All India Council for Technical Education, AICTE has released its approval process handbook 2021-22 recently. As per the AICTE handbook, the eligibility criteria for UG admissions have been changed. Class 12 Mathematics and Physics are not anymore compulsory for Engineering Aspirants.
As of now, class 12 mathematics and physics are compulsory for taking admission undergraduate engineering courses, B.E/ B. Tech. Now students have to choose any three subjects from physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, computer science, electronics, IT, information practices, technical vocational subject, biotechnology, agriculture, business studies, engineering graphics and entrepreneurship.
Some of the key highlights from the AICTE approval process handbook 2021-22:
- Class 12 Mathematics and Physics is not compulsory for taking engineering admission.
- Students must choose any of the three subjects from the list mentioned above.
- Unreserved category students must have to score 45% marks, and reserved category students must score 40% marks in order to pass class 12.
- Bridge course in mathematics, physics and engineering drawing shall be provided at the engineering universities.
The new amendments by AICTE have received various criticisms as class 12 mathematics is considered the foundation for engineering. Bridge course will not be able to replace class 12th mathematics as it is only a remedial course, and the engineering curriculum has mathematics till the fifth semester.
The AICTE chairman said, "It’s not optional, but the subject options engineering discipline has been expanded. Similar, there would be different mandatory courses for different disciplines".
According to education experts, various emerging courses like data science and artificial intelligence would require a lot of understanding of mathematics. So, AICTE must rethink the amendments done in the approval process handbook 2021-22.
