Nagpur students return to core engineering branches as mechanical, civil admissions rise
As AI reshapes IT hiring, more students are choosing mechanical, civil, electrical and ENTC engineering alongside computer engineering.
With the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) growing in Nagpur district, students are again leaning towards core branches in engineering education. Alongside computer engineering, students are now moving quickly into basic streams such as mechanical, civil, electrical and electronics and telecommunication (ENTC).
The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell) has released data for the past three years that makes the picture clear. In the first-year admission process for the state's 387 engineering colleges, 1,81,927 students confirmed admission this year. The highest number, 28,170, was in computer engineering.
Admissions to core branches have also risen steadily over the past three years. In mechanical engineering, admissions rose from 16,122 to 19,702, an increase of 3,580 students. In civil, the number rose from 10,719 to 14,213. In electrical, admissions went from 9,063 to 11,726, and in ENTC from 17,343 to 18,895.
It is good news for the Nagpur region as well. Engineering colleges under Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and Gondwana University took in 17,084 students this time. These colleges have about 5,000 core branch seats, and about 80 per cent of them have been filled.
In some well-known colleges, no seat has been left vacant in civil, mechanical and other core branches. The situation used to be different. About 50 per cent of seats then remained vacant and were not filled even after the fourth round. According to professors, the job trend will change further in the next two to three years.
According to Prof. Sachin Untawale, director of Raisoni College of Engineering, the growing use of AI in the IT services sector is changing companies' recruitment process. Companies no longer want engineers who only know programming. They want engineers with domain knowledge of the relevant field and an understanding of AI. In such a situation, knowledge of AI and new technologies has become important for core branch students from the point of view of employment.
Prof. Mahendra Umre of the civil department at KDK College says the return of students to core branches is a sign of a changing job market. According to him, during the four-year degree students can add to their skills by taking online certificate courses in machine learning, AI and other technical fields. In this way, it is possible to combine AI skills with core engineering studies.
