Yes, diploma holders in Civil Engineering have the opportunity to enter directly into the second year of a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) program through a process called lateral entry. This is a well-established academic pathway in India and is available in most universities and engineering colleges, including those in Delhi NCR.
To be eligible for lateral entry, students must have successfully completed a three-year diploma course in civil engineering (or a related field) from an AICTE-approved institution. In some cases, students who have completed 10+2 with vocational training or a two-year ITI course in a related trade may also be considered for lateral entry, depending on the university’s specific guidelines.
The lateral entry system is designed to bridge the gap between diploma and degree education. Instead of starting from the first year of engineering, diploma holders are allowed to skip the first year (which typically covers basic engineering sciences that diploma students have already studied) and start directly from the second year, also referred to as the third semester.
Admissions are generally done through state-level or institutional entrance tests, such as:
LEET (Lateral Entry Entrance Test) in Haryana and other states
JEECUP (for Uttar Pradesh)
DCECE (for Bihar)
Or direct admission based on merit, depending on the college's policy
This pathway allows students to save one year and transition smoothly from a diploma to a full-fledged engineering degree. Once admitted, diploma holders complete the remaining three years of the B.Tech or B.E. program, just like regular engineering students.
The lateral entry system is highly beneficial because:
It provides academic continuity and career growth.
It increases job opportunities, especially for government and high-level technical roles where a degree is required.
It allows students to gain deeper knowledge and advanced skills in civil engineering.
In summary, diploma holders in civil engineering not only gain practical and technical expertise during their diploma but also have a clear and recognized path to continue their education and earn a degree in engineering through lateral entry.