About

Indo Swiss Training Centre, commonly known as ISTC, is a premier technical training institute located in Chandigarh. The institute was established in 1963 in collaboration with the Swiss Foundation for Technical Assistance, Switzerland, and was formally inaugurated on 18 December 1963 by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. ISTC functions as a Human Resource Development unit of CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The institute was established with the objective of developing highly skilled technical manpower and providing industry-oriented practical training. 

Indo Swiss Training Centre is situated at CSIR-CSIO, Sector 30-C, Chandigarh – 160030. The institute operates within the CSIR-CSIO campus and provides students with an environment focused on technical education, practical training and skill development. The official website does not publish a confirmed standalone campus-area figure for ISTC, so a specific campus size should not be stated without verification. Its location within the CSIR-CSIO campus provides students with access to a technical and scientific ecosystem. The institute follows a practical and industry-oriented approach in which classroom learning is supported by laboratory, workshop and hands-on training. 

ISTC operates as part of CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) and comes under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India. The institute states that all its courses are approved by AICTE, New Delhi. ISTC is recognized for its contribution to skill development and technical manpower training in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics & Industrial Automation and Die & Mould Making. The institute has also highlighted a 4-Star rating from the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) for its innovation and entrepreneurship efforts. 

ISTC is a specialized technical training centre rather than a conventional multi-college university campus. Its academic activities are organized around specialized engineering and technical training areas. The major academic domains include Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics & Industrial Automation, and Die & Mould Making. The institute has dedicated departmental facilities, laboratories and workshops for these areas, allowing students to gain practical exposure alongside theoretical education. Its technical environment is designed to support skill development and prepare students for industrial applications. 

ISTC offers Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes in engineering and technology. The current programmes include Diploma in Electronics Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Tool & Die), Advanced Diploma in Mechatronics and Industrial Automation, and Advanced Diploma in Die and Mould Making. The Diploma programmes are of three years, while the Advanced Diploma programmes are of four years. Admission is conducted through the ISTC Entrance Examination and counselling process. For the 2026 admission cycle, the eligibility requirements include Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent with Mathematics, Science and English, subject to the prescribed marks and admission rules. The institute also provides a Mean and Merit Scholarship mechanism for eligible students. 

ISTC provides infrastructure designed around practical technical education. Its facilities include classrooms, specialized laboratories, workshops, a library, computer facilities, hostel accommodation and recreational facilities. The Mechatronics & Industrial Automation department has dedicated Industrial Automation, Electrical, Computer, Mechatronics and Embedded laboratories. These facilities include automation training systems, PLC/VFD equipment, industrial robotics, electrical machines, computer systems, pneumatic and hydraulic systems and embedded-system resources. Such infrastructure enables students to work on practical projects and develop skills relevant to modern manufacturing and automation industries.

The institute has a dedicated Training & Placement Office that supports students with industry interaction, internships and employment opportunities. ISTC maintains a recruiter network and conducts campus recruitment-related activities for students. Its industry-oriented curriculum and extensive practical training are intended to make graduates suitable for technical and manufacturing-sector employment. The official placement page lists dedicated Training & Placement personnel, including Dr. Surender Singh Saini as Training & Placement Officer and Mrs. Harjit Kaur, Mr. Deepak Kashyap and Mr. Kewal Kumar as Assistant Training & Placement Officers. 

Indo Swiss Training Centre, Chandigarh is a specialized technical training institute with a long history of skill-based education and industry-oriented training. Since 1963, ISTC has focused on developing technically competent manpower through practical learning in engineering and emerging industrial technologies. Its association with CSIR-CSIO, AICTE-approved programmes, specialized laboratories, workshops, innovation activities and placement support make it an important technical training institution in Chandigarh. The institute is particularly suitable for students seeking practical career-oriented education in electronics, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, industrial automation and die & mould making.

Industry-Driven Curriculum

ISTC designs its technical programmes with a strong emphasis on industrial requirements and practical skill development. The curriculum covers technologies and applications relevant to manufacturing, electronics, automation, tooling and precision engineering. Students are trained not only through theoretical subjects but also through practical laboratory and workshop sessions. This approach helps learners understand how engineering concepts are applied in real industrial environments. The institute's stated objective is to fulfil the latest manpower requirements of industries. 

Strong Industry Connect

Industry interaction is an important component of the ISTC training model. The institute maintains a dedicated Training & Placement Office for coordinating industry interaction, recruitment and placement activities. Students receive exposure to industrial practices through practical training, projects, industrial training and related activities. This industry-oriented environment helps students understand workplace expectations and technical requirements. 

Modern Infrastructure

ISTC provides specialized laboratories, workshops, classrooms and technical resources suited to its engineering programmes. The Mechatronics & Industrial Automation department, for example, has dedicated automation, electrical, computer, embedded and mechatronics laboratories. Students can work with PLCs, VFD training systems, robotics, pneumatic and hydraulic systems and embedded technologies.

Experienced Faculty

The institute has technical and scientific personnel with expertise in areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, PLC programming, embedded systems, computer networking, automation and manufacturing technology. Faculty and technical staff combine academic teaching with specialized technical knowledge, helping students gain both theoretical understanding and practical exposure. 

Placement Opportunities

ISTC maintains a dedicated Training & Placement Office that facilitates campus recruitment, internships and industry interaction. The institute has dedicated placement officers who coordinate placement-related activities and communication with industries. Its practical training model is intended to prepare students for employment in technical and manufacturing sectors. 

Focus on Practical Learning

Practical education is one of the strongest features of ISTC. Students receive hands-on training through laboratories, workshops, technical projects and industrial-oriented activities. The institute's laboratories provide opportunities to work with actual training systems and equipment, enabling students to translate theoretical concepts into practical skills. 

Global Exposure

ISTC has an international foundation because it was established in collaboration with the Swiss Foundation for Technical Assistance, Switzerland. This Indo-Swiss collaboration formed the basis of its technical training model and contributed to the institute's long-standing emphasis on industrial skill development and technical standards. 

Multidisciplinary Approach

The institute brings together mechanical engineering, electronics, automation, electrical systems, computer technologies and precision manufacturing. The Mechatronics programme particularly integrates mechanical, electrical and computer systems with intelligent control technologies. This multidisciplinary environment helps students understand modern industrial systems from multiple technical perspectives.

Innovation & Research

ISTC promotes innovation and entrepreneurship through technical activities and its Institution's Innovation Council initiatives. The institute has highlighted a 4-Star IIC rating, while its history includes participation in innovation-focused events such as Smart India Hackathon. Students therefore get opportunities to develop technical ideas and engage with innovation-oriented activities. 

Career-Oriented Programs

The programmes at ISTC are specifically oriented towards technical careers. Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses focus on fields such as electronics, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, industrial automation and die & mould making. Practical training, technical laboratories and placement support together help students build job-ready skills for industrial careers.

Vision

• To become a pre-eminent institution of national standing in skill-based education and innovation.

• To promote high-quality technical skill development.

• To encourage innovation and practical problem-solving.

• To prepare students for evolving industrial requirements.

• To contribute to the development of technically competent manpower.

Mission

• Develop highly skilled and competent technical manpower.

• Provide industry-oriented practical training.

• Promote hands-on learning through laboratories and workshops.

• Develop skills in emerging areas of engineering and technology.

• Connect technical education with industrial requirements.

• Encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

• Prepare students for professional and industrial careers.

Admission to Indo Swiss Training Centre is conducted through the institute's prescribed admission procedure. Candidates first need to register online and submit the application form along with the required academic and personal information. Eligible candidates are required to appear for the ISTC Entrance Examination, after which the result and merit/rank are considered for the counselling process. Shortlisted candidates participate in counselling and document verification before completing admission formalities and fee payment. The exact schedule, examination details and documents are notified by ISTC for each admission session.

Admission Criteria

Diploma

Admission Process

• Candidates must complete the online application form through the official ISTC admission portal.

• Candidates must meet the prescribed 10th-standard qualification and subject requirements.

• Register for the ISTC Entrance Examination within the specified application period.

• Download the e-Admit Card before the entrance examination.

• Appear for the entrance examination conducted by CSIR-CSIO/ISTC.

• The entrance examination covers Mathematics, Science, Aptitude, English and General Knowledge based on the Class 10 level syllabus.

• The examination consists of objective-type questions.

• Candidates are shortlisted according to entrance-exam merit and applicable reservation rules.

• Attend the ISTC counselling process on the scheduled date.

• Complete document verification, fee payment and admission formalities after selection. 

Eligibility

• Candidates must have passed Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised board/school.

• Mathematics and Science are required subjects; the institute also specifies English among the qualifying subjects.

• Candidates must satisfy the minimum qualifying marks and other conditions prescribed in the respective admission brochure.

• Admission is open to eligible boys and girls.

• Government of India reservation rules are applicable to eligible categories.

• There is no provision for lateral entry in the Diploma programmes. 

Advanced Diploma

Admission Process

• Apply online through the official ISTC admission portal during the notified admission window.

• Meet the prescribed educational eligibility criteria.

• Appear for the ISTC Entrance Examination.

• The entrance test evaluates Class 10-level Mathematics, Science, Aptitude, English and General Knowledge.

• Selection is made on the basis of entrance-examination merit and applicable reservation norms.

• Shortlisted candidates participate in the ISTC counselling process.

• Complete document verification and other admission formalities.

• Pay the prescribed admission/course fee to confirm the seat. 

Eligibility

• Candidates must have passed 10th Standard/Matriculation or equivalent from a recognised board.

• Mathematics and Science are required for admission, along with the prescribed qualifying subjects.

• Candidates must fulfil the minimum marks and other eligibility conditions specified in the current ISTC admission brochure.

• Admission is offered through the ISTC Entrance Examination and merit-based selection.

• Applicable Government of India reservation provisions are followed.

ISTC provides scholarship support for eligible students, and its official student section includes a Mean and Merit Scholarship Form. The institute's FAQ also states that scholarships are available for meritorious students and financial assistance is available for economically weaker sections, with specific criteria and application details governed by the applicable rules. Students should check the latest scholarship notification/form for the current academic session before applying. 

ISTC has a dedicated Training & Placement Office responsible for coordinating placement-related activities, industry interaction and recruitment support. The institute's practical and industry-oriented programmes are designed to prepare students for technical employment, while campus recruitment activities provide opportunities to interact with employers. The official placement page lists Dr. Surender Singh Saini as Training & Placement Officer and Mrs. Harjit Kaur, Mr. Deepak Kashyap and Mr. Kewal Kumar as Assistant Training & Placement Officers.

Indo Swiss Training Centre is located at CSIR-CSIO, Sector 30-C, Chandigarh, and students can access the institute through the city's public and private transport network. However, the current official ISTC pages reviewed do not clearly confirm a dedicated college-operated student transport/bus service. Therefore, a fixed transport route or transport fee should not be published without confirmation from the institute.