One of the main reasons students hesitate to startup on their own, is because they are lured by the comfort and security that a regular job offers. Hence, in order to provide those souls with a cushion to fall back on, the Deferred Placement Programme (DPP) was introduced by IIT Kharagpur, due to the efforts of E-Cell. Post the introduction of DPP, IIT Kharagpur has become only the second institution in India, after IIM- Ahmedabad, to offer such a Programme, and the first one to do so at the Undergraduate Level.

The Programme

Under DPP, a final year (4th Year B.Tech. or 5th Year Int. M.Tech/M.Sc.) student who has a Business Plan, but is doubtful of the outcome of the same, may appeal before an expert committee, comprising of Professors of IIT Kharagpur and present his/her case before them. Provided that the panel agrees suitably, the student will be given a period of one year after passing out of the Insitute, during which time, he/she  may work on their B-Plan. If at the end of this period of time, the student feels that the company has not grown up to his/her expectations, and that its future is bleak, he/she may appear for on-campus placements in the subsequent year. The number of students opting for DPP will be limited to 10 per batch.

Impact

DPP acts as a safety-net for innovative students who, due to various reasons, may be hesitant to startup on their own. They get a chance to act as job-givers and not job-seekers and get a taste of entrepreneurship, even if they do not continue with their venture. Further, though the option exists, few of those who opted for DPP have actually attended the placement interviews the following year, showing how they will have missed out on this wonderful opportunity to manage their own business, had it not been for the option of DPP.