Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has officially permitted engineers in the state to use the prefix ‘Er’ (Engineer) before their names, recognising their contribution to the state and the country’s development.
The decision was announced by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on September 15 during the 59th Engineers’ Day celebrations in Bengaluru. The government order also formally recognises September 15 as Engineers’ Day, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya.
‘Er’ prefix officially approved
Under the government order, engineers in Karnataka can use ‘Er’ as a title before their names. The order states that the decision is intended to recognise the contribution of engineers to the country’s development and economic progress.
The move follows Karnataka’s recent decision allowing teachers to use the ‘Tr’ prefix. The government had introduced the teacher designation earlier in September as a mark of recognition for their contribution to society.
The ‘Er’ designation joins professional abbreviations and titles commonly associated with different professions, including ‘Dr’, ‘Prof’, ‘CA’, ‘CS’ and ‘Ar’.
Engineers’ Day gets official state recognition
The government has also made September 15 an official state event to mark Engineers’ Day.
The day is observed in honour of Sir M Visvesvaraya, whose birth anniversary falls on September 15. Visvesvaraya, an engineer and former Diwan of Mysore, is remembered for his contributions to irrigation, flood control and infrastructure development.
The state government’s order said the annual observance would recognise the contribution of engineers to development and economic growth. Reports noted that the detailed format and arrangements for official celebrations would be worked out by the government.
CM highlights Karnataka’s engineering talent
Speaking during the Engineers’ Day programme, Shivakumar highlighted the large number of engineering graduates produced in Karnataka every year.
“More than one lakh engineers are being produced in our state every year,” he said, adding that Karnataka has a large pool of engineering talent and that recognising their contribution was important.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of engineers in translating scientific research into practical solutions and contributing to infrastructure and economic development.
Proposal for lecturers’ prefix
The decision has also renewed discussions about extending similar professional recognition to lecturers.
A proposal for introducing ‘Lr’ as a prefix for lecturers had been raised earlier, including by Congress MLC B S Shivanna. The proposal followed the government’s decision to permit teachers to use ‘Tr’.
For now, the Karnataka government’s latest order specifically covers engineers and the official state observance of Engineers’ Day.
The decision gives engineering professionals in Karnataka an officially recognised title while adding Engineers’ Day to the state’s list of formally observed occasions.