National Engineers’ Day 2026: As BCA Enrolment Doubles In A Decade, Is Engineering Still The ‘Safe’ Degree?

Last Updated:September 15, 2026, 08:00 IST

While engineering still remains one of India’s largest UG fields, its growth has been much less compared with several other professional and career-oriented programmes.

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For generations of Indian students, engineering was more than just a degree. It was seen as a relatively safe route to a stable career, particularly for families looking for a professional qualification with clear job prospects. However, the advancement of AI has made student reconsider their career choice and thereby the courses they pursue.

Enrolment in B.Tech and B.E. programmes rose from 42.55 lakh students in 2014-15 to 44.16 lakh in 2023-24 — an increase of just 3.8% over nearly a decade, according to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) data.

In contrast, BCA enrolment doubled during the same period, rising from 4.32 lakh to 8.65 lakh students. BBA enrolment increased from 3.43 lakh to 7.86 lakh, a rise of nearly 129%. Healthcare programmes also recorded significant growth: B.Pharm enrolment increased from 1.84 lakh to 5.91 lakh, while B.Sc Nursing rose from 1.79 lakh to 5.45 lakh.

For Indian families, the idea of a safe degree has traditionally been linked to three things: employability, stability and the possibility of earning a good income. But the labour market is changing quickly. Technology is evolving, healthcare is expanding, businesses are becoming increasingly digital, and new occupations are emerging around areas such as data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. That makes it harder to identify one degree as a universally safe option.

A BCA graduate may pursue technology roles. A BBA graduate may enter business, marketing or finance. A pharmacy or nursing graduate may enter the growing healthcare sector. Law, design and other specialised fields offer their own professional pathways.

BCA, BBA vs BTech: What Data Says

Engineering and Technology accounted for 15.89% of UG enrolment in 2014-15. By 2023-24, its share had fallen to 12.9%.

BCA, meanwhile, has recorded a striking rise in enrolment over the same period. Regular-mode BCA enrolment stood at 4.32 lakh students in 2014-15 and remained relatively stable through the latter half of the decade, reaching 4.64 lakh in 2019-20. It then began climbing more sharply, increasing to 4.94 lakh in 2020-21, 5.71 lakh in 2021-22, 7.12 lakh in 2022-23 and 8.65 lakh in 2023-24. Overall, BCA enrolment more than doubled between 2014-15 and 2023-24, rising by about 100%. The particularly rapid growth in recent years points to the increasing popularity of computer applications as an alternative pathway for students seeking technology-oriented careers.

Enrolment in BCA grew nearly 87% in just four years, compared with about 21% for B.Tech and B.E.

Due to the change in the technology sector over the years, student are no longer seeing B.Tech as the only route. Computer applications, computer science, data-related courses and specialised training have created alternative pathways into technology-oriented careers.

The rapid rise of BCA is particularly notable. Regular-mode BCA enrolment more than doubled between 2014-15 and 2023-24, even as the combined B.Tech and B.E. figure increased only marginally.

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Today’s choices are more fragmented. Students can combine a general or specialised degree with certifications, internships, online courses and industry skills. Technology itself can be entered through multiple academic routes rather than one dominant qualification.

While engineering is unlikely to disappear from India’s list of popular career choices, its position as the default definition of a “safe” degree is becoming harder to sustain.

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How did BCA and BBA enrolment growth compare to engineering in India between 2014-15 and 2023-24?

According to AISHE data, combined B.Tech and B.E. enrolment grew by just 3.8%, from 42.55 lakh to 44.16 lakh students. In contrast, BCA enrolment doubled from 4.32 lakh to 8.65 lakh students, and BBA enrolment surged by nearly 129%, rising from 3.43 lakh to 7.86 lakh students during the same decade-long period.

What are the recent enrolment trends for BCA programmes in India?

Regular-mode BCA enrolment remained relatively stable initially, rising from 4.32 lakh in 2014-15 to 4.64 lakh in 2019-20. However, it experienced rapid growth in the following years, climbing to 4.94 lakh in 2020-21, 5.71 lakh in 2021-22, 7.12 lakh in 2022-23, and finally reaching 8.65 lakh in 2023-24.

How has the market share of engineering and technology undergraduate enrolments changed over a decade?

The share of undergraduate enrolments for engineering and technology has declined over the decade. In the 2014-15 academic year, engineering and technology accounted for 15.89% of undergraduate enrolments, but this share fell to 12.9% by the 2023-24 academic year.

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