JEE 2026: IIT admissions 2026 witness Major Shift Toward AI and Data Science

A clear change is emerging in Indian engineering education as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science programs at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) see a sharp rise in popularity among JEE Advanced 2026 qualifiers. According to recent admission data, students are increasingly opting for AI and data-focused courses over traditional core branches such as mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering.

While Computer Science Engineering (CSE) continues to dominate among top rank holders, mid-rank candidates are now gravitating toward AI and Data Science programs. IIT Madras, which introduced the B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics last year, has already seen 19 candidates from the Common Rank List (CRL) enrolling in 2024 and 2025. Other IITs, including Roorkee, Guwahati, Mandi, Bhilai, Hyderabad, Kharagpur, Gandhinagar, and Ropar, have also witnessed growing interest in AI-focused courses, with admissions rising sharply compared to 2024. For instance, IIT Ropar’s B.Tech in AI and Data Engineering enrolled 30 students from CRL ranks 2,558 to 8,247 this year, up from just seven students in 2024.

This trend is particularly pronounced among candidates who do not secure seats in CSE. The first AI course selection this year was made by CRL rank 102, while mechanical and chemical engineering were chosen much later, indicating a marked preference shift. Notably, IIT Patna, in collaboration with Bodh Gaya University, launched an integrated AI and Data Science-MBA program, which attracted five students.

Statistics from JEE Advanced 2025 show that out of 1,80,422 candidates who appeared, 54,378 qualified, with the Common Rank List (CRL) cut-off at 20.56% marks. Category-wise cut-offs were 18.5% for Gen-EWS and OBC-NCL, 10.28% for SC/ST/PwD, and 5.14% for preparatory candidates. The number of CRL qualifiers also rose to 28,481 from 25,778 in 2024.

Despite the growing popularity of AI and Data Science, top rank holders continue to prefer CSE, particularly at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras. For example, IIT Bombay attracted 73 of the top 100 candidates and 105 of the top 200, almost all opting for CSE. Meanwhile, traditional branches like electrical and mechanical engineering saw lower demand, with mechanical engineering not being chosen until CRL rank 490.

The trend reflects a broader shift in career aspirations among engineering aspirants, as technology-driven fields like AI, machine learning, and data analytics increasingly define the future of India’s engineering landscape. Admission patterns in 2026 suggest that AI and Data Science are no longer niche disciplines but mainstream alternatives for students who do not secure CSE seats at top IITs.