Economics takes the spotlight at IIT-B, becomes the fourth most popular choice among students
Economics is becoming a popular choice at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay, surpassing several traditional engineering disciplines. Known primarily for engineering, the institute is witnessing a shift in student preferences.
This year, the Economics program at IIT-Bombay opened at a higher Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) rank than disciplines such as Environmental and Civil Engineering. Shireesh Kedare, IIT-Bombay's director, noted, «Our Economics department opens a lot higher than many engineering colleges.» Data shows that after Computer Science, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering, Economics and Chemical Engineering are the next most preferred courses.
The BS (Economics) program gained significant interest, particularly among female students. Admission for the general category started at a rank of 1,562, with Energy Science beginning at 1,905, Civil Engineering at 2,244, Environmental Science at 3,424, and Metallurgical Engineering at 2,690. Deputy director Milind Atrey highlighted the high admission ranks for Economics students, ranging between 1,000 and 2,000, and praised their strong JEE (Advanced) scores.
«These students score just 2-4 marks lower in the JEE (Advanced) compared to all-India ranks of 500-600. It's clear that high scorers are recognising the value of a curriculum that combines finance, analytical skills, and strong communication, opening up diverse career paths,» said Atrey.
The program's alumni frequently pursue PhDs at prestigious universities or secure roles in banks,
