The first five areas are the five tracks in Part 2. Semiconductors, quantum and space, and energy and health technology are added because many new UG programmes launched in 2024 to 2026 sit there.

Universities now name branches by speciality inside a core degree: Anna University lists B.E. CSE (Cyber Security) and B.Tech AI & Data Science, VIT lists CSE (Quantum Computing) and CSE (Cyber Physical Systems), and Amrita lists AI & Data Science (Quantum Technologies). The core degree and AICTE approval matter more than the label; read the syllabus and check programme accreditation.

Non-engineering routes: CUET-UG (B.Sc, BBA, forensics), IPMAT (IPM), UCEED and NID DAT (design).

Updated against the earlier source guide: UCEED uses a birth-date rule (born on or after October 1, 2002), not simply “under 24”; IITs, NITs and IIITs require 75% (65% SC/ST/PwD) or top-20-percentile in Class 12 through JoSAA, higher than the 60% floor shown for private colleges. FinTech eligibility varies by college.

Confirm every date and rule in each official notification. JEE Main 2027 Session 1 is on January 22 to 30, 2027 with registration expected October to November 2026; UCEED registration is October 1 to 31, 2026 and the exam is January 17, 2027; IPMAT registration is February to March 2027 and the exam is in May.

Artificial Intelligence & Data Science · IITs, IIITs, universities | B.Tech · B.Sc

Good to know

• An earlier source listed JEE Main registration from November 2026 to January 2027; NTA has indicated Session 1 on January 22 to 30, 2027 with registration expected in October to November 2026 (official bulletin awaited).
• BITSET in the earlier source is now BITSAT (390 marks).
• IIT Hyderabad launched the first dedicated B.Tech in AI (2019); IIT Madras launched B.Tech in AI and Data Analytics (2024-25, about 50 seats, via JEE Advanced); IIT Jodhpur offers B.Tech AI and Data Science (2020-21). By early 2026 about 12 of 23 IITs offered AI or data science B.Tech programmes.
• Fees: ₹1.5 to 4.5 lakh per year (government) and ₹3.5 to 6 lakh per year (private).

Robotics, Automation & Smart Manufacturing Engineering | B.Tech

Good to know

• The earlier source lists BITSET at 390 marks; the exam is BITSAT.
• Robotics UG programmes verified in 2026 listings: SASTRA B.Tech Robotics & Artificial Intelligence, Amrita B.Tech Robotics & AI and Automation & Robotics, VIT Chennai CSE (AI & Robotics), SRM and PSG Tech.
• An IIT Delhi robotics UG degree could not be confirmed, so verify before relying on it.
• Fees: ₹80,000 to 2.5 lakh per year (government/aided) and ₹2 to 4.5 lakh per year (private).

Cyber Security & Digital Forensics · National Forensic Sciences University and others | B.Tech · B.Sc

Good to know

• Correction: the earlier source says admission is through NFAT with an exam in June 2027, but several 2026 sources report that NFSU cancelled NFAT from the 2026-27 admission cycle and now admits through CUET-UG (B.Sc–M.Sc Forensic Science, B.Sc Criminology), JEE Main (B.Tech–M.Tech CSE Cyber Security, PCM mandatory) and CLAT (law). Confirm on nfsu.ac.in.
• NFSU lists the 5-year B.Tech–M.Tech at Gandhinagar, Delhi, Tripura, Dharwad and Guwahati; intake about 40 at Gandhinagar and 50 at Delhi. The 5-year B.Tech–M.Tech cyber security costs about ₹9 lakh.
• The earlier source names IIT Jammu; that could not be verified.
• Anna University offers B.E. CSE (Cyber Security) via TNEA.

Financial Technology & Quantitative Finance · IIMs, FinX, NMIMS, DU | IPM · BBA · B.Sc

Good to know

• IPMAT registration is February to March 2027 (the earlier source gave February to April) and the exam is in May 2027.
• IIM Amritsar offers a BSQFE (B.Sc Quantitative Finance and Economics) after three years of the IPM and the MBA at five years; it needs Maths in Class 12 and 60% in Classes 10 and 12.
• FinX Institute (formerly BSE Institute) offers a B.Sc in Finance with Homi Bhabha State University (3 years, about ₹4 lakh, 60% in HSC, entrance test and interview), plus BMS in Capital Markets and a B.Sc in data science.
• For FinTech degrees at colleges in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Tamil Nadu, see the separate FinTech guide.

Interaction Design (UI/UX) & Product Design · IITs, NID, NIFT | B.Des

Good to know

• The earlier source gave “UCEED / NID DAT: 300 marks, 3 hours”. That applies to UCEED (Part A 200 marks in 2 hours, Part B 100 marks in 1 hour); NID DAT Prelims is 100 marks.
• Eligibility is by birth date (October 1, 2002 or later), not simply under 24.
• UCEED 2027 registration closes October 31, 2026 (late fee to November 6), with the exam on January 17, 2027.
• IIT Delhi introduced a B.Tech in Design that needs both JEE Advanced and UCEED. See the Architecture and Design guide for more.

IIT Madras launched B.Tech in AI and Data Analytics for 2024-25 (course 412L, 50 students) and added Computational Engineering and Mechanics and Instrumentation and Biomedical Engineering for 2025-26, along with separate FACE and sports excellence admissions. IIT Mandi announced B.Tech in Quantum Science and Engineering plus two data-analytics programmes for 2026-27. IISc Bengaluru added three B.Tech programmes admitted through JoSAA. New programmes have no past cut-off data; judge them on syllabus, faculty and institute strength. Seat numbers and names change yearly; check the JoSAA seat matrix.

Eligibility: Class 12 PCM, about 50–60% at private universities (MET: 50%); JoSAA 75% rule at IIT / NIT. Added because of the India Semiconductor Mission: NIT Delhi offers B.Tech VLSI Technology and Design from 2025-26; Calcutta University’s new B.Tech Electronics with VLSI from 2026-27 (30 seats, AICTE approved) admits through WBJEE; MIT-WPU needs a statement of purpose. Symbiosis Skills and Professional University and Mahindra University also offer semiconductor or VLSI B.Tech degrees. AICTE has a model curriculum for VLSI Design and Technology.

IIT Mandi launched what Careers360 called India’s first IIT B.Tech in quantum science (2026-27). Anna University announced M.Tech programmes in AI and Machine Learning and in Quantum Computing for 2026-27 (postgraduate). Space Sciences and Engineering and Energy Engineering appear as new specialised programmes in the JoSAA 2026 seat matrix.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi added five new UG programmes in 2026-27. CUET-UG 2026 ran from May 11 to 31 after registration from January 3 to February 26; CUET-UG 2027 dates are not yet announced, with registration expected in January to February 2027.

UG programmes listed for the 2025 curriculum:

• B.Tech AI & Data Science
• B.E. CSE (Cyber Security)
• B.E. CSE (AI & Machine Learning) and CSE (AI)
• B.E. CSE (Data Science) and CSE (IoT)
• B.E. Computer Science & Design; CS & Business Systems
• B.E. VLSI Design; Biomedical and Medical Electronics

Admission to Anna University constituent colleges (CEG, MIT, ACT, SAP) and its 590+ affiliated colleges is through TNEA on Class 12 marks. In 2026 TNEA Round 2 reporting ran until August 13. The earlier source lists CEG offering Robotics and Automation; that branch could not be confirmed at CEG, so check the TNEA branch list. Minimum marks (45%, 40% for BC) come from a programme listing and should be verified.

Verified from 2026-27 admission pages: VIT Chennai lists CSE in Quantum Computing, AI and Robotics, Cyber Security (also a 2+2 programme with Deakin University), Cyber Physical Systems, Data Science and an Electronics (VLSI) programme; VIT Vellore lists seven CSE variants; Amrita Coimbatore lists AI and Data Science with Quantum Technologies, Medical Engineering and Cyber Physical Systems tracks plus Robotics and AI; SASTRA lists Robotics and AI and Cyber Security and Block Chain; B.Tech at Amrita Coimbatore totals ₹10.1 to 24.1 lakh. PSG Tech, MCC and GCT come from the earlier guide. IIT Madras (B.Tech AI and Data Analytics and the BS online degrees) is covered in Part 3.

Fee ranges from the earlier guide plus approximate totals from 2026 listings: NFSU B.Tech-M.Tech cyber security about ₹9 lakh, FinX B.Sc Finance about ₹4.02 lakh, Amrita B.Tech ₹10.1 to 24.1 lakh, Gurugram University B.Sc AI and Data Analytics about ₹2.4 lakh, IIT B.Des ₹1.15 to 1.45 lakh per semester. Fees change each year; confirm with each prospectus.

Brand-new programmes have no cut-off or placement history, so check AICTE approval, NBA accreditation (awarded per programme) and UGC recognition. AICTE brought BBA, BCA and BMS under its approval since 2024-25, and its 2024-27 handbook includes provisions for new-age programmes in emerging technologies.

JEE Main registration moves earlier (October to November 2026 expected) with Session 1 on January 22 to 30, 2027; CUET-UG registration is expected in January to February 2027 (2026: January 3 to February 26), not February to March; NFSU admissions run on CUET and JEE Main since NFAT was reported cancelled; TNEA follows the 2026 pattern.

• AI, robotics, cyber, FinTech and design are the five tracks; new IIT, IISc and university programmes add quantum, semiconductors and space.
• IITs and IISc need JEE Advanced; NITs and IIITs need JEE Main plus 75% in Class 12; Tamil Nadu uses TNEA.
• New programmes lack cut-off history: check AICTE approval, NBA accreditation and the syllabus.
• UCEED closes Oct 31; JEE Main registration opens in October; JEE Main Session 1 is Jan 22–30, 2027.