The Rise of Amit Dutta: A Beacon for Aspiring Engineers

In the high-stakes world of Indian engineering education, where the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) defines futures for over a million students annually, one story has captured national attention. Amit Dutta, a software engineer now based in London, shared his journey from failing the IIT JEE in 2018 to securing a staggering Rs 1.7 crore compensation package at Meta's London office after a successful stint at Google. His Instagram reel, viewed millions of times, resonates deeply in a country where IIT admission is often seen as the golden ticket to success.

Dutta's narrative challenges the pervasive myth that only IIT graduates dominate top tech roles at companies like Google and Meta, often referred to as FAANG (Facebook/Meta, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Google). Instead, it spotlights the potential of tier-2 institutions like Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (BIT Mesra), where he earned his BTech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). This tale arrives at a pivotal moment, as India's higher education landscape evolves under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizing skill development over rote exam performance.

The Crushing Pressure of IIT JEE

The JEE Main and Advanced exams are among the world's most competitive, with approximately 14.5 lakh students registering for JEE Main 2026 session 1 alone, vying for around 58,000 seats in government engineering colleges, including just over 17,000 in IITs. This translates to a success rate below 1% for IIT seats, leaving over 99% of aspirants rejected and often funneled into state universities or private tier-2 colleges. The psychological toll is immense: studies indicate 65% of competitive exam preparers experience high stress, with 42% showing depression symptoms, and student suicides rising, with over 13,000 reported in 2022 per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data.

For Dutta, the 2018 failure was a gut punch. 'I watched my classmates post their IIT acceptances while I sat in a campus that most people had never heard of,' he recounted in his viral post. Yet, this rejection became a catalyst. Instead of despair, he pivoted to self-improvement, a mindset shift that tier-2 college students nationwide are increasingly adopting amid growing awareness of mental health crises in coaching hubs like Kota.

BIT Mesra: Empowering Tier-2 Talent

BIT Mesra, established in 1955 in Ranchi, Jharkhand, stands as a premier deemed university outside the IIT/NIT ecosystem. Ranked among India's top 50 engineering institutions by NIRF 2025, it boasts a robust CSE program with modern curricula in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing—skills directly transferable to FAANG roles. In 2025 placements, BIT Mesra recorded an average CTC of Rs 11.77 LPA, with the highest at Rs 1.45 crore, attracting recruiters like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. For CSE specifically, the highest reached Rs 51 LPA, with 96.9% placement rates in some batches.

Dutta's BTech from BIT Mesra (graduated around 2022) exemplifies how tier-2 colleges bridge the gap. These institutions offer smaller class sizes, personalized mentorship, and industry tie-ups, fostering practical skills often sidelined in IITs' research-heavy focus. For more on BIT Mesra's achievements, visit their placement statistics page.

• Strong coding clubs and hackathons preparing students for LeetCode-style interviews.
• Alumni networks in Silicon Valley and London aiding referrals.
• Affordable fees (Rs 3-4 lakh/year) yielding high ROI compared to coaching costs (Rs 5-10 lakh for JEE prep).

Navigating Rejections: Dutta's Roadmap to Google and Meta

Dutta's path post-2018 was deliberate. At BIT Mesra, he immersed in competitive programming and open-source contributions, building a GitHub portfolio that caught recruiters' eyes. The 2021 Microsoft internship rejection—after weeks of preparation—'broke something in me, but it also rebuilt something,' he said. Undeterred, he refined his system design and behavioral interview skills.

By 2022, Google hired him full-time, where he spent two years honing expertise, including a business trip to Singapore. Meta's outreach followed: six grueling rounds on algorithms, scalability, and leadership principles. Success! His Rs 1.7 crore package (likely base Rs 50-60L + RSUs/bonuses) reflects senior software engineer levels at Meta London. View his profile on LinkedIn for insights.

Key steps he followed:

Photo by Tek Bahadur on Unsplash

• Daily LeetCode (300+ problems).
• Mock interviews via Pramp/Interviewing.io.
• Building scalable projects (e.g., web apps with React/Node.js).
• Networking on LinkedIn for referrals (critical for off-campus hires).

Skills Trump Pedigree: What FAANG Seeks from Indian Graduates

Tech giants prioritize problem-solving over alma mater. In 2026, 54% of Indian pros at Apple, Google, NVIDIA et al. hail from tier-2/3 colleges, per industry surveys. Google and Meta hire ~20-30% of Indian engineers from non-IITs, valuing DSA (Data Structures & Algorithms), system design, and soft skills. Dutta's story mirrors others like Soumith Chintala, tier-2 grad turned Meta AI VP.

Indian tier-2 colleges like VIT Vellore (highest Rs 1 Cr+), SRM, and Manipal report 10-15% students landing FAANG roles annually, with averages Rs 20-30 LPA rising to Rs 1 Cr+ post-experience.

Broader Trends: Tier-2 Triumphs in Tech Placements

2026 NIRF data shows non-IITs closing the gap: BITS Pilani averages Rs 21.2 LPA, IIIT Hyderabad outperforms some IITs in CSE placements. HFT firms and MAANG offer Rs 2 Cr+ to tier-2 talent. Success stories abound: Raj from tier-3 cracked Amazon; multiple BIT Mesra alumni at Google.

Challenges persist: lower on-campus access (IITs get 80% FAANG visits), but off-campus via referrals surges. NEP 2020's multiple entry-exit and skill credits aid this shift.

Mental Health: Beyond the JEE Grind

IIT JEE's pressure cooker claims lives—91 suicides in premier institutes 2018-2022. Tier-2 colleges offer respite with holistic development. Dutta's resilience underscores counseling needs; BIT Mesra's wellness centers exemplify proactive support.

Stakeholders urge:

• Parental mindset shift from 'IIT or bust'.
• Coaching reforms for mental health modules.
• Universities boosting career cells for global preps.

Actionable Insights for Tier-2 Students

Dutta advises: 'Picture abhi baaki hai' (the movie's not over). Roadmap:

1. Master DSA via GeeksforGeeks/Striver series.
2. Contribute to GitHub (aim 5+ repos).
3. Practice behavioral stories (STAR method).
4. Leverage alumni networks; target LORs.
5. Upskill in cloud/AI via Coursera/AWS certs.

Indian universities like BIT Mesra are aligning curricula, with 70% CSE grads coding-proficient.

Photo by Shashank Raghuvanshi on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Democratizing Tech Success

As India aims 1 million AI jobs by 2026, tier-2 colleges will shine. Global hubs like London value Indian talent—Meta's EMEA hires 15% Indians. Balanced views: IITs remain elite, but skills democratize access. Explore opportunities at AcademicJobs India.