The rankings released by bodies like NIRF are based on not one but several parameters like placements, academics, research, and campus life. So institutes are often ranked low when they fail to meet even one or two criteria.

NIT Patna has a very small campus around 40 acres, so that works against the institute's image and affects the rankings badly. The authorities had a tough time making its campus fully residential. However, the facilities are slowly being improved and new Mega Hostels have recently been constructed. 

Another reason for NIT Patna's diminished image is its location amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. While most NITs are located remotely away from the haptic city life, NIT Patna’s central location is another reason why NIT Patna has not been ranked decently.

But if you look at the big picture, many bright students have been able to get placed in huge companies like Adobe, Amazon, Qualcomm, NetApp, Infenera, etc As a whole, NIT Patna is at the same level as tier-II NITs at least in terms of placement and academics.

Mechanical Engineering is often called the Evergreen branch of engineering owing to its multifaceted nature and the diverse opportunities it offers. Here are some highlights of the ME branch of NIT Patna

• Infrastructure : The infrastructure is decent although the campus is very small. Frequent renovations are made to improve the scenario.
• Faculties : Sparing a few professors, the faculty is experienced, qualified, and very approachable. 
• Lab : Lab equipment is obsolete and old. The situation is slowly improving but a lot needs to be improved. 
• Facilities : NIT Patna has managed to offer excellent facilities even from a small campus. There are a number of student-run clubs like the American Society of Automotive Engineers(ASME) and the Society of Automotive engineer (SAE)
• Location: Situated in the heart of the city, NIT Patna has many coaching centers for GATE and IES right around the campus. 
• Placements: The mechanical branch of NIT Patna has a decent placement scenario. The following stats will give you an idea of the same.

So, NIT Patna Mechanical Engineering is a decent choice for those interested in the branch. 

To rank an institution, these factors are taken into account-

1. Placement percentage
2. Infrastructure
3. Brand value
4. Placement package
5. Faculty
6. Cutoff ranks

NIT Patna is ranked 56th among the top 100 Indian Engineering colleges and 128th overall, as per the NIRF 2023 rankings. These rankings are published by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

NIT Patna has a good placement record which is getting better day by day. It only lags behind because of poor infrastructure and a small campus. However, it has been allocated 125 acres in Bihta. Once it shifts to a new campus, it will overcome this weakness as well.

It certainly is difficult to change branches in NIT Patna from Mechanical to CSE. The change of branch allotted by JoSSA in NIT Patna is done after two semesters. As per the policies,

• Students of B.Tech. or Integrated M.Sc. can change their branch to any other branch of their choice.
• Students of B.Arch. are not allowed to change their branches because their admission was done on the basis of Paper - II of JEE (Mains), not Paper - I.
• The total strength of a particular branch cannot exceed 110% of the original strength 
• The total strength of a particular branch cannot be dropped beyond 90%. 

Basically, there can only be an increase of 10% in the strength of a particular branch.

To be eligible for branch change students have to complete the following criteria 

• The students must have completed all credits of the first two semesters in their first attempt.
• The student must have scored a CGPA not less than 8.25 in the first year.

The criteria appear to be quite simple but the reality is changing the branch to CSE is a bit tricky and challenging. The seats usually vanish up to 9 CGPA for CSE, because the competition is tough for this particular branch.

So, opt for branch change only if you are genuinely interested in the branch you want to get into. 

The kind of activities students do on their weekends depend on their own interests and personalities. Some prefer getting extra sleep to cover up their sleep deprivation while some spend their weekends exploring the city. Some spend their time playing games, watching their favorite series or movies, etc My friend at NIT Patna shared his favorite pass-time activities

• Wake up early and embarking on the journey to the Banks of Ganges behind the campus and enjoying the tranquil ambiance and sound of waves splashing.
• Participate in the Fill Your Wall With Drawings scheme.
• Enjoy roadside tea near Patna University, one of the most delicious teas in that area, very famous among the students.
• Go for a morning walk and take in the serenity of the place.

You can also pursue your own hobbies or play sports of your choice.