DNA Explainer: What AICTE's new approval handbook rules mean for engineering students

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) had earlier this month released its approval access handbook for the academic year 2021-22, in which it has stated that mathematics and physics will not be compulsory subjects for students aspiring to pursue engineering. This new rule will be implemented from the academic year 2021-22. 

According to the handbook, students who are seeking admissions to undergraduate engineering courses need not have mathematics and physics as their core subjects in class 12. This opens up BE, BTech degree courses for students from medicine, commerce and vocational backgrounds as well. Until last year, Maths and Physics were compulsory.

Apart from the change in subjects for the students aspiring to become engineers, AICTE has also stated that the unreserved category students must score 45 per cent marks, and reserved category students must score 40 per cent marks in order to pass class 12.

The new amendments proposed by AICTE have received some criticism from teachers and universities from across the country. In a statement, the AICTE said that its decision has been 'misinterpreted. It added that the changes brought about are in line with the provisions made in the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).

"Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics will continue to be important subjects for certain streams of engineering like mechanical engineering, it's not that these subjects will lose their relevance. However, for streams like Textile Engineering, Agriculture or maybe Biotechnology, students will have an option of not studying the three subjects compulsorily in Class 12 and make up for them through bridge courses later," AICTE Chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe had said soon after the release of the handbook.

Changes made by AICTE to the eligibility criteria 

Students who are seeking admission to engineering colleges have to choose and pass Class 12 in any three subjects from the following-Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Computer science, Electronics and IT, Information practices, Technical vocational subject, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Business studies, Engineering.

AICTE has also proposed the introduction of bridge courses in maths and physics by the engineering colleges to strengthen the base of these subjects for students in initial semesters.

The reason behind making Physics and Chemistry optional

"Presently, the entry to pursue higher education in engineering and technology is based on traditional subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics which actually imposes a barrier to achieve the intended objective of multi-disciplinary outlook,” the council said in a statement.

The council said removing Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects and introducing more subjects to the list of eligibility requirements will give the students an option to pursue technical courses like agriculture, biotechnology, information technology, electronics etc, and decrease the pressure on students to learn topics that are irrelevant for higher technical education.

Will the new rules allow students to take admission to engineering courses without having studied Physics, Maths and Chemistry in Class 12?

AICTE has said that it is up to universities and state bodies to decide on its implementation. 

"It is imperative to mention that it is an OPTION given by the Council which is NOT binding on the States or Universities and for various entrance exams such as JEE, CET etc., they may continue to hold the entrance exams in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as is being done now and gradually decide to conduct exam in other subjects later after discussing and taking decisions in the University Senates/ Academic Councils and State Level Committees," AICTE has said in a statement.

"In future when NEP shall be implemented in totality then this OPTION can be implemented in its letter and spirit," the AICTE further said.