Code vs. Concrete: Why CSE Ranks Supreme and What It Means for the Future of Other Disciplines

The Hindu

4 days ago

Each engineering admission season in India has a familiar climax. Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is the first branch to fill up, often with the longest queues. In 2025, this trend has not only continued but also intensified. This year's AP EAPCET 2025 results saw 1.89 lakh students qualifying for engineering programs, and in every region from Vizag to Chittoor the most-coveted seats were in CSE, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science.
Institutions like state private universities and deemed-to-be universities are witnessing intense competition for limited seats in next-gen specializations such as AI-ML, cybersecurity, and full-stack development. While the official counselling process hasn't concluded, preliminary cutoffs suggest a near-complete fill rate for these programs even before the second round begins.
But Andhra Pradesh is not merely following the national pattern it is reshaping it. With the launch of its Quantum Valley initiative, the state has taken a bold step in decentralizing the future of engineering. Through the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE), the state is mandating all engineering colleges to offer 18-credit minor programs in Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence, effective from the 2025–26 academic year. This means that whether a student chooses Civil, ECE, or Mechanical Engineering, they will still graduate with exposure to technologies that define Industry 5.0.
The scale of this initiative is massive. More than 500 faculty members from across the state's public universities are undergoing training in AI, machine learning, and quantum algorithms. Institutions like Andhra University, JNTUK, SVU, and Yogi Vamana University are establishing dedicated labs to support AI-driven research. Quantum simulators and cloud computing access points are being funded by partnerships with TCS, IBM, and national centres of excellence under the Ministry of Electronics & IT. For a state once criticized for brain drain, this is a serious move to make Andhra a talent exporter, not just to Indian IT firms but to global tech ecosystems.
Still, the traditional branches are far from obsolete. In fact, Andhra's data tells a nuanced story. The AP ECET 2025, which offers diploma holders a chance to enter engineering programs in the second year, has seen strong participation from Mechanical, ECE, and Civil branches. Of the 13,301 diploma students eligible this year, many continue to prefer 'core' engineering, but they are demanding upgrades. They want Mechanical + Robotics, Civil + Smart Infrastructure, EEE + Embedded Systems. And Andhra's colleges are listening.
For example, in West Godavari, SRKR Engineering College introduced a minor in AI for Mechanical Engineering students. In Vizianagaram, the MVGR College of Engineering is running a 'Smart Civil Engineering' program where students use drones and sensors for structural analysis. At SRM University both the AP and Chennai campuses students from Civil and Mechanical Engineering streams are actively encouraged to pursue minors in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or Robotics through a flexible credit-based system. These programs allow students to take interdisciplinary electives and projects aligned with emerging technologies, often leading to dual-specialization or industry-backed certifications. Students aren't rejecting core engineering they are redefining it. They see value in physical infrastructure but know the tools of tomorrow are digital.
This hybridization is crucial. A CSE student today may write code for a healthcare app. But a Mechanical engineer with Python skills can automate a ventilator. A Civil engineer with knowledge of AI can design buildings that monitor their own integrity. A future-ready engineer, regardless of branch, must be digitally fluent. That is the thesis Andhra Pradesh is championing and perhaps exporting to the rest of India.
Meanwhile, coastal Karnataka and parts of Tamil Nadu are also observing what Andhra has initiated. Institutions like NITTE University in Mangaluru and Anna University in Chennai are revamping core courses and doubling Civil Engineering intakes, hoping to mirror the demand revival seen in Andhra's core streams. There is cautious optimism that core disciplines, when modernized, will regain the respect and demand they once enjoyed.
This shift also comes with cultural changes. Parents who once pushed only for software jobs are now exploring alternate futures. A case in point: A student from Rajahmundry with a 98 percentile in EAPCET opted for ECE + AI instead of traditional CSE, citing interest in space tech and IoT. 'I wanted to design things, not just code,' he says. This mindset shift though slow is growing.
It's not entirely new. Visionaries like Ada Lovelace, Gordon Moore, and Alan Kay predicted this era of convergence. Lovelace imagined that computers could compose music and art, not just numbers. Moore's Law foresaw the exponential leap in processing power that powers AI today. Alan Kay, the father of the graphical interface, envisioned personalized, portable computing before the rest of the world even imagined smartphones. Andhra's Quantum Valley and AI integration are simply new chapters in that old, visionary book.
In conclusion, the CSE surge in 2025 is both real and rational. The career paths, starting salaries, and innovation opportunities it offers are unmatched for now. But Andhra Pradesh shows us that the future doesn't belong only to coders. It belongs to creators, those who can build, compute, adapt, and collaborate. Whether in smart mobility, green buildings, or quantum-enhanced processors, engineers of all kinds will shape India's future. Andhra, it seems, has already pressed the 'compile' button.
The Employability Angle: Where the Jobs Are in 2025
The rise in demand for CSE and allied fields isn't just about popularity it's driven by employability. According to a 2025 report by NASSCOM and TeamLease EdTech, over 72% of new engineering job postings in India are for roles in Software Development, AI/ML, Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Entry-level salaries for AI engineers now average ₹8–12 lakh per annum, significantly higher than the ₹3–5 lakh average for traditional mechanical or civil roles. Additionally, multinational hiring in India's Tier-2 cities has accelerated, with Andhra's Amaravati and Vizag emerging as tech recruitment hubs.
Yet the shift is not binary. Hybrid roles like ECE graduates with IoT skills or Mechanical engineers skilled in robotics are also in high demand. Startups in automation, electric vehicles, and smart manufacturing are increasingly recruiting from core branches with tech overlays, especially those offering hands-on experience in Python, embedded systems, or cloud computing. Employers are no longer recruiting by branch alone they're hiring by capability clusters, which blend coding, design thinking, and domain-specific knowledge.
The compiler of this vision is Naga Sravanthi Puppala, a Computer Science and Engineering faculty member who believes that code is not just written, it is woven into the future.
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