19/06/2026
FOR THE FIRST TIME, JEE IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO STUDY AT IIT DELHI ANYMORE!
Something happened recently that could change how we think about IITs.
No, JEE hasn't been cancelled.
But, IIT Delhi has signed an MoU with 18 NITs across India!
This means under this collaboration, some NIT students won't just visit IIT Delhi.
They'll study there, research there, and experience the same academic ecosystem that thousands compete through JEE to access.
As someone who interacts with students every day, I couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
For years, most Indians have treated IITs and NITs as two completely different worlds.
One was the dream. The other was the backup plan.
But what if the real difference was never talent but access?
Access to faculty, research, networks and opportunities.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee says it's time for institutions to grow together, not separately.
And honestly, that's a radical idea in Indian education.
Because for decades, our entire system has been built on exclusivity.
Few seats. Few campuses. Few opportunities. Few winners.
This MoU quietly challenges that model.
Which raises a genuinely uncomfortable question -
If an NIT student can access IIT Delhi faculty, research, and networks...
And before people jump to conclusions, I'm not saying IITs lose value.
I'm asking something much more much deeper.
What exactly remains exclusive about an IIT?
Does the value of an IIT come from restricting access?
Or from spreading excellence?
What do you think?
