The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been facing challenges in recruiting top talents from prestigious engineering colleges, such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). According to ISRO’s chairman, Dr S Somanath, the pay structure is a major deterrent for IIT graduates to join the space agency.
Dr Somanath highlighted that despite the reputation of IITs for producing some of the best engineering minds in India, very few IIT graduates choose to pursue careers at ISRO. He noted that the percentage of IITians joining ISRO is extremely low, likely less than 1 per cent.
Dr Somanath mentioned that individuals who genuinely believe in the importance of space exploration are more likely to consider careers at ISRO. However, the number of such passionate individuals remains limited.
The ISRO chairman shared an incident where his recruitment team visited an IIT to present career opportunities at ISRO. When the salary structure was revealed, with ISRO offering the highest pay, many students lost interest. In fact, 60 per cent of the students walked out after seeing the salary package.
ISRO has different salary structures for various positions, but the starting salary for engineers is approximately Rs 56,100. This starting salary was significantly lower than what some IIT graduates might expect from other sectors.
The trend of IIT graduates favouring higher-paying job offers from the private sector over ISRO was noted by business tycoon Harsh Goenka, who pointed out that the salary of ISRO’s chief, Dr S Somanath, was comparable to the average placement package in top IITs, which is significantly higher.
Notably, success in ISRO isn’t limited to IIT graduates. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlighted that several key contributors to ISRO’s achievements, including Chandrayaan-3, had diverse educational backgrounds, and many had graduated from other institutions, such as Kerala’s TKM College of Engineering and the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram (CET). At least seven engineers from CET played a significant role in Chandrayaan-3’s success.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of graduates from lesser-known engineering colleges. He commended these individuals for their dedication and their crucial roles in public sector institutions like ISRO, stating, “IITians went to Silicon Valley; CETians took us to the moon!”
ISRO Chairman S Somanath reiterated that money alone is not the primary motivator for individuals to join ISRO. He stressed the distinction between recruiting the ‘best talent’ and acquiring ‘adequate talent’ for the agency’s work. Somanath expressed that there are numerous talented individuals from various backgrounds who do not have the opportunity to attend IITs.
Somanath highlighted that talent is not limited to those who attend IITs, as there are numerous capable individuals from diverse social strata who may not get the chance to sit for the IIT entrance exam. He shared his personal experience, revealing that he was among those who didn’t have the opportunity to take the IIT entrance exam during his student years.
The revelation that less than one percent of IIT graduates join ISRO triggered a debate. Some argued that more IIT talents should consider joining ISRO, given the subsidization of their education at these prestigious institutions.
Suggestions were made for ISRO to enhance its packages to attract fresh IIT graduates. An individual named Anmol Sharma emphasized the need for more competitive packages to entice top talent from IITs to consider careers at ISRO.
A perspective from an IIT Kanpur alumnus, Samridh Joshi, was shared, highlighting that many graduates from reputed colleges, including IITs, often prioritize high salaries when making career choices. He noted that while there are individuals motivated by patriotism, such numbers are relatively low, and the government also bears some responsibility in this regard.
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