Mumbai: According to data from the state common entry test (CET) cell, Maharashtra has seen a significant increase in engineering admissions this year, with 1,09,422 hopefuls registering in a variety of branches. The number of admissions is at its highest point in the last six years in 2022.
According to experts, in addition to the well-liked computer science course, aspirants have been drawn back to the engineering course for the academic year 2022–2023 by emerging branches of engineering like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science.
According to professor Suresh Ukarande, principal of the K J Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology in Sion, “In the last two years All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has promoted new-age courses like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science and many universities in the state started these courses attracting more students in engineering again.”
39,127 of the 41,030 seats are occupied in courses linked to computer engineering (IoT, AI, and data science). The 7,515 seats allocated for courses on AI, Data Science, AI, and ML were also filled, with 6,985 of those seats being filled. In fact, for computer science in regional language, 68 of the available 70 seats were filled. More than 50% of seats were left unfilled this year in traditional disciplines including civil engineering (CE) and mechanical engineering (ME).
When compared to the intake capacity of 24,819 seats, 12,229 students applied for admission to ME courses, while 7,271 students applied for admission to CE courses.
1,33,076 candidates applied for the 128,124 seats that were available in the state’s 329 universities that offered engineering and technology (BE/ BTech) programmes under the central admissions process this year.
This academic year, 21,046 more applicants requested admission than they did the previous year (2021–2022).
Over the past few years, fewer students are choosing to enrol in engineering programmes. About 79,435 students were admitted to engineering courses during the academic year 2016–17. Only 68,451 students applied for admission in the school year 2020–21, which was two years ago.
