NIT Raipur Mining Engineering is one of the best in the country. However, the prospects are very challenging so you will have to work hard to excel in this field. If you are confused about any branch, go through its strengths and weaknesses. For instance, a mining engineer gets paid handsomely but his working conditions are very challenging and may even affect his health. 

Generally, the placement scenario of branches like CSE, IT, and mining is very good. Last year 62 offers were made to 70 eligible students. I asked my friend for the detailed statistics and here is what he shared 

• The maximum salary package offered was 55 LPA.
• The minimum salary package offered ranges between 15 LPA - 25 LPA. 
• Around 85% of students got placed in various tech and non-tech companies. 
• Top recruiting companies are Vedantu, Adani, JSW, and Tata Steel. 
• About 40% of students got internships in non-core companies.

Overall, the mining engineering branch is a good choice if you are genuinely interested in the field.

The scope of Mining is very limited and can be accessed only if you are truly interested in Mining and are serious about pursuing a career in the same. I suggest you pursue higher education in Mining from an elite foreign university like Colorado School of Mines, Royal School of Mines, and University of New South Wales. This will nurture your technical skills to the best. Another suggestion in this regard is that you can also go for ISM. The enthusiasm for Mining at ISM is like nowhere else.

However, if you are after a good package rather than pursuing your enthusiasm, then IIT KGP is a better option. IIT KGP has an abundance of opportunities for the students academic environment is second to none. It offers extensive exposure and is thus most preferred by Engineering students of all branches. 

As far as recruiters are concerned, a large number of them offer jobs to students at IIT KGP mainly because of the credibility of the Institute irrespective of the branch. Also, very few companies offer core jobs in Mining. Therefore, most mining students end up with non-core jobs.

Some Core Companies for Mining visiting IIT KGP are

• Tata Steel
• Coal India ltd
• Vedanta Resources
• Jindal Steel Ltd

The average CTC is around 8 LPA. 

Joining a certain branch that you are not even interested in just for the IIT tag is not the most logical decision. One usually decides on a certain branch for 3 reasons; either to get a good package or to pursue your area of interest or to follow the majority. However, in the case of Mining Engineering, this is not the case at all. You won’t be available to avail either of these benefits because of its low demand. In fact you will end up with the following circumstances

• You will have to work extremely hard in the first year in order to get a branch change
• In case you are unable to get a branch change, you will start running after POR, join different clubs to work on your non Engineering abilities.
• During placements you will be more inclined towards Non-Core placements because of your aversion to Mining.

Still, if you are adamant about getting into IIT, then join only if 

• You want to work in analytics, consult or analyst after 4 years instead of Engineering 
• If you want to pursue MBA from an IIM
• If you want to switch your field after graduation.

The reason why I am suggesting you give up Engineering is that with Mining, you can literally pursue anything other than Engineering. So it’s better you make up your mind for the same or apply to other institutes.