The visionaries amongst the engineers thought it necessary in the early twentieth century to establish in India a professional society encompassing all disciplines of engineers. The sapling planted in the 1920 has, by now, grown to a big tree and the track record of The Institution of Engineers ( India) has been a matter of pride for all engineers.
In the second decade of the last century India was embarking on industrialization. A report of the Industrial Commission in 1916 recognized the importance of the engineering profession. Proposals were mooted in 1918-19 for the formation of an Indian Society of Engineers. Finally the Institution of Engineers (India) was formed and registered at Madras in 1920. Sir Thomas Holland was one of the active participants leading to the establishment of the Institution and could be considered as its founder.
The Institution of Engineers (India) was registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1913 in the year 1920 and was formally inaugurated in 1921 by Lord Chelmsford, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India. The Institution of Engineers (India) was granted the Royal Charter of Incorporation 1935 by His Majesty the King George V of England in 1935, “to promote and advance the science, practice and business of engineering in all its branches in India”. Starting with this humble beginning, The Institution of Engineers (India) is now an unique professional body encompassing 15 engineering disciplines and with an overall membership of over 0.5 million.
The Institution of Engineers (India) is the first professional body to represent India in several International Bodies, such as the World Mining Congress (WMC), the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), the Federation Internationale du Beton (fib), and the Federation of Engineering Institutions of South and Central Asia (FEISCA). It also has bilateral agreements with a number of professional societies across the globe.
The Institution of Engineers (India) functions with and amongst the professional engineers, academicians and research workers and provides a vast array of technical, professional and supporting services to the government and the industries along with the academic and engineering communities.
The Institution of Engineers (India) is the pioneer body to introduce, starting from 1928, non-formal engineering education programme, successful completion of which is recognized as equivalent to a degree in engineering by the Government of India, the Union Public Service Commission, the State Governments and many Public / Private Sector organizations in the country.
The Institution of Engineers (India), with its headquarters in Kolkata, India, is administered by a National Council with the President as its Head, and operates through 94 State and Local Centres, located at capital cities and towns of industrial and academic importance all over the country, and five Overseas Chapters. The Secretary and Director General is the Chief Executive of the Institution.
How does the Institution serve the Engineering Community ?
The services rendered by The Institution of Engineers (India) to its Members are primarily through a variety of technical activities and functions such as :
Dissemination and updating of engineering and technological knowledge and diffusion among its members, the information on all matters affecting engineering, through Technical Activities, such as seminars, symposia, continuing education courses, workshops, paper meetings, conventions, conferences, etc at both national and international levels;
- Providing access to R & D activities and engineering practices through engineering and technological disciplines;
- Focusing on new developments, techniques, products, processes and other issues of topical interest;
Highlighting emerging engineering and technological scenario through comprehensive coverage in the tabloid IEI News published monthly along with authoritative discourses and state-of-the-art reviews on specialized engineering issues in the Technorama published annually;
Extending engineering information and library services at its Headquarters and at the State and Local Centres;
Inculcating and promoting amongst engineers and technologists a growing commitment to the social objectives of the profession;
- Fostering national and international cooperation in engineering and technology;
- Acting as an accreditation body for courses in engineering;
Acting as qualifying body and conducting examinations under its non-formal education programme, to cater to the needs and aspirations of prospective entrants to the profession.
Recording appreciation of and extending recognition to individual achievements and activities in advancing the art and science of engineering and technology.
The Ever-expanding Horizon of the IEI
In order to create sharp focus in national priority areas, The Institution of Engineers (India) has established the following :
- Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI) for providing continuing education;
National Design and Research Forum (NDRF) to encourage design talents in engineering and technology;
Rural Development Forum (RDF) to encourage and promote multifaceted development of rural India;
Water management forum (WMF) to promote and advance the engineering and practice of water resources managements in its totality; and
The sustainable Development Forum (SDF) for expression of authoritative views on technologies for sustainable development and for enunciating practical solutions to the problems faced by India.
Safety and Quality Forum (SQF) to address the aspect of safety and quality in engineering profession.
Membership of The Institution of Engineers (India)
The Corporate Membership of The Institution of Engineers (India) is open to any person with an accredited engineering degree with prescribed professional experience. With accumulation of continued professional experience and level of responsibilities, the membership of the 'Associate Member' grade can be upgraded to the 'Member' grade and and then to the 'Fellow' grade, subject to strict scrutiny by a nominated high-level peer committee.
Chartered Engineer
A Corporate Member with five years relevant professional experience can become a Chartered Engineer.
Professional Engineer
In the light of the authority vested by the Royal Charter for certifying the competency of engineers, the Council of The Institution of Engineers ( India) may, at its discretion, approve that a person fulfilling the educational, technical and other experience criteria as prescribed by it, shall be entitled to describe himself as a Professional Engineer.
Privileges of Corporate Members
A Corporate Member of The Institution of Engineers (India) enjoys certain privileges, namely :
Scope for enhancement of leadership qualities and improvement of skills by participating in continuing education programmes offered at the ESCI as well as at State and Local Centres of The Institution of Engineers (India);
Opportunities to gain and update knowledge and experience and access to information in a variety of engineering and technology disciplines through participation in seminars, symposia, conventions, work-shops, etc at national, regional and local levels;- Availability of The Institution of Engineers (India)’s Journals, technical monographs, papers, conference proceedings, etc;
- Entitled to receive 'IEI News' and 'Technorama', the colour supplements to the Journal, free of charge;
- Access to web-based e-groups for professional interaction;
Access to the Engineering Information Service Centre at the Headquarters as well as at the State and Local Centres of The Institution of Engineers (India);
Access to the know-how and ideas from fellow members and professional leaders about ongoing R & D work in various areas and to standards, specifications and codes for development and transfer of technology;
Opportunities to contribute knowledge and experience as arbitrators in arbitrations relating to engineering jobs / services;
Opportunities to get facilities and benefits while abroad through other professional bodies with whom institution has bilateral relations;
Opportunities to participate in international conferences, and meet specialist engineers and technologists from the world over; and- Facilities of retiring rooms at the Headquarters and at the Centers at concessional rates.
Engineering Divisions of The Institution of Engineers (India)
The various Engineering Divisions established by The Institution of Engineers (India) are as under :
- Aerospace Engineering Division
- Agricultural Engineering Division
- Architectural Engineering Division
- Chemical Engineering Division
- Civil Engineering Division
- Computer Engineering Division
- Electrical Engineering Division
- Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Division
- Environmental Engineering Division
- Marine Engineering Division
- Mechanical Engineering Division
- Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Division
- Mining Engineering Division
- Production Engineering Division
- Textile Engineering Division