BTech Courses: AI and Data Science have changed the game of BTech, the shine of these courses has faded..

BTech Courses: BTech is included in the list of the most popular and in-demand courses. It has many branches - Civil, Chemical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Petroleum etc. These days, due to the growth in AI and Data Science, Computer Science Engineering is in the highest demand. At the same time, students are now shying away from taking admission in some branches which had a lot of value earlier. Not every branch of BTech gives equal exposure or package.

Due to technological advancement, the changing needs of the industry, and changes in job opportunities, the relevance of some BTech courses is starting to end. There has been a sudden decline in the number of students taking admission to these BTech courses. While earlier a package of 20-25 lakhs was easily available in these BTech courses, now students are also yearning for a job after taking their degree. Know which BTech courses have lost value.

1. Civil Engineering
Till a few years ago, Civil Engineering was the most popular branch of BTech. But now the job opportunities in it have reduced. That is why students are shying away from taking admission in it.

Limited job opportunities: There is a demand for civil engineers in the government sector in infrastructure projects (such as roads, bridges, dams) in India, but the growth in the private sector is less compared to them. Many civil engineers have to do low-paying jobs or fieldwork on-site, which not everyone is comfortable with.

Automation and new technology: Automation in design and project management (such as BIM - Building Information Modeling) has reduced some traditional jobs.

Competition: Every year several lakh students obtain a civil engineering degree, which has increased the competition for jobs.

Alternative paths: Civil engineers can get a good job by doing data analytics, project management, or an MBA.

2. Mechanical Engineering
Before the growth in areas like artificial intelligence and data science, there was a lot of demand for mechanical engineering. But now a decline is being recorded in this too.

Slowdown in traditional industries: Automation and robotics in the manufacturing and automotive sectors have affected many old jobs. For example, the use of software and AI has increased in machine design and production.

Movement towards IT sector: Many mechanical engineers have to shift from core jobs (such as design, production) to the IT sector, where their degree is less directly used.

Low salary: The starting salary in core mechanical jobs is lower than in computer science or electronics.

Alternative paths: Mechanical engineers can specialize in emerging areas such as robotics, automation or renewable energy. Adding skills in an MBA or data science is also beneficial.

3. Electrical Engineering
The demand for BTech in Electrical Engineering has decreased due to the dominance of the IT and software sectors. Job prospects in this are also uncertain.

Limited core jobs: Most jobs in traditional sectors like power generation and distribution are in government or PSUs, where seats are limited.

The dominance of IT and software: Many electrical engineers have to go to the software or IT sector instead of core electrical jobs (like power systems), where their degrees and education are less useful.

Technological change: There is a need for expertise in new areas like smart grid, renewable energy, and IoT. However, the syllabus of many colleges is outdated and does not cover these emerging areas.

Alternative paths: Electrical engineers can gain expertise in renewable energy, electric vehicles or automation. They can look for opportunities in PSUs through GATE.

4. Electronics and Communication Engineering
Now most of the students are inclined towards IT and software sectors. They want to specialize in AI, data science, and robotics. That is why the demand for ECE courses has reduced.

Low demand for VLSI and hardware: Earlier, there was a good demand for VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) and electronics hardware design, but now these have been overtaken by areas like software development and cloud computing.

Shift to IT sector: Many ECE graduates have to go into software development or testing field instead of core electronics jobs (like circuit design), which reduces the relevance of their degree.

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