In a significant move aimed at reducing academic pressure, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has decided to award a BTech pass degree to students who secure a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of five or more but less than six. This new rule, a departure from the existing system where such students received no degree at all, is designed to recognize the four years of effort put in by undergraduates.
A Lifeline for Struggling Students
The decision was formalized during a meeting of the IIT Kharagpur senate on Wednesday. Officials confirmed that students graduating in 2027 will be the first batch to benefit from this progressive policy. Under the current framework, a minimum CGPA of six out of ten is mandatory to earn a BTech honours degree. Those falling short of this benchmark were left without any formal degree, a situation that often led to immense mental distress and anxiety.
A senate member explained the rationale, stating that the new system ensures the hard work invested over four years is not entirely wasted. Students scoring a CGPA between 5 and 5.9 will now be eligible for the BTech pass degree. However, the institute has clarified that those with a CGPA below five will still be considered as having failed the program.
Promoting Student Well-being and Future Prospects
Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, emphasized that the primary purpose of this change is to promote student welfare. He argued that a student who has passed the course requirements deserves a degree. The institute will continue to encourage students to improve their scores through extra courses or repeat examinations if they wish, but the pass degree offers a crucial safety net.
Faculty members have welcomed the decision, noting that students sometimes choose subjects they are not genuinely interested in, leading to academic struggles. A professor highlighted the psychological impact of seeing peers graduate while being denied a degree oneself. This move will allow students with a CGPA below six to still hold an IIT degree, enabling them to appear for competitive exams and secure employment.
Practical Challenges and Student Relief
Another teacher pointed out the practical difficulty for a student with a CGPA of 5 or slightly above to jump to the required 6 in repeat exams. However, they noted that those with a CGPA of 5.8 have a realistic chance. The student community has largely greeted the policy with relief. A student representative stated that it would bring much-needed solace to those constantly struggling to meet the high honours degree threshold.
As the first among the 23 IITs in India to implement such a system, IIT Kharagpur's decision is being seen as a student-centric reform that balances academic rigor with compassion, potentially setting a precedent for other premier institutes.
