Several students in India each year sit for the JEE and other popular entrance exams in the hope of securing a place in IIT or NIT to pursue their passion of engineering. In the super competitive race of entrance exams every student hope that they will get a good rank and secure a seat. Sadly, the truth is that with lakhs of students competing for a few seats in the top college, the chances of success are very small. Not everyone makes it but that’s okay.
What students need to realise is in today’s world, IIT or NIT are not the only path available for pursuing engineering. Especially in the newly introduced and in-demand fields like AI. In such specialisations, the best and highest rated B.tech programs are available in several reputed institutions and colleges which are not IIT or NIT.
In this article, we are taking a look at whether options other IIT or NIT exams are available for Artificial Intelligence B.Tech admissions in 2025 in India and how students can find these programs.
Can Someone Pursue an AI btech Degree Without Passing IIT or NIT?
Yes, it is very possible to pursue an AI Btech degree in India without getting into an IIT or NIT.
Many private universities, learning institutes, and autonomous college in India offer specialised AI B.Tech without IIT or NIT exams. Many of these programs have been developed in the recent past because of the growing industry demand for AI professionals in the country. The AI Btech course in such institutions and colleges come with modern, updated curriculums, practical projects, and industry tie-ups which even the best traditional colleges lack.
Not only is it possible to get into BTech degree programs in colleges other than IIT or NIT, it is a smart choice for students who are looking to develop a future-proof career in the AI and the industry.
How Should One Proceed to Get an AI B.tech Degree Without IIT or NIT?
Admissions into an AI Btech degree in India is similar to getting admissions into private engineering colleges. The first step, is to research AI-focused Programs. Several reputed universities which are not IIT or NIT offer dedicate B.tech programs in the AI specialisation. Go to their websites and read the curriculum, admission requirements, campus life, and placement assistance.
After choosing a few Btech programs that match your required course, see what the admission process is like. Many universities and colleges conduct their own
merit-based entrance test for admissions into the program. It is important to check the minimum eligibility of such entrance exams and then proceed with the preparations.
The third step, is to start preparing for such entrance tests by evaluating its syllabus, patterns and key topics. Going through the past year papers is the best way of this evaluation. Most engineering exams entrance tests consist of sections on logical reasoning, core engineering subject, analytical ability, basic programming aptitude and general awareness.
While pursuing AI B.tech in India, it is important to make the most out of workshops, coding bootcamps, hackathons, and internships in the college. AI is a skill driven field. Therefore, what you build and create outside classrooms matters just as much.
Whilst shortlisting colleges, it is important to see whether they offer AI-integration in the program. Is AI and new age tech only introduced as an optional subject or a part of the entire program.
How to Choose a Good AI B.tech Program?
There are a number of great AI engineering colleges in India. Choosing a good BTech program is essential since the college serves as a roadmap to your future career. While choosing an AI B.tech in India look for:
AI-First, Industry Relevant Curriculum
In India, colleges tend to stick to outdated curriculums. This is because updating syllabus is a long drawn-out bureaucratic process. When choosing an AI-based engineering course, pick an institute that offers AI-centric learning, and exposure to Machine Learning, Data Science, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing and AI ethics.
Hands-on Learning & Project-based Training
In the field of AI engineering, theory alone is not sufficient. Choose a degree program that gives importance to practical coding labs, exposure to global hackathons, live projects and collaboration with industry experts.
Experienced Mentors and Industry connects
Mentorship is very necessary for talent to flourish. Since AI is constantly evolving it is difficult to master it through textbooks alone. This why mentors and teachers who have real-world experience in AI tech are invaluable for students. They provide insights into what is actually happening in the industry.
Placement support and internships
A good AI-Btech degree in India provides good placement and internship support to its students. Since, AI is such a highly specialised field, specific skillsets in Machine Learning, Data Science, NLP and AI tools are required for most job roles. Good placement ensures that students learn these skills through internships and apprenticeships.
Placement support also helps students in getting access to the right companies, roles and how to apply to them.
Mirai School of Technology
Mirai School of Technology is India’s first AI-focused engineering college. It was founded by seasoned engineers and techies Arpit Sarda, Kartik Mathur, and Varun Kohli. MSOT’s goal is simple, bridging India’s talent gap by offering immersive, hands-on education built for the future of tech.
The college offers of the best AI B.Tech programs India in institutes at Ghaziabad and Bengaluru. At MSOT, students learn coding from day one. The courses are taught by practitioners who have shaped tech at big companies like Google, Amazon, Adobe, etc. Students at Miraia School of technology, also get access to modern facilities, smart classrooms, and virtual tech labs for working on real-life AI-based projects.
MSOT Mains
The Mirai School of Technology is a merit-based college. Only the top 20 % of applicants are admitted at Mirai for its BTech in AI program. This is to ensure an ambition-driven environment and high-achieving student community. To get admissions into this college, students have to qualify in the Mirai National Screening Test (MAINS).
The Mirai MAINS is a remote, AI-proctored online entrance exam. It consists of total 200 marks and has 60 MCQs. The exam consists of 3 sections- mathematics, logical reasoning and problem solving, and AI learnability. Students are tested on their academic knowledge and real-world AI readiness through the MAINS entrance exams.
Conclusion
Not getting into IIT or NIT colleges in India should not be the end of your engineering dreams. In 2025, there are a lot of great colleges offering Btech degrees in one of the most in-demand specialised domain, i.e. AI. These colleges provide valuable skills, real -world projects and proper mentorships to their students. With the growing demand of AI professional, now is the best time to explore AI focused Btech programs in India.
If you want to know more about how to build a career in the fast growing field of AI, apply for Mirai School of Technology’s MAINS exam today athttps://msot.org/ and claim your place in India’s most future-ready AI B.Tech program.
