Among Engineering and Technology stream (total enrolment 3,663,685 in 2020-21), the highest enrolment is in Computer Engineering. Around 1 million (1,081,681 in 2020-21) students have taken admission to CS (Computer Science) Engineering stream in 2020-21. Around 0.2 million (204642 in 2020-21) students have taken admission to IT (Information Technology) Engineering stream in 2020-21. Around half a million (493,807 in 2020-21) students have taken admission to B.C.A. (Bachelor of Computer Applications) course. Apart from Engineering, at least the other CS & IT undergraduate level students are 877937 in 2020-21. Total student enrolment including all courses is around 31 million (total enrolment 31046985 in 2020-21) in India.
Total % of B.E./B.Tech (CS) student enrolment at undergraduate level = 1081681 * 100 / 31046985 = (3.48%)
Total % of B.E./B.Tech (CS+IT) + other CS/IT student enrolment at undergraduate level = (1081681+204642+877937)100/31046985 = 21,64,260100/31046985 = (6.97% ~7%)
Which student enrolment count isn’t included in the above estimation?
More likely B.Sc. Computer/ IT student enrolment count isn’t included in above figure. B.E./B.Tech (Electronics & Communication) student enrolment count isn’t included. Student enrolment count in Integrated 5 years courses like (5 years M.Tech, B.Tech+MBA, M.Sc. etc) isn’t even included. Many diploma engineering students get an equivalent engineering degree by pursuing AMIE, but their enrolment count is not included. NIELIT (DOEACC) ‘B’ level is equivalent to MCA degree, but their enrolment count isn’t included. Around 145,471 students have taken admission to M.C.A. (Master of Computer Applications) course in 2020-21, but their count isn’t included. All these students are eligible for the UPSC Civil Services Exam as per the criteria.
As per our estimation based on data processed by us, among all eligible undergraduate students for UPSC, at least 10% is related to computer science (CS) field. Still, CS can’t be selected as an optional subject in the UPSC Main exam.
Isn’t the Electrical Engineering subject already present in the UPSC CSE Main Exam as an optional subject? What’s a need to add Computer Science too?
While I agree with the fact that Electrical Engineering is the mother of Computer Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Information Technology. And the Electrical Engineering subject is present as an optional subject in the UPSC Main exam. But, today, it is more like Sanskrit as the mother of Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali etc. Technology is evolving at so much pace that at present Computer Engineering has become the mother of other engineering fields, like Artificial Intelligence, Data Science etc.
Not only Quantity, but Quality too.
Check IITs, NITs, or other state/central level institutes admission counselling cutoff, CS is the most preferred branch. Isn’t India losing an overall good quality of UPSC participants by not including computer science as an optional subject in UPSC Main exam?
Not only beneficial to CS students, but all.
As per New Education Policy 2020, students from class 6 will get to learn coding as part of school curricula. Next generation Doctors, Lawyers, Artists, CAs etc will also have some depth computer science knowledge. So, in future, it will be helpful for any student.
Who can recommend adding extra optional subject(s) to the UPSC Main Exam?
It is ultimately up to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to decide whether or not to add additional optional subjects to the list of subjects available for the Civil Services Examination (CSE). In the Constitution of India, articles from 315 to 323 deal with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions. Article 320 states the functions of Public Service Commission. I hope UPSC will soon add CS(Computer Science) as an optional subject in the UPSC Main exam.
PS: Data analysis & study is based on AISHE Report 2020-21 and law. Personally, I have no experience with the UPSC exam.
