IIT JEE is the entrance exam for engineering colleges across India including NITs and most importantly IITs, considered as the most deemed colleges of India. These colleges are the aim of lakhs of students right from childhood. The kind of education that IITs provide for the growth and development of students is really commendable. Due to the same, a plethora of students appear for this exam and there is immense competition for each rank. A loss of even 1 mark can make a huge difference in the ranking. However, JEE Mains is also tough but due to the immense competition and uncertainty involved in JEE Advanced especially, it is always good to estimate your score, rank, and then finally decide which IIT you want and which you can get. After the exam is over, all students focus on counselling and knowing the best branches in the best IITs is imperative. You would have to prepare lists and think a lot about your choices before finalising the one. The top branches in IIT offer a range of engineering courses that provide excellent career prospects and opportunities for innovation and research.
In this article, we will be discussing all the IITs including the best IIT Branches, and also the IIT top branches list according to rank so that you are clear about the selection of college based on your rank. So here is the list of top 10 branches in IIT with their best branches:
A lot of students are inclined towards opting for IIT Bombay and a special craze can be seen among the students for this college. Located at Powai, Mumbai, it is one of the best institutes of the country. The best thing about this college is that it has an entrepreneurship department also, which conducts courses for students who are interested in entrepreneurship. Powai is also called the start-up hub, so lots of entrepreneurial exposure is demanded and is possible in this college. Apart from that, this college also offers a lot of other courses and unique ones too, like Bachelor of Science courses in Chemistry and Economics. The best branches known at IIT Bombay are Computer Science Engineering and Electrical Engineering. It is also known as the best IIT for CSE Engineering.
In 5-year integrated courses, Electrical Engineering with MTech. in Microelectronics is highly in demand among students. Apart from these, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Physics are also good courses here. For getting Computer Science at IIT Bombay, you need to have an under 60 all-India rank. Let’s have a look at the top branches of this college at a glance
The IIT Madras campus is huge and beautiful and has everything that every prospective student can dream of for his/her growth and development. The college also has 5-year integrated courses along with the 4-year regular courses. It also offers five-year BS + MS courses in Physics and Biology. The top branches at IIT Madras are Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and also Civil Engineering. To secure CS safely in IIT Madras, you need an under 160 all-India rank in JEE Advanced. For EE, you need a rank of around 600. Apart from that, Mechanical, Chemical and Aerospace engineering also are popular among students. The biodiversity found at IIT Madras is exceptional, with several endangered species residing inside the campus.
This is the oldest IIT, set up in the year in 1951 and has a beautiful campus spread in a large area. IIT KGP also offers a wide variety of courses and is a top choice among JEE aspirants. Apart from the mainstream courses, it also has unique courses like Applied Geology, Agriculture and Food Engineering, Exploration Geophysics, and many more. It even offers an Architecture course, which is a five-year one. The two topmost courses of this college are Computer Science and Engineering and Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering. Another point which should be noted is that the Mathematics and Computing course is also very popular and is a five-year integrated MSc course. Coming to the ranking required, your rank should be under 250 or near to secure a seat in the CSE branch, whereas, for ECE, you need under 900 rank.
Located in Hauz Khas, IIT Delhi has all the modern amenities and a beautiful campus to soothe the student's mood along with their studies all the time. The college doesn’t offer integrated MSc. programs. The best branches of this college are Computer Science, Mathematics and Computing, and Electrical Engineering. The 5-year integrated BTech plus MTech in CSE is also highly popular among students. For securing a seat in the IIT Delhi CSE branch, you need to have a rank under 100 whereas for securing a seat in Mathematics and Computing, a rank under 320 or so is needed. For students who want to prepare for the CAT along with doing BTech, IIT Delhi will be convenient as there are plenty of good CAT coaching centres near the IIT Delhi campus.
IIT Kanpur is one of the oldest and biggest institutes. This college is also famous for the exceptional work in research and development done by its students. The IIT Kanpur campus is full of greenery and provides the best facilities to the students. The best courses to opt for at IIT Kanpur are Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mathematics and Computing wherein Mathematics and Computing is a 4-year BSc. course. You need to score rank under 200 to get CSE in IIT Kanpur. For getting EE and M&C, an under 850 rank will do it for you.
IIT BHU Varanasi is one of the best institutions which provides quality education and a great environment to study. Also, this college is regarded as one of the best colleges when it comes to placement. Let’s have a look at the top branches of the college.
IIT Gandhinagar is situated in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. With a great infrastructure, IIT Gandhinagar has the best placements in Gujarat. All the branches get great packages every year. All the leading companies across India come at IIT-GN for the campus placement. Every year, this IIT produces the best quality engineers from every branch. Let's take a look at the top branches of this college.
Located in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, IIT Roorkee has a total of 21 academic departments that entail Engineering, Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences and Management programs with a great focus on scientific and technological education and research. Let’s take a quick look at the top branches of this college.
Located at Simrol, which is around 24 Km from Downtown Indore, Madhya Pradesh, IIT Indore is one of the Indian Institutes of Technologies established by the Government of India in 2009 coming under one of the eight new Indian Institutes of Technologies established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Let’s have a look at the top branches of IIT Indore.
Located along the Uhl River at Kamand, IIT Mandi is an autonomous engineering and technology university located in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Indian Institute of Technology Mandi was mentored by IIT Roorkee which also hosted the first batch of students. It offers B.Tech degrees in the following disciplines namely:
So, the above-mentioned list of top IITs are some of the best and most sought-after institutes of the country. However, the relative ranking between these colleges does not remain constant and keeps rotating among the five of them. With the top 10 IIT branches in India, they all are equally good and provide a great environment for the growth and overall development of the students. So, if you are searching for the best engineering branches at IIT, you can always rely on these colleges.
So, now are well-versed with the IIT courses list, you can go by your interests and make a choice accordingly. A few unique IIT Engineering courses and specializations are offered by almost every top IIT and you can furthermore do research as per your interests. Just make sure that you do your research well for engineering branches in IIT and then make a final choice.
All the Best!
1. What are the most popular and in-demand engineering branches in IITs for the 2026 batch?
Based on student preferences and placement trends, the top engineering branches in IITs consistently include:
2. Which engineering branch in an IIT typically offers the highest salary packages?
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) consistently records the highest salary packages across all IITs. Graduates from top-tier IITs like Bombay, Delhi, and Madras often secure lucrative offers from major tech companies, investment banks, and quantitative trading firms. While CSE leads, branches like Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) and Mathematics and Computing also attract very high-paying roles.
3. Which IITs are consistently ranked as the top engineering institutes in India?
According to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and general student perception, the top-tier IITs renowned for their academic excellence, research output, and placements are:
4. What makes an engineering branch at an IIT academically tough?
The toughness of a branch is subjective but is often associated with the depth of its theoretical and mathematical rigour. Branches like Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering are considered particularly challenging. This is due to their intensive curriculum, which involves complex concepts in physics and advanced mathematics, combined with demanding laboratory work and a fast-paced learning environment.
5. What is the difference between core engineering branches and newer, specialised branches at IITs?
Core engineering branches like Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering provide a broad, foundational education applicable across many industries. In contrast, newer specialised branches like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Engineering Physics offer a deep-dive into specific, high-growth areas. The choice depends on whether a student prefers a versatile, broad-based career path or wants to build expertise in a cutting-edge, niche domain from the start.
6. How should a student decide between a top branch in a newer IIT and a less popular branch in a top-tier IIT?
This is a common dilemma that depends on long-term goals. Choosing a top branch (like CSE) in a newer IIT ensures you study a high-demand subject. Opting for a less popular branch in a top-tier IIT (like IIT Bombay or Delhi) gives you the benefit of a stronger brand name, a vast alumni network, and superior campus culture. For career flexibility and brand value, the top-tier IIT often has an edge, but for pure subject passion, the branch choice might be more important.
7. Beyond placements, what key factors should I consider when choosing an engineering branch?
While salary is important, a fulfilling career depends on other factors. You should consider:
8. Why is Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) the most competitive branch to get into at almost every IIT?
The immense competition for CSE is driven by several factors. The global technology boom has created a massive demand for software engineers, leading to exceptionally high starting salaries and diverse career opportunities. Furthermore, a CSE degree is seen as a gateway to working in top global companies, finance, and high-growth startups. This combination of high rewards and prestige makes it the first choice for a majority of JEE Advanced top rankers, driving the admission cut-offs to the highest levels.
9. Is it true that IITs guarantee 100% placement for all engineering students?
No, this is a common misconception. While IITs have excellent placement cells and consistently achieve very high placement rates (often above 80-90%), they do not guarantee 100% placement. Factors like economic conditions, a student's academic performance, and individual career choices (such as pursuing higher education, research, or entrepreneurship) mean that not every student sits for or secures a job through campus placements.