IIT Indore Sees Computing and Core Engineering Courses Surge in Popularity: JIC 2025 Insights

IIT Indore has once again demonstrated its strong appeal among aspiring engineers and technologists, according to the 2025 Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) choice-count data. The latest statistics reveal a clear preference among students for computing-led programmes, while traditional engineering disciplines also report steady growth.

Topping the chart is the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) programme, which received a remarkable 23,410 choices in 2025, compared to 20,763 last year, representing a 12.75% year-on-year increase. This surge underscores the sustained interest in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software development, and deep-tech innovations—areas that continue to shape global career trajectories. CSE’s enduring popularity highlights IIT Indore’s ability to align its curriculum with emerging technological trends, making it a sought-after destination for students with ambitions in next-generation computing and research.

Mathematics and Computing Gains Momentum Among Students

Close behind, the Mathematics and Computing programme has emerged as one of IIT Indore’s fastest-growing disciplines. In 2025, the programme received 16,529 choices, up from 14,659 in 2024, marking a 12.76% increase. This growth reflects a rising interest in roles that blend mathematical sophistication with computational skills, including data science, algorithmic research, cryptography, financial engineering, and other quantitatively intensive fields. The programme’s appeal demonstrates the increasing importance of interdisciplinary skills, where mathematics and computing intersect to solve complex, real-world problems.

Electrical Engineering Remains a Strong Contender

Electrical Engineering continues to hold strong relevance, with a choice count of 18,757, up from 16,827 last year, translating into an 11.47% growth. The discipline attracts students pursuing careers in semiconductor technology, power systems, signal processing, embedded electronics, and advanced hardware development. The growth of Electrical Engineering at IIT Indore signals the ongoing demand for expertise in both classical and emerging areas of electronics and electrical systems, essential for industries ranging from consumer electronics to renewable energy solutions.

Traditional Engineering Branches See Steady Growth

While computing-led courses dominate, IIT Indore’s traditional engineering branches are also witnessing significant growth, reflecting sustained student interest in core engineering domains.

• Mechanical Engineering recorded a 9.49% increase, with choices rising from 15,001 to 16,426.
• Civil Engineering demonstrated a 10.85% rise, increasing from 11,839 to 13,124 choices.

These gains highlight the relevance of mechanical and civil engineering in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, sustainable development, and research-driven industrial applications. Students continue to see strong career prospects in these disciplines, bolstered by advancements in smart manufacturing, green construction technologies, and large-scale engineering projects.

Emerging Interest in Engineering Physics and Materials Science

Engineering Physics experienced a 10.85% increase in choice count, moving from 8,256 in 2024 to 9,152 in 2025. The growth reflects a growing fascination among students with physics-based research and high-tech applications, including quantum technologies, photonics, and advanced instrumentation.

Similarly, Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science grew by 9.87%, rising from 8,995 to 9,883 choices. The expansion underscores the increasing importance of materials engineering in advanced sectors like aerospace, nanotechnology, and sustainable manufacturing. Both programmes illustrate how specialized engineering disciplines are aligning with cutting-edge industrial and scientific developments, offering students opportunities to contribute to emerging technologies and innovative solutions.

Chemical Engineering Shows Consistent Growth

Chemical Engineering continues to attract strong interest, registering a 7.73% increase, with choices rising from 11,885 in 2024 to 12,804 in 2025. The field remains vital to industries such as pharmaceuticals, energy, petrochemicals, and sustainable chemical processes, reflecting stable career opportunities and a steady pipeline of future professionals.

Space Science and Engineering: A Rebranded Programme with Enhanced Appeal

A notable highlight in this year’s JIC data is the name change and rebranding of the Space Sciences programme. Previously known as Space Sciences and Engineering, which recorded 9,664 choices in 2024, the programme has been relaunched as Space Science and Engineering, attracting 10,998 choices in 2025.

The rebranded programme’s popularity signals a growing interest in space technology, satellite systems, and astrophysics-focused engineering roles. Students are increasingly drawn to careers that intersect research, technology, and exploration in space science, highlighting IIT Indore’s forward-looking approach to curriculum design that keeps pace with global developments in aerospace and space research.

Analyzing the Overall Trends

The JIC 2025 data underscores IIT Indore’s strong and diversified appeal across both computing-led and traditional engineering programmes. The consistent growth in choice counts across multiple disciplines indicates a balanced interest among students in both emerging technologies and foundational engineering skills.

• Computing-led disciplines like CSE and Mathematics and Computing continue to dominate, reflecting global trends in AI, data science, and software development.
• Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering remain attractive for students seeking traditional engineering pathways enriched with modern applications.
• Specialized branches like Engineering Physics, Materials Science, and Space Science and Engineering show that students are also gravitating toward cutting-edge research areas with high technological relevance.

This trend reflects broader national and international shifts in engineering education and industry demand, where students are increasingly motivated by opportunities in high-tech research, innovation-driven industries, and roles that combine traditional engineering expertise with computational and analytical skills.

Looking Ahead: The Future of IIT Indore’s Undergraduate Programmes

IIT Indore’s ability to maintain growth across a wide spectrum of disciplines demonstrates its strategic vision in offering programmes that are both industry-relevant and research-oriented. The institute’s focus on computing, emerging technologies, and traditional engineering ensures that students have access to diverse career pathways, whether in academia, industry, or entrepreneurship.

As sectors like AI, space technology, and advanced manufacturing continue to expand globally, IIT Indore appears well-positioned to meet evolving student preferences and produce graduates equipped with the knowledge and skills demanded by the modern workforce. The 2025 JIC data reinforces the institute’s reputation as a hub for innovation, academic excellence, and future-ready engineering talent.

Conclusion

The 2025 JIC data from IIT Indore highlights a clear preference for computing-led courses while maintaining strong performance in traditional engineering disciplines. From Computer Science and Mathematics to Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical Engineering, as well as specialized areas like Engineering Physics, Materials Science, and Space Science, the institute is witnessing remarkable growth across the board.

This pattern not only reflects changing student aspirations but also signals IIT Indore’s adaptability to global technological trends, its commitment to academic excellence, and its ability to nurture talent ready to tackle the challenges of the 21st-century engineering landscape.