For engineers in the state, the Karnataka government has decided to use “Er” (Engineer) as a prefix before their names. The decision was taken on Engineers’ Day and is a recognition of the contribution engineers made in the development, infrastructure, and economic progress of the state.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the decision at the 59th Engineers’ Day programme organized by the Karnataka State Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India) in Bengaluru. According to reports, the government has also decided to officially declare September 15 as Engineers’ Day in Karnataka.
The government order is dated September 15, 2026, and allows for the use of “Er” before the names of engineers as a mark of professional recognition.
What does the Government Order say?
The government has decided to honour their services as engineers have been instrumental in the development of the country and economic progress, and we are very grateful for their service in this field and we respect this,” he said.
It also allows engineers in Karnataka to use “Er” as a title or prefix before their names. It is a symbolic recognition of their continuing contribution to society.
The government has also declared September 15 as Engineers’ Day, connecting it to the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
September 15 and Sir M. Visvesvaraya
Sir M. Visvesvaraya was born on September 15, 1861, at Muddenahalli in the present-day Chikkaballapur district to a poor father and a middle-class mother. He is remembered as one of India's most distinguished engineers and administrators.
He served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918, during Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar's reign. His work was oriented towards irrigation, industrial development, education, and public institutions.
The projects and institutions of his legacy are the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam, flood-control engineering, Bhadravati Iron and Steel Works, the sandalwood oil and soap industry of Mysore, the establishment of the University of Mysore, and the construction of the University of Mysore. His contributions to engineering and public administration are still being remembered on September 15.
Why ‘Er’ has been introduced
The Karnataka government's decision is intended to create an indigenized professional identity for engineers and for the state engineers who are associated with infrastructure and technology development, and their contribution to the development of our country’s infrastructure and technology is appreciated by the Karnataka government.
Engineers work in civil infrastructure, transportation, irrigation, power, manufacturing, information technology, telecommunications, and industrial development.
Shivakumar said engineers are a key part of our country's development and that every year Karnataka produces more than one lakh engineering graduates. He also praised the state's large engineering and technology workforce.
The prefix “Er” has already been used by some engineers in India and other countries as a professional designation. The Karnataka order gives formal state-level permission for engineers in the state to use the prefix.
Karnataka’s Engineering and Technology Legacy
Karnataka is a major player in India's engineering and technology fields, particularly in Bengaluru, which has developed into a major technology and innovation centre.
Engineers are involved in several government departments and public infrastructure projects such as electricity distribution, water management, transportation, roads, buildings, and urban development.
The state government is also discussing large-scale infrastructure projects, including urban mobility and Metro expansion. Shivakumar has previously stressed that engineers are critical to solving problems of infrastructure and planning in Bengaluru as well as in other cities.
Engineers’ Day to Be Given Official State Recognition
The government’s decision to officially declare September 15 as Engineers’ Day adds another institutional dimension to the annual observance.
The Chief Minister had earlier announced that the government will officially celebrate Engineers’ Day, with the format and details to be finalised. The order regarding the “Er” prefix is also a sign of the recognition of engineers while marking the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya.
The decision comes shortly after the Karnataka government also announced the “Tr” prefix for teachers, allowing educators in the state to use the designation as a mark of recognition.
With this new move, engineers in Karnataka can now use “Er” before their names, and September 15 will also be officially observed as Engineers’ Day in the state. The move is a recognition of the professional contribution of engineers and Sir M. Visvesvaraya’s legacy.
