What is engineering?
Engineering is part and parcel of the history of human civilization. The Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the Parthenon and the Eiffel Tower stand today as monuments to our heritage of engineering. Today's engineers not only build huge structures, such as the International Space Station, but they are also building maps to the human genome and better, smaller computer chips and created the steam engine. In fact, that's where the word 'engineer' comes from: engineers are the individuals responsible for building everything from the steam engine to the engine in your car. But, what exactly is engineering?
Engineering is a scientific field and job that involves taking our scientific understanding of the natural world and using it to invent, design, and build things to solve problems and achieve practical goals. This can include the development of roads, bridges, cars, planes, machines, tools, processes, and computers. The things engineers build are called technology. Without technology, the modern world simply wouldn't exist. We're surrounded by the work of engineers practically every moment of our lives.
Engineers are at the center of innovation and one of the most sought after professionals in the country. They provide technological solutions to the problems, issues and ideas that affect every area of our lives and are responsible for technological advancements. According to a 2018-19 report of the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) powered by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), Engineering is the third major stream with 37.70 lakh students enrolled at the undergraduate level. The share of male student enrolled in Engineering and Technology is 71.1 per cent where female enrolment is 28.9 per cent.
Engineering Entrance Exams:
Engineering is undoubtedly one of the most coveted and most enticing career paths today, if you have the correct aptitude. There is a need of engineers in every field one can imagine. However, owing to the vast number of engineering colleges/Institutes in the country, it has become very important to know which one will be worth being to take admission. Therefore, it is equally important to know about Engineering Entrance Exams of worth to put your time and efforts into it. Here, we have compiled a list of the top Engineering Entrance Exams in India.
1. JEE (Main)
In a list of top engineering entrance exams, the first spot will have to be reserved for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), previously known as the AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam). The entrance exam is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) twice a year in month of January and April for upcoming Academic session. The best score in both the exam (i.e. Best score of exams of month of January and April) is considered for merit. It offers admissions into NITs (National Institutes of Technology), and also in large number of CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutes). The exam is also a gate way for admission in IITs. It is qualifying exam for appearing exam of JEE (Advanced) which in turn offers admissions in IITs. The duration of the exam is 3 hours long and is multiple choice in nature. The examination is divided into two papers – Paper-1 is for B.Tech/B.E and Paper-2 is for B.Arch or B.Planning.
2. JEE (Advanced)
Top scorer of certain Number of candidates (as decided by exam conducting body of JEE Advanced) from JEE Main exam are eligible for appearing in JEE Advanced for nearly 10,000 seats in 23 IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology). The best score of both the exam of JEE (Main) is considered for merit for eligibility for JEE (advanced). Due to its low acceptance rate, this is considered to be one of the most difficult exams of the country and not only in the list of engineering entrance exams.
3. BITSAT
The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) conduct their University level engineering entrance examination every year for new admissions. BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test) offers admission to all eligible applicants into the three campuses of BITS in Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad. Around 2 lakh applicants appear for this examination every year making it a very sought after the entrance exam. The duration of the online examination is 3 hours and the objective based question paper is divided into four sections – Physics, Chemistry, English Proficiency and Logical Reasoning and finally Mathematics. Around 2,000 seats are available for admission. Aspiring candidate must score Minimum 75% aggregate marks in PCM in 12th standard for admission in BTech and Minimum 75% aggregate marks in PCM / PCB in 12th standard for admission in B.Pharma with minimum 60% marks in each subject i.e. PCMB.
4. VITEEE
VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam) is conducted for admission into the two campuses of VIT – Chennai, and Vellore. VIT Vellore is largely deemed to be the best amongst private engineering colleges. Around 2 lakh candidates appear for VITEEE every year, for nearly 5000 seats.
5. SRMJEEE
Almost 1.5 lakh candidates appear every year for SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam, organized by SRM Institute of Science and Technology. The institute offers approximately 7000 seats across its campuses in NCR Ghaziabad, Kattankulathur, Ramapuram, and Ramapuram Part II – Vadapalani. The first 1000 IIT JEE rank holders are eligible for direct admission, as are the top rank-holders of central and state board-examinations.
6. KIITEEE
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology’s (KIIT) engineering entrance exam witnesses about 1-1.5 lakh candidates every year. Located in the city of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, KIIT offers admissions to its 19 constituent schools, such as the School of Civil Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Biotechnology, and so on
7. MU-OET
Manipal University conducts the MU-OET (Online Entrance Test) as an umbrella entrance exam. The engineering entrance exam of MU-OET grants admission to candidates into the Manipal Institute of Technology. MIT offers almost 2000 seats every year into its varied courses, such as B. Tech. (Aeronautical Engineering), B. Tech. (Biomedical Engineering), B. Tech. (Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering), B. Tech. (Media Technology), and so on.
8. IPU CET
Nearly 1 lakh aspirants attempt the IPU CET (Common Entrance Test) every year, conducted by the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). This engineering entrance exam offers admissions to nearly 6000 seats in 35 affiliated government institutions, and 81 affiliated private institutions. These institutes are spread across Delhi NCR. Admissions are dependent upon the rank attained by the candidate in the IPU CET.
9. GATE
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is an online national level examination conducted for Master of Engineering (ME), Masters in Technology (MTech) and direct PhD admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other institutes/universities across India. The exam is jointly conducted by IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee and Indian Institute for Science, Bangalore (IISC Bangalore), on a rotational basis on behalf of the National Coordination Board (NCB - GATE), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource & Development (MHRD), Government of India.
Specializations in Engineering
1. Acoustic Engineering
Acoustic or Sound Engineering teaches students how to design sound-proof buildings and rooms, and develop techniques, and sound-absorbing materials to reduce noise. Correspondingly, it plays a key role in enhancing the sound quality for public platforms, such as auditoriums and halls. At a time when the real estate industry is experiencing an unprecedented boom, this discipline offers great opportunities.
2. Aeronautical / Aerospace / Astronautical Engineering:
An Aeronautical engineer is involved in developing various technologies related to aircrafts, spaceships and missiles. Aeronautics and astronautics are among the most popular of engineering disciplines. In analogy with "aeronautical engineering", the branch is sometimes referred to as astronautical engineering, although this term usually only concerns craft which operate in outer space.
3. Agriculture Engineering:
Agricultural engineers work in irrigation and land conservation projects; and efficient processing, transporting and storing of agricultural products for maximum freshness and minimum losses; and also to reduce any kind of human effort involved in these chores.
4. Automobiles engineering:
Students of this branch of engineering study about developing various technologies related to automobiles and other vehicles as well as their design and production. With the growing automobile industry, this branch of engineering provides lucrative job opportunities and excellent compensation for fresh engineering graduates as well as experienced professionals.
5. Biochemical Engineering:
Biochemical engineering is a branch of chemical engineering that mainly deals with the design and construction of unit processes that involve biological organisms or molecules. Biochemical engineering is often taught as a supplementary option to chemical engineering due to the similarities in both the background subject curriculum and problem-solving techniques used by both professions. Its applications are used in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and water treatment industries
6. Biomedical Engineering:
Biomedical engineering (BME) is the application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field. It combines the design and problem solving expertise of engineering with the medical expertise of physicians to help improve patient health care and the quality of life of healthy individuals. As a relatively new discipline, much of the work in biomedical engineering consists of research and development, covering an array of fields: bioinformatics, medical imaging, image processing, physiological signal processing, biomechanics, biomaterials and bioengineering, systems analysis, 3-D modeling, etc.
7. Chemical Engineering:
is the branch of engineering that deals with the application of physical science (e.g. chemistry and physics), with mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. A person employed in this field is called a chemical engineer. Chemical engineering largely involves barfing and reproducing. Chemical engineers in this branch are usually employed under the title of process engineer. The development of the large-scale processes characteristic of industrialized economies is a feat of chemical engineering, not chemistry. Indeed, chemical engineers are responsible for the availability of the modern high-quality materials that are essential for running an industrial economy.
8. Civil engineering:
one of the oldest branches of engineering and the first to develop scientific principles -- deals mainly with construction. Their applications can be found in construction of buildings, bridges, roads, highways, flyovers and all kinds of structures for airports, railways and many other constructions. The real estate, infrastructure, and construction industry is growing at a very fast pace in India. These industries serve as excellent career options for civil engineers and architects.
9. Computers engineering/ Software engineering/ Information Technology:
In Computer Science and Software Engineering branches, both the hardware and software of computers is taught. This branch of engineering deals with all aspects of Information technology, like applications of artificial intelligence, robotics and computations used in modern industrial scenario. Software involves learning programming languages and operating systems, which may be used to develop application programs for man-machine interface.
Computer engineering (also called electronic and computer engineering) is a discipline that combines elements of both electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineers are electrical engineers that have additional training in the areas of software design and hardware-software integration. In turn, they focus less on power electronics and physics. Computer engineers are involved in many aspects of computing, from the design of individual microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design. This engineering discipline is especially useful for integrating embedded systems into devices and machines (for example, several embedded computer systems are used to control and monitor the many subsystems in motor vehicles). Usual tasks involving computer engineers include writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, designing VLSI chips, designing analog sensors, designing mixed signal circuit boards, and designing operating systems. Computer engineers are also suited for robotics research, which relies heavily on using digital systems to control and monitor electrical systems like motors, communications, and sensors.
Information technology (IT) is the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware. In short, IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert, store, protect, process, transmit and retrieve information.
Software engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software. The discipline of software engineering encompasses knowledge, tools, and methods for defining software requirements, and performing software design, software construction, software testing, and software maintenance tasks. Software engineering also draws on knowledge from fields such as computer engineering, computer science, management, mathematics, project management, quality management, software ergonomics, and systems engineering.
10. Electronics engineering/ Electronics and Tele-Communication:
Electronics engineering essentially deals with the production of all kinds of electronic equipment, computers, medical and scientific electronic instruments and consumer durables. An electronics and communications engineer specializes in telecommunication equipment and processes. There is a high demand for electronics and communications engineers so as to meet the growing requirements of the telecom software development industry, telecom equipment manufacturers and service providers.
11. Electrical engineering:
is involved in developing, producing and testing of electrical and electronic machines, such as generators and motors. They also deal with power production and distribution systems. In India, telecom software industry has been hiring electrical engineers in great numbers.
12. Environment engineering:
This branch of engineering deals with prevention and control of toxic pollution like air, water, soil and noise. They also build environment friendly industrial processes. Environment engineers are trained in technologies related to public health, public works, waste management, and environmental protection and remediation.
13. Geomatic Engineering:
It is a rapidly developing discipline that focuses on spatial information. The location is the primary factor used to integrate a very wide range of data for viewing and analysis. Geomatics engineers apply engineering principles to spatial information and implement relational data structures involving measurement sciences, thus using geomatics and acting as spatial information engineers. Geomatics engineers manage local, regional, national and global spatial data infrastructures. Geomatics Engineering also involves aspects of Computer Engineering and Civil Engineering.
14. Mechatronics Engineering:
Mechatronics is the synergistic combination of mechanical engineering ("mecha" for mechanisms, i.e., machines that 'move'), electronic engineering ("tronics" for electronics), and software engineering. The purpose of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study of automata from an engineering perspective and serves the purposes of controlling advanced hybrid systems.
15. Instrumentation engineering:
Instrumentation Engineering is concerned with measurement and control of processes in industry. For example, an instrumentation engineer may be involved with production or design or maintenance of flow measuring equipment.
16. Mechanical engineering:
A mechanical engineer studies about production transmission and the use of mechanical power and designing, operating and testing of various types of machines. Mechanical engineering finds applications in all fields of technology. These engineers are required in various industries, such as automobile, chemical, electronics, steel plants, oil exploration and refining, technical wings of armed forces, and space research organization.
17. Nuclear engineering:
As a field of study revolves around the technological application of nuclear energy for the production of energy and related equipment.
18. Systems engineering:
is geared towards the design and development of large and complex systems, such as the intercontinental ballistic missiles system. It uses results of systems theories and shares techniques with operations research and is akin to software engineering, which also tackles designing complex systems.
19. Polymer engineering:
This branch of engineering is concerned with production of Polymers, their processes and applications.
20. Petroleum engineering:
This branch of engineering deals in the production, storage and transportation of petroleum and natural gas.
21. Industrial/ Production engineering:
Both Industrial and Production Engineering apply engineering analysis and techniques to the production of goods and techniques, more particularly, mathematical models to simulate flow of work through the organization and to evaluate the effects of any proposed changes.
22. Metallurgical engineering:
is concerned with the study of structure, properties, production and use of various materials – metallic and non-metallic. It deals with refining ores to a pure state (extractive metallurgy) and converting refined materials into useful finished products (physical metallurgy)
23. Marine engineering/ Naval architecture:
Marine Engineering is related to the production and maintenance of marine machinery and equipment which are used in commercial ships and naval bases. Naval Architecture deals with the design and construction of ships as well as other vehicles.
24. Mining engineering:
is the integrated application of multiple scientific and engineering disciplines related to the extraction of natural materials from the earth’s crust.
25. Ocean engineering:
deals with the design and installation of all kinds of equipment used in large water bodies.
26. Textile engineering:
is concerned with machinery and processes used to produce both natural and synthetic fibers and textiles.
27. Bio-tech
28. Genetics
Which Type of Engineering Should You Study?
Engineering is a very vast subject having different types to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. To help yourself decide, one should try and identify their passion and seek things what makes you excited and make you spend your leisure time. Each type include problem-solving which also helps in making life easier but the main matter is which Engineering-related clause gives you more awakeness?
Choosing a subject in which you are naturally interested in, keeps you motivated and involved in subjects more easily while pursuing an Engineering career.
Checkout the points which will help you more in choosing the right branch in your Engineering career:
1. Aerospace/aeronautical engineering-
- You’re fascinated by the history and methodology behind flying machines, from the earliest conceptual sketches to the advancement of modern jets.
- You have a keen interest in the mechanics of flight travel.
- You’re intrigued by computer simulations and in seeing how aircraft machinery performs under extreme conditions.
Studying Aeronautical Engineering helps you get specialize in aerodynamics, aeroelasticity, composites analysis, avionics, propulsion and structures and materials.
2. Chemical engineering-
- You have an analytical mindset.
- You’re also considering studying chemistry or another natural/life science.
- You’re interested in the chemical processes behind producing everyday items.
Studying Chemical Engineering helps you get specialize in chemical reaction engineering, plant design, process engineering, process design or transport phenomena.
3. Civil engineering-
- You’re interested in designing and building things.
- You’re interested in mechanics, hydraulics, geotechnics (using knowledge of the Earth’s crust to solve construction problems), materials science and statistical analysis.
- You’d like to develop your design skills, particularly in computer-aided design.
Studying Civil Engineering include structural engineering, architectural engineering, transportation engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering and hydraulic engineering.
4. Computer engineering-
- You’re interested in an engineering career related to computers – for example as a software developer or computer engineer.
- You’re interested in mathematics, science and computers, and want to learn more about how computers operate at a physical level.
- You want to produce new products and systems based on the technological advances of computer scientists.
Computer Engineering specializations overlap with those offered in computer science degrees, for example with subjects such as computer graphics and network security. However, specialized subjects generally unique to computer engineering include microprocessor/microcontroller systems, computer architecture and VHDL (hardware description language) design.
5. Electrical/ Electronic engineering-
- You’re interested in how electrical devices and systems work.
- You want to help power the next phase of technological developments.
- You naturally want to understand how any electrical system is set up and have ideas for how it could be improved.
Electrical engineering specializations are in the following areas of electrical and electronics engineering: power generation and supply, communications and media, computer systems and robotic systems.
6. Mechanical engineering-
- You like fiddling with mechanical devices (you could also consider aeronautical engineering).
- You’re interested in coming up with new and innovative designs in fields such as sustainable energy and artificial intelligence.
- You’re interested in working as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop and improve mechanical technologies
Mechanical engineering is a very broad subject, which overlaps with lots of other types of engineering. However, the most common specializations of mechanical engineering include manufacturing, transportation systems, combustion, nanotechnology and robotics. Mechatronics engineering may also be of interest; this combines mechanical and electronic engineering with areas such as computer and control engineering.
7. Engineering Management-
- You’re interested in understanding how engineering is applied within different types of business, and the challenges involved in both technical and organizational terms.
- You want to quickly take on a managerial role, while also applying your technical knowledge.
- You want to oversee the development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of products.
Engineering management is another broad area, but types of engineering management that you may like to specialize in include: engineering mathematics, management science, operations management, decision engineering, business statistics and engineering statistics.
