The 24th edition of Hindu EducationPlus Career Guidance Fair-2026, held at SJRC Auditorium of Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College of Science, Arts and Commerce, Bengaluru on Saturday, received a massive response from students and parents.
About 42 colleges, including medical and engineering colleges, and banks were brought under one roof to benefit about 1,000 students and parents who attended the event.
In his inaugural speech, MC Sudhakar, minister for higher education, said, “We need to start offering career guidance to students at a very young age, probably in the 8th grade itself.”
(From left): Islauddin Gadyal, Nitu Ghosh, Higher Education Minister MC Sudhakar, Venugopal KR, Balakrishna Shetty and Ameen E-Mudassar, during the Hindu EducationPlus Career Counseling Fair 2026 in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
After globalization
He recalled that he had limited career options when he was a student. “We only looked at medicine, dentistry, engineering, and if we didn’t get a seat anywhere, law was the last option. But with globalization, many multinational companies (MNCs) have a presence in our country,” he said, pointing to wider options.
However, he cautioned that what is relevant today may not be relevant four years from now. “If you choose an engineering major, because of the amount of disruption that’s happening in technology, it may not be relevant by the time you graduate. So students don’t have to take computer science (CS) related engineering courses thinking they’re trendy. Only 17% of engineering graduates are employed, and that number is higher for computer science,” he said.
However, Mr. Sudhakar pointed out that some private engineering colleges trying to take advantage of the situation are increasing the intake as they please. “There are more than 3,000 posts related to computer science in some colleges,” he said, adding that steps have been taken to regularize the posts based on the S. Sadagopan committee report.
Students during the Hindu EducationPlus Career Counseling Fair 2026 held at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College of Science, Arts and Commerce in Bengaluru on Saturday. | Photo credit: ALLEN EGENUSE J.
Experts speak
Talking about engineering courses, KR Venugopal, former vice-chancellor of Bangalore University, said that students can get good jobs only if they take interdisciplinary, intra-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary courses.
“Because engineering graduates didn’t have hybrid courses, it was difficult to get jobs. In this context, electronics was embedded in engineering and mechatronics was created. Computer science, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and other courses merged with mechanical and civil engineering. This also creates more job opportunities. AI and other technologies have been implemented in all fields,” he said.
Balakrishna Shetty, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, said of the medical courses: “Infrastructure like the hospital, its capacity and the kind of patients who come to that hospital should play a key role in choosing medical colleges. Students should choose schools that have the highest bed capacity and have a large influx of patients.”
He pointed out that nearly 20 million people clear the NEET exam, but only 11 million people qualify for the one million medical posts across the country. “Skills and practical knowledge are important if you want to become a doctor,” he added.
In an interview on CET-2026 counselling, Islauddin Gadyal, Chief Administrative Officer, Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) described the process of CET counseling which is now completely online and one to watch out for.
Speaking about career opportunities in business and management, Nitu Ghosh, Professor and Director of the School of Management Studies at REVA University said, “Business and management gives you unlimited opportunities in various areas of organizations, be it finance, marketing, human resources (HR), manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and so on.
On Chartered Accountancy (CA) career opportunities, Kavitha Parmesh, CA and Chairperson, ICAI, Bengaluru Branch said, “There is a need of 10 lakh CAs across the country but currently we have only about 4 to 5 lakh CAs.
Ameen E-Mudassar, Career Counselor and CEO, CIGMA, said that students need to learn more skills, upgrade themselves and try to gain online knowledge. “Don’t choose your career influenced by others. You should have at least five internships by the end of your graduation.”
Sponsors of the event
Platinum Sponsors: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Presidency University, Reva University.
Gold Sponsor: CMR University, Chanakya University, East Point Group of Institutions, Hindustan Group of Institutions, Chennai, Ramaiah College of Law.
Silver Sponsorship: ACS College of Engineering, Alliance University, Adichunchanagiri University, BG Nagar, BLDE Association, Vijayapura, Bheemanna Khandre Institute of Technology (BKIT), Balki, Bidar, Credila, IIBS, IDP, JSS Science & Technology University, Mysuru, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru Khanaka Band State University, Mysuru Khanaka Band Mysurz State University, Kammavaari Sangham Group of Institutions, Karnataka Bank, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, Nitte (Deemed University), Rajarajeswari College of Engineering, Shri Madhava Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management, Soundarya Institute of Management & Science, SDM Educational Society (R), Ujire, D Sharmasala Basa University, Trust, D Sharmasala Basath Shaheen Group of Institutions, Bidar, Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru, Navkis College of Engineering, Hassan.
Associate Sponsors: Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society, Kalaburagi, Azim Premji University, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Mahindra University, MS College of Engineering, VTU Visveswaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Canara Engineering College, Mangaluru.
Regional Sponsors: Christ Jayanti (considered University), Royal College of Management Studies.
