‘Engineering Commission must to achieve Viksit Bharat goals’ | Lucknow News

Shailendra DubeyEngineer’s Day is celebrated on Sept 15 across the country to celebrate the birth anniversary of Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a legendary engineer and statesman who made significant contributions to Indian infrastructure and engineering.Born in 1861, his work on irrigation systems, dams, and public projects like the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, earned him the Bharat Ratna in 1955. The day recognizes the role of engineers in nation-building and innovation.Lack of due recognition for engineers in India, even after 78 years of independence, is a critical issue that has been highlighted by experts and organizations like the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) & Indian Engineers Federation (INDEF). The call for an Engineering Commission underscores the need to address systemic challenges faced by engineers and elevate their role in nation-building, particularly in the context of India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047. Why Engineers Lack Recognition in IndiaIndia’s administrative structure, inherited from British colonial systems, prioritizes generalist administrative services (for example, IAS) over technical expertise. This has marginalized engineers in policy-making and leadership roles, despite their critical contributions to infrastructure, technology, and industry. Engineers are often sidelined in favour of IAS officers in key decision-making positions within technical departments, leading to a disconnect between expertise and authority.Career Progression & IncentivesSlow career progression, inadequate training, and disparities in pay scales compared to administrative services have driven skilled engineers toward non-technical roles (IAS/IPS) or corporate sectors, exacerbating brain drain.The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (Aug 2023) noted that technical officers increasingly pursue administrative roles due to limited growth opportunities in engineering services.Unlike architects, lawyers, or pharmacists, engineers are not required to register with a professional body to practice, leading to inconsistent standards and limited recognition of expertise. The National Education Policy-2020 has recommended addressing this gap through a regulatory body.According to experts, engineers, who convert scientific knowledge into practical solutions, are not adequately involved in policy formulation. This deprives the govt of specialized advice critical for sectors like infrastructure, energy, and technology.Case for an Engineering CommissionAn Engineering Commission is increasingly seen as a necessity to address these challenges and elevate the status of engineers in India. Amendment to the Indian Service of Engineers, to establish it as an All India Service (AIS) under the One Nation, One Engineering Service Rules (ONOESR) is the need of the hour. This would standardize engineering services across states, ensuring uniform qualifications, training, and career progression.The Punchhi Commission (2010) also recommended a specialized All India Engineering Service to foster collaboration between central and state govts, improving infrastructure development and regulatory practices.The commission could ensure that engineering departments are led by qualified technical officers rather than non-technical IAS officers, enhancing efficiency in complex projects. AIPEF has criticized the current practice of appointing non-technical officers to head engineering departments, which undermines expertise. Technical leadership would align authority with responsibility, enabling engineers to drive innovation and project execution effectively.By improving career progression, interdepartmental mobility, and training opportunities, the Engineering Commission could retain talent within technical services. This is critical to prevent engineers from migrating to corporate sectors or administrative roles.Regulating Professional StandardsThe proposed Indian Professional Engineers Council (IPEC), as outlined by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), could serve as a precursor to or part of the Engineering Commission. IPEC aims to register, monitor, and regulate engineers, setting professional and ethical standards while advising on engineering education reforms. The body would ensure accountability, skill development, and global competitiveness for Indian engineers.Supporting Viksit Bharat GoalsEngineers are central to achieving India’s development vision, from building smart cities to scaling renewable energy and modernizing infrastructure. Engineering Commission would provide a platform to align expertise with national priorities, ensuring engineers are recognized as key stakeholders in policy and execution.AICTE’s Draft Bill (April 2025): The proposed Indian Professional Engineers Council (IPEC) aims to regulate engineering professionals.. This could lay the groundwork for a broader Engineering Commission.AIPEF has called for measures to address the “degradation of engineering services” compared to administrative services, urging the govt to prioritize engineers in policy-making.Challenges to Establishing an Engineering CommissionThe dominance of generalist administrative services may create pushback against decentralizing authority to technical experts.Creating an All India Service and a regulatory body requires coordination between central and state govts, along with legislative changes. Establishing and sustaining a commission would require significant investment in infrastructure, training, and governance structures.An Engineering Commission is a pressing need to empower engineers, standardize their roles, and ensure their expertise drives India’s development agenda. (The writer is a retired chief engineer and the chairman of All-India Power Engineers Federation)