Not too long ago, top-performing students from CBSE and ICSE boards rarely considered Gujarat for engineering education. For them, the state’s colleges lacked the prestige and facilities they expected, pushing them to seek options elsewhere.
Fast forward to today, and the tide has turned.
These very students are now opting to stay in Gujarat, thanks to a transformed educational landscape that boasts modern infrastructure, strong placement records, and a reputation that stands shoulder to shoulder with engineering institutions across India. The shift is visible in hard numbers—registrations from elite board students have more than doubled since 2018.
In 2018, Gujarat board students made up a dominant 89% of admissions, while CBSE students accounted for just 8.76%. ICSE participation was even lower at 0.67%. But by 2025, Gujarat board’s share has dipped to 77.89%, while CBSE surged to 18.58% and ICSE crept up to 0.90%.
“Gujarat has witnessed the emergence of many reputed colleges and universities offering professional courses like degree engineering. With quality infrastructure, placement record and state-of-the-art laboratories, more of these elite board students may be finding it worthy to pursue engineering degree from the state rather than going to colleges outside Gujarat, a trend once popular among them,” said Nilay Bhuptani, member secretary, ACPC.
The Numbers Speak
Back in 2018, only 3,484 of the 39,739 students registered for degree engineering were from CBSE. Just 268 came from ICSE. By 2025, those figures have grown to 7,443 (CBSE) and 361 (ICSE) out of a total 40,049 registrations. That’s not just a boost in numbers—it’s a shift in perception.
What Changed?
One key factor is a fairer admissions process. “We have discontinued pro-rata based admission since 2013 in which CBSE and other board students decided the number of seats for them in comparison to Gujarat board students. Now, we have roped in the Indian Statistical Institute to normalise percentile ranks to prepare merit keeping all boards students who registered to be part of the admission system,” explained Bhuptani.
Beyond policy reforms, the real game changer has been the rise of quality institutions—both government-run and private. These colleges offer competitive courses, impressive infrastructure, and strong industry linkages that translate into solid placement records.
The shift was already visible in 2024. Out of 41,642 ACPC-registered students, 78% were from the Gujarat board, 16.42% from CBSE, and 0.84% from ICSE.
For many families, the message is clear: Gujarat’s engineering colleges are no longer a compromise—they’re a top choice.