Bhubaneswar, Dec. 2 -- More than 20 companies were barred from the current placement season across the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) after they revoked job offers made to students during the last academic year, in several cases as late as June or July, just before the scheduled date of joining.Although the banned firms may still hire candidates through off-campus procedures, they will not be allowed to participate in this year's official placement drive, a decision taken unanimously by all IITs.

Officials explained that many students, once holding job offers, were not permitted by their institutes to sit for further interviews. As a result, these last-minute cancellations not only disrupted career plans but also had a serious im...