Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Traditional Engineering Branches Return as Polytechnic Admissions Rise
More students in Maharashtra chose traditional engineering courses after Class 10 this year.
Mechanical engineering was the most popular choice.
Electrical and civil engineering were also popular.
Fewer students chose computer engineering than last year.
New technology courses such as artificial intelligence and machine learning still attracted many students.
Girls were more numerous than boys in computer engineering and artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Officials said traditional courses are being updated with new technology and job-related skills.
Overall, students appear to be considering both traditional and technology-focused careers.
Mechanical, electrical and civil engineering recorded 57,154 admissions in Maharashtra's 2026-27 diploma cycle.
Mechanical engineering led all branches with 23,047 admissions, while computer engineering admissions fell by 1,539 from last year.
A total of 114,573 students secured admission, including 6,799 students who scored above 90% in Class 10.
Pune recorded the highest number of admissions, with 35,054 students enrolled across 129 polytechnic institutes.
Officials linked the trend to modernised curricula, industry connections, direct employment opportunities and demand for skilled workers.
- Who
- Class 10 students seeking diploma engineering admissions in Maharashtra, along with officials from the state's technical education system.
- What
- Traditional engineering branches gained admissions while computer engineering declined, even as technology-oriented courses continued to attract students.
- When
- The 2026-27 diploma engineering admission cycle.
- Where
- Across 449 polytechnic institutes in Maharashtra, with Pune recording the highest admissions among the state's six divisions.
- Why
- Officials attributed the pattern to modernised curricula, industry linkages, direct employment opportunities and demand for skilled workers.
- Total applicants
- 1,40,939 Class 10 students applied, including 93,542 boys and 47,397 girls.
- Total admissions
- 1,14,573 students secured admission, including 76,266 boys and 38,307 girls.
- Traditional branch admissions
- Mechanical, electrical and civil engineering together recorded 57,154 admissions.
- Most popular branch
- Mechanical engineering recorded 23,047 admissions.
- Computer engineering trend
- Admissions declined from 20,905 last year to 19,366 this year.
- Technology courses
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning recorded 6,815 admissions, while Information Technology recorded 4,294.
- Pune division
- Pune recorded 35,054 admissions against 42,111 available seats across 129 institutes.
- Reported vacancies
- The article reported 31,945 vacant seats across Maharashtra, although its stated available-seat and filled-seat totals do not reconcile with that figure.