Meaning of AeSI withdrawing case from Delhi High Court and its implications for IEI

There is breaking news - AeSI withdraws case from Delhi High Court on 27-05-2022. Does it mean that Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) is no more interested in conducting Section A and B exams and will only give membership? At first glance, it looks so. Fortunately, this conclusion is not true. To understand this let us go back to the past, just nine months back. 

But first, let us understand what the problem is. The MHRD - AICTE in 2013 (and beyond), derecognised the equivalence criteria between engineering professional bodies (IEI, AeSI, IETE, IME, ICE and more such professional bodies) - Section A and Section B passed candidates, with that of B. Tech degree from an Indian University. In 2018, fresh admission was on hold as per the order given by Delhi High Court.

Now, back to our story, AeSI came up with a better plan - AeSI signed an MoU with Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai (HITS) in 2021. According to this MoU, students of Aeronautical Society who have passed Section A & Section B of the Associate Membership Examinations shall now be eligible to pursue a two-semester University module which will include a few theory subjects, practicals & projects. If the student qualifies in the University Module, the student on the basis of credits mapped from the AeSI Curriculum will be awarded a University Degree in Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering by the Hindustan Institute of Technology & Sciences under the University Grants Commission.

The HITS Module and the session will only commence after 20 Students pass Section A and Section B of the Associate Membership Examination.

The credits mapping from the AeSI course structure with that of the HITS Aeronautical/Aerospace graduate program has been duly approved by the Academic Committee of both The Aeronautical Society of India & Hindustan Institute of Technology & Sciences (HITS).

All The Aeronautical Society of India students who have successfully completed or passed the Section A & Section B of the Associate Membership Examination conducted by The Aeronautical Society of India can apply for the AeSI - HITS program.

Fresh admission started in AeSI

With this announcement, The Aeronautical Society of India has started the registrations for December 2022 session exams for Section A students.

Desirous candidates who wish to gain a University Degree may please email at aerosocexamination@gmail.com. The contact number is 011-23370768.

Implications for IEI

Seems to be a piece of good news for IEI students too! It May follow the same trend. It is known that IEI has already submitted an advanced syllabus which is at par with the AICTE syllabus. This implies that in the future IEI may come up with the same package similar to AeSI wherein all the project work and practicals will be shifted to the last two semesters which will be carried out in an engineering college. 

If the student qualifies in the University Module, the student based on credits mapped from the IEI Curriculum will be awarded a University Degree in the respective engineering branch by the University ties up with IEI.

Of course, IEI may come up with a better plan being the largest engineering body of engineers in India. Let us cross our fingers and wait for the next hearing which is scheduled to be on October 17, 2022. Also, we should keep an eye on the next hearing of the rest of the professional bodies vs. the Union of India on October 10, 2022.

One thing is certain - a better solution will emerge from all this twisting and churning!

S K Jain

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