Careers in Mining Engineering

Mining engineering studies general engineering course followed by professional mining classes in drilling and blasting, rock mechanics, materials handling, mine health and safety, mine ventilation, ore reserve analysis, mine cost engineering, operations analysis, mine planning and minerals processing.

Mining engineers are required in mineral extraction and other fields where the earth's crust is utilized. The construction industry, with its requirements of developing roads, railroads, tunnels, underground chambers, and the hazardous waste disposal industry are examples of such applications. These are rapidly expanding needs with a shortage of competent people; the mining engineer is well qualified to meet these needs. The importance of ecological and environmental planning is recognized and given significant attention in all aspects of the mining engineering curriculum.

The main task of mining engineers is to put the knowledge of scientific theories, engineering fundamentals and develop ways to discover and recover natural resources in a profitable manner.

Eligibility

The basic eligibility criteria is 10+2 Sc (with Physics, Chemistry and Maths). There are many BE/BTech program in Mining engineering of four years duration. The selection is generally made on the basis of entrance tests (e.g. IITJEE, AIEEE, BITSAT etc.) conducted at both national and state level.  

Career Prospects

Mining engineers task involves locating and safely extracting natural reserves like petroleum, minerals etc. The duties of mining professionals also include designing, planning, excavation of minerals and their transportation, air circulation, maintenance of mines, and removal of toxic gases from the mines. There are some specialized branches like Mining Machinery, Mining Electronics, and Mineral Engineering that mining engineers can choose from.

Mining engineers find employment opportunities both in government as well as private sector. Companies like the Coal India, ONGC, Geological Survey of India, HCL, Neyvelli Lignite Corp., IPCL, NALCO, TISCO, TELCO, Reliance and MNCs like British Gas and Schlumberger recruit graduates directly from the top campuses like ISM and IITs.

Institutes/Universities

These are some elite institutions in India offering courses in Mining Engineering

1. Indian Institutes of Technology
2. Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University
3. Indian School of Mines (ISM)
4. Bengal Engineering College
5. National Institutes of Technology
6. Jadavpur University, Kolkata

Other than this some state level universities and private institutions are offering this course.