Educational gap in electromagnetic interference and compatibility remains a concern in India, say experts

By- [email protected]BENGALURU: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), crucial for testing electric and electronic devices in defence, civic, and commercial sectors, remain largely untaught in Indian engineering colleges, including prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). This educational gap creates a shortage of skilled electric designers capable of developing testing systems, a concern highlighted at the 17th International Conference and Workshop on EMI and EMC (INCEMIC) 2025.The conference, organised by the Society of EMC Engineers (India) in association with the IEEE EMC society, was inaugurated on Wednesday and will continue until November 14 at Grand Mercure, Gopalan Mall, Old Madras Road. It has brought together experts to discuss the critical role of EMI and EMC in ensuring the performance and safety of electrical systems while addressing the growing demand for professionals in this field.

D. C. Pande, General Co-Chair of INCEMIC 2025, drew attention to the educational shortfall, stating, “Unfortunately, this subject is not taught in colleges. There is a very large demand for these engineers, but most institutions are offering them as elective papers or not at all. Recently VTU started offering some small parts of the subject as an elective, and Andhra University and IIT Kharagpur are offering the subject too.

A total of 7 universities started offering the subject this year.” He underlined the need to increase knowledge sharing and collaboration across sectors to address this demand.Highlighting the sector’s growth, the conference noted that India currently hosts more than 200 public and private testing laboratories focusing on EMI and EMC. The event placed a special emphasis on the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in advancing EMI/EMC technologies.The conference also addressed the challenges posed by intentional EMI and the rise of directed energy weapons that employ electromagnetic energy to disrupt or destroy electronic systems, necessitating both offensive and defensive technological strategies.The primary goals of INCEMIC 2025 are to share knowledge, disseminate standards, promote advancements in EMI and EMC, and inspire collaboration among stakeholders from defence, civilian, and industrial sectors, Pande explained.