New Delhi- A significant development has emerged from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where 30 undergraduate students chose to withdraw early in 2023, the first year the early exit policy was implemented.

Notably, 27 of these students—90%—were from marginalized communities, specifically Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). This data was obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request.

Policy Implementation and Impact

In 2023, IIT Bombay introduced an early exit policy, allowing students in B.Tech, B.Tech-M.Tech dual degree, and B.S. programs to exit with a "B.Sc. Engineering" qualification.

The data indicates a disproportionate representation of Dalit, OBC, and tribal students opting for early exit, raising concerns about the inclusivity and support systems for these groups.

The distribution of early exits among undergraduate students in the first year was as follows:

• General (Unreserved): 3

• Other Backward Classes (OBC): 7

• Scheduled Castes (SC): 8

• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 12

In contrast, postgraduate programs have long allowed early exits. Since 2019, 312 students have exited from various postgraduate programs at IIT Bombay, with the majority from unreserved categories. However, detailed data on exits from B.Tech programs and dual degrees was not readily available.

National Education Policy and IIT Council

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, features a significant component: the Multiple Entry and Exit Policy. Proposed by the IIT Council in 2019, this policy aims to provide flexibility by allowing students to exit with a minimum academic qualification and reduce dropout rates. It is designed specifically to support "academically disadvantaged students."

According to data shared with Parliament in December 2023, 3,542 students from SC, ST, and OBC communities have exited various IIT programs over the past five years.

Exit Degree Eligibility

The updated IIT Bombay handbook for 2023 states: “Students enrolled in regular undergraduate programs, such as B.Tech, B.S., B.Des., and B.Tech+M.Tech (DD), will be eligible for the exit degree if they complete a minimum of 160 credits. The exit degree option is also available to students who have not met their degree requirements within the stipulated time and are not discontinued.”

Postgraduate Programs and Other IITs

For postgraduate programs, the option to exit with a lower qualification has been available for several years, with the highest number of exits from unreserved categories, followed by OBC, SC, and ST students.

The number of students opting for early exits increased from 52 in 2019 to 85 in 2023.

Updated rules for early exit at the postgraduate level state: "The Postgraduate Academic Performance Evaluation Committee (PGAPEC) will consider the option of exit with a degree if sufficient work has been recommended by the relevant postgraduate committee."

IIT Delhi Data

An RTI application to IIT Delhi revealed that 53 students received diplomas under the exit policy for various courses. IIT Delhi also implemented the exit policy for undergraduate programs in 2023 but did not provide data by category.

This development at IIT Bombay underscores the need for a closer examination of support systems for marginalized students and the overall impact of the NEP 2020’s Multiple Entry and Exit Policy.