Architecture is a multi-disciplinary field that syntheses design with sociological, technological and environmental expertise in the conception and execution of buildings

An architect’s job is to design and plan for the construction of any type of building or complex from an individual residence to group housing, hospitals, hotels, commercial plazas, factories, as also gardens and leisure areas, within the framework of existing laws and regulations.

As team leader and coordinator of a construction project, the architect directs, co-relates and integrates activities, not only in the areas of design and execution, but also in others, like survey, soil testing,
engineering, safety, demonstration and supervision. Professionals, therefore, need to have a sufficient grasp of all aspects of building technology. The job also involves a considerable amount of field research and supervision, often outdoors, under all kinds of weather conditions.

The architecture course is conducted at two levels full-time or part-time. The full-time degree or diploma course takes a minimum of five years to complete, and includes a period of practical training of
six months or one semester in an approved professional office or project site. The duration of the part-time diploma course is seven years.

There are around 120 institutes recognised by the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), offering courses at the undergraduate level in architecture. Admission is on the basis of an entrance test
and the competition for entry is therefore intense.

At the end of undergraduate training, students are awarded a degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) or a diploma in architecture, depending on the institution they join. Qualified architects may register with the Council of Architects for entitlement of practice and become members of the Indian Institute of Architects.

Those who go for further studies need another two years for a Master’s of Architecture (M.Arch.), which is offered at four institutes in India. One can also opt for a degree in Town/Urban Planning available at some institutes.

Requirements for entry to the B.Arch. course include a minimum of 60 per cent marks in the aggregate
in plus two or equivalent, with mathematics and English as subjects of examination.

A qualified architect who is registered with the Council of Architecture can practice in any of the following
areas:
Government departments/ public sector.
Central and State Public Works Departments and other public organisations related to housing and construction.
Private architecture firms.
Teaching institutions.

Architects can also branch out into interior design, product design of any sort, including furniture design.
With a postgraduate degree, an architect can specialise in:
Building engineering management; architectural conservation; urban design; landscape architecture; transport planning; housing and environmental planning; regional planning and urban planning.

With growth of the housing sector and entry of large number of private builders in the construction business,the architects are in great demand .beginners can have salary of appox.20,000 per month  later
after 2-3   years of practice one can have yearly packages upto Rs.10,00000  annually

The Council of Architecture has, however, laid down a standard scale of remuneration for services. This is calculated at a percentage of the tendered cost of the project, and ranges from one per cent on urban
design, to 5 per cent on buildings and 10 per cent for interiors.

But architects must be prepared to work under all weather conditions wherever there are building sites. This would involve much outdoor work, especially during construction time, even walking through mud, and climbing scaffolding. Work would also involve dealing with and handling large numbers of unskilled labour