To die for? No IIT in Times Higher Education 2016 world rankings, again!

Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings 2016 are out. And once again, not a single Indian university has made it to the top 200 list.

The fact that India's famed Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are a no-show on the list should not come as a surprise. The engineering colleges, that are notorious for their low acceptance rates - have often lagged behind in the global rankings for a variety of reasons.

Most IITs need to improve their international presence by focusing on research and increasing the reach of their courses abroad. They also need to focus on Indian universities participation in global projects.

Soon after the THE rankings were declared, Smriti Irani, Minister of Human Resource and Development, told Parliament during Question Hour, "There is a proposal to establish a regulatory architecture to enable ten public and ten private institutions to emerge as world-class teaching and research institutions."

The minister said the government has not yet allocated any funds for the proposal but will provide adequate support to assist 10 public institutions, reported PTI.

The lure of the IITs

Despite the dismal performance of top engineering colleges, there is a massive pressure for engineering aspirants to crack the JEE. The acceptance rate for Harvard University is around 5 - 6 per cent while that of IIT is just 2 per cent. It should be noted that Harvard University has been consistently topping world rankings for the best varsity in the world.

"In India, students go to IITs only to get better jobs after graduation," said a parent who did not wish to be named.

Richa Singh, IIT Guwahati alumna and founder of YourDost, a counselling and emotional support platform, said, "One of the most common question we receive from students is about placements after completing IIT course."

Thousands of students leave their homes every year, travelling to engineering preparation heavens Kota and Hyderabad. According to a recent IIT Bombay freshman survey, 95.9 per cent freshers took coaching to crack Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

"More than 50 per cent of participants felt burnt out after preparing for JEE," says Shreeyesh Sreekumar, cheif-editor of IIT Bombay's student magazine, Insight.

About 26 per cent of respondents needed mental counselling to help them sail through a difficult two year period.

And then there the countless stories about JEE aspirants who end their lives over mental pressure. Five JEE aspirants have already committed suicide this year alone.

Also Read: Here's why the Kota collector's letter to parents of IIT aspirants is a must read

Is it worth ending your live over an institute that doesn't even rank among the best institutes in the world?

The answer is No. Life doesn't begin or end with IIT.

There are several avenues one should explore before taking any drastic step.