Instrumentation Engineering is the branch of engineering that is associated with the control of process variables within a production or manufacturing area and the science of measurement. Meanwhile, it is also called control systems engineering which involves control theory to design systems with desired conducts. The duration of Instrumentation Engineering ranges from 3 to 4 years. Candidates will be able to pursue Instrumentation Engineering after the completion of class 10. Candidates can pursue Instrumentation Engineering at diploma, graduation, and postgraduate levels. It specializes in the doctrines and operation of measuring instruments that are operated in domains of design, formatting of self-regulating systems in electrical, pneumatic parts, etc.
Candidates can take admission to Instrumentation Engineering through the entrance as well as merit-based. Interested candidates who are willing to be admitted into Instrumentation Engineering are required to score at least 50% marks in their last qualifying exam with PCM subjects. Entrance exams that are accepted in the Instrumentation Engineering institutes are JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, AP EAMCET, etc.
Instrumentation Engineering courses can be pursued online, and offline as well as in a distance learning mode. Some of the top institutes offering Instrumentation Engineering courses in India are IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati, etc. The average course fee for Instrumentation Engineering ranges from INR 55,000 to INR 3,00,000.
Quick Facts About Instrumentation Engineering
The highlights of the Instrumentation Engineering course overview of the topics that will be covered in this piece. It is always advised the candidates check the highlights prior to the other topics discussed here. This is advised so for the candidates so tht they are well aware of the topics that will be discussed here.
Particulars | Details |
---|---|
Course Name | Instrumentation Engineering |
Average Duration | 3 to 4 Years ( for online courses the duration of instrumentation engineering can be 1 month to 1 year) |
Eligibility | Diploma in Instrumentation Engineering
Graduation in Instrumentation Engineering
Post Graduation in Instrumentation Engineering
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Average Fee | INR 55,000 to INR 3,00,000 |
Average Salary | INR 1.7 to 25.2 LPA |
Entrance Exams |
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Job Opportunities |
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Colleges |
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Top recruiters |
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Average Starting Salary | INR 5 LPA to INR 18 LPA |
If you are planning to study an instrumentation engineering course, go through the points given below to know what perks you will get by choosing this engineering specialization.
Job Demand and Stability
Instrumentation and control industries demand competent employees to ensure efficient operations. The rising complexity of industrial processes, the necessity for automation, and the emphasis on safety and environmental standards are all projected to drive up demand for Instrumentation Engineers. Therefore, if you study instrumentation engineering you will get many job opportunities.
Versatility in Jobs
Instrumentation Engineering covers a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, power production, chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and more. This adaptability guarantees a plethora of professional choices and the opportunity to work on a variety of projects.
Be a Problem Solver
Instrumentation Engineering is a fascinating atmosphere if you appreciate analytical thinking and problem solutions. Instrumentation Engineers are in charge of designing, developing, and maintaining instruments and control systems that guarantee industrial processes run safely and efficiently. Analyzing complicated problems, creating solutions, and implementing effective control measures are all part of the job.
Create Safe Places
Instrumentation engineers contribute to society by creating solutions that improve industry efficiency, safety, and sustainability. They are critical in the development of systems that monitor and manage operations, reduce energy consumption, waste, and increase overall productivity.
If you're interested in studying engineering but can't attend classes on campus, you may want to consider an online degree in instrumentation engineering. This is a specialized field within engineering that focuses on creating and using instruments to measure and control things like temperature, pressure, and flow.
Online Instrumentation Engineering programs are designed to be flexible and give students the option to learn from home. These programs usually include virtual lectures, labs, and interactive assignments that can be completed online. However, students may also need to attend some on-campus sessions or internships to get hands-on experience (this is an exception).
Overall, an online degree in instrumentation engineering can be a great option for those who want to study engineering but need flexibility in their schedule. Some of the instrumentation engineering online courses have been listed below.
Online Instrumentation Engineering | Offered by |
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Workshop on Structural Equation Modelling Using R With Lavaan and Amos Online Mode an Intensive Hands on Approach | NIT Trichy |
Professional Graduate Programme - Electrical Engineering | IIMTS Domestic |
IIMTS Domestic | IIMTS Domestic |
Instrumentation Engineering Online Courses | Institute offering the Instrumentation Engineering course |
Chemical Process Instrumentation | Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; NPTEL |
Introductory Neuroscience & Neuro-Instrumentation | Indian Institute of Science Bangalore; NPTEL |
Know Read Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P&IDs | Udemy |
Introduction to process control and instrumentation | Udemy |
Azure Apps: Diagnostics, Instrumentation, and Logging | LinkedIn Learning |
KONTAKT: Advanced Instrumentation and Sound Design | LinkedIn Learning |
Instrumentation and Process Control in Food Industry | Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and NPTEL via Swayam |
Introductory Neuroscience & Neuro-Instrumentation | Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and NPTEL via Swayam |
Optical Spectroscopy and Microscopy: Fundamentals of optical measurements and instrumentation | Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and NPTEL via Swayam |
Candidates are often confused between instrumentation and electrical engineering and get mistaken. The following table highlights the key differences between instrumentation engineering and electrical engineering.
Instrumentation Engineering | Electrical Engineering | |
---|---|---|
Key Roles | Configuring and calibrating tools concerned with automated systems and methodologies | Accomplishing the wiring and circuit in electrical systems in houses, automobiles, phones, and computers |
Ensuring that control and automated systems run in the desired way | Manage the processes of designing, testing, and installation of electrical systems and equipment | |
Designing, testing, and maintaining operational control systems | Developing, testing, and deploying the latest electronic technologies that satisfy user specifications | |
Job Flexibility | Low | High |
Average Salary Per Annum | INR 5 LPA to INR 18 LPA | INR 1.6 LPA to INR 15 LPA |
Instrumentation Engineering Courses can be pursued under many domains. Candidates can pursue Instrumentation Engineering courses under Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master's, and Postgraduate Diploma Courses. Instrumentation Engineering can be pursued as a Diploma in Instrumentation Engineering, Bachelor of Technology in Instrumentation Engineering, Master of Technology in Instrumentation Engineering, or Ph.D. in Instrumentation Engineering.
The eligibility criteria for a particular course means the obligations that have to be fulfilled by the candidates so that they are admitted into the respective college/ institution for Instrumentation Engineering Courses. It is always advised to the candidates to check the course's eligibility criteria along with the college before applying for the same. This will make sure that no time is wasted on nullified things.
Diploma in Instrumentation Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The duration of a diploma in Instrumentation Engineering course is 3 years. To gain admission into a diploma in an instrumentation engineering course, you must fulfill the following eligibility criteria.
B Tech in Instrumentation Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The duration of the BTech in Instrumentation Engineering course is 4 years. Following are the eligibility criteria for B Tech in instrumentation engineering.
M Tech in Instrumentation Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The duration of the Master in Instrumentation Engineering course is 2 years. Following are the eligibility criteria for M Tech in instrumentation engineering.
Ph.D. in Instrumentation Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The duration of a Ph.D. in Instrumentation Engineering is 2 to 5.5 years. Check the eligibility criteria for PhD in instrumentation engineering given below.
Required skill sets to succeed as an Instrumentation Engineer, candidates should have problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, etc.
All the required skill sets have been listed in the table given below.
Required skills for Instrumentation Engineer | |
---|---|
Mechanical aptitude | Physics |
Problem-solving | Troubleshooting skills |
Reading | Writing |
Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry | Physical agility |
Critical thinking | Interpersonal skills |
The entrance exams through which candidates are admitted to instrumentation engineering into various courses in India have been listed in the following pointers. Candidates can check them and opt for them based on their preferences.
JEE Main (Joint Entrance Exam Main) is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) every year for admission to the various engineering courses available in NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, etc.
JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Exam Advanced) exam is conducted for admission to Bachelor’s, Integrated Master’s, or Dual Degree programs in Engineering and Pharmaceutics, Architecture, Sciences, or courses offered by 23 IITs.
KEAM is a state-level exam conducted by the Commission of Entrance Examination (CEE), Kerala for the candidates to take admission into the top government and private colleges across Kerala.
AP EAMCET (Andhra Pradesh Engineering Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test) exam is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), Kakinada for admissions to institutes in Andhra Pradesh state.
Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) conducts KCET once a year in offline mode for the candidates who are willing to take admission into the institutes across Karnataka.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is conducted across India for admissions to postgraduate courses in Engineering at IISc and IITs.
BITSAT is conducted by BITS Pilani, which allows admission to undergraduate engineering courses at different BITS campuses.
Instrumentation engineering courses can be divided into several specializations that are offered across engineering institutes in India. Candidates can take a look at them from the following table.
Instrumentation Engineering Specializations | Description |
---|---|
Process Control Systems | Focuses on designing and implementing control systems for industrial processes to ensure efficiency, safety, and reliability. |
Biomedical Instrumentation | Involves the development of instruments and devices used in healthcare settings, such as medical imaging devices, patient monitoring systems, and diagnostic equipment. |
Industrial Automation | Deals with the integration of control systems, sensors, and software to automate industrial processes, enhancing productivity and reducing human intervention. |
Control Systems Engineering | Scans the design, analysis, and optimization of control systems for various applications, including manufacturing, aerospace, and robotics. |
Robotics and Mechatronics | Integrates instrumentation with mechanical and electronic systems to design and create intelligent robotic systems used in manufacturing, healthcare, and exploration. |
Admission to B Tech in instrumentation engineering courses is done through entrance exams like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, etc. However, some colleges do offer instrumentation engineering seats based on merits also. Find out how to take admission into the instrumentation engineering course below.
One of the most common ways to take admission into B Tech instrumentation engineering courses is through the entrance exams conducted by various bodies. Following are the details on the instrumentation engineering admission process via an entrance exam.
Fill out the Application Form: Firstly the entrance exam conducting body will release the application form on its official website. To participate in the instrumentation engineering entrance exam you must register yourself and fill up the application form.
Complete Slot Booking and Download the Admit Card: After closing the registration window, the exam conducting body will start the slot booking process through which you must select your preferred slot and city in which you can travel to give the exam. After completing the slot booking process, the authorities will issue the admit card that you must download and carry to the exam centre.
Appear for the Exam: Sit for the entrance exam and solve the paper with dedication keeping time management in mind.
Release of Result: After a few days of the exam the entrance test result will be released and you can check your marks, ranks, and cutoff scores. Download the result and keep it safe as it will be required in further admission rounds.
Counseling: Post declaration of the result, candidates will be called for counselling in which they must first complete the registration process. The counselling will include choice filling, document verification, and seat allotment. During seat allotment, candidates will be allocated seats in the participating colleges. Candidates must confirm the seat and their admission by paying the fees.
Also Read: Engineering (BE/ B.Tech) Admission 2024
If you do not wish to sit for an entrance exam then you can take direct admission into the B Tech instrumentation engineering course via merits. Some colleges will grant you admission as per your qualifying marks in the previous class. Get details on how to take B Tech instrumentation engineering via merits below.
Fill up the Application Form: To offer admission via merits many engineering colleges releases the application form in online or offline mode. You must fill the application form carefully as based on your application you will be granted admission to the instrumentation engineering course. Provide your educational details for Class 10 +2, upload the required documents, and pay the application fees.
Merit List Release: After analyzing your application form the respective college will issue the merit list that will include the names of candidates who are offered seats. If your name appears in the merit list you are selected and you must pay the course fees. However, in many colleges further counselling and seat allocation are also done while offering admission via merits.
Appear for Counselling: You must register yourself for the counselling process if that is the college requirement. There will be several rounds of counselling conducted based on which seats will be offered.
Also Read:
Note- While offering admission to instrumentation engineering course, some colleges also conducts one on one interview round.
The direct admission process for Instrumentation Engineering without an entrance exam typically involves a series of steps that vary among institutions. Firstly, aspiring students should carefully review the admission requirements of the specific university or college they wish to attend. These requirements often include having a high school diploma with a background in science or engineering. Following this, candidates must complete the provided application form, either online or offline, and submit supporting documents such as results, recommendation letters, a personal statement, and a resume. Some institutions may conduct interviews as part of the evaluation process. All the decisions related to admissions are generally based on merit, considering academic performance and relevant coursework. Once the review is complete, the university notifies applicants of the admission decision, providing further instructions for enrollment. It is crucial to check and adhere to the specific admission guidelines of the chosen institution.
The instrumentation fees have been listed in the following table.
Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Private | Government | Private | Government | |
UG | 1,14,000 | 23,520 | 16,00,000 | 12,83,000 |
PG | 26,000 | 28,400 | 7,20,000 | 2,92,000 |
Doctoral | 2,05,000 | 6,000 | 15,98,000 | 1,72,000 |
Diploma | 13,500 | 6,700 | 2,34,000 | 75,000 |
The Instrumentation Engineering course is an integrated course of multiple domains such as computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and control. It is a multidisciplinary study through which the candidates who want to pursue instrumentation engineering will get a prospect to work with how the mechanisms are experienced in Instrumentation, electrical Instrumentation, instrumentation electronics, and process instrumentation.
Candidates will know how the instruments are preserved and utilized or operated on a self-regulating basis. In the Instrumentation Engineering course, how the instrument measures various substances is also taken into concern. The basic doctrines of engineering are guided, for the candidates to know the usage of these automated systems efficiently.
The table below highlights the top instrumentation engineering private colleges in India along with their fees and NIRF ranking 2023.
Private Instrumentation Engineering Colleges | NIRF Ranking 2023 | Fees in INR |
---|---|---|
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra | 53 | 4.3 lakh |
BITS Pilani | 25 | 19.9 lakh |
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 36 | 1.4 lakh |
PSGCT Coimbatore | 86 | 2 lakh |
Ramaiah Institute of Technology | 78 | 2.6 to 4.1 lakh |
RV College of Engineering | - | 20 lakh |
SASTRA University | 49 | 4.7 to 7.7 lakh |
SRM University Chennai | 28 | 10 lakh |
Thapar University | 20 | 2.8 to 11.8 lakh |
VIT Vellore | 17 | 1 to 6.9 lakh |
The table below highlights the top instrumentation engineering government colleges in India along with their fees and NIRF ranking 2023.
Government Instrumentation Engineering Colleges | NIRF Ranking 2023 | Fees in INR |
---|---|---|
Delhi Technological University | 61 | 2.1 to 3 lakh |
Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi | 31 | 40,000 |
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi | 2 | 3 lakh |
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur | 6 | 20,000 to 10 lakh |
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras | 1 | 20,000 |
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee | 5 | 20 K to 10.7 lakh |
Jadavpur University | 13 | 9,600 to 20,800 |
National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela | 16 | 1.4 to 5 lakh |
National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy | 4 | 30,000 to 5 lakh |
National Institute of Technology, Warangal | 45 | 3 lakh |
The top Instrumentation Engineering colleges based on the states and cities have been listed in the following table. Candidates can check the list of colleges out on the basis of their preference for the location. In order to get hold of the colleges, candidates are required to click on the following links present on the table.
Instrumentation Engineering is a vast course well demanded in the industry. Due to its high competition, some candidates are not able to attend the courses through entrance exams due to the high cutoff. Therefore, some top colleges in India have initiated direct admission procedures so that all hopeful candidates can attend the courses of their dreams. Some of these colleges have been listed below.
Also Check - BTech Direct Admission Colleges
There is an enormous scope of instrumentation engineering abroad. Instrumentation Engineers can get into different types of industries like petroleum, steel manufacturing factories, and different chemical factories.
Some such companies are Siemens, Honeywell, and Yokogawa. Another greater extent of scope can be tasted in Middle Eastern Countries like Dubai, Qatar, and other countries where there are Refineries, Oil, and Gas sectors. The best countries to go abroad are the European countries, the USA as well as Canada since they offer great growth prospects and opportunities for Instrumentation Engineers.
The eligibility criteria for Instrumentation Engineering Abroad have been listed in the pointers below.
The top Instrumentation Engineering colleges in the abroad countries have been listed in the following table. Candidates are advised to check them carefully and apply for the same based on their preference.
College | Course | Fees | Duration | Exams Accepted |
---|---|---|---|---|
Northern College, Canada | Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technician | INR 15 L | 2 Years | IELTS, TOEFL |
Fleming College, Canada | Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technician | INR 19 L | 2 Years | IELTS, TOEFL |
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Canada | Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology - Automation and Instrumentation | INR 22 L | 2 Years | IELTS, TOEFL, PTE |
Arizona State University (Kaplan International), USA | Master of Science in Information System Management (MS-ISM) | INR 41.7 L | 1 year | IELTS, GRE |
Utah State University, USA | Master of Science in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences | INR 15 L | 1 year | NA |
University of Maryland, USA | Master in System Engineering | INR 15 L | 2 Years | IELTS, GRE |
Harper Adams University | Masters in Applied Mechatronic Engineering | INR 11L
| 1 year | IELTS, PTE |
University of Sunderland | Masters in Instrumentation Engineering | NA | 1 year | IELTS |
University of Greenwich | Masters in Instrumentation Electronics Engineering | INR 12 L | 1 year | IELTS |
The career options along with the job prospects have been explained in the following table for the candidates who are willing to opt for job roles after the conclusion of the Instrumentation Engineering course.
Instrumentation Engineering Job Profile | Instrumentation Engineering Description |
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Principle Engineer |
|
Senior Instrumentation Engineer | A Senior Instrumentation Engineer assesses options that include cost and risk, supportability and studies for the total device. |
Chartered Engineer |
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Senior Engineer | Senior Engineer plan, investigate, build, test, and improve mechanical and electrical devices, equipment, and systems, using CADD to develop powerful machines. |
Consultant |
|
The Instrumentation Engineer job profile along with the average salary received by them per annum have been listed in the table below. Candidates are advised to check them properly.
Instrumentation Engineering Job Profile | Instrumentation Engineer’s Salary |
---|---|
Consultant salary | INR 13 to 14 Lakhs Per Annum |
Senior Instrumentation Engineer salary | INR 9 to 10 Lakhs Per Annum |
Instrumentation Specialist salary | INR 7 to 8 Lakhs Per Annum |
Principle Engineer salary | INR 18 Lakhs Per Annum |
Senior Engineer salary | INR 5 to 6 Lakhs Per Annum |
Chartered Engineer salary | INR 8 to 9 Lakhs Per Annum |
The top recruiters of Instrumentation Engineers have been listed in the pointers below. These top companies are known for supporting and maintaining the well-being of the Instrumentation Engineers through health insurance, paid vacation, corporate discounts, paid sick leaves, performance bonuses, etc.
Instrumentation engineers examine existing equipment, identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement, then design and create instruments to satisfy those needs.
The highest annual income an Instrument & Control Engineer may make is 25.7 Lakhs.
Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is concerned with the design and development of software systems and computer technologies, whereas Instrumentation Engineering is concerned with the design and maintenance of instruments and control systems used in numerous sectors.
Yes instrumentation engineering is a good engineering branch as in today's industrialized period, instrumentation can allow you to work in a variety of sectors such as renewable, steel, chemical, FMGC, and biomedical, and earn a good income.
The top instrumentation engineering colleges in India are:
IIT Madras
IIT Delhi
IIT Kharagpur
IIT Roorkee
IIT Guwahati
NIT Warangal
BITS Pilani
Amity University, Noida
The interview questions vary from company to company. Here are some of the top 5 interview questions that are asked to the instrumentation engineer during interviews.
What is Process control?
What is a transmitter?
What is a “Smart” Transmitter?
What are the process variables and what are their units of measurement?
What Are The Primary Elements Used for Flow Measurement?
The salary of a Senior Instrumentation Engineer usually ranges from INR 9 to 10 Lakhs Per Annum.
The average instrumentation engineering course fees range from INR 5 LPA to INR 18 LPA.
The top recruiters of instrumentation engineering are listed in the pointers below:
National Instruments
ABB
Larsen and Toubro
Bosch
Invensys
GE
Suzlon
The top online instrumentation engineering courses in India are quite trending as they are offered by the top institutes or sources. The same has been listed in the pointers below.
Chemical Process Instrumentation offered by Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; NPTEL
Introductory Neuroscience & Neuro-Instrumentation offered by Indian Institute of Science Bangalore; NPTEL
Know Read Understand Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams P&IDs offered by Udemy
Introduction to process control and instrumentation offered by Udemy
Azure Apps: Diagnostics, Instrumentation, and Logging offered by LinkedIn Learning
The top abroad instrumentation engineering colleges include Northern College, Canada, Fleming College, Canada, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Canada, Arizona State University (Kaplan International), USA, Utah State University, USA, etc.
Candidates after pursuing instrumentation engineering are offered jobs into job sectors that have been listed in the pointers below.
Public/Private firms
R and D organizations
Steel plants
Cement manufacturing companies
Thermal power plants
Chemical companies and similar industries
The average BE in Instrumentation Engineering Course fee ranges between INR 10,000 - INR 3 lacs (approximately)
Candidates after pursuing instrumentation engineering are offered jobs in job profiles that has been listed below.
Instrument Engineer.
Automation Engineer.
Control Engineer.
Instrumentation Technologists or Technicians.
Instrument Mechanic.
Control Systems Technologist.
Process Analyzer
Candidates after pursuing instrumentation engineering are offered jobs in MNCs and government firms in sectors like electrical, electronics, mechanical, and many more.
No, Instrumentation Engineering is not tough. The level of difficulty depends on hard work, determination, perseverance and mostly depends on person to person.
Process Control Engineer looks after, designs and manages the efficiency, safety, and productivity of the control system Generally, this is full-time work and process control machinists work with further engineers as part of a team.
The duration of BTech in instrumentation engineering is 4 years.
Instrumentation Technology is used for measuring, indicating and recording physical quantities.
Candidates in order to get admission to Instrumentation Technology Engineering, should have obtained 55% marks (50% marks for reserved category) and have studied in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12.
Candidates after concluding instrumentation engineering can opt food job roles such as Consultant, Senior Instrumentation Engineer, Instrumentation Specialist, Principle Engineer
Senior Engineer, Chartered Engineer, etc.
The duration of the Instrumentation Engineering course ranges from 3 to 4 years. The Instrumentation Engineering online courses can range from 1 month to 1 year.
No, JEE Main is not compulsory for the candidates to pursue Instrumentation Engineering. There are other entrance exams such as BITSAT, WBJEE, AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, KCET, etc.
Yes, you can do instrumentation engineering after class 12 under BTech in Instrumentation Engineering, B.E in Instrumentation Engineering.
The minimum qualification required to pursue instrumentation engineering is candidates should complete at least class 10 with 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized institute.