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.