Indian Institute of Technology B.Tech Review By Shah Kavya

IIT Mandi is a second generation IIT, established in 2009. Since then, it has been growing consistently. Post covid-19 pandemic, it has developed very abruptly. It is situated between mountains and a river nearby, remote from city though with excellent facilities like research labs, amazing sports facilities and many academic courses. I feel very good being at IIT Mandi as the air is very pure and there is also a religious environment which keeps you connected to your cultural roots. Each and every festival is celebrated here with the same enthusiasm. Many fests are conducted here, at regular intervals and students here can learn many Technical skills as well as can also work on their cultural or literary skills. I did choose this institute because, this institute is going to be the best tier 2 IIT in next few years, which was even suggested to me by my professors at my coaching. I personally feel that it will be compared at the same level as the top 7 IITs within next 20 years.

The academics play a very important role in the development of an institute. IIT Mandi has very good academics as there are many futuristic courses here such as B.Tech in Bioengineering, Mathematics and Computing, Material sciences, Microelectronics & VLSI, General engineering and BS in Chemical Sciences. Also the curriculum allows basic learning in Coding, Finance, different languages and an optional course in IKSHMA, which is related to Spirituality and Science of Yoga. There is also no rule for branch change so no student suffers from mental pressure for getting a good branch. The institute doesn't discriminate between the branches. There is also an option for pursuing a major and minor degree of all the courses irrespective of the branch you are in.

The faculties at IIT Mandi are highly intellectual individuals that have graduated from top institutes around the world. They are very helpful to students and the quality of teaching is at its best. As a student, I would say that my learning experience has been very good here. Faculty members also interact with me and other students outside the class about academic as well as advices related to life. They also keep doubt solving sessions for students. These sessions are highly helpful for the students.

Yes, we do have a career and placement cell within the institute. It manages all the campus placements. It helps students get paid internships while they are studying in 2nd or 3rd year, also they can get PPO's after internships in good companies. Even if the student doesn't get placed in the internships, if they have good grades, then the student will get placed in campus placements from top companies. There is a great environment for startups at IIT Mandi, as the fundable ideas are helped with findings from alumni or big companies. The promising students from lower branches are getting jobs in their core field with very high packages, ensuring there is no loss of job authenticity in core fields of Engineering which are dying or new fields which are been hidden due to AI&ML, DS and CSE. Even the placements are getting better year by year in each and every field; many high-tech companies visit the campus for recruitment of high skilled students, leading to a great development of alumni of the institute.

Hostels are provided with many facilities such as water supply (hot and cold) 24/7, washing machine, dryer, common irons, microwaves, fridges, induction, stands for drying clothes, kettles, water coolers, sports room with a TV, 2 sofa's and a TT table. Hostel rooms are being facilitated with 6 to 7 charging ports, beds (without mattresses), curtains, wardrobe, lamps, led lights, study tables with chairs and drawers and 2 windows for sufficient ventilation. It seems these. Many facilities are more than enough for a hostel room. There are common balconies areas with attached swing for students to which they can visit any hour of the day. There is provision of study rooms on each floor with monitors and PC's required for student’s technical growth. There are residential wardens, a caretaker, warden and guards in each hostel ensuring discipline, provision of every facility at students need. The washrooms areas are being provided with mirrors and hand washes (refilled by them). They are cleaned every day. The lobby area is cleaned everyday to make hygiene of the student’s first priority. There is provision of Wi-Fi with very fast internet speed at each and every corner of the hostel.

The infrastructure is world class at IIT Mandi. Even though situated at a very remote location, the infrastructure is like an IIT situated in a city or a developed area. There are many sports grounds and courts such as cricket, football, lawn tennis, basketball, volleyball, hockey, squash, table tennis, athletics, swimming pool, badminton and indoor sports such as chess, carrom, etc. There are parks and gardens within the campus for the family of faculties and students. Also there are fountains within the gardens with enough lighting making a hangout spot for students after a tiring day at institute. There are slides and other rides for small children of the faculties within the parks. The infrastructure is designed in such a way that even though the area near the campus is prone of landslides but the campus is very safe. There is a well-equipped gym and a decent library carrying mostly all of the books a library should have for an engineering institute. There are many shops in the campus which are enough to satisfy the needs of students studying here as the location of the institute being remote from the city. Though is the student want anything he/she can go to Mandi city with the bus service provided by the institute itself for students and the faculty members eventually not letting anyone feel disconnected from city.

Campus life is very happening as the campus is situated between mountains with a lot a nature around. The life is very peaceful as the location of the institute is remote. As a result, you get to see a lot of variety of plants, animals and birds which are often not seen in big metropolitan cities. The campus is rich of cultures as there are students from each and every corner of the country. As a result, rituals and festivals of each and every region, religion, and culture are performed/celebrated here.