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Sep 2022

History and Current Scenario of Engineering Education in India

After India’s independence in 1947, the then prime minister envisioned the idea of establishing top engineering colleges in Uttarakhand and other parts of the country for the technological as well as the overall growth of the country. Just after taking oath as the first Prime Minister of India, he directed the country’s top educationists, planners, and thinkers to plan and establish some of the best engineering colleges across the country while bringing the B Tech admission fees down for students. Those responsible sought support from some most developed economies of those times like the United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom and Sweden, etc.

It all began in 1950

Before independence, there were only a few engineering colleges in India in which only B. E. degrees were granted as part of graduate-level engineering education mainly in the field of-
  • Civil engineering
  • Electrical engineering &
  • Mechanical engineering.
After the announcement made by Prime Minister Nehru, what the first three years saw was only planning, and after 1950, the country started seeing the establishment of top engineering colleges in India at the regional and national levels aimed mainly at offering graduate-level engineering education. After a decade, the country entered the era of postgraduate-level engineering education.

Polytechnic Institutions: A Big Game Changer 

While doing the same, both the government and planners have realized the need for diploma holders to have more focus on practical instead of theoretical engineering education, and as a result, a large number of polytechnic institutions came into existence across the country. These polytechnic institutions have played a great role in uplifting the level of technical education in the country by providing the candidates with ample job and nation-serving opportunities just after their 10th class examination. Until 1990, top engineering colleges in India were imparting engineering education based on the patterns of the British or American systems. It was the time when more industry-oriented disciplines were added to the field of high-quality engineering education, including-
  • Chemical engineering
  • Metallurgy engineering
  • Electronics and telecommunications engineering
  • Aeronautical engineering
  • Agriculture engineering
  • Mining engineering
  • Foundry
  • Paper
  • Sugar
  • Textile

The 1980s: The Concept of Management Introduced in Engineering Education

In the middle of the 1980s, the management techniques for properly managing the engineering enterprises were introducedIt was the need felt by the management of these institutions. They were of the view that this type of knowledge would play a great role not only in the proper functioning of different development projects but also to make the engineers of the country multitasking. To achieve the same, faculties of business management were deployed in various engineering colleges in India just like the United States had done years ago.

The Indians Created the Silicon Valley

From 1990 onwards, the introduction of computer technology was started mostly at a graduate-level courseIndia is said to be a little bit quicker in its approach to adopting computer education, and this fact needs no mention that today India has the world’s finest technocrats. Countless computer engineers from India migrated to the United States to take the credit for creating Silicon Valley over there. Later on, a more refined and specific version of engineering education was introduced in the Indian institutions called Information Technology.

Currently, India reportedly has:

  • 662 rural and urban engineering colleges
  • 1172 polytechnics
  • 35000 engineering teachers (including both graduate and postgraduates)
  • 23 Indian Institutes of Technology
  • 1 IISc. At Bangalore
  • Around 657000 students (combined).

Today, the country has one each national institute of technology for:

  • Sugar
  • Textile
  • Petroleum
  • Paper
  • Oil
  • Mining &
  • Agriculture
Today, more than 400000 skilled IT professionals working across the globe are Indians. In the past 15 years, the numbers of top engineering colleges have grown faster than anywhere else across the world for the following reasons-
  • Due to the Prime Minister’s Make in India mission, the country is expecting to reap the demographic dividend by making use of its youth where high-quality engineering education can play a pivotal role.
  • Rapid industrialization and economic growth
  • The youth’s growing inclination for engineering or technical education
  • Big-fat salary packages offered to engineer graduates and postgraduates
  • Hope for a bright and secure future.
  • More number of engineering colleges mean more opportunities for young people across the country
  • A lucrative career with international exposure.

The second highest largest number of students in India

Today, India has the second-largest number of engineering students. A large number of students even from abroad are also moving to India to take up engineering education in different disciplines. As English is the only medium of instruction in all top engineering colleges, things favor foreign students a lot. Another reason technical education has now become so popular and the most preferred choice for students from both India and abroad is placement facility which these engineering colleges provide as part of a top B Tech career promise. As per a recent assessment made by the United Nations, India holds the 6th position in the world as far as the fastest-growing economies are concerned. The recent advancements in the technological, scientific, and industrial areas have contributed a lot to making India one of the fastest emerging global powers. Under such a scenario, engineering education in the country has got a great role to play.

The Final Words

As per the scenario prevailing now, private engineering universities and colleges in the state of Uttarakhand and other parts of the country have provided a great alternative to those who can’t make it big in public institutions and universities. Today, if a list of the top engineering colleges in India is made, the number of private colleges in that list will stun you. These reputed private Engineering Colleges and Universities are imparting engineering education both at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate levels. Offering courses right from Computer Science to Chemical, Aerospace, Mechanical to Instrumental Engineering, students can opt for the courses here as per their preference and inclination. Those looking for the best engineering college with B Tech eligibility can also choose these private colleges to actualize their dreams. Apart from offering excellent placement packages, these colleges also offer diverse specializations to meet a large number of students’ interests along with gilt-edge infrastructure and global exposure.