Beginning from the 2018 session, all B. Tech students will have to study different topics on Indian Constitution and Indian Culture. However, B. Tech students from NITs and IITs are exempt from following this.Besides these, Environmental Sciences will also be a part of engineering new curriculum. Currently, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is all set to implement the new curriculum for UG engineering courses from the next academic session. Union Ministry of Human Resources and Development (HRD) has approved the new curriculum. Over 3,000 engineering institutes across the country will follow the new curriculum. The new curriculum will also focus on matching the requirements of the industry .
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Mr. Indranil Varma, a professor at IIT Kharagpur indicated that topics on social sciences, humanities, environmental sciences and Indian culture are highly essential, as engineering is associated with creating something, which has social benefits. These topics in the curriculum will help the students to understand the society and its challenges. As far as IITs are concerned, one-third to one-fifth of total credits are dedicated to economics, social sciences, humanities and management in various forums. Engineers need to develop applications that are highly beneficial to society, he highlighted.
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According to the model-engineering curriculum prepared by AICTE, students will have to earn 12 credits over the four years of UG course. Over 150-160 total credits are applicable to social sciences, management and humanities. Similarly, engineering institutes must offer an optional course on environmental sciences apart from offering papers on Indian culture or Indian Constitution. Students will not get credits for these three courses even though offering these courses is mandatory.