Top Government Jobs for Engineers
Engineering is an area of expertise that opens a wide variety of job opportunities for engineers. Engineers are one of the most demanded professionals in the market today. Their high level of expertise and knowledge acquired during the engineering course makes them professionals in all their fields. Engineering has several branches and knowledge of one branch can be applied to many fields.
Securing a government job for an engineer is a dream come true for many candidates. There are many advantages to government jobs. The most important advantage is the job security provided in the government sector. The government employees get good pay and bonuses on various occasions. On retirement, they also have the benefit of pension. They have a fixed timing job and they also enjoy the number of government holidays. They also have decent career growth. After seeing the many benefits, engineers are turning their focus on developing their career in the government sector.
Different Branches of Engineering
The market is saturated with engineers which makes it difficult for them to find a good job. This problem can be solved to some extent by pursuing engineering in less saturated and less demanding subjects. There are many branches in engineering that can help in acquiring government jobs. It does not guarantee a 100% government job but the chances are high.
1. Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering is one of the core branches and traditional branches of Engineering. Many heavy industries recruit electrical engineers. The government jobs for them are in State Electricity Board, Indian Railways, BHEL, BSNL, DRDO, Indian Army, Indian Navy, etc. which are some of the best career options.
2. Mechanical Engineering
It is a very valuable branch in terms of career. Mechanical engineers have job opportunities in government sectors like Indian Railways, DRDO, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, BHEL, PWD, etc.
3. Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is a tough course to pursue but has a rewarding career. They may apply for jobs in government sectors like the Drug Department, Indian Oil Corporation, Fertilizer Corporation of India, Government Managed Refineries, DRDO, ONGC, etc.
4. Civil Engineering
It is one of the core branches in Engineering and there is a huge demand for civil engineers in the government sector. They are required to deal with tasks such as creating structures of public utility and maintaining them. They are also needed to do the planning of town and transportation networks like railways and roadways.
5. Electronics and Communication Engineering
There are not many options for ECE engineers but still, the few which are available are the good ones. The candidate can work in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, BSNL, DRDO, etc.
6. Biotechnology
This is a newly developed branch. The research sector gives a very promising job to the biotechnologist. There are many government-funded research programs, Forensic Department, DRDO, etc. who always require biotechnologists.
7. Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum engineers can acquire jobs in government organizations like Indian Oil Corporation, ONGC, Government Operated Refineries, etc. These are good career options for Petroleum engineering graduates.
8. Agricultural Engineering
Although this branch is not very popular, it has its own perks and advantages. The agricultural engineers can apply for various officer posts in the Department of Agriculture.
9. Dairy Technology and Engineering
This demand is also low in popularity, but the demand for these engineers is high in the Dairy Development Department. There are many posts available in the Officer category.
10. Food Processing and Technology
This department deals with everything related to food production, processing, packaging, preservation, and use of technology in doing all these processes. The jobs can be done in the Food Processing Industry, Food Boards, Agriculture Boards, Health Boards, etc.
Best Government Jobs For Engineers in India
As mentioned above, engineers excelling in various fields of engineering can get a job in government sectors. But, before applying for a government job, one needs to crack state and national level competitive exams. This further helps in gaining a good job. Some best job options in the government sector are:
1. Indian Engineering Services (IES)
IES is the most popular career option amongst engineering students. The reason being the high stature and respect that comes along with the job. There is a lot of competition amongst the candidates to acquire the job. The candidate needs to clear the Engineering Services Examination (ISE) which is governed by UPSC. The testing standards are the toughest as the candidates are recruited as officers in various government organizations like the Central Public Works Department, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Directorate General of Supply and Disposals, Indian Navy, etc.
2. Engineer at National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
NTPC is recognized as one of the top Navratna public sector companies in India and is the largest power company. The company hires engineers from different fields of engineering like Electronics and Telecommunication, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science. The headquarters are located in New Delhi and have many offices all around India.
The recruitments are on the basis of the GATE score. Gratitude Aptitude Test for Engineers (GATE) entrance exam for IITs but now many PSUs have also started using this exam to hire candidates.
3. PSU – Public Sector Units
The Public Sector Units or PSU is a very good option for engineers to work in the public sector. The work pressure is not very stressful and the pay is good. The working hours are fixed and the workplace offers security to their employees. The recruitment in PSUs is on the basis of entrance exams. The public sector units that provide employment are:
- Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
- Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL)
- Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
- Engineers India Limited (EIL)
- Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)
- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
- Oil India Limited (OIL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
- Steel Authority of India (SAIL)
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
- Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL)
The salary for a management trainee is around Rs.15 Lacs per year and that of a graduate engineer is Rs. 10 Lacs per year.
4. Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces include the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. They hire a lot of engineers as a part of technical entry scheme. The freshly pass out engineers apply to technical officers post and the selection is on merit basis. The Indian Armed Forces also offer a separate entrance exam known as the Combined Defense Services Exam (CDS) followed by Service Selection Board and Medical Examination. It is conducted twice a year and only unmarried graduates are eligible to apply for this exam.
After the selection process is completed, the engineers are given training in their respective branches of armed forces and are inducted as officers after completing the training. The National Defense Academy gives high stature and living standards with a well-paying job. One learns to live a disciplined life. The salary for Assistant Commandant, Deputy Commandant, and Commandant ranges from Rs.15,600 to Rs.39,100 per month. The grade pay varies with the position.
5. Civil Services
Civil Services is one of the most reputed positions in the Indian Government. The respect and prestige of IAS, IPS, and IFS are unmatched to any other profession.
IAS or Indian Administrative Services Officers play a major role in running the country in the best possible ways. The job pressure is high and demanding. They are responsible for implementing policy and administrative responsibilities. The pay scale for Junior and Senior Time Scale officers ranges from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 80,000 per month. The grade pay depends on the position of the candidate.
Indian Foreign Services or IFS officers can help in becoming the brand ambassador of the country. They become the face of the Indian Government in a foreign country. The job includes heavy traveling and meetings with foreign diplomats. They get handsome pay and also enjoy many benefits.
Indian Police Services or IPS officers serve the state or central government. They take care of the people in their jurisdiction. They maintain law, order, and peace in the country.
6. State Public Service Commission
The State Public Service Commission conducts PSC examinations and carries out recruitments for various administrative posts in the state. The body chalks out the criteria and principles for appointing candidates to civil services of the states. They also set rules for granting promotions, transferring candidates from one service to another, and promoting them to higher ranks.
The job profile is almost identical to that of a civil servant. There are government jobs in India like MRO, Tehsildar, and RTO that have a good pay scale and get many extra benefits. The salary of these officers ranges from Rs.50,000 to Rs.80,000 per month.
7. Indian Railways
Working as an engineer in Railways is the best career option available for engineers in the government sector. Railways have the highest number of government job vacancies for engineers. The engineers have to clear the entrance exam conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board or the Engineering Services Exam conducted by UPSC to get a job in Railways.
The various posts in Railways are locomotive engineer, locomotive superintendent, senior section engineers, signal and interlocking engineer, train light engineers, truss engineers, surveyor, carriage and wagon engineer, junior engineer, railroad engineer, a train ticket checker, ticket controller, revenue protection inspector, station master, etc. The average annual income of the senior section engineer is about Rs.7 lacs.
8. National Banks
Bank jobs are one of the most beneficial jobs in terms of salary and security. The National Banks have requirements of Specialist IT Officer for which they recruit IT/CS and ECE Engineers. The selection for these posts is through a common entrance examination like IBPS. Many banks have their own entrance exam which is followed by an interview.
The State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, PSU Banks like Bank of Baroda, Reserve Bank of India, and various Regional and Rural Banks recruit engineers every year. This is a good career option for people who love a challenging environment to work.
9. Scientist
The scientists are the pillars of the nation. They are the developing roots and revolutionists who are striving hard to make changes for the betterment of human life. The job profile is very demanding with high work pressure. But, the fruit gained after all the efforts is worth it. The job opportunities in DRDO and ISRO are very rewarding.
They require engineers to develop newer software for carrying out various operations. There is a special entrance exam ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB) to apply to ISRO. The salary ranges from Rs.3 Lacs to Rs.10 Lacs annually depending on the position.
10. Government Lecturer/ University Professors
Engineers can also join as a lecturer in government colleges. They can share their knowledge and help in building the future of the country. The job pressure is minimal in this field. Lecturers can also do research that is usually funded by the government. Clearing entrance exams like NET is necessary to work as a lecturer in government colleges. The salary ranges from Rs.2 Lacs to Rs.6 Lacs annually.
Conclusion
There have been many incidences where people have left government jobs to work in the private sector. But, recently the government sector has improved the pay package and are giving many benefits to their employees. Thus, it is rapidly becoming a career choice for engineers.