Top 6 Engineering Disciplines Popular in India!

As Kareena said in ‘3 Idiots', a typical intellectual Indian expects his son to become an engineer and his daughter to become a doctor.

Science has been a traditional choice as a stream for above average students in India at 10+2 level, preferably with Maths, so that they can appear for engineering entrance exams as soon as they are eligible for it. Not all engineers make it to the top; mostly because they choose the profession due to peer and parental pressure or because they just don't know which engineering discipline they really want to create a niche in. By the time they become engineers, they fall into the habit of following the herd to choose a field where there are most applicants.

At Shiksha, we encourage you to analyze your skills and explore different career options until you find the one that suits you. Also, we keep you informed about the traditional and trendy choices and educational trends, so that you can make informed decisions.

Here are the top 6 Engineering disciplines that are particularly popular with Indians - both as the traditional choices for intellectual types and the trendy fields for the cool youth:

Electrical Engineering

For the uninitiated, Electrical Engineering is far from repairing merely refrigerators, TVs, and fuses. From electric vehicles to microelectronics, signal processing and instrumentation to systems and electric networks, from control systems and electromagnetism to power generation techniques - Electrical Engineering and Electronics offers a lot of scope and job opportunities. On an average, fresh graduate Electrical Engineers get a placement of Rs 3 to 3.5 lakhs per annum.

Opportunities in Electrical Engineering and Electronics

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) OR Information Technology (IT)

Scope of Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology is increasing by leaps and bounds. Besides the hard-core IT sector and ITeS or IT-enabled services, Computer Software Engineers and IT engineers are employed in almost all the domains from education and healthcare to entertainment, automobile, banking, insurance, travel and tourism, construction and telecom - offering services to Hardware and Software Development, Networking, Cyber Security, Multimedia and Database Management departments.

Career Prospects in CSE or IT

Mechanical Engineering

Like Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering is one of the most ancient disciplines of engineering and everything from levers to manufacturing plants, wheels to vehicles and ships, heating and cooling systems to robots stem from the hard work of Mechanical Engineers. Equipped with the knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, kinematics, mechanics, materials science, energy and heat transfer, Mechanical Engineers find many takes across the industries.

Discipline of Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineers are in demand at mineral-based industries, petrochemical plants, synthetic fiber units, petroleum refining plants, chemical industries, refineries, pharmaceutical companies, paints manufacturers, fertilizer industry, textiles sector, plastics, and explosives. Besides, research organizations, laboratories, defence establishments, atomic power plants, and forensic investigation departments also need chemical engineering experts. Biochemical Engineering, covered above, is often seen as one of the most popular sub-branches of Chemical Engineering but other sub-arenas that attract engineering students with alluring career prospects are Nanotechnology and Environmental Engineering.

Scope of Chemical Engineering in India

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering sector did not give in to recession even during the darkest days. Civil Engineers are always in demand in the government sector, especially in the Railways. There are companies like Hindustan Construction that offer good opportunities and fat salary packages to Civil Engineers. With booming economy, India is focusing on building, re-building, repairing and maintaining its infrastructure and it has resulted in an increase in demand for graduates in Civil Engineering. Apart from building roads, canals, dams and bridges, Civil Engineers can go on to work on building projects and housing societies, make a career in quality testing laboratories, join military and defence services, or work as consultants.

Popular Civil Engineering Colleges in India

Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology

So, you heard that US investigators ascertained that the man they killed was indeed Osama Bin Laden with the help of a DNA test. Recombinant DNA technology or Genetic Engineering has emerged as a major focus area in the developing countries. Ministry of Science and Technology in India has a full-fledged Department of Biotechnology (DBT) that plans, promotes, and coordinates various biotechnological programmes such as development of vaccines, growth hormones and antibiotics. The DBT encourages postgraduate education and research in Biotechnology by offering scholarships to students selected through a National Test.

Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology Programs in India

Let's discuss which engineering discipline suits you most. Share your opinions on career prospects in different disciplines of engineering and whether one stream offers you an opening to more applied engineering fields than others.

- Compiled by Ruchi Shrimali | Shiksha.com