India, June 22 -- A social media post by a 19-year-old student about what truly makes the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) stand out has struck a chord online, with many agreeing that it is the network and community, not just academics, that shape students' careers.

In an X post, Anurag Jha recalled a conversation with a friend studying at IIT Guwahati. He said that the IIT ecosystem offers much more than classrooms and professors. His friend described an IIT culture where seniors and alumni regularly guide students through online and offline interactions. The IITian also told him that seniors offer mentorship, recommend learning resources, help chart career roadmaps and in many cases, connect students with promising startups throu...