Graduates of four-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs, including those with honors or research components, can now apply to specific Master of Engineering (ME and MTech) programs. This decision by AICTE opens a new pathway from higher education in the natural sciences to postgraduate studies in engineering.
However, this move has sparked debate. There have been calls for implementing admission based on the GATE exam, and limits have been placed on the number of institutions that can utilize this new route. The goal of these restrictions is to prevent a decline in the standards of MTech programs and to protect enrollment in Master of Science (MSc) programs.