National Institute of Technology - [NIT], Srinagar

Yes, NIT Srinagar is worth joining. The college has made good strides over the last few years. From academics to extracurriculars and placements, things have improved a lot. The recent highlights of NIT Srinagar placements show the average CTC to be INR 13 LPA. While the highest CTC received by the students was INR 22 LPA. 

As a non-Kashmiri student, you’ll deal with some tough times at NIT Srinagar.

NIT Srinagar is located in Hazratbal near Dargah. Despite this, it constantly witnesses strikes and curfews. So, you’ll get much more holidays than any other engineering college. This is a huge blow to academics. Traveling to and from home becomes difficult due to frequent curfews. 

Kashmiri students are polite and calm in nature. But they maintain a safe distance from non-Kashmiris at NIT Srinagar. They don’t socialize or hangout with others. The localities are polite but they also hesitate in mingling with outsiders.

The Assistant professors and contractual teachers aren’t qualified enough to solve student doubts. On the other hand, the professors show a lack of interest in teaching. The teachers are more generous while marking Kashmiri students, providing them with better CGPAs.

Dramas, skits, debates, etc. are discouraged. The college lacks clubs and cultural fests. Playing cricket unites all the students.The techfest of NIT Srinagar, Techvaganza, is quite good. It offers good seminars and workshops. 

Despite its associated negatives, NIT Srinagar offers one of the most beautiful college campuses in India. Here you will have ample time to work on your skills. You can visit beautiful places on weekends like Gulmarg, Sonmarg, Pahalgham, Shikara and even Ladakh.

Though NIT Srinagar is challenging for non Kashmiris, it will offer you a completely different perspective on life.

As an alumnus of NIT Srinagar, here is my opinion of my institution.

Kashmir is perfect for personal growth. Kashmiris are polite and helpful. They never badmouth non-Kashmiri Indians, though they have their own issues with the army. Kashmir is the right place if you love nature, and enjoy exploring. Srinagar is a mesmerizing city, and you’ll never forget it, even long after graduating. 

NIT Srinagar is placed 82nd in the 2023 NIRF Engineering Rankings, which is a decent rank. Hostel and mess facilities aren’t great. The campus life isn’t too hectic, and you’ll get ample time to learn new skills.

Overall, NIT Srinagar is a decent college for your engineering studies. 

I have spent four years as a B.Tech student at NIT Srinagar. Here are a few things about life at my college-

1. Srinagar is amazing. The weather remains cold for most part of the year, so you’ll forget what average Indian summers feel like.
2. NIT campus is fully secured, and surrounded by Dal Lake.
3. During winter, everything is covered in snow. It is an absolutely mesmerizing view. 
4. The hostels are clean and provided with all the facilities. 24*7 Wi-Fi facility is available. Mess is separate for each hostel, and the food is decent.
5. Students depend mostly on self-studies. 
6. Students are sent by the college to other Indian cities (for example, Ghaziabad) for industrial training purposes.
7. You will be provided with decent sports and gym facilities. There are college clubs which you can join. The IIED Center offers opportunities for self-exploration.
8. The placements are good, especially for CSE/IT. ECE, Mechanical, and CIV also enjoy good placements. Non-CSE/IT students usually sit for GATE or other competitive exams and perform well in them. 

NIT Srinagar is a wonderful college that offers a one-in-a-kind experience. 

NIT Srinagar has released the placement report for 2023. The highest package and median package offered during placements in 2023 were INR 36.5 LPA and INR 10.48 LPA, respectively. The average package offered to BTech CSE and BTech IT stood at INR 13.8 LPA and INR 11.6 LPA, respectively while the median package for BTech and MTech courses stood at INR 8.33 LPA and INR 6 LPA, respectively.

The additional statistics of NIT Srinagar placements 2023 have been tabulated below 

Overall, the placement scenario of NIT Srinagar is pretty decent.

I am a student of NIT Srinagar. Here are some things you should know about my college.

Like all other NITs, even NIT Srinagar is filled with talented and aspirational students, most of whom are from middle-class background. They work hard towards academic excellence.

NIT Srinagar will expose you to a variety of ideas. Over here, you will experience a different socio-cultural setup. This will open your mindset, and prepare you for a better professional life. Though it is not situated at some prime location, the college will offer you ample opportunities for growth and development.

The campus and surrounding areas are beautiful, and there’s a lot to explore. Placement-wise, CSE is the best course to opt for. CSE/IT has a good placement record. 

Overall, NIT Srinagar is a one-of-a-kind experience that you can definitely consider for your higher studies.

Speaking objectively, every technical institute in India is as good as long as you make the most out of it. NIT Srinagar has a good reputation, especially for its core engineering branches like Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering. The remaining departments were established much later and haven't reached the NIT standards as of now. So, if you want to join one of the core branches, especially EE, NIT Srinagar is a decent choice.

NIT Srinagar's current ranking doesn't do justice to its real image. The survey conductor never visited the campus personally so the rankings are forged and not credible at all. However, it is true that NIT Srinagar has many deficiencies that are being constantly worked upon to improve the academic quality of the institution and help it regain the honor it had when it was REC Srinagar. However, its progress depends on the economic conditions as well as the geographical location of the state it is situated in. NIT Srinagar has one of the most beautiful campuses but its geographical location poses hindrances to conferences, seminars, and tech events. But the bright side is that you can establish a good bond with the faculty. The faculty at NIT Srinagar in the core engineering branches is intellectually motivated, professionally scrupulous, and academically blessed.

As for the second part of your question, there are only a handful of Tamilians here. But this isn't exactly disappointing as not many Jammu and Kashmir students go to the South Indian colleges so you and expect the same from them. Still, there are around 10-15 which is more than expected.