While engineering is a much sought-after course, no new engineering college is likely to come up till 2024. An All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) expert committee has made the recommendation to the body in view of the huge vacancy in engineering colleges across the country, which has led to closure of many such institutes.

As per the data available with the AICTE, in the academic year 2021-22, a total of 63 engineering colleges applied for permission to shut. The number stood at 26 the year before, whereas the three years prior to that saw more than 50 colleges applying to close down each. In the past six years, 557 engineering colleges have closed down across the country. This includes 129 colleges from Maharashtra.