Engineering has remained one of the top academic aspirations for Indian students after Class 12 for decades. Among all engineering branches, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) continues to attract the highest number of applicants due to the growing demand in the tech sector. One of the primary routes to enter premier engineering institutes in India is through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
According to official data, a total of 14,15,110 candidates appeared for JEE Main 2024. In 2025, the January session saw 13,11,544 registrations, with 12,58,136 appearing for the exam. The April 2025 session recorded 10,61,840 registrations and 9,92,350 actual test takers.
Among the top choices for engineering aspirants are the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), which consistently rank high in national and global rankings. IIT Madras, in particular, has held the top position in engineering rankings for five consecutive years under NIRF.
Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India (NIRF 2024 – Engineering category)
| NIRF Engg. Ranks 2024 | Institute Name | QS World Rankings 2026 |
| 1 | IIT Madras | 180 |
| 2 | IIT Delhi | 123 |
| 3 | IIT Bombay | 129 |
| 4 | IIT Kanpur | 222 |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | 215 |
| 6 | IIT Roorkee | 339 |
| 7 | IIT Guwahati | 334 |
| 8 | IIT Hyderabad | 664 |
| 9 | NIT Tiruchirappalli | – |
| 10 | IIT BHU Varanasi | 566 |
IIT Madras: Department of Computer Science and Engineering
IIT Madras established its computer science division as the Computer Centre in 1973 with an IBM 370 computer system. It began offering a BTech programme in Computer Science in 1983. Today, the department has around 700 students, of whom more than 60% are pursuing postgraduate studies. The department supports PhD students through industry-sponsored fellowships and encourages international conference participation.
In terms of placement, the median and average CTC for BTech in Computer Science at IIT Madras in 2024 stood at Rs 37.50 lakh and Rs 52.32 lakh respectively. For dual degree students, the figures were even higher, with both median and average packages recorded at Rs 84 lakh per annum.
IIT Delhi – Department of Computer Science
Founded in 1982, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi has grown into a key research and academic centre. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses such as Data Structures & Algorithms, Discrete Mathematical Structures, Digital Logic & System Design, and Computer Architecture.
In placements, IIT Delhi’s CSE students received offers from major companies like Microsoft India (R&D), Samsung R&D Noida, IBM, HCL Tech, Micron, Daimler Trucks, and QuantumStreet AI, among others.
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IIT Bombay – Department of CSE
Computing activities at IIT Bombay began in 1967 with the Minsk II computer. Today, the Computer Science and Engineering department is one of the most sought-after in the country.
In the last JEE session, IIT Bombay remained the top choice for admission among the highest scorers of JEE Advanced, the entrance exam for IITs. The institute shared data showing that many of the top 1,000 rankers chose IIT Bombay for their undergraduate programs.
In the 2023–24 placement season, 275 students from the department registered, 254 participated, and 230 were placed. This indicates a high placement rate for students in the CSE stream.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kanpur
IIT Kanpur initiated computing education in 1963 with an IBM 1620 system. From 1964 to 1975, the institute conducted around 30 short courses in programming, laying the groundwork for computer science education in India.
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As per data released in December 2024, IIT Kanpur completed Phase-1 of the 2024–25 placement season with a total of 28 international offers, reflecting a 27% year-on-year increase. Key recruiters included Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Intel, Oracle, Texas Instruments, Databricks, Reliance, and American Express, among others.
IIT Kharagpur – Department of CSE
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kharagpur was established in 1980, with its first BTech batch graduating in 1982. Currently, the department has about 650 undergraduate students, 160 postgraduates, and 175 research scholars. Its research spans areas like AI/ML, cryptography, speech processing, and embedded systems.
In the most recent placement cycle, IIT Kharagpur received 1,800 offers, including 409 PPOs and 25 international placements. Nine students received offers exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the highest at Rs 2.14 crore per annum. These offers came from global technology firms, reflecting strong industry engagement with the CSE department.
