Established in 1964, BITS has produced some of the country’s most successful and innovative technology entrepreneurs. Between 2013 and 2016, alumni of the four BITS campuses—Pilani, Hyderabad, Goa, and Dubai—launched around 500 startups, according to data from startup research firm Xeler8. Unlike other Indian engineering schools, BITS is known for giving students the freedom from strictly following the curriculum, allowing them to spend time innovating and experimenting. But that flexibility, apparently, comes at a price.

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