'There should be a national evaluation system'

Indra Singhal, an IIT alumnus and US-based serial entrepreneur

Indra Singhal, an IIT alumnus and US-based serial entrepreneur, believes Brand IIT is facing challenges. He told what those problems are to BT's Goutam Das.

On the fast-paced expansion of the IITs: I believe there is a brand dilution. Facilities are not at par, professors are not known to peers. Until now, an IIT meant something. Now, there is a distinction based on what follows IIT - as in the location.

On bridging the gap between IITs and other institutes: I believe that education at reputed institutions like the Birla Institute of Technology and Science is almost on a par with the IITs of yesteryear. With so many new institutions coming online, it is hard to tell. There should be a national evaluation system (non-governmental) that ranks the universities on a national scale... let the universities compete to climb up that public ranking.

On the impact of reservations: Reservations in moderation are perfectly alright. I have classmates who were part of the Scheduled Class/Scheduled Tribe reservation and have risen as high as anyone else.