Pay Versus Passion Conundrum: Why Do IITians Turn Away Job Offers From ISRO?

If you go through the mission or vision of the top IITs in India, you will find one commonality - their commitment to the pursuit of groundbreaking research. But are IITians really willing to take up research as their career path? 

Recently, ISRO's Chairman Dr. S. Somanath candidly revealed that most IIT graduates are reluctant to join India's top space research organization. Reason - ISRO's not-so-attractive salary structure. While many country-bred IIT engineers are occupying the helm of global corporations, it is indeed surprising that less than 1% of them are employed in ISRO. Let's understand why IITians keep ISRO at arm's length during recruitment. 

Putting sweat and blood for fat pay packages? 

During an interview with a television channel, Dr. S. Somanath boldly addressed the elephant in the room. He said that IITians probably start with a salary which is highest at ISRO (Read ISRO Scientist Salary: See How Much India's Space Research Top Guns Earn!). As per him, this is the biggest deterrent that keeps IITians away from considering ISRO as their ideal workplace. 

"Our best talents are supposed to be engineers, and they are supposed to be IITians, but they are not joining ISRO. If we go and try to recruit from IIT, no one joins."

The Indian Institutes Of Technology or IITs are touted as the country's top engineering institutes, set up along the lines of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Declared as 'institutes of national importance', every year lakhs of students from diverse backgrounds put their noses to the grindstone to get admission into these colleges. Thousands of them are from economically weaker sections, dreaming of a better life on the other side of the IIT JEE exam. So, when it comes to taking up a job, the majority goes with lucrative pay packages at multinational firms. Only a minuscule section actually wants to apply the knowledge gained for research and development. They choose their passion for science over hefty pay packages. And this is the section of candidates that ISRO seeks. 

Talent goes beyond college tags

If IITians, who are considered country's top engineering minds, are not a major part of ISRO's workforce, who exactly is fueling India's space science success? As per ISRO's Chairman, 'money can not attract people at ISRO and that the space agency was hiring adequate talent to do the work it was doing.'

Asserting the difference between the 'best talent' and 'adequate talent', Dr. Somanath said that thousands of students don't get the opportunity to write exams for the IITs, but that doesn't make them less talented. Adding his own experience, he said, "When I was a student, I never had the opportunity to write an entrance exam to go to IIT. That didn't make me any less than people who took the exam."

Read: The Inspiring Story of Chandrayaan 3's  Project Director

Dr. S. Somanath has made a strong point indeed. Choosing between a corporate job with a seven-figure salary or taking up a career in research with decent pay is a personal choice. However, prejudice should not be a barrier to recognizing and valuing potential. Talent goes beyond the boundaries of colleges, cities, regions, or gender. True potential cannot be contained in a resume or validated through a college tag. 

Having said this, ISRO does offer a secure job, various perks, and a good work-life balance. What do you think? Would you like to join ISRO? What is your 'thought trajectory' regarding an ideal job? Feel free to leave your comments. 

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