Short answer: ISTC Chandigarh and CIPET are both Government of India institutes offering AICTE-approved 3-year diplomas after Class 10. Choose ISTC for tool and die, die and mould, electronics or mechatronics on one Chandigarh campus; choose CIPET if you want to specialise in plastics technology or plastics mould technology at one of its many centres.
If you are a Class 10 student looking at mould making, tool rooms or manufacturing, both names will come up. ISTC is known for tool and die and precision engineering; CIPET is the national institute for plastics. Their courses overlap in one area, moulds, and differ in almost everything else. This guide compares them using only what each institute publishes.
ISTCKonnect is the independent alumni network of ISTC. We are not the institute and we do not conduct admissions.
At a glance
| ISTC Chandigarh | CIPET | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Government: an HRD unit of CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) | Government: Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology, under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers |
| Founded | 1963, with the Swiss Foundation for Technical Assistance | 1968 in Chennai, with UNDP assistance |
| Focus | Tool and die, die and mould, electronics, mechatronics and automation | Plastics and polymers: processing, mould design, testing |
| Campuses | One: Sector 30-C, Chandigarh | Diploma courses listed at 28 centres, including Amritsar, Baddi, Murthal and Dehradun |
| Programmes after 10th | 2 Diplomas (3 years) and 2 Advanced Diplomas (4 years) | Diploma in Plastics Technology (DPT) and Diploma in Plastics Mould Technology (DPMT), 3 years each |
| Approval | All courses approved by AICTE (2026 brochure) | AICTE approved (CIPET diploma FAQ) |
| Seats | 180 in total | Centre-wise; not listed on the programme pages |
| Admission | ISTC entrance exam, then counselling by rank | CIPET JEE (common admission test) |
| Class 10 requirement | 50% (40% SC/ST), with Maths, Science, English | Full-time Class 10 pass; students awaiting results can apply |
| Age limit | 2026 rule: born on or after 1 Aug 2007 (SC/ST 1 Aug 2004) | No age limit (CIPET FAQ) |
| Course fee | Rs 17,500 training fee per semester (2026) | Rs 16,700 per semester for DPT and DPMT (fee page for 2022-23) |
| Hostel | Boys, on campus (2026 brochure) | All centres have hostels; boys and girls facilities vary by centre |
| Session starts | 3 August in 2026 | August every year |
Two specialist institutes, two different fields
ISTC was set up in 1963 with Swiss collaboration and works within CSIR-CSIO, a national laboratory for scientific instruments. Its training is workshop-first: every student does a common first year, then specialises in mechanical (tool and die) or electronics, with compulsory industrial training after the fourth semester.
CIPET was set up in 1968 in Chennai with UNDP support to train people for the plastics industry. It now has about 40 locations across 22 states, according to its website, and also runs testing labs and industry services. Its diplomas focus on how plastic products are designed, moulded, processed and tested.
In simple terms: ISTC teaches you to build precision tools, dies, moulds and electronic and automation systems. CIPET teaches you plastics as a material and the moulds and machines that shape it.
Where the courses overlap: mould making
The closest match is ISTC's Advanced Diploma in Die & Mould Making and CIPET's Diploma in Plastics Mould Technology (DPMT).
| ISTC Advanced Diploma in Die & Mould Making | CIPET DPMT | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4 years (3 years mechanical tool and die, then 1 year specialisation) | 3 years, 6 semesters |
| Seats | 30 | Centre-wise |
| What you learn | Machining, tool and press tool design, metrology, CNC, then die and mould making on specialised machines | Mould design, mould assembly and manufacture, CNC milling and lathe, CAD |
| Scope of tooling | Dies for metal parts and moulds | Moulds for plastic products |
If you are sure you want plastics, CIPET's DPMT gets you there in three years. If you want a broader base in tool and die that also covers metal press tools, ISTC's route is wider but takes four years, or three if you stop at the Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Tool & Die). See ISTC courses and seats.
How admission works
ISTC: apply online on the CSIR-CSIO portal linked from istc.ac.in, then write a 100-question, 100-minute OMR exam at Class 10 level (Maths, Science, Aptitude, English and GK, minus 0.25 for a wrong answer). Courses are allotted at counselling in order of rank. In 2026 the form was open from 1 May to 3 June and the exam was on Sunday 5 July. The 2027 dates are expected to follow a similar pattern, based on 2026, but have not been announced. See the ISTC entrance exam pattern and important dates.
CIPET: selection is through the CIPET common admission test (CIPET JEE). CIPET's FAQ says the advertisement comes out between March and April each year, in newspapers and on its website, and that courses start in August.
What this means for you: the two processes are separate, so you can apply to both in the same year. Watch for CIPET's notice in spring and ISTC's in early summer.
Eligibility and age
ISTC asks for Class 10 with Mathematics, Science and English and at least 50% marks (40% for SC/ST). It also has a date-of-birth limit: in 2026, candidates had to be born on or after 1 August 2007 (1 August 2004 for SC/ST). See ISTC eligibility.
CIPET asks for a full-time Class 10 pass for DPT and DPMT, allows students awaiting results to apply, and states there is no age limit. Check the CIPET JEE notice for any marks requirement in your year.
Cost and hostel
ISTC's 2026 brochure lists a training fee of Rs 17,500 per semester plus a Rs 2,500 student welfare fund each semester. The first-semester total was Rs 26,000 for day scholars and Rs 34,150 for hostellers, including one-time and refundable deposits. Hostel is on campus for boys; girl students usually arrange PG accommodation in Chandigarh. See ISTC fee structure and ISTC hostel.
CIPET's diploma fee page (headed academic year 2022-23) lists Rs 16,700 per semester for DPT and DPMT, plus an admission fee of Rs 1,500, a caution deposit of Rs 500, an alumni fee of Rs 150, insurance of Rs 100 a year and an exam fee per paper. Hostel rent is Rs 10,000 per semester, with mess charged extra. CIPET says all centres have hostels and that boys and girls facilities should be checked with each centre.
Tuition is in a similar range at both. Your real cost difference will come from hostel, travel and how far from home you study.
Location: options in North India
ISTC has one campus, in Sector 30-C, Chandigarh.
CIPET lists diploma study at 28 centres. In and near North India these include Amritsar (Punjab, set up in 1989), Murthal (Sonepat, Haryana, set up in 2006), Baddi (Himachal Pradesh, set up in 2015), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Jaipur, Lucknow and Varanasi. Not every course runs at every centre, so confirm DPT or DPMT availability at the centre you want.
After the diploma
ISTC recruiters named in the 2026 brochure include Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Titan, Godrej, Siemens and Rockwell Automation. AICTE-approved diploma holders can generally apply for lateral entry to the second year of B.Tech, subject to state rules. See ISTC placements.
CIPET says its diploma graduates find work in the polymer, plastics and allied industries in India and abroad, and that they can join B.E./B.Tech in plastics or polymer engineering through lateral entry. CIPET itself runs B.Tech programmes in plastics and manufacturing engineering.
Which one fits you
Choose ISTC if:
- You want tool and die, electronics or mechatronics and automation, with a 4-year advanced option.
- You want a broad precision engineering base that covers metal as well as moulds.
- You meet the age limit and are ready for a competitive exam for 180 seats.
Choose CIPET if:
- You are clear that plastics, polymers or plastic mould design is your field.
- You prefer a centre closer to home, such as Amritsar, Murthal or Baddi.
- You are older than ISTC's age limit, since CIPET states no age limit.
Many students apply to both. Before paying any fee, check the recognition you need, the total cost, the hostel position and where recent graduates are working.
Next steps
- Read the engineering diploma after 10th guide.
- See the Advanced Diploma in Die & Mould Making.
- Compare more: ISTC vs government polytechnic, ISTC vs CTR Ludhiana and ISTC vs NTTF.
- Get an alert when ISTC forms open: notify me.
Sources
- ISTC admissions page and key dates 2026: https://istc.ac.in/academics/admissions
- ISTC Information Brochure 2026: https://istc.ac.in/pdfs/ISTC_Information_Brochure_-%202026.pdf
- CIPET overview: https://www.cipet.gov.in/aboutus/index.php
- CIPET diploma programmes overview and centres: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/diplomaprograms_overview.php
- CIPET Diploma in Plastics Mould Technology: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/diplomaprograms_dpmt.php
- CIPET Diploma in Plastics Technology: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/diplomaprograms_dpt.php
- CIPET diploma fee structure: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/diplomaprograms_fees_structure.php
- CIPET FAQs on diploma programmes: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/admissions_faq_diploma_programs.php
- CIPET hostel facilities: https://www.cipet.gov.in/academics/facilities_hostel.php
Facts checked on 6 November 2026. Fees, seats and rules change every year; always confirm with each institute's official prospectus.
Frequently asked questions
Is CIPET better than ISTC Chandigarh?
Neither is better for everyone. Both are Government of India institutes with AICTE-approved diplomas. ISTC suits students who want tool and die, electronics or mechatronics in Chandigarh; CIPET suits students who want to specialise in plastics or plastic mould technology at one of its centres.
Is CIPET a government institute?
Yes. CIPET (Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology) is a Government of India institute under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, set up in 1968 in Chennai.
Is the CIPET diploma AICTE approved?
CIPET's FAQ on diploma programmes states that the programmes are approved by AICTE. ISTC's 2026 brochure states the same for all ISTC courses.
What is the difference between ISTC Die & Mould Making and CIPET DPMT?
ISTC's Advanced Diploma in Die & Mould Making takes 4 years: 3 years of mechanical tool and die training and 1 year on dies and moulds. CIPET's Diploma in Plastics Mould Technology takes 3 years and focuses on moulds for plastic products, CAD and CNC.
What is the fee for CIPET diploma courses?
CIPET's fee page, headed academic year 2022-23, lists Rs 16,700 per semester for DPT and DPMT, plus admission, caution, alumni, insurance and exam fees. Hostel rent is Rs 10,000 per semester with mess extra. Confirm the current fee in the CIPET JEE notice.
Is there a CIPET centre in Punjab, Haryana or Himachal?
Yes. CIPET lists diploma study at centres including Amritsar (Punjab), Murthal (Haryana), Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) and Dehradun (Uttarakhand). Check which courses run at each centre.
Is there an age limit for ISTC and CIPET?
ISTC has one: in 2026, candidates had to be born on or after 1 August 2007 (SC/ST: 1 August 2004); the 2027 limit is not announced yet. CIPET's FAQ says there is no age limit for its diploma courses.
Can I apply to both ISTC and CIPET?
Yes. ISTC uses its own entrance exam and CIPET uses CIPET JEE, so you can apply to both in the same year and decide after results.