FAQs B.Tech Freshers

Where will the freshers be accommodated?

IIT Palakkad has completely moved its operations to the permanent campus at Kanjikode. The freshers will be accommodated at the Nila Campus, Kanjikode. 

 

How developed is the campus?

IIT Palakkad has fully relocated its operations to its permanent campus at Kanjikode. The new campus is divided into two sections, Nila (approximately 40 acres) and Sahyadri (about 500 acres), situated on either side of a village road. The Institute operates a complimentary shuttle service between these two campuses, synchronized with class and lab schedules.The new campus encompasses all academic infrastructure, including classroom complexes, teaching and research labs, departments, and administrative offices, alongside student hostels. Modern amenities such as air-conditioned classrooms and labs, hostel rooms equipped with internet connectivity, various sports facilities, canteens, and an institute medical clinic are available. You can find a glimpse of our campus facilities here.

What courses will be offered in the first semester of the B.Tech program ?

The common courses offered are Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Ecology and Environment, Engineering Drawing, Concepts in Engineering design and Introduction to Engineering along with Physics/Chemistry lab and Mechanical workshop. Minor changes to the curriculum may occur.  

Are freshers permitted to bring laptops in the first semester? How is the Internet facility on campus?

Yes, students are permitted to bring laptops to the Institute without any restrictions, although it's not mandatory initially. Having a laptop would be beneficial for the Engineering Drawing course and for Computer Programming in the second semester. All students can use the computer lab located in the academic building, just a 5-minute walk from the hostel. Both labs and the academic area are connected to high-speed Internet, and the hostels have Wi-Fi access. With a laptop, you can conveniently access online resources from your hostel room.

What facilities are provided to the freshers for the purchase of hostel necessities like bicycles, mattresses, pillows, buckets etc.? Do we need to bring these things along with us?

The Institute organizes the sale of hostel essentials such as mattresses, pillows, pillow covers, bedsheets, locks, buckets, and mugs during orientation day. Local vendors are invited to sell these items within the Institute premises in the early days. Stationery and other supplies are available for purchase at either of the two amenities centers located on campus. A bicycle sale  will be arranged one month after the semester begins. Freshers' hostels and classrooms are conveniently located within walking distance. Additionally, a shuttle service operates in sync with the class schedule for easy commuting.

How easy is the branch change in IIT Palakkad? What is the criterion for the same?

Branch change depends on your CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) for the first year, and your category of admission. Any branch can have at most a ten percent increase over the original sanctioned strength and the strength of a class should not fall below the sanctioned strength by more than ten percent. However, at least one student in each category will be eligible for consideration for change of branch from each discipline and to each discipline at the end of the first year. 
For more details kindly have a look at Rule R.5.0 of the document : BTech Regulations

Should we purchase books or can we borrow them from the library?

In general, you can get the e-books for the materials that the teachers specify. Furthermore, you  shall get them from the library, though the library may have only limited copies. Local bookshops in Palakkad or Coimbatore or online stores are also of help, so are the seniors. Moodle web pages on our intranet site have all the course materials posted by faculty and students.

What is the weather in Palakkad like?

Palakkad, located near the West coast in the South, experiences a monsoon climate. Rainfall occurs from June to August (South-West monsoon) and also during October to November (North-East monsoon). March to May constitutes the summer season, with temperatures occasionally reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. The weather is typically pleasant, and our campus is nestled at the base of the Western Ghats.

What is the holiday schedule of IIT Palakkad?

We have a five-day working week, in general. Semester breaks are from early December to the end of December for winters and from early May to the end of July in summers. The long summer break allows students to take up summer internships.

How are the sports facilities on campus?

At IIT Palakkad, we have a Cricket and Athletics ground, cricket nets, a Football ground, a Basketball court, a Volleyball court and an indoor Badminton court. Additionally, we also have TT tables, carrom boards, and outdoor badminton courts within the hostels. Two well- equipped are also available. Sports activities are coordinated by the Physical Training Instructor with the guidance from the Faculty Sports Advisor. Selected students receive specialized coaching from expert trainers in various sports disciplines. Students participate in tournaments like Inter-IIT sports competition, and other in-house tournaments. 

What sports are played at IIT Palakkad?

 At IIT Palakkad we have Football, Basketball, Cricket, Volleyball, Badminton, Table Tennis, and Athletics.

What are the co-curricular activities and clubs at IIT Palakkad?

Co-curricular activities directly run by the institute include National Service Scheme, Life Skills program, Extramural Lectures, Seminars, Talks and Workshops. Apart from these, there are a lot of student run clubs focussing on various interests. You can view them on the website of the Students’ Affairs Council.

How many people can stay in a hostel room?

Most of our hostel rooms for B.Tech students are triple occupancy rooms.

What is the procedure for getting the MCM scholarships?

As specified on the website, Income certificates must be submitted at the time of admission and applications are collected in September. The Senate decides on the award of scholarships, and in the second semester, eligible students receive the scholarship, reimbursing both their earlier tuition fees and the current one. Please refer to this link for details of scholarships.

Which are the preferred hangout spots at IIT Palakkad?

 Students can explore nearby cities like Coimbatore. Palakkad, the seventh most populous town in Kerala, offers all essential facilities. Coimbatore, the bustling metro city provides numerous options for food and entertainment.

How to reach IIT Palakkad?

The closest Airport is Coimbatore Airport which is around 60 kilometers from the campus. One can then take a taxi or a bus to reach the campus. Palakkad railway station is around 14 kms from the campus. You can find the details on how to reach us here https://iitpkd.ac.in/how-reach

How do we get a SIM card at IIT Palakkad?

Upon registration, you will receive an ID card from the Institute, which will serve as your address proof. You will need to provide another form of identification to obtain your SIM card. SIM cards will be available for purchase from representatives of various companies on the day of your registration.

Are there any Banks/ATMs nearby?

There is a Canara Bank ATM inside the campus. A few more ATMs and banks will start functioning on the campus shortly. There are branches of all the major banks on the Kanjikode service road which is 2.5 kms from the campus.

Can we receive parcels / online purchased items delivered to the hostels?

Yes. India post and suppliers like Amazon and Flipkart deliver items to IIT Palakkad hostels.

 

Does IIT Palakkad have policies against ragging?

Ragging is not permitted at IIT Palakkad . Please check our our anti-ragging policy here: https://iitpkd.ac.in/anti-ragging-policy

What if I get lost in Palakkad?

Palakkad is a small town with an efficient  public transport system and people are helpful in general. Hence, the chances of getting lost is minimal. It is advisable to keep emergency contact numbers handy.

How is the mess food?

 The mess provides nutritious and cost-effective meals, priced at approximately Rs. 150 per day. The caterer is skilled in preparing both South Indian and North Indian cuisines. A mess council, comprising student representatives and wardens, oversees food quality and recommends menu adjustments as needed.

How many girls’ hostels are there on IIT Palakkad campus? Will all first year female students get accommodation in the same hostel?

We have three hostels for girls. All our first year girl students will stay in the same hostel, Tilang A, in Nila Campus. From the second year onwards they will shift to girls wing in Saveri and Malhar hostels on Sahyadri Campus. 

Is it safe for female students to roam around in the IIT Palakkad campus and nearby places ?

IT Palakkad academic block, hostels and the nearby places are well lit at night and are safe to roam around. There are multiple security guard stations throughout the campus.

What are the Hostel timings at IIT Palakkad?

 Usually open up until  midnight, need to give attendance at 9pm and need to seek permission if going away from the campus or to reach after 10pm. Alcohol consumption and smoking are prohibited. 

Seat allocation procedure

Seat allocation in IITs occurs through multiple rounds where seats are allocated based on candidate preferences. After each round, candidates have the option to freeze, float, slide, or reject their allocated seat. Freeze indicates acceptance of the current allotted seat without consideration for further rounds. Slide indicates a preference to remain in the current institute but with consideration for preferable branches within that institute. Float implies consideration for any branch or institute based on the candidate's preference list. Reject means opting out from further rounds of counseling. For additional information, please visit: http://josaa.nic.in

 

Wild animals

The campus is safe. It has a serene atmosphere with a lot of bird varieties including peacocks and small wild animals like rabbits. We border a forest area, which is securely protected by a hanging fence.

Community/caste certificate, fee payment, other formalities

Please refer to the JoSAA website.