New Delhi, Dec 1: Engineering students will have to study social sciences including management, Indian culture and Constitution from the next academic session according to a model curriculum by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). However, these changes in the curriculum are not applicable at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the National Institute Technology (NIT). Also Read - JEE Main Result 2020 Declared: Here Are The Top 25 Engineering Colleges in India As Per NIRF Rankings

The Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) has approved the revision to the curriculum and over 3,000 engineering institutions in the country will have to adopt this change in the curriculum, a report by Hindustan Times claimed. Also Read - IIT Roorkee Finds Breakthrough For Treatment Against Deadly Infection

Over the four years of the undergraduate programme, 12 credits— with total 150-160 credits — from humanities and social sciences including management, will have to be earned by students pursuing engineering. Also Read - IIT Admission Process 2020: IITs to Do Away With Admission Criterion of Minimum 75% Marks in Class XII, Tweets HRD Minister

“This is absolutely necessary as engineering is all about creating something, which has societal benefits. Unless you know the society and its challenges, how will you produce something that’s required,” Indranil Manna, Professor at IIT Kharagpur, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. According to Manna, engineering students need to be taught psychology, aesthetics along with the well-being of human society and the ethical issues related to what they create to ensure that the overall objective of the course is met.

Theoretical classes will be cut down from 30 to 20 every week. New curriculum is made in a way that will ensure final semester students are free to pursue projects work for understanding industry requirements.

Universities will need to comply with the new rules but they can decide what courses amongst English, Economics, Psychology or Political sciences to offer. “Engineering students need to follow a holistic approach and the programmes will have an inter-disciplinary approach. This will help in their overall growth and development,” the senior AICTE official told Hindustan times.