TNEA toppers choose PSG Tech over College of Engineering Guindy for 2026 admissions

In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) cycle, a majority of top-ranking students under the 7.5% government school reservation quota opted for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), with at least half of the toppers choosing PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore over their traditional first choice, the College of Engineering, Guindy. This shift marks a change in preference for the state's top-performing government school students, who historically favored the Guindy institution.

According to the candidates, the reasons for choosing the Coimbatore-based college over the one in Guindy ranged from feedback from seniors to the presence of close relatives in the textile city. The trend highlights the choices of first-generation graduates and children of daily wage earners who secured top ranks under the horizontal reservation category.

K. Pugalesh from Tiruchi, who bagged the second rank, decided to pursue CSE at PSG College of Technology because his sister works at an information technology firm in Coimbatore. As the son of a farmer with a small landholding, Pugalesh stated that he wants to secure a job immediately after completing his degree.

Similarly, classmates R. Lakshmipathi and V. Paramesh from the Krishnagiri District Government Model School in Bargur, who secured the seventh and eighth ranks respectively, also chose CSE at PSG College. Their decision was guided by feedback from a senior schoolmate currently studying there. Both students will be the first-generation graduates in their families, and both of their parents are daily wage earners.

Another topper, G. Mugilan of Namakkal, chose PSG College of Technology to pursue electronics and communications engineering (ECE) due to his interest in hardware. Mugilan, the son of a weaver, will be the first person in his family to attend college.

Despite the shift toward Coimbatore, the College of Engineering, Guindy, remained the choice for other top rankers. P. Devadarshini from Salem, who secured the top rank, chose to pursue CSE at the Guindy campus. Devadarshini, who also grew up in a weaving household, plans to appear for the civil services examination after graduation. S. Atchaya, also from Salem, who secured the 10th rank, chose the Guindy institution with similar career aspirations.