Physics, chemistry optional for some UG technical courses

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, March 12

Marking a major shift in the education system, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the technical education regulator, has made physics, chemistry and mathematics (PCM) optional for students opting for UG technical courses like biotechnology, textile or agriculture engineering.

However, the PCM will continue to be important subjects for streams like mechanical engineering. Confirming this, AICTE chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe said, “For streams like textile engineering, agriculture or may be biotechnology, the students will have an option of not studying the three subjects compulsorily in Class XII.”

Revised regulation is in line with the National Education Policy that students should be offered more flexibility in their choice of subjects, especially in secondary school, so that they could chart their career and life path better, he added.

The AICTE has listed the PCM among 14 subjects wherefrom students can choose three and secure a minimum 45 per cent in each to take up engineering. They include physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, electronics, information technology, biology, informatics practices, biotechnology, technical vocational subject, engineering graphics, business studies and entrepreneurship.

A student can study engineering if he gets minimum 45 per cent marks in any three of the above subjects, including the PCM, but can be any other three subjects also.