Physics, Chemistry, Maths Will Be Mandatory For Engineering; But Not Mandatory For These Courses

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) issued a notification that there would be no need for students to opt subjects such as physics, chemistry and mathematics in class 12 to pursue a few streams of engineering.

However, days after the guideline, AICTE clarified that these subjects will continue to be important courses in most engineering courses.

AICTE added that that it will not be mandatory for state governments or other institutions to offer these courses to students who have not studied them in class 12.

On Friday, AICTE chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe said that the students who will opt for streams like Biotechnology, Textile or Agriculture Engineering will be exempted from studying mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Optional For Some Streams Of Engineering

During the press conference, he said that the subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics will continue to be important subjects for certain streams of engineering like mechanical engineering and will not lose relevance. But there are streams like Textile Engineering, Agriculture or may be Biotechnology where the students can choose to opt or not for these subjects as a part of their class 12^th curriculum.

The students may then make up for these subjects later by taking bridge courses.

As per the reforms proposed in the new National Education Policy (NEP), Students need to pass in any three subjects (from the list)

In order to be eligible to apply for admission in undergraduate courses in engineering, according to the revised guidelines of AICTE, students need to pass in any three subjects (from the list) with a minimum of 45 per cent marks in class 12 board examination. The list of 14 subjects is :-

• Physics
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Electronics
• Information Technology
• Biology
• Informatics Practices
• Biotechnology
• Technical Vocational subject
• Engineering Graphics
• Business Studies
• Entrepreneurship

In its Approval Process Handbook 2021-22, AICTE states that uitable bridge courses such as Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Drawing will be provided by universities to students with diverse backgrounds.

The new Approval Process Handbook 2021-22 has been changed to remove the restrictions of the previous rules in case there are states or universities that want to open up “on the lines of the NEP” said Sahasrabudhe.

The current mandatory preference of PCM for admission to engineering courses is not necessary to be changed for states or institutions, added Chairperson.

He added that it is not mandatory for states or institutions to change their current mandatory preference of PCM for admission to engineering courses.

A Window Of Opportunity : AICTE Chairperson

It is not mandatory for universities to open up admissions to engineering to these subjects and still go onto admit students into engineering on the same three subjects of Maths, Physics and Chemistry, as mandatory.

The right has been bestowed upon universities to choose accordingly and it is nothing but a window of opportunity which is open, but not restricting, or forcing.