Manufacturing industry boom, fuels demand for mechanical engineers

Rajasthan: The boom in the manufacturing sector both in the public and private domain has led to a sharp rise in number of takers for mechanical engineering programme.

This core branch of engineering accounts for about 20% of the total seats in Rajasthan’s 154 engineering institutes and 34 private universities.

The manufacturing sector's growing contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the years has fuelled the demand for the course that is giving other popular courses such as electrical engineering and electronics and communication a tough competition.

The course offers several career options in production and industrial to automobile engineering, among others.

"The robust growth in infrastructure has spurred the demand for mechanical engineers. Barring IT, the core companies are recruiting mechanical professionals in every industrial sphere."

Manish Jain, Associate Professor of mechanical engineering, JECRC University

With the auto ancillary industry developing around Alwar, the requirement for skilled professionals has gone up. Engineering institutes in the state too are aiming at building a pool of talented professionals who can be recruited by the industry.

PSU'S such as BHEL, SAIL, ONGC and Indian Railways besides private sector organizations like Sterlite, Tata Steel, L&T have massive expansion plans and are looking at absorbing a sizeable number of mechanical engineers.

Pavan Kaushik, head of corporate communication at Hindustan Zinc, Udaipur said the company hires a substantial number of mechanical engineers every year.

"There are several instances in which mechanical engineers have gone on to take senior management and leadership positions."

Pavan Kaushik, Head of Corporate Communication at Hindustan Zinc

This branch is also a gateway to enter defense and strategic sectors such as Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Getting a professional degree in mechanical engineering is no cakewalk, warn academicians. A sound background in Mathematics is extremely important for one to understand the concepts.

"Ideally students who can work with machines and have a good temper to work in all conditions is the minimum requisite to become a mechanical engineer."

Manish Jain

The branch offers tremendous scope in research and development too. A master’s degree in mechanical engineering can open vast avenues in academics, production and automobile engineering.