2025 Year Summary in Indian Engineering World. from Nisarg Desai's Idea / Prospect

AI & Upskilling Surge Among Engineers

• A survey by Great Learning shows 67% of Indian engineers feel their job roles are already being transformed by AI. The Indian Express+2The Indian Express+2

• 85% plan to upskill in FY 26, with big focus on generative AI, Python, NLP, data science, cloud, and cybersecurity. The Indian Express+2The Indian Express+2

• Short-term certification courses (< 6 months) are especially popular (66% prefer this). The Indian Express

• Experts predict that AI will dominate engineering education over the next decade. The Times of India

Weakness in Engineering Hiring Despite Placements Recovery

• Engineering colleges are seeing a “strong placement season” after a lull. Business Standard

• However, at the same time, tech hiring is slowing: a report by Xpheno says IT + engineering job demand has dropped ~27% year-over-year. बिज़नेस स्टैंडर्ड

• This suggests a more complicated job market: roles may be shifting (AI, automation), and not all engineering hiring is robust.

Record Engineering Goods Exports

• India’s engineering goods exports hit an all-time high of $116.67 billion in FY 2024–25. Dainik Bhaskar

• This shows strength in manufacturing and global competitiveness, which is a positive sign for “hard” engineering (not just software).

Sustainable Infrastructure Innovation

• IIT Indore researchers have developed a “green” concrete using industrial waste (fly ash, GGBS) via geopolymer tech. It’s claimed to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 80% and lower construction costs by ~20%. The Times of India

• This could be critical for sustainable infrastructure projects in India (roads, rail, emergency structures).

High-Speed Rail / Bullet Train Progress

• The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train is being developed with advanced Japanese tech: next-gen E10 Shinkansen trains (320 km/h) are expected. The Times of India

• This is not just a transport story but a major engineering + infrastructure + Indo-Japan technology collaboration.

Space Engineering & Private Sector Push

• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is increasing its bet on space: working with HAL to build India’s first privately assembled Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Reuters

• This aligns with India’s move to open up space to private players, which has big implications for engineering, manufacturing, and R&D.

Defense Innovation by Young Engineers

• Two 20-year-old BITS Pilani-Hyderabad students (startup: Apollyon Dynamics) have built radar-proof kamikaze drones (~300 km/h) and gotten orders from the Indian Army. Indiatimes

• This is a strong example of “student-led, Make in India” defense innovation.

Deep-Tech: Electrolyzer for Lab-Grown Diamonds

• HYDGEN (a deep-tech company) shipped its first in-house developed electrolyzer to a lab-grown diamond factory in India. Navbharat Times

• It shows how advanced engineering (chemistry + electrical + materials) is making real industrial impact in India’s deep-tech space.