Mechanical Engineering is one of the oldest branches of Engineering. The appealing feature of this field of study is extremely broad and diverse.
Conventionally, mechanical engineers have to deal with concepts in the area of Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Robotics, Kinematics, Machine Design, Fluid mechanics, and many more.
These concepts are extensively applied in various manufacturing units, aircraft, and aerospace parts, motor vehicles, and a variety of industrial machinery.
These professionals work to construct new mechanical objects such as different types of engines, automotive parts, generators, air conditioners, tools, sensors, and related items.
Mechanical engineers can also contribute to the design and development of various types of engines, power plant equipment, heating and cooling devices, and other complex machinery.
With the change of time, nowadays the scopes of Mechanical Engineering are expanding beyond its traditional peripheries and are focusing their attention on the new areas of research such as Nanotechnology, Composite materials, Mechatronics, Biomedical applications, Environmental conservation, etc.
Mechanical Engineering is one of the widest fields of Engineering; the professionals can easily find their employment in its broad work environment.
Mechanical engineers are required to design, test, manufacture, install, operate, and maintain a wide assortment of machines that are used in innumerable industries throughout the country.
These professionals can find their services both in the government as well as private sector undertakings. There is always a great demand for expert mechanical engineers in different segments of the industry.
Automobiles and auto-part manufacturers, Power plants, Space research, Aeronautical, energy and utilities, Air conditioning, Bio-mechanical industry are the major areas that the mechanical professionals have the job opportunities.
Other major employers include different manufacturing plants, shipping industry, refrigeration industry, turbine manufacturing plants, oil and gas exploration, and refining industries and the agricultural sectors.
Apart from the above-mentioned field of employment, the mechanical professionals can provide their knowledge to various government and private run projects in the role of technical experts and consultants according to their field of proficiency and educational qualifications.
The eligibility of a student for a graduate program (BE/B.Tech) in an Engineering college, the student should score at least 50% marks in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) in 10+2 examination (general category students).
For admission to IITs and NITs, candidates should secure minimum 75% marks (65% for SC/ST students) in the qualifying examination or must be in the top 20 percentile in class 12th examination conducted by respective boards.
Thereafter, the student should crack national level entrance examinations such as JEE mains and advanced for admission to various IITs and NITs.
Apart from that, different states conduct the entrance examination on their own such as CEE for admission to various Engineering colleges in Assam.
Some of the Engineering colleges in India conduct their entrance exams whereas some accept JEE scores. Students can also opt for Mechanical Engineering (BE/B. Tech) after the successful completion of diploma courses from various polytechnic.
The diploma students can take admission into the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering after cracking the entrance examination conducted by the College/Universities across the country. Diploma holders can also get direct entry into the second year of a graduate program (lateral entry).
After successful completion of the graduate program; the student can go for the two-year Master’s degree program in Mechanical Engineering (ME/M.Tech).
For pursuing a post-graduate program in Mechanical Engineering from any of the IITs/NITs, the student must appear & crack the Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE). Some of the Engineering colleges also conduct their entrance examination for the master’s degree program. Furthermore, a student can go for the PhD programme from reputed engineering colleges.
There are some private colleges across the country that produces technically sound graduate students. Girijananda Chowdhury Institute of Management and Technology (GIMT) Guwahati is a self-financed Engineering institute in Assam.
GIMT Guwahati is approved by Assam Science and Technology University (ASTU) and affiliated to All India Council for Technical Educated (AICTE). The B.Tech program of the Mechanical Engineering Department is accredited to the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) from 2016-2017 to 2021-2022.
The vision of the Department is to develop professionally competent Mechanical Engineering graduates who will positively contribute to the betterment of the global economy and entrepreneurship.
(The author works as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in GIMT, Guwahati)