Career Prospects in Civil Engineering in India
Kamlesh is an Indian freelance writer
Since time immemorial, human beings have actively participated in constructing all kinds of structures. Houses, dams, palaces, roads, stadiums, etc. you name it, and we have made it. As civilisation progressed, buildings became better, bigger, and more diverse. The structures so constructed played a very important role in the evolution of the human race socially, politically, and economically.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, The Stonehenge in Britain, The leaning tower of Pisa, and the exquisite Taj Mahal are some of the most significant structures ever built. This is nothing but a glimpse of the various specimens erected by one of the best and oldest branch of science – Civil Engineering.
The infrastructural framework of the entire world depends on the creation of civil engineers. They are responsible for building not only our residential dwellings, but also complex urban structures like tunnels, roads, skyscrapers, commercial properties, etc. The application and range of this job profile is wide and sharply visible. It is but an evergreen career prospect for young individuals who have the right temperament to pursue this line of work.
Here is some information on how to proceed with a career in Civil Engineering:
- Eligibility
After passing class 12 exams, you will have to qualify in an entrance exam either on the national level or state level in order to apply to a graduate program in civil engineering. You must take Maths, Chemistry, and Physics in high school and excel at it. Civil engineering is a 4 year course and the 10+2 exam result is also taken into consideration. After completion of this degree course, you could go for a post-graduation degree or look for a relevant job. Post-graduation is a necessary mandate for pursuing research work or a career in education.
- Financial scenario
Studying engineering comes at a price. It is definitely not a cheap course, be it from a private college or a government university. To quote approximate figures, a degree from private institutions could cost anything between 1 lac – 2 lacs, per annum. However, if you think you have the mental prowess or the hard determination to clear the elusive IIT-JEE exam, then you will have to pay a nominal fee of just Rs.15, 000 – Rs.20, 000, annually.
- Funding aspect
Pursuing any course of engineering may not put a dent in your pocket as colleges offering these courses generally offer substantial scholarships to meritorious students or students from economically and socially backward classes. Apart from a discount in the tuition fee, stipends, freeships, and other forms of financial assistance is also offered to the interested.
- Career prospects
The infrastructure of India is fast improving. Malls, towering high rises, comprehensive townships, etc. are being constructed all over the country. This is but good news for civil engineers as the demand for their skills will now get a massive boost through this upgrade. Civil engineers are getting rapidly sucked into construction projects carried out by both the central and state government agencies.
Civil engineers find employment in private construction projects, and also the armed forces where they can contribute towards the fortification of the country. Lastly, you can erect your very own engineering consultancy firm. Some leading enterprises which offer employment to civil engineers are Larsen and Tubro, Jaypee Group, Gammon India Ltd., Potential Consultants, Simplex Projects Ltd., and Macro Marvel Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. amongst many others.
- The pay package
The amount of money you earn at the termination of the course depends upon the company, the employer, your educational qualifications, and the location of work. It is highly important to have a diploma or a degree from a reputed college in order to acquire a good salary package. Normally, the starting salary without any experience of field work is around Rs.15, 000 per month. With higher qualifications and continuous upgrade of skills, this amount can be extended into lacs. If you decide to do a PhD and work as a professor, you will secure extraordinary amounts of money along with other perks.
The various variations
Here is a list of some of the most important branches of civil engineering:
- Hydraulic Engineering: Structures related to water bodies are constructed. They include dams, bridges, water pipelines, culverts, hydroelectric power plants, etc.
- Construction Engineering: This includes construction of airports, highways, tunnels, railroads, power plants, etc. Different aspects of business management are taken care off. Scheduling, quality control, site survey, budgeting, material testing, etc. is also managed.
- Transportation Engineering: Traffic management, urban development and planning, construction of railroads, pavements, highways, airfields, and canals is taken care off.
- Coastal Engineering: This branch of engineering is associated with developing sea port facilities, monitoring coastal areas, and being vigilant about flooding, storms, and erosions.
- Materials Engineering: Ensuring material quality and durability of products like concrete, cement, polymers, additives, paints, metals, and alloys.
- Structural Engineering: Analysing the stresses and strains endured by a building, minimizing structural loads, and strengthening the building against natural elements and human intervention.
- Environmental Engineering: A new field, this branch of science focuses on environment protection and sustainability. Environmental engineers manage waste water treatment, disposal of hazardous wastes, and devise strategies against soil, water, and air pollution.
Conclusion
A civil engineer has the colossal responsibility of designing, planning, and supervising the construction of several edifices. He needs to have appropriate and sufficient knowledge of core subjects like mathematics and science. A career in this branch of science is highly lucrative right now as the demand for civil engineers is at its peak. Hence, jobs in civil engineering can be attained easily. Also, Indian engineers have a very high demand internationally. Those graduating from IIT’s can expect to land a job in the developed countries as well.
In conclusion, a civil engineer is highly respected, but he is expected to sweat it out on construction sites too, working even under hostile or stressful conditions. If you think you have the right temperament and skill set for pursuing this job profile, go for it.
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Nice post but i think for civil engineering vacancies you can go to http://www.engineersvacancy.com/job-category/civil-engineering/ because here you can simply filter jobs.