Career Counselling for Career as an Engineer

In our country to become an engineer, one has to qualify in engineering from any of the recognized institutions. In India, there are three levels of engineering courses available at engineering institutions. They are Degree (B.E./ B.Tech. etc) and postgraduate degree courses offered by engineering colleges (both in government and private sector), different universities (Example- Delhi University, Mumbai University, Pune University, etc.), National Institute of Technology (NIT) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). There are also many diploma courses by Polytechnics Training in Engineering skills offered by Industrial Training Institutes (ITI).

How to become an Engineer?

Besides the BE/B.Tech. technical courses conducted by colleges/NITS/ IITs and other central institutes, there are bodies recognized by the Government of India to award AMIE (Associate Member of Institution of Engineers) comparable to any degree in engineering to cater mainly to working people in the public and private sectors. If a student who cannot join an engineering college due to any reason can complete a diploma in engineering from any of the polytechnic colleges and then admit himself into an college through lateral entry scheme or can complete AMIE to become a degree holder equivalent to B.E. / B.Tech. in engineering.

Eligibility and Courses:

In India, to join an engineering course, a student has to opt for science stream after High School Leaving Certificate Examination (Class X examination). At Higher Secondary (10+2) level, the student will have to opt for subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (PCM compulsory); and any of the bifocal subjects such as – Computer Science, Biology, Biotechnology and Engineering Drawing etc. Though majority of the branches of engineering colleges require Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects at (10+2) level, some of the branches also permit admission to students having Mathematics and Physics as compulsory subjects and any one of the subjects such as Chemistry/Computer Science Biology/ Biotechnology Engineering Drawing as the third subject.

Science student after completing B.Sc. (Bachelor in Science) with major in Physics, Chemistry Mathematics can also join any of the 3 years B.Tech. program in engineering offered by some engineering institutions/universities.

An aspiring engineer has various branches to choose from. Some of the engineering branches are listed below:

1.      Aerospace Engineering

2.      Agricultural

3.      Architectural

4.      Automobile Engineering

5.      Bioengineering/ Biomedical

6.      Biotechnology

7.      Ceramic

8.      Chemical Engineering

9.      Civil

10.  Computer Engineering

11.  Electrical

12.  Electronics

13.  Electronics and Computer Science

14.  Electronics and Tele- communications

15.  Environmental Engineering

16.  Fire protection

17.  Industrial

18.  IT Engineering

19.  Manufacturing

20.  Mechanical Engineering

21.  Metallurgy and Materials

22.  Mineral and Mining Engineering

23.  Nuclear

24.  Ocean

25.  Production Engineering

26.  Transportation

Some of the sought-after Engineering Institutes are:

• Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)
• Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pillani.
• Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi.
• National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
• Government Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra and other States.
• Private Engineering Colleges in some States.
• Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs)

Important Engineering Entrance Exams :

Admission process for Government and Private Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra

Government and Private Colleges of Maharashtra will give admissions based on a student’s performance in the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test i.e. MHT CET. MHT CET exam is of 200 marks with a duration of 3 hrs. The paper will be based only on Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics of Std XII syllabus. The Paper I consists of 50 questions of physics & chemistry. The duration of the paper is 90 minutes . 1 mark is awarded for every correct answer. Paper 2 consists of 50 questions of mathematics. The duration of paper II is 90 minutes with 2 marks awarded for every correct answer. No marks are deducted if the student gives the wrong answer i.e. there is no negative marking.

Admission process for the IITs

 The JEE exams will consist of 2 Tests they are the Main Test and Advanced Test which will test students in their problem-solving ability in basic science subjects – Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. IIT JEE Main Test for 3 Hrs. IIT JEE Advanced two test 3 Hrs each. Only the Top 2,00.000 candidates (including all categories) based on performance in JEE (Mains) will qualify to appear in the JEE (Advanced) examination, which will rank candidates for admissions to IITs, provided the candidates are among the 20% high scorers of their respective boards or have at least scored 75% in Std. XII board examination whichever is lowest will be considered. As the above selection pattern gives substantial importance to the Std. XII Board marks, every student must prepare well not only for the proposed JEE but for Std. XII also.

The admission process of NITs, IIITs and BIT (Ranchi)

NITs, IITs and BIT (Ranchi) will give admissions on the basis of a student’s performance in the JEE Main and Board Exams. 40% weightage will be given to Std XII Board marks and 60% to the performance in the Main exam. All India Rank for NITs, IITs and BIT (Ranchi) will be given separately on the basis of a student’s combined performance in Std. XII board and JEE Main exam.

JEE Main exam is of 360 marks consisting of the subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The test is of 3 hrs duration and it consists of 90 questions. 4 marks are awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer. The paper comprises of 30 questions each from the subject – Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

 Admission process for the BITSAT

 The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, is one of the top University which offers Degree Engineering Courses at its Pilani campus, Goa campus, Hyderabad campus & Dubai campus. The admission in these institutes to its Degree Engineering Program is through BITSAT. The aspiring candidate should have passed the final examination of 10 + 2 Higher secondary education  or its equivalent, with a paper each in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, with adequate proficiency in English. The student should have obtained a minimum of aggregate 75% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Std. XII examination, with at least 60% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics each. Direct admission is given to the students who are Std XII Board toppers

 Students who are appearing for Std. XIl exam are eligible to appear for BITSAT, subject to their fulfilling the requirement of minimum marks in Std XII exam, as mentioned above BITSAT is a 450 marks exam and has negative marking scheme. The test is of 3 hrs. duration and it consists of 150 questions. 3 marks are awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer. The test consists of 40 questions from physics and chemistry each, 45 questions of mathematics, 15 questions of English proficiency and 10 questions on Logical Reasoning.