A student from IIM Calcutta secured an internship that pays Rs 3.5 lakh a month, sparking fresh controversy over the importance of formal education and degrees. Sakshi Jain, founder of Viralyze Media, a branding agency, tweeted the tale on X (previously Twitter) and LinkedIn. According to her, her friend, who is presently enrolled in IIM Calcutta's MBA program, has landed a two-month summer internship in Mumbai with a total salary of Rs 7 lakh.
Sakshi wrote, “Met a friend from IIM yesterday. She’s in Mumbai for her summer internship. And she’s getting paid Rs 3.5 lakh per month. Yeah, my jaw dropped too.”
The high stipend caused her to consider the ongoing importance of degrees, particularly those from prestigious universities like IIMs. Although social media frequently claims that degrees are irrelevant, Sakshi acknowledged that this particular instance caused her to pause.
“We love saying ‘degrees don’t matter’ online. And I’ve believed that too. But sometimes, you come across moments that make you think twice,” she wrote. “Maybe degrees don’t matter everywhere. But sometimes, they open doors you never knew existed.”
Sakshi acknowledged in her LinkedIn post that education isn't the main factor in success. There are numerous ways for people to develop successful professions. However, she claimed that degrees from universities such as IIMs and IITs frequently provide students with a significant advantage. She concluded by saying, “There are many ways to reach success. Each path is valid.”
Responses From Social media
Since then, her post has received hundreds of reactions and over 1.5 million views on X. Many users shared similar stories of their friends or batchmates receiving high-paying internships from top colleges. "Recently met some IIT students," one user commented. One of them received a Rs 25 lakh internship for two months. That amounts to Rs 12.5 lakh a month.
"People can say 'MBA doesn't matter,' but IIM A, B, and C are in a league of their own," said another comment. That branding remains with you indefinitely. "It's something to be proud of, India's IITs and IIMs are counted among the best in the world," someone commented. IIM Calcutta is one of India’s most prestigious business schools. Its alumni include well-known names like Indra Nooyi and Ramachandra Guha.
