For over three decades, India’s idea of “engineering” has been almost synonymous with IT. The software boom of the 1990s and 2000s transformed the country into a global outsourcing powerhouse, offering secure jobs, foreign exchange, and international recognition. But it also drew countless mechanical, civil, and electrical engineers into coding cubicles. Laboratories went silent, workshops rusted, and the very identity of an Indian engineer became reduced to a programmer.
That model worked for its time. IT put India on the global map. It created a thriving middle class, built cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and made “offshoring” a household word in boardrooms across the U.S. But it came at a cost. Manufacturing stagnated, infrastructure projects stalled, and public sector engineering shrank. Even graduates of core disciplines rarely entered factories or construction sites. They were absorbed into IT services that ballooned into a $250 billion industry while core engineering struggled for relevance.
Today, this imbalance is beginning to correct itself. A comeback of core engineering is not only overdue—it is a national necessity. A country that aspires to be a $5 trillion economy cannot remain dependent on imports for turbines, semiconductors, and critical infrastructure while exporting software maintenance at scale. India’s future demands bridges as much as algorithms, renewable grids as much as cloud servers, and aerospace design as much as app design.
There is also the U.S. factor. The “America First” thrust of the MAGA movement—protectionism, immigration restrictions, economic nationalism—has already shaken the old IT outsourcing model. Visa curbs, regulatory risks, and political uncertainty threaten the very system that enabled Indian engineers to flood U.S. firms as cost-effective IT labor. For Indian IT services, this is disruptive. For India as a whole, it is clarifying. If reliance on visas and on-site outsourcing weakens, India cannot afford to have its core talent trapped in software maintenance. The country must channel its engineers back into building, innovating, and producing.
This is not a story of IT versus core. It is about balance. The IT rush proved India’s adaptability in riding the wave of digitization. The resurgence of core engineering must now prove India’s ability to design and build the physical foundations of its future. There are several forces that may aid this balanced shift. Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat have spurred fresh demand for engineers in defense, aerospace, and electronics.
Massive projects in highways, metro systems, logistics, and renewable energy are breathing new life into civil and structural engineering. The global energy transition, with its urgency around electric vehicles and net-zero commitments, requires chemical, electrical, and materials engineers at a scale India has not seen in decades. Industry 4.0 has blurred the line between IT and core, demanding hybrid professionals who can combine coding with mechanical design and industrial systems. And as global companies diversify supply chains away from China, India is suddenly positioned as a credible alternative in manufacturing and infrastructure.
The challenge, however, is steep. Years of neglect have left scars. Engineering curricula remain outdated, often detached from the needs of industry. Laboratories and R&D infrastructure lag global standards. Many students continue to view IT jobs as safer and more rewarding than the volatile cycles of manufacturing or infrastructure. Core engineering careers demand longer gestation, tougher working conditions, and often slower financial returns.
Bridging this gap requires systemic reform. India must invest in modern laboratories, industry-linked faculty, and curricula aligned to automation, sustainability, and advanced materials. Education must produce not just coders but builders. Policy must incentivize firms to invest in R&D and product engineering rather than rely on global cost arbitrage. And firms themselves must diversify beyond the U.S., build Global Capability Centers at home, and embrace remote delivery and automation.
If India wants to lead not just in writing code but in shaping the material world—from green energy to aerospace—it must ensure its engineers are more than just programmers. They must once again become what the word “engineer” truly means: builders of progress.
Engineers don’t just solve problems—they create possibilities. To every student sketching ideas on the back of a notebook or coding late into the night—remember, today’s learning builds tomorrow’s innovations. Engineering is not just about machines, bridges, or codes—it’s about building systems that serve people. From sustainable infrastructure to digital breakthroughs, engineers turn challenges into opportunities every day. Let’s continue engineering a better, smarter, and greener future.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has a message for engineers and aspirants. His tweet reads: “Today, on Engineers’ Day, I pay homage to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose brilliance left an indelible mark on India’s engineering landscape. I extend warm greetings to all engineers who, through their creativity and determination, continue to drive innovation and tackle tough challenges across sectors. Our engineers will continue playing a crucial role in the collective efforts to build a Viksit Bharat.”
