National Institute of Technology - [NIT], Kurukshetra

I strongly believe the saying, A picture is worth a thousand words . That being said, I am attaching a few pics of the NIT Kurukshetra campus that will give you an idea of the campus in a way no words can.

Swimming Pool

Open Air Theatre (OAT)

NIT Market

AE Lawn

Hostels

First-year classroom

Classrooms of LHC (lecture hall complex)

Academic block & T&P cell Entry

Sports Complex

Jubilee Hall

Senate Hall & the road connecting ECE department & CCN

Administrative Building

Seminar Room (each department has one)

I hope the above pictures suffice in conveying the beauty of the NIT Kurukshetra campus as a whole.

There have been many rumors circulating about NIT Kurukshetra becoming an IIT in the coming years. However, no such changes have been made so far or any official announcement has been made regarding the same. Some even claimed that the committees visited NIT Kurukshetra to determine if it was eligible to be converted to an IIT but there have been no concrete evidence to prove the same.

Given below are some reasons, why I believe NIT Kurukshetra should be turned into an IIT Kurukshetra

1. Firstly, the state of Haryana has no IIT as of now. IIIT Sonepat, whose mentor is NIT Kurukshetra, is under development. So it’s better to convert NIT Kurukshetra into an IIT rather than making a whole new institute. That might take a lot of time and even funds.
2. NIT Kurukshetra which was established in 1963 and has a rich legacy that makes it the right choice to become an IIT. 
3. The institute has a huge campus and excellent placement record, especially for CS and IT branches. If it becomes an IIT, the placement scenario will only become better both for tech and non-tech branches.
4. The institute conducts frequent revisions of the entire syllabus and ensures that it is at par with the industry's demands. However, the faculty and the research scope need to be improved before converting it into an IIT.
5. Its location is perfect for an IIT as it is in the heart of Sid Haryana.

I hope it becomes an IIT soon!

There are a few drawbacks of NIT Kurukshetra that students and faculty have reported. These include:

• Girls have restrictions on their entry and exit time.
• The infrastructure needs to be improved and the faculty needs to be more proficient in languages.
• The lab equipment is obsolete and not enough attention is given to lab sessions.
• The institute offers limited opportunities in terms of research and projects.
• The institute has an outdated syllabus that is delivered through old-school pedagogy.
• The examination date sheet and the results are not released on time.
• Students who are unable to clear any subject in the current year, have to reappear for it in the next year.
• The location of the institute plays a huge role in diminishing its reputation. Kurukshetra is not a city but a town with poor transport facilities, infrastructure, and no places to explore
• The marking patterns adopted by the professors are poorly designed. 
• The classroom sessions are monotonous and leave students disinterested in the particular course. The classrooms have poor facilities, such as no ventilation, projectors, and ACs. 
• The cultural fest is given more importance and receives more funds than the technical ones.

However, NIT Kurukshetra has more pros than cons so if you don’t have any other option, you can go for this institute and work hard to achieve your goals.

Here are a few factors that have combined to make life at NIT Kurukshetra amazing for all

• Students of NIT Kurukshetra, get a lot of free time after attending the classes. Most students spend their time sleeping or preparing for other competitive exams. Some even spend the time to learn programming and coding 
• Another favorite pastime of NIT Kurukshetra students is to hang out at Kalu ka Paratha, which serves the most delicious parathas you will ever have even past midnight.
• Students of NIT Kurukshetra love sitting in the open-air theater for hours and gossiping. 
• The libraries and CCNR are filled with students studying a day prior to the exam as no one likes to study in their own hostel rooms.
• Students love spending time at Kalam Road. It has many eateries and other places to explore.
• The Amul Ki chai is everyone’s favorite and a great energy giver during exams 
• Moxies are the best part of NIT Kurukshetra. Here you will be served food much better than mess.
• The best part about NIT Kurukshetra is the friends you will make from different walks of life that will teach you and help you grow as a person 

These were some of the best experiences. Students of NIT Kurukshetra shared that made their lives happening and fun-filled.

The ECE department at NIT Kurukshetra is average and not at par with NIT standards so go for it only if you are genuinely interested in the branch. Here are some strong reasons why I oppose joining this branch

• The classroom sessions are boring and only a few exceptional professors are even interested in teaching 
• The workload is challenging and so is the curriculum. You will have to study really hard to maintain a good CGPA, something that directly affects your placements. It will be even more difficult if you lack interest in the branch.
• The placement scenario is also nothing you will be looking forward to. Only a handful of companies come for ECE students. The majority of the batch will be placed in IT companies, and for this, you will have to study extra CS subjects. The competition is overwhelming and you will feel drained. 

The detailed placement statistics of the ECE branch at NIT Kurukshetra have been tabulated below:

Eligible Students	124
Placement Offers	150
Students Placed	105
Placement %	84.68
Range of Package	INR 6.02 LPA -INR 50.59 LPA
Median CTC	INR 14.50 LPA
Average CTC	INR 17.12 LPA

So don’t go for ECE unless you are genuinely interested in it or you are committed to hard work for 4 long years.

Yes, NIT Kurukshetra allows branch upgradation if you are unsatisfied with your current branch subject to certain conditions

• Vacant Seats: The chances of changing your branch depend upon the vacancy of seats since the seat intake is fixed. Each branch has a specific number of seats allocated to it by the institute and that cannot be changed. So there has to be at least one seat vacant in the branch you want to get transferred to. A few students drop out of college or go to better colleges thereby vacating seats.
• Demand for the branch: The next factor that will be considered is the demand for that branch. The more in-demand the branch is the lesser the chances of getting transferred. For example, IT and CS are highly demanded branches while ECE is least demanded. 
• CGPA: One of the most important factors, often underestimated, is your CGPA. Your CGPA for the first year decides your eligibility to get a good upgrade. The higher your CGPA is, the higher your chances of branch upgradation.

The factor that is in your control is your CGPA so start working on it!

NIT Kurukshetra is a good college which gives you the freedom to explore and develop your personality.

If you are interested in the electrical branch, NIT Kurukshetra is a good option. But I must warn you that you’ll find yourself busier than the students of other branches. This is because electrical students have to make a lot of practical files. 

The faculty for EE is helpful and supportive. The placements are also decent. The package range was INR 4.00 LPA - INR 1.25 CPA, the median package was INR 7.90 LPA, and the average package was INR 12.37 LPA for the electrical branch, during 2022 placements.

NIT Kurukshetra is a nurturing place but ultimately the hard work and effort is all expected from you. No one will push you to get out of your comfort zone, that’ll be your task. 

One of my female friends is a student at NIT Kurukshetra. She realized that the world is a patriarchal society. The rules and regulations at NIT Kurukshetra too seemed to agree with this. The girls have to follow a strict hostel time of around 7 PM in winter and 8 30 in summer. For the boys, the same time is 10 pm. Also, they don't have to fill out a form every time they want to go out. Girls are not even allowed to roam freely late at night or access the 24/7 CCN, the library, or other things boys have access to. 

Girls are not allowed to order food after 10 p.m. They are asked to change their clothes when wearing shorts or capris. The girls are not allowed to stay late and attend events like Star Night or any of the college band performances while the boys can stay for the rest of the performance.

My friend found no equality with her male counterparts at NIT Kurukshetra. There are many other instances where acts of discrimination have occurred. My friend feels that equality should start from an educational institute and only then can it extend outside.

So if you are a girl, and are planning to come to NIT Kurukshetra, you should be prepared for similar instances of gender discrimination. On the bright side, it will teach you how to deal with patriarchy outside college better because isn't the situation similar everywhere? 

College life is a whole new world so you need to follow the advice of seniors to ensure you don’t make the same mistakes they did. Here are some tips you can follow that will help you set your priorities right

• Attend the classes and pay attention right from the first day. One cannot underestimate the knowledge you gain by attending the classes and the time you end up saving. Make sure to get a high CGPA in the first year as it’s easy.
• Follow the 75% attendance rule religiously and only skip classes that are not very important and won’t get you detained.
• Socialize with your peers and seniors instead of starting holed up in your room. Discuss everything with your roommates and develop strong bonds with them. 
• NIT Kurukshetra is a ragging-free campus so you can approach your seniors easily for assistance.
• Explore your non-academic passions too. A number of clubs promote dancing, singing, instrumental music, sports, yoga, dramatics, etc. Be a part of at least one and pursue your passion.
• Participate in organizing fests as it will help inculcate managerial skills. Particulate in the college fests and showcase your talents. They are a great platform for learning and building confidence.
• Involve in some sort of physical activity every day to maintain good physical health.

Hope the above tips will help you!