Engineering is by itself a vast field and it offers infinite scope for specialisation. Engineering involves the application of the principles of Science and Mathematics to developing new technologies towards improving the conditions of our life. The thrills of discovery, the challenge of the unknown, the power to build new things and improve upon existing structures - these give tremendous joy to the engineer. There is no area of modern life that has not been replenished and invigorated by engineering technology.
This field is so vast and myriad that it can satisfy the creative needs of a broad spectrum of people. Researching ideas, design, development and commercial application of these ideas, managing resources, people and processes, marketing etc. are some of the diverse activities that engineers involve in.
Main Branches in Engineering: The 3 traditional branches in Engineering are – Civil, Mechanical and Electrical. Today the fast paced development of technology has led to diversification of study into a wide variety of areas like – Aeronautical Engineering, Chemical, Metallurgy, Mining, Electronics, Ceramics, Plastics, Computers, Industrial, Petroleum, Textile Engineering etc. Each of these graduate level programmes lead to a variety of specialisations at the postgraduate level.
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering
This branch specialises in the development of new technology for use in aviation, defence systems and space exploration. The development and research of commercial and military aircraft, missiles, spaceships and related equipment is the work of the aeronautical engineer.
Ceramic Engineering
Ceramic Engineering involves the production of ceramic products like glass, semi-conductors, engine parts, fibre-optic phone lines, tiles, electric power line insulators etc.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering involves various types of small and big construction activities including building roads, airports, tunnels, bridges, water supply and sewage systems etc. Further specialisation is available in areas like structural, environmental, transport, construction engineering etc.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering combines the knowledge of Che-mistry and Engineering for the production of chemicals and related products. These engineers are employed in such industries as pharmaceuticals, food, chemical, oil etc.
Computer Engineering
It is concerned with the design and development of computer hardware and software.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
It is a branch of engineering that monitors the production of electrical and electronic equipment. Power generation and transmission, communication, computer electronic and electrical equipment manufacture are some areas of specialisation offered in this branch.
Automobile Engineering
Automobile Engineering deals in the design, development and maintenance of automobiles and related spare parts.
Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering deals in the design and manufacture of agricultural machinery, irrigation, drainage, farm resource planning, construction of farm buildings etc.
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering studies the production resources of an industry – i.e. people, materials, information, fuel, energy etc. and ensures the effective utilization of these in the production process. The Industrial engineer interfaces between the management and operations sectors in order to ascertain the proper use of available industrial resources.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering involves the design and production of tools, machines, engines etc. to be used in other industries.
Metallurgical Engineering
Metallurgical Engineering is a field that explores the extraction and processing of metals and metal alloys. The experts in this branch can get employment in metallurgical industries, fabrication units, engineering workshops and R & D labs.
Mining Engineers
Mining Engineers work in the extraction and preparation of metals to be used in manufacturing units. They locate mines, design open pit and underground mines, supervise the entire mining operations and devise the methods of transportation of it to the processing plants.
Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering explores oil and natural gas reservoirs and decides on the most economic and effective means of oil drilling and recovery.
Textile Engineering
Textile Engineering is involved in the design and development of systems to test and manufacture fibres and fibre products.
Biochemical Engineering
Biochemical Engineering is concerned with the research and development of plants for processing biochemicals used for effluent treatment, pest control and drugs.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering combines the knowledge of engineering and biology to solve medical and physiological problems.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering addresses issues related to environment and is concerned with processes to conserve and secure the environment.
Instrumentation Engineering
Instrumentation Engineering is concerned with the development and maintenance of instrument systems.
Marine Engineering
Marine Engineering involves the design and development of machinery related to ships and other aquatic propulsion systems.
Naval Architecture
Naval Architecture involves the design of systems that have to move above, on or under the sea.
Microelectronics
There is tremendous opportunity in chip design as technology is increasingly moving towards embedded software (in hardware). Only a handful of engineering colleges in India offer specialisation in microelectronics at the moment. The main ones are IIT-Mumbai, IITMadras, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Guwahati and BITS, Pilani, which offer ME/MTech Microelectronics with/without VLSI Design (Very Large Scale Integrated Design). IIT-Madras also offers a 5-year dual degree (B.Tech and M.Tech) in Microelectronics & VLSI Design. IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur only offer M.Tech in VLSI Design
Training Programme
The degree course in Engineering is of four years duration. Students who have successfully completed +2/equivalent programme with Physics, Chemistry and Maths can enrol for the graduate programme.
Selection process varies from university to university. Selection to the various Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) is based on a Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani selects candidates on the basis of their performance at the +2 level. In Maharastra selection is based on an state wise entrance (MHCET) held in the month of May.
All-India examination conducted by the seven Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore, on behalf of the National Coordinating Board-GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD), Government of India. Admission to Postgraduate Courses, with MHRD scholarship/assistantship, in engineering/technology/ architecture/pharmacy at colleges/institutes/universitie in the country will be open only to those who qualify in GATE. Some colleges/institutes specify GATE as mandatory qualification even for admission of self-financing students. Some industries and foreign universities have indicated their interest in GATE qualified candidates. GATE qualified candidates in the engineering disciplines are also eligible for the award of Junior Research Fellowship in CSIR Laboratories. GATE office also conducts JMET and CEED examinations. Appearing for Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) is the first step in the process of seeking admission to the Post-Graduate Degree Programmes in Management offered by IITs.