Latest news with #JayaprakashGandhi
Time of India
06-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Engg counselling: 17 colleges less, but 10K more govt quota seats
Chennai: The six-week-long engineering counselling for BE, BTech admissions will begin with the special category counselling on Monday. This year, 1,90,166 seats are available in 417 engineering colleges for govt quota. While the number of colleges has decreased from 434 to 417, the number of seats available for govt quota increased by 10,216 as many colleges have increased their intake in computer-related branches compared to last year. Private colleges have to surrender 65% of total seats to govt quota and the admissions to those seats will be conducted through counselling. This year, 2,41,641 students, including 1,09,055 girls, will take part in the counselling, which is 20% more compared to last year. Going by the trend in management quota admissions, colleges expect more admissions in electronics and communication engineering (ECE), electrical and electronics engineering (EEE), and mechanical engineering courses. However, computer science engineering (CSE) and IT are likely to be the top preferred courses this year as well. "In general, students are interested in CSE, ECE, and AI and data science courses. We may see a shift in preference towards core engineering courses such as mechanical engineering and EEE," said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi. "After CSE, ECE is the most preferred course this year as students think it gives wider career options," career consultant Ashwin R said. ECE students have multiple career paths such as IT companies, automobile companies, and govt jobs. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In the engineering rank list, 144 students scored 200 out of 200 marks. As many as 13,958 students scored above 190 marks, which is a significant jump from 8,830 students last year. Due to this, experts predict an increase of four marks in cut-off. They advised students to give wider choices, including more courses and colleges, for a better chance of seat allotment in the online counselling. As many as 473 disabled students featured in the rank list. This year, 47,372 students from govt schools are eligible for 7.5% special reservation. The general counselling will be held from July 14 to Aug 19.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gruelling NEET, AI craze push applications for engg to five-year high
Fixation with engineering touched a new high in Tamil Nadu as the number of candidates applying for counselling increased by 14% compared to the previous year. A gruelling NEET paper, a curiosity towards emerging technologies, a declining interest in pure sciences (BSc courses), and high capitation fees for management quota seats were cited as reasons for more applications towards engineering counselling this year. The last date to apply for engineering counselling is June 6. With less than a day to go, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) received 2,95,134 applications. Among the applicants, 2,39,871 had paid their fees, while 2,14,005 uploaded certificates as of Thursday. Last year, 2,48,848 candidates registered online, while 2,09,653 submitted fees to participate in the counselling, which is open only to those who have paid the fees. "Following the release of NEET answer key, there were more inquiries for management quota engineering seats. The daunting NEET experience could result in more applications for engineering," said D Valavan, principal of Saranathan College of Engineering in Trichy. Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi attributed the preference for engineering over pure sciences as the main reason for more applications this year. "Colleges collect higher fees for management quota seats (in Physics/Chemistry/Mathematics). So, many students opted to go for counselling to join BE, BTech seats through govt quota, which costs comparatively less," he said. The number of students opting for science stream in higher secondary schools has also increased compared to the last few years, he added. Academicians have turned the focus on generative AI tools as a driver of the popularity of engineering courses. In the management quota admissions, more students opted for computer science engineering, information technology, AI and data science, and ECE courses this year. In engineering counselling, computer science engineering is likely to remain the top choice as BSc computer science was popular even among arts and science students. The preference for engineering counselling poses challenges four years down the line, vis-a-vis employability of candidates and availability of suitable jobs in the market. "Students will be gainfully employed, provided they come with sound engineering knowledge and are willing to skill themselves and adapt to evolving technologies in AI modules, development boards, and tools," said K Shanmuga Sundaram, director, Centre for University Industry Collaboration, Anna University. It's a perspective that finds resonance among industry leaders too. "The world is increasingly turning technology-intensive. This offers outsized opportunities for engineers across disciplines of specialisation, thanks to rapid innovation occurring at the intersection of technology and businesses," said Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, former CMD, Cognizant India, and partner at Catalincs, a tech growth advisory firm. "No country attracted more than 500 Global 1,000 companies in a 10-year period except India. Encompassing a gamut of industries such as electronics, health sciences, energy, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and telecom, these enterprises made a beeline for India, set up captive technology centres (GCCs), and hired thousands within a short span," he added. "This growing trend, coupled with strong investments in tech by Indian corporates and a thriving tech-driven startup ecosystem, will provide engineers with a platform to build their careers in their chosen disciplines of study," he signed off.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Career analyst calls for in-depth analysis of job market for engineering students
An in-depth analysis of the job market at a juncture of fast-paced technological transformations, was essential for future engineering students, Jayaprakash Gandhi, Career Consultant and Analyst, said on Thursday. Mr. Gandhi cautioned educationists against going gung-ho in offering programmes in Artificial Intelligence in various forms. 'AI is only a tool, and educational institutions offering a plethora of programmes in AI-based disciplines need to be conscious that the transition to OI (Organoid Intelligence) is already underway,' he said. He noted that India still lags behind countries like China and South Korea in the adoption of AI applications, robotics, and industrial automation. 'The job market is undergoing a transformation. IT companies have begun to reduce workforce. However, career prospects in electronics and communication engineering are looking promising,' Mr. Gandhi stated. He noted that the semiconductor and robotics sectors are expected to generate one million jobs. In the field of computer science, cybersecurity holds significant potential, he added. Mr. Gandhi emphasised the importance of learning foreign languages at the undergraduate level. He noted that competition for medical school admissions would be intense, as the cut-off scores could be lowered by 20 marks due to the difficulty of the NEET exam. He mentioned that there are significant opportunities in fields such as Fisheries Science, optometry, clinical embryology, fintech engineering, investment banking, hospital administration, and healthcare. T. Purshothaman, Secretary, Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions, provided insights into making smart choices of specialisations and colleges, based on the cut-off under different categories.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
NEET 2025 tough, students expect lower cut-off
CHENNAI: A majority of the students who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Sunday described the paper as moderately difficult. While the physics section was considered tough, chemistry had a few tricky questions, and biology, though relatively easy, was time-consuming. Given the overall difficulty compared to previous years, students and coaching centres expect the cut-off marks to drop, at least marginally. According to sources, nearly 1.5 lakh students had registered for NEET 2025 from Tamil Nadu, with around 20,000 appearing for the exam in Chennai district alone. 'The biology paper was time-consuming, so I couldn't complete it on time. Physics and chemistry were moderately difficult,' said a student, who took the exam at Guru Nanak College. Several students and experts noted that the physics section was as tough as, or even tougher than the 2019 NEET paper, which was widely regarded as one of the most difficult in recent years. 'Students will still need to score above 650 out of 720 to secure admission in a top medical college, even though cut-offs may drop slightly,' said career guidance expert Jayaprakash Gandhi. He added that students attempting the exam for the first time struggled more, while repeaters are likely to perform better. Girl denied entry over steel buttons, cop comes to rescue The exam day was also marred by several incidents of confusion and strict entry checks across Tamil Nadu. In Tiruppur, S Kanimozhi, a student from Uthukuli, was barred from entering an exam centre in TM Poondi due to the steel buttons on her dress. However, MR Manimegalai, a woman police constable, who was on duty there, stepped in to the student's aid. After securing permission from higher officials, she took the student to a nearby store on her bike and helped her buy a new outfit.
