Scope of Chemical Engineering in India

• Chemical engineering is a branch of engineering which includes physical sciences, life sciences, mathematics and economics to convert raw materials into useful valuables or products.
• Chemical engineering has a diverse field. It covers various fields of chemical technology in mineral based industries, petrochemical plants, pharmaceuticals, synthetic fibres, petroleum refining plants etc.
• It is mainly concerned with the designing, supervision, construction, installation and operation of plants and equipment for manufacturing chemical products and developing new methods of production.
   

Following are the education information for a candidate to take up Chemical Engineering as a career. 

• To enroll themselves in the 4 years B.E./B.Tech course in the Chemical Engineering, the candidate needs to pass their 10+2 examination or equivalent examination in science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. 
• They need to clear entrance examination as per the rules of every institutions like Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), All India Engineering/ Architecture Entrance Examination (AIEEE), Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers (AMIE).
• For further studies, a candidate after completing their B.E/B.Tech. can pursue postgraduate degree (M.E) in Chemical Engineering. The duration of the course is of 2 years. 
• One can go for the 3 year diploma course after the 10th standard (SSC).
• The course content of the B.E./B.Tech programmes in Chemical Engineering is on Industrial Chemistry, Polymer Technology, Polymer Processing, Polymer Testing, Polymer Synthesis etc.
• The course content for the ME level course contents specialized training and research in the areas like computer aided plant design, petroleum refining, fertilizer technology, processing of food and agricultural products, synthetic food, petrochemicals, synthetic fibres, coal and mineral based industries etc.

There are several graduate and postgraduate courses available for an interested candidate who wants to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering.  They are as follows:

• B.E. Chemical Engineering
• B.E. Chemical Engineering (Hons)
• B.Tech. Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering
• B.Tech. Chemical Technology
• Diploma in Chemical Engineering
• Diploma in Chemical Technology
• Diploma in Petrochemical Engineering
• Diploma in Petrochemical Technology
• M.E. Chemical Engineering
• M.E. Chemical Process Design
• M.Tech. Chemical Engineering
• M.Tech. Chemical Systems
• M.Tech. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering
• M.Tech. Electrochemical Engineering
• Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

Some of the Institutions for studying Chemical Engineering are as follows:

• IIT's in New Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur
• Birla Institute of Technology (BITS) in Pilani and Ranchi
• Delhi College of Engineering in Delhi
• University of Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh 
• Various NIT's in different states.
   

• The scope for chemical engineers is about to grow in future due to industrial expansion and mostly in the manufacturing field. The work area spread out from petroleum and petrochemicals to food, materials, specialty chemicals, plastics, power production, environmental control, waste management and biotechnology. 
• There are several job opportunities for the chemical engineers both in the public and private sector. They can get employed in the areas like processing, operations or manufacturing, research and development, design and construction, finance and teaching. A chemical engineer can get employed on marketing jobs after doing a management degree. Besides the manufacturing industries a chemical engineer can get employed in a pharmaceutical company. 
• In the government sector, they get employed in the work of waste and water treatment, environmental regulations and recycling; on energy sector such as energy conservation and research on alternate energy sources and health-related research projects, defense establishments and atomic power plants.
• Chemical engineers are also employed in service industries such as scientific research and development services. Other work areas of chemical engineers include food processing, coal preparation and mineral processing, explosives manufacturing, chemical process industries such as fertilizer industry. 
• They are also employed in manufacturing industries like photographic equipment, clothing, development of aircrafts, etc.
   

There are few skills that are required to become a Chemical Engineer. They are as follows:

• The person must have good mathematical, technical and scientific skills.
• They must be good in problem solving and must have good analytical skills.
•  They must be good in planning and organizational ability.
• The chemical engineer must have good IT skills. 
• They must be able to manage projects, budgets and people.
• They must be highly motivated towards their work.

There are few institutes where Chemical Engineering can be done through Distance learning. They are as follows:

• School Of Distance Education, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam
• MP Bhoj Open University
• IIMT Engineering College, Noida
• Calcutta Institute of Engineering and Management, Kolkata
• Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur

• Chemical engineering has a wide career scope. A chemical engineer can do specialization in chemical processes such as oxidation or polymerization or in a specific product such as plastic or rubber.
• Besides designing equipment, testing manufacturing processes, etc. the chemical engineers also study the properties and its effects of dangerous chemicals, device process of neutralizing them and also on the development acceptable substitutes.
• Candidates who have an ad

  To pursue a career in chemical engineering, the candidate must have the following basic criteria:

  • To get an admission for a B.E/B.Tech course the candidate must clear their 10+2 examination or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. 
  • The candidate is selected to its B.E/B.Tech course on the basis of the marks secured in 10+2 entrance examination and through entrance exams. 
  • To get an admission to the IIT’s the candidate need to give Joint Entrance Exam (JEE).
  • For admission to other major institutions, they need to give exams through All India Engineering/ Architecture Entrance Examination (AIEEE)
  • There are national and state level exams which are conducted separately. 
  • Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers (AMIE), which helps the working people in the private and public sector, or diploma holders to get a Bachelor's degree through distance education for career advancement.  
  • To do postgraduate degree (M.E) in Chemical Engineering, the candidate needs to clear their B.E./B.Tech examination.
  • Anyone interested to pursue Diploma in Chemical Engineering can do so, after their class 10th examination. 
     

  The job responsibilities of a Chemical Engineer are as follows:

  • Chemical engineers mainly design and operate the chemical plants and try to improve the methods of production. 
  • Their nature of work is versatile as they are working on invention, development, design, operational processes in industries.
  • They are responsible for the availability of proper materials that are required for running an industry and operate the chemical plants.
  • The chemical engineer must have the ability to determine the problems and find its solution. 
  • They ensure that proper safety measures are used and it should not harm the environment, the process and the product at any stage. 
  • With the growth of industrialization, chemical engineers are in the top position where salary is concerned. 
  • The salary of a chemical engineer depends upon his employment in Central or State government department or in private organization. Not only his salary depends on which sector he works in but also with a person’s experience, qualifications, ability are the important factors to determine his salary.
  • A fresh graduate working in a private sector, gets a starting of approx. Rs. 9,000/- to Rs. 13,000/- per month. Whereas, in government sector, a Diploma holder gets a starting of approx. Rs. 9,000/- to Rs. 13,000/- per month.
  • A lecturer gets a starting salary of approx. Rs. 12,000/- to 14,000/- per month. The salary increases with a person’s experience. 
  • A senior engineer can earn in between Rs. 30,000/- to Rs. 50,000/- per month.