As the 2025–26 placement season begins across major Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), a surprising trend has emerged: a significant number of students are rejecting Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs), even though the total number of PPOs has increased by 20% compared to last year.

Instead of accepting early offers, many students are choosing to wait for the final phase of placements, confident that better roles and higher packages may be available.

PPO Numbers Rise, But So Do Rejections

• IITs including Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Roorkee, and Hyderabad have reported a 10–20% increase in PPOs.

• Despite this rise, several institutes have also seen a sharp increase in PPO rejection rates.

• At IIT Roorkee, for example, over 250 PPOs were rolled out, but more students than last year rejected them, hoping for better prospects in the upcoming hiring rounds.

• IIT Madras has also reported a 10–15% rise in PPO rejections.

This trend suggests a shift in student mindset — a willingness to take calculated risks for more desirable roles.

Why Students Are Rejecting PPOs

1. Confidence in Final Placements

After a relatively strong internship season and greater company participation, many students believe they can secure better positions during final placements than the PPOs currently offered.

2. Better Role Alignment

Students are becoming more selective. Rather than accepting early offers from companies they interned with, they are targeting roles that match long-term career plans in AI, data science, fintech, product management, and deep-tech domains.

3. Static Salary Packages

While the number of PPOs has grown, many offered similar compensation as previous years. Students reject offers when the salary does not justify the role or workload, especially in high-pressure domains like software and consulting.

4. Changing Recruiter Landscape

This year, hiring is seeing:

• Increased participation from AI-based companies,

• A comeback of quant firms,

• More roles offered by Japanese and European companies.

These opportunities are motivating students to wait for final rounds instead of settling early.

Placement Landscape 2025–26: Mixed Signals

More Offers, Similar Salaries

Despite the rise in PPOs, salary packages across many IITs have remained mostly unchanged, especially in software and core engineering roles.

Decline in Consulting Dominance

Offers from major consulting firms have reportedly decreased, making room for more tech and product-based roles.

Hiring Slowdown in Some Sectors

While AI and quant roles are booming, certain sectors like ed-tech and early-stage startups show limited hiring compared to previous years.

Timeline for Final Placements

The first phase of IIT final placements for 2025–26 is scheduled to begin on December 1, with the second phase planned for January.
Students who rejected PPOs are preparing intensely for these rounds, aiming for higher packages and dream companies.

Risks Behind Rejecting PPOs

Although the trend is growing, placement experts caution that rejecting PPOs is not without risks:

• Final placement performance varies each year.

• Market conditions can shift suddenly.

• Not all students who reject PPOs may secure better offers later.

However, the confidence among IIT students this year is notably higher than in the last two placement cycles.

Conclusion

The 2025–26 IIT placement season is shaping up to be dynamic and unpredictable. Despite a 20% rise in PPOs, increasing numbers of students are choosing ambition over security — signaling optimism, sharper career focus, and belief in a stronger job market ahead.