The Viability of Pursuing Engineering in the Modern Era

The State of Engineering Education in India

Engineering has long been considered a prestigious and lucrative career path in India. However, the quality of education provided by numerous engineering colleges has come under scrutiny. While elite institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and top engineering colleges in regions such as Punjab maintain high standards, the majority struggle to meet industry requirements. This mismatch has led to a decline in admissions and the closure of several engineering colleges.

AICTE Reports: A Decline in Engineering Seats

Recent AICTE reports paint a stark picture of the engineering education sector:

• Nearly 200 engineering colleges have applied for closure, signaling a reduction of over 80,000 seats, with projections indicating a future decrease of up to 310,000 seats.
• Since 2016, there has been an annual decline of approximately 75,000 engineering seats.
• In the 2018-19 academic year, the total intake capacity was 3,392,759, with actual enrollments at 1,814,770, representing a 53.4% fill rate.
• The 2017-18 academic year saw a total intake of 3,552,377 and enrollments of 1,895,366, a 53.3% fill rate.
• The year 2008-09 witnessed a 30% increase in engineering admissions, the highest since 2001, with over 700 new colleges approved.
• In 2016-17, half of the 1.55 million BE/B.Tech seats remained vacant across 3,291 engineering colleges in India.

AICTE's Response to the Crisis

AICTE has taken decisive action in response to these trends:

• From 2014-15 to 2017-18, over 410 colleges were approved for closure.
• The council aims to shut down approximately 800 engineering colleges due to low admissions.
• Roughly 150 colleges voluntarily close each year due to AICTE's stringent regulations, which mandate closure for colleges with inadequate infrastructure and less than 30% admissions over five consecutive years.

Engineering Employment Prospects

A study by Aspiring Minds, an employment solutions company in New Delhi, revealed alarming statistics about the employability of engineering graduates:

• 97% of graduates seek jobs in core or software engineering, yet only 3% possess the skills for software/product market roles, and a mere 7% are equipped for core engineering tasks.
• India has 6,214 engineering and technology institutes, enrolling 2.9 million students, with 1.5 million engineers entering the job market annually. However, the quality of higher education often leaves them ill-prepared for employment.

Unemployment Among Engineers

AICTE data shows that only 41.36% of students from top engineering colleges secured jobs during the 2015-16 placement season, despite a pass rate of 78.67%. The placement rate has stagnated around 38.17% since the 2013-14 academic year. Aspire Minds reports that approximately 80% of Indian engineering graduates are unemployable, with many forced into non-engineering roles or facing unemployment. Automation is cited as a key factor in the reduced intake of IT engineers, with predictions that 40% of jobs globally could be lost by 2021.

Conclusion: To Engineer or Not to Engineer?

The data and reports serve as a wake-up call for the future of engineering. Aspiring engineers must carefully consider their options and the changing dynamics of the job market before committing to this field.

For more detailed statistics and insights, refer to the AICTE reports and studies by Aspiring Minds.