How good is IIT BHU Varanasi? How does it differ from other IITs in India?

Note: This is just my perspective as a student here.

Infrastructure: 3.5 out of 5

The academic buildings are pretty basic. A lot of the lecture rooms are old-style, using chalk and blackboards, which isn't necessarily bad. Even though some rooms have projectors, they're not often used by professors. The sound quality in these rooms isn't great, so if you're sitting in the back, it can be tough to follow along. Without air conditioning, attending classes during the hot summer months can be really uncomfortable.

The hostels are roomy and surrounded by beautiful green spaces. You might even see peacocks in the gardens of some hostels in the early morning. This connection to nature is something you won't find at many other campuses. While the rooms are on the smaller side, they're still livable. Unfortunately, the bathrooms tend to be dirty, except in a few hostels. The lack of western-style toilets is a problem for students from big cities and can be a real challenge for those with physical disabilities. The common rooms are large and come with a single TV and a couple of table tennis tables, though I'm not sure why they're set up that way.

One major issue is the poor LAN setup in the hostels. At the start of the year, it's a hassle to run LAN cables from the warden's office to your room, and there's always a fuss about who gets to use the limited LAN ports. Then, the internet speed is painfully slow, sometimes just 1 kbps, and any attempts to fix it usually don't work out.

Faculty & Research: 2 out of 5

The faculty, with a few exceptions, are generally mediocre or worse. Compared to other IITs, many professors seem less capable, which leads to poor teaching. A lot of professors seem arrogant and don’t focus on providing quality education, instead often treating students like they're irresponsible or foolish.

The grading system is confusing, with rumors that marks are given randomly or based on handwriting and length rather than content. There's a lot of inconsistency in grades, which frustrates students.

The research output is low, with many faculty more involved in administrative duties than research. The existing research isn't well-recognized internationally, and there aren't many exciting research projects or top-notch facilities. So, if you're looking for a strong research environment, this might not be the best choice.

Facilities: 3.5 out of 5

Here's a breakdown:

a. Library:
Finding the right book can be a challenge because the library is quite disorganized. Books often end up in the wrong sections, like math books in the physics area. Popular course books are limited and often gone quickly, just a week into the semester. There are two sections: one for general students, who can borrow three books, and another for SC/ST students, who can borrow four. This system is a bit puzzling to me.

b. Internet:
Some people say the BHU has one of the best LAN setups in India, but students would disagree. The Computer Center provides the LAN, and the internet goes through proxies. Some proxies block social media and certain content based on keywords. Because these proxies are used in hostels, students often use software to bypass restrictions, leading to a slow network and frequent error pages. The LAN in academic buildings is much better and more reliable.

c. Office Hours:
Unlike other places that offer 24/7 lab access, here you'll find...

Here's what I think about IIT BHU Varanasi. The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of today's technology. There are various clubs like the Robotics Club and Aeronautics Club where you can work on hands-on projects. The professors are supportive, and recently, a partnership was established between Amazon and IIT BHU for sponsored labs on campus, giving students a chance to explore current technology and innovation.

Regarding placements, if you're into core domains, many core companies, including PSUs, come for recruitment. For IT, all major MNCs and rapidly growing startups visit the campus. Plus, IIT BHU is located in Varanasi, known as one of the most spiritual and sacred cities in the world.

IIT BHU Varanasi is quite impressive, often linked to the top-ranked university in India, BHU, as noted by Scopus and The Times of India. It's known for being a hub of excellence. Being in a rural area allows it to address engineering challenges faced by rural and densely populated regions of India.

Varanasi itself is one of the world's oldest cities, adding a unique historic vibe. Compared to other IITs, it's a key player in GSOC. The campus is huge; for example, my department is 1.5 km from my hostel.

It's also the only IIT offering courses in Ceramic and Pharmaceutical engineering and has been a pioneer in starting degree courses in fields like Mining, Metallurgical, Ceramic, and Pharmaceutical engineering. Plus, the mess food is said to be better than at other IITs.

Some notable alumni include Krishan Kant, a former Vice-President of India; Pulickel Ajayan, a renowned scientist in carbon nanotubes; Sandeep Pandey, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee who founded Asha for Education; Nikesh Arora, a top executive at Google; Satyendra Dubey, who exposed corruption in the Golden Quadrilateral Project; Ram Charan, named Global Indian of the year 2010 by Economic Times; and Arun Anant, CEO of The Hindu.