Engineers in Karnataka will soon have a new way to identify themselves professionally. The state government has allowed qualified engineers to use the prefix “Er.” before their names and has decided to make Engineers’ Day an official state event.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar made the announcement on September 15, which is observed as Engineers’ Day across India. The day marks the birth anniversary of celebrated engineer and former Mysore Dewan Sir M. Visvesvaraya.

The decision is aimed at giving engineers a clearer professional identity and recognising their contribution to the state’s growth. The government is expected to work out the details of the new arrangements in the coming months.

The announcement was made during an Engineers’ Day programme in Karnataka, where Shivakumar spoke about the large number of engineers produced by the state every year and their contribution across different sectors.

Under the new decision, eligible engineers in Karnataka can use “Er.” before their names, similar to how professionals in some other fields use recognised titles.

The move gives engineers a visible professional identity without changing their existing qualifications or professional status.

Karnataka produces more than one lakh engineering graduates every year, according to Shivakumar. The state is also home to one of India’s largest technology and engineering communities, with Bengaluru serving as a major centre for information technology, research and innovation.

Engineers, however, work far beyond the technology sector.

They are involved in designing roads, bridges, buildings, water systems, power projects, factories, transport networks and digital infrastructure. Their work also supports manufacturing, healthcare, communication and several public services.

The state government wants the new recognition to reflect this wider contribution.

Karnataka has also decided to turn Engineers’ Day into an official state event.

The occasion is already celebrated across India every year on September 15. Karnataka’s decision means the state will now organise its own official celebrations to recognise engineers and their work.

The celebrations are expected to begin formally from 2027. The government is yet to announce the complete format and programme.

The choice of September 15 has a special significance for Karnataka because it is the birth anniversary of Visvesvaraya, one of the country’s best-known engineers.

Born in 1861 in Muddenahalli, Karnataka, Visvesvaraya made major contributions to irrigation, water management and engineering. He served as the Dewan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955.

His birth anniversary has been observed as Engineers’ Day since 1968.

The decision on engineers comes shortly after Karnataka announced a similar professional prefix for teachers.

On Teachers’ Day earlier this month, Shivakumar announced that teachers in the state would be allowed to use “Tr.” before their names.

He said teachers deserved a distinct identity in the same way that doctors, engineers and professors have professional titles.

The two announcements have brought professional recognition into focus in Karnataka, with the government highlighting the role played by teachers and engineers in society.

The “Tr.” prefix for teachers and “Er.” for engineers are intended primarily as forms of recognition rather than changes to their professional qualifications.

Karnataka has a particularly strong connection with engineering because of its large technology and manufacturing sectors.

Bengaluru’s growth as a technology hub has created a vast engineering workforce, while engineers across the state continue to work in areas such as infrastructure, construction, irrigation, energy and public works.

The government believes recognising the profession can also help highlight the contribution of engineers beyond the technology industry.

The new prefix is expected to be used by eligible professionals in their official and professional identities. The state will have to clarify the detailed rules and implementation process.

The decision to make Engineers’ Day a state event will also provide an annual platform to recognise engineers, highlight their work and remember Visvesvaraya’s contribution.

The announcement therefore combines a modern professional recognition with a piece of Karnataka’s engineering history.

Starting next year, Engineers’ Day will have an official place on the state’s calendar, while engineers will have a new prefix to accompany their names — “Er.”