ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

AI and Machine Learning Engineer

Builds and deploys machine learning models and AI-powered products.

Maths and Physics needed After Class 12 Private sector

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Solving puzzles with data and seeing a model get better
Learning new tools fast, since the field changes quickly
Working with people from different roles, like designers and developers

It may not suit you if you dislike

Long hours of debugging when a model does not behave as expected
Years of study in maths and computer science before the work feels easy
Fast change means you must keep learning all your working life

Class 11–12 subjects: Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics compulsory, plus Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject, with each subject passed separately (reported). Most engineering colleges expect good marks in Maths.
First degree: B.Tech in Computer Science with AI/ML specialisation, or B.Tech in AI and ML, usually 4 years. Some institutes offer 5-year dual degrees that include an M.Tech. A 2-year M.Tech in AI or ML is an optional next step.
Entrance exams: JEE Main (NTA) for B.Tech seats at NITs, IIITs and other central technical institutes. JEE Advanced is needed for IITs. Many state and private colleges use their own entrance tests.
Licence or registration: None needed to start working.

Subjects that keep this door openClass 11–12: Physics + Mathematics.Maths and Physics needed.Way back: You can add the missing subject later as an extra subject (for example through NIOS) and still apply, but check the exam's and college's rules. A longer road, but open.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Collecting and cleaning data, training and testing models, building the software that runs them in apps or websites, checking how well they work, and working with data scientists, software developers and product teams.

A day in the work
A typical day starts with checking whether a model trained the night before has run well and whether its results make sense. Much of the morning goes to cleaning data, fixing errors and testing new ideas in Python notebooks. After lunch you may meet a product manager or software developer to decide how the model will fit into an app, and the afternoon often goes to writing code and checking results.

The path, step by step

Step 1 · Class 10–11Choose PCM in Class 11. Get comfortable with Maths, especially algebra, statistics and probability. Start learning basic Python on a free course.
Step 2 · Class 12Pass Class 12 with Physics and Maths. Prepare for JEE Main, which the NTA runs in two sessions a year; the better score counts for admission (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
Step 3 · After Class 12 resultsRegister for JoSAA counselling at josaa.nic.in, fill your choices, and take seat allotment rounds. The 2026 process ran from June to July, and the seat allotment rounds are the main route to NITs and IIITs. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 4 · 4 yearsStudy B.Tech in CSE (AI/ML), AI and ML, or a related branch. Learn maths for ML, statistics, databases, Python and deep learning. Some institutes offer 5-year dual degrees (reported). (reported — check with the official body)
Step 5 · Years 3–4Build a portfolio of projects on GitHub and do internships. Employers look at what you have built, not only at your degree name.
Optional · After B.TechM.Tech or MS in AI, Machine Learning or Data Science, or a specialised postgraduate course.

Ways in

Direct B.Tech in AI/ML after Class 12Join a 4-year AI/ML or CSE (AI/ML) programme straight after Class 12, through JEE Main or a state or private entrance test.
B.Tech in a related branch, then specialiseTake B.Tech in CSE, IT or Electronics, then move into AI through a master's degree, projects, online courses and internships.

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (PCM, JEE Main prep)	2 years	Your school's fees	—	—
JEE Main entrance exam (NTA, two sessions a year)	1 day exam	Check the notice	Check the college's fee page	—
B.Tech in AI/ML or CSE (AI/ML) at NIT	4 years	NIT Uttarakhand, 2026-27: tuition ₹62,500 per semester (official PDF); hostel and other charges extra	Check the college's fee page	PM-USP CSSS scholarship: ₹12,000 per year for years 1–3, ₹20,000 in year 4 (official guidelines); SC/ST tuition waivers at some NITs (reported)

Total timeAbout 4 years after Class 12

Total costTuition at a government NIT is about ₹1.25 lakh per year before hostel charges; private colleges cost more, so compare fee pages.

Good to knowHostel charges, the JEE Main fee and the scholarship income limit are not confirmed on official pages, so check the official sources before deciding.

Fees from: NIT Uttarakhand B.Tech fee structure 2026-27 (official PDF) · NIT Durgapur fee summary 2026 (reported; not an official page) · NIT Kurukshetra B.Tech 4-year fee structure AY 2026-27 (official PDF) · PM-USP CSSS scheme guidelines (scholarships.gov.in PDF). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Pay depends on your experience, the city you work in and the company; entry-level roles start lower than senior ML roles, and startups and large product firms can pay very differently.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~You must study at an IIT to become an AI engineer.~~

Fact: An IIT name can help with a first job, but many colleges teach the same core topics. Projects, internships and what you can do in an interview count for a lot.

For girls and students with disabilities

Reservation rules for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS and PwD candidates apply to seats at NITs and other central technical institutes. Some NPTEL exam fees are lower for SC, ST and PwD candidates.

Try it now

Class 7–9Spend 30 minutes a week on a simple coding project, such as a small quiz or number-guessing game, to see whether you enjoy writing instructions for a computer.
Class 10–12Read the topics on the NPTEL Machine Learning course page to see what a college-level course covers, then try one free Python lesson on the same topic.Open link ↗
College or afterEnrol free in an NPTEL AI or ML course, finish the weekly assignments and build one small project you can show to an employer. You can skip the paid proctored exam if money is tight.Open link ↗

Good to know

The JoSAA 2026 counselling ran in several rounds in June and July 2026. Seat numbers and cut-offs change every year, so check the current year's official figures.
A course name alone does not tell you the quality of a programme. Check the college's faculty, labs, placement record and approvals before you choose.
Maths and programming matter more than the branch name. A CSE student who builds ML projects can get similar work to an AI/ML branch student.

Sources: JoSAA official site (josaa.nic.in) · NPTEL Machine Learning course page (free to enrol; optional paid exam) · NIT Uttarakhand B.Tech fee structure 2026-27 (official PDF) · NIT Durgapur fee summary 2026 (reported; not an official page)