Engineering programmes: Govt colleges see surge in admissions

In the academic year 2022-23, out of a total of 9,839 seats in government engineering colleges, 4,973 (50.54 per cent) seats were filled. As per the data maintained by the Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC), after restructuring, out of 9,385 seats, 6,590 (70.22 per cent) seats were filled in 2023-24 in an increase of 33.51 per cent as compared to the previous year. In yet another surge in 2024-25, out of 9,385 seats, 7,827 (83.4 per cent) seats were filled — 57.38 per cent higher than in 2022-23.

“An analysis of data trends of the last 10 years was taken into account. Seats in colleges in certain branches that were going vacant were shifted to other areas where there was a demand. Also, factors like employability were taken into account,” Commissioner of Technical Education Banchha Nidhi Pani told The Indian Express while giving details about the strategy for restructuring.

Also, 1,614 seats in new emerging branches were introduced in the government engineering colleges in the year 2022-23. In 2023-24, 90 per cent of such seats were filled — 1,452 out of 1,614. Further, in the year 2024-25, 94.49 per cent of seats — 1,525 out of 1,614  — were filled, as per the data shared.

Similarly, in the diploma engineering colleges, in 2024-24, out of 20,698 seats, 17,715 seats (85.59 per cent) were filled — 23.3 per cent higher than the previous year’s intake.

In 2024-25, out of a total of 20,698 seats, 17,747 seats were filled (85.74 per cent) in an increase of 23.52 per cent compared to the previous academic session.

Among the different disciplines, computers, electronics and communication have seen a significant increase this year compared to last year. While 80 per cent of seats were filled in the core branches like mechanical, electrical, and civil, 100 per cent of the seats were filled in the emerging branches.

Officials stated that this year 84.3 per cent of government and grant-in-aid seats, 48 per cent of private seats, and a total of 54 per cent of seats were filled. This is the highest in the last five years, officials added.

The degree engineering programmes that were restructured in the academic year 2022-23 include automobile from Modasa to Ahmedabad, mechanical from Dahod to Ahmedabad, civil and electrical from Morbi to Surat, and mechanical from Modasa to Ahmedabad. Similarly, in 2023-24, instrumentation and control were shifted from Bhavnagar to Ahmedabad, electronics, and communication from Bharuch to Surat, mechanical from Bhavnagar to Surat, and civil from Dahod to Ahmedabad.