciplinary programme, in their fourth or fifth semester,” the official said.