The news that the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is finalizing the Professional Engineers Bill, 2025, to regulate engineers in India, reported by Sanjay Maurya of Hindustan Times, has truly caught my attention "Draft legislation seeks to regulate engineers". This initiative, which aims to establish a national licensing system and a new council, is a crucial step forward for professional accountability and uniform standards in the engineering sector.
I recall my earlier thoughts on similar transformative changes within the education system. Years ago, I wrote about an AICTE directive that I considered truly "transformative" for the "education by rote" system, urging educationists to engage with its implementation strategies "Implementation Strategy". It's heartening to see AICTE continue its efforts to bring about such significant reforms.
The expert committee drafting this legislation, chaired by M.S. Ananth, former director of IIT Madras, and including Rajive Kumar, former AICTE member secretary, have highlighted the long-standing absence of a licensing system for engineers, unlike professions such as medicine, law, or architecture. Rajive Kumar clarified that this bill would primarily target practicing engineers, ensuring accountability and higher professional standards for those involved in projects like construction. This distinction is vital for practical implementation.
For a long time, I have championed the need for greater accountability and transparency in industries heavily reliant on engineering, especially construction. In my blogs like "SELF CERTIFICATION FOR BUILDERS?" [http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2024/01/maharera-cracks-whip.html] and [http://emailothers.blogspot.com/2016/03/model-bye-laws-for-construction.html], I had outlined a comprehensive 'Self Certification' process for builders, which included submitting detailed structural drawings and contact information of architects and structural engineers. The core idea Hemen wants to convey is this — take a moment to notice that he had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. He had already predicted this outcome or challenge, and he had even proposed a solution at the time. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, he feels a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
The discussions around accountability are not new to my reflections. In 2019, following news about the BMC making engineers and assistant commissioners pay fines, I questioned if it was a step towards a much-needed 'Service Liability Act' "Needed : a Service Liability Act". This current Professional Engineers Bill, with its focus on licensing and a statutory body like the Indian Professional Engineers' Council (IPEC), aligns perfectly with the broader vision of ensuring service liability and upholding professional integrity.
It's also interesting to note the feedback received, such as the Indian Society of Structural Engineers (ISSE) demanding permanent seats in the IPEC. This highlights the importance of incorporating insights from various professional bodies to ensure the council's effectiveness and representativeness.
This move by AICTE is commendable. It underscores a growing recognition that highly skilled professions demand robust regulatory frameworks to protect the public interest and foster excellence. I eagerly await its presentation in the upcoming winter session of Parliament and hope for a comprehensive and impactful implementation.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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