IIT Directors Urge Students to Break Free from the Coding Herd

Beyond the Code: India’s Unhealthy Obsession with Computer Science Needs a Reset

IIT directors call it out. Students are feeling it. Employers are seeing the cracks. It’s time India stopped chasing the CS dream blindly.

The Problem: A Nation Hooked on CS Degrees

In a recent joint sentiment voiced by directors of top IITs during a discussion held on the campus of IIT Madras as a part of the PanIIT Alumni Leadership Series (PALS), India’s relentless fixation with Computer Science is under scrutiny. The warnings are clear this “herd mentality” toward coding and CS-centric careers is not just narrowing student aspirations, but also creating systemic bottlenecks in higher education and employment.
More than 90% of top scorers in JEE now rank Computer Science as their first (and often only) preference, often bypassing other disciplines that are equally essential to India’s development - civil engineering, biotechnology, energy sciences, and more.

The result?

• Overcrowded CS departments
• Undersubscribed core branches
• Rising unemployment even among CS graduates
• A workforce chasing saturated roles with diminishing marginal returns

Why This Is Dangerous

This hyperfocus creates an illusion that CS is the only path to success. But in reality

• Not everyone is suited for coding
• Companies increasingly value interdisciplinary skillsets
• The demand for diverse tech + non-tech skills (product management, design, operations, sustainability, manufacturing) is rising

What Needs to Change…And Fast

• Redefine Success in Engineering
  We must actively showcase success stories beyond tech giants. Highlight engineers in civil, chemical, mechanical, and energy roles leading global projects, innovations, and startups.
• Career Counselling Must Start Early
  Students need exposure to the full spectrum of engineering paths before they choose their streams not just during placements. Schools and coaching institutes must de-glorify CS dominance
• Industry Needs to Step Up
  Companies can:
  1. Actively hire from diverse disciplines
  2. Create rotational programs across departments
  3. Promote skill-based hiring over degree/title-based hiring
• Skill Mapping, Not Degree Mapping
  Platforms like ours KritiHR are pioneering this shift offering role-fit analysis based on skills and interests, not just degrees. This approach ensures students are evaluated for what they can do, not just what they studied.

India doesn’t just need more coders. It needs innovators, builders, problem-solvers, and leaders across sectors. Computer Science is great but it isn’t the only gateway to impact or income.
Let’s stop training our next generation to chase trends. Let’s help them build futures based on purpose and potential.