Chennai resident with one son seeks advice on entrance exams

Ans: Based on the following inputs/information, please choose the most suitable option out of the 3 options: NIT Calicut’s B.Tech in Engineering Physics focuses on advanced physics with comprehensive grounding in quantum mechanics, classical and statistical mechanics, photonics, nanomaterials, and computational methods. The curriculum is research-oriented and encourages exploration in emerging fields like quantum computing, with opportunities to select electives in quantum physics and project work related to quantum technologies. Internships, industry exposure, and collaborations with national labs enhance learning, but direct placement opportunities are more oriented toward scientific research, academia, or R&D in high-tech engineering roles than to corporate quantum computing jobs. While the core develops strong analytical, programming, and holistic problem-solving capabilities, cutting-edge quantum research and computing exposure may depend on individual academic initiative or pursuing higher studies at top institutes in India or abroad.

BITS Pilani’s integrated M.Sc. Physics dual degree (often paired with a BE in Mathematics & Computing) offers a flexible interdisciplinary structure, allowing deeper specialization via minors like Quantum Information and Technologies and active student-faculty groups dedicated to quantum computing. The BITS curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and computational skills critical for quantum computing, with the option for additional research projects, workshops, and electives directly tailored to quantum algorithms, machine learning, and simulation. Robust peer networks, industry partnerships, and a strong culture of innovation promote global exposure and career prospects, especially for those combining mathematics, computing, and physics. The vibrant campus community includes dedicated quantum computing initiatives, enabling ambitious students to build impressive research and project portfolios that are highly regarded for both advanced study and international placements.

The BITS ISU 2+2 CSE program, delivered in partnership with a foreign university, provides students two years at BITS (India) and two years abroad. It offers dual degrees, substantial international exposure, access to advanced facilities overseas, and stronger work visa/job prospects internationally. Students benefit from a global academic environment, gaining specialized skills in CSE while forming global networks. However, the program’s focus remains on broader computer science concepts; it may not provide direct, high-level quantum computing coursework unless supplemented with targeted electives or research at the partner university. Financially, it is more intensive but offers a unique bridge for those keen on studying and working abroad in software engineering, AI, or computational research. Critical downsides include higher costs, potential admission/credit transfer hurdles, and limited integration with specific quantum computing research tracks unless intentionally selected.

In terms of future prospects and industry demand, quantum computing remains interdisciplinary, requiring mastery of quantum physics, mathematics, programming, and algorithm design. National and global demand is rapidly growing in cryptography, finance, optimization, and material science, but the field is still specialized compared to broader CSE career paths.

Recommendation: Given your son’s clear interest in quantum computing, prioritize BITS Pilani’s dual degree in MSc Physics with BE Mathematics & Computing for its direct alignment with quantum algorithms, flexible curriculum, research groups dedicated to quantum computing, and global recognition. NIT Calicut Engineering Physics offers a rigorous foundational path, ideal for research or higher studies. The BITS ISU 2+2 CSE program is best if the primary goal shifts toward a global CSE career; for quantum computing, select this only if the partner university has substantial offerings in that field. This preference order aligns academic content, research access, and employability with the quantum computing goal. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With an SC category rank of 24,491 in JEE Main (CRL 379,243) and 5,831 in JEE Advanced, your prospects for admission to NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs in sought-after branches via CSAB rounds are extremely slim. Recent CSAB cut-off data confirm that ECE, CSE, and core engineering seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs for the SC category close far above your rank; for many NITs, last closing ranks for CSE/ECE are usually under 10,000 for SC, with special rounds only rarely extending beyond 14,000. Even least preferred or remote branches rarely open at your ranking bracket. Nonetheless, you might still secure a seat in newer or less competitive GFTIs, non-core branches, or interdisciplinary programs during CSAB Special Rounds if you participate and fill as many choices as possible. The CSAB official portal facilitates late seat filling and occasional vacancies from withdrawals, but expectations for top branches or premium campuses must be realistic. If engineering is your only focus, you can also consider private or state engineering colleges accepting JEE scores, some of which offer scholarships and flexible fee payment options tailored for financial constraints. Pay close attention to daily CSAB notifications and use their predictor tools to estimate potential allotments in your bracket.

Recommendation: Participate fully in CSAB Special Rounds by registering and filling all eligible options to maximize your chances for any available seat in NITs, GFTIs, or IIITs, especially in less in-demand branches. Simultaneously, explore quality private engineering colleges with strong scholarships and low-cost options, as JEE ranks remain accepted in many. With significant financial limitation and a low likelihood of conversion in centrally funded institutes, use all backup options. If possible, try back-up options of Private Engineering Colleges too.

Pros and Cons of Taking a Drop Year: Taking a drop year after your ranks (SC 24,491 Mains, 5,831 Advanced) might offer better odds if you’re confident about substantial score improvement, as discipline and focused effort make a real difference, and many IIT entrants are droppers. This path requires financial resources (for coaching, materials), strong emotional resilience to manage pressure and potential isolation, and willingness to risk a year without guarantees. A drop year delays graduation, can increase stress, creates uncertainty, and—if you don’t qualify again—means missed current lower-cost college admission chances. For candidates with severe financial constraints, the risk may outweigh the reward unless you have clear preparation strategies, strong support, and tangible learning gains from prior attempts. It is advisable only if you are genuinely confident of significant and realistic improvements next year. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With an 82 percentile in JEE Main for the general category, securing Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) in NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs through CSAB rounds is extremely unlikely. As per recent CSAB special round cutoffs, the minimum percentile required for ECE in general category at almost all NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs exceeds 90–92 percentile, with very few exceptions only for reserved or home state quotas. Even in the least competitive institutes and later CSAB special rounds, closing ranks for ECE branches remain much lower than an 82 percentile in the general category, making conversion in this branch improbable. Alternatives may exist in lower-demand or interdisciplinary streams in some GFTIs, but ECE at NIT/IIIT/GFTI is virtually out of reach for your percentile. Many reputed private engineering colleges in North and West India accept JEE Main percentiles in the 80–90 range for ECE, Computer Science, and related branches. These colleges provide quality education, recognized degrees, active placement cells, and exposure to core companies, making them a sound option as backup admissions in the absence of an NIT/IIIT/GFTI seat.

Recommendation
Given the percentile cutoffs for ECE, focus on private engineering colleges in North and West India that readily accept JEE Main scores in your range, and apply across several institutions to maximize your chances for ECE, while also using CSAB strictly as a backup for non-core branches.

List of 10 Private Engineering Colleges in North/West India Accepting 82 Percentile (General) for ECE (excluding BITS, Manipal, Amrita, VIT, South India):
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala.
Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (JIIT), Noida.
Chandigarh University, Punjab.
UPES Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Graphic Era University, Dehradun.
DIT University, Dehradun.
Galgotias University, Greater Noida.
Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab.
JECRC University, Jaipur.
Sharda University, Greater Noida.

Always confirm branch availability and admission norms on each college’s official website before applying, as cutoffs and seat matrix may change annually. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: The Computer Science & Medical Engineering program at Dayananda Sagar University’s Harohalli campus integrates core computer science with medical device design, biomedical signal processing, AI-driven diagnostics, and smart healthcare technologies in collaboration with IISc, NIMHANS, CDSIMER, GE Healthcare, and Philips. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary laboratory work in embedded systems, IoT health monitors, medical imaging, wearables, and telemedicine, supported by state-of-the-art labs, a 900-bed NABH/NABL-accredited teaching hospital, and digital libraries on a sustainable 140-acre campus. Faculty include experienced professors and clinicians ensuring a balance of theoretical rigor and clinical exposure. Over the past three years, Dayananda Sagar’s overall engineering placement rate has averaged around 96% with major recruiters like Amazon, Bosch, Cognizant, and Infosys visiting campus, and medical engineering graduates benefit from niche MedTech roles, internships in hospital research units, and startup incubators. The program addresses rising global demand for biomedical data scientists, medical robotics engineers, and healthcare AI specialists, aligning with India’s Make in India MedTech vision. Key institutional strengths include robust industry partnerships, cutting-edge infrastructure, comprehensive student support services, active research centers, and an autonomous evaluation system facilitating continuous innovation and employability readiness.

Recommendation: Given its interdisciplinary curriculum, strong industry-academic collaborations, high placement percentages, and direct access to a teaching hospital, the CS & Medical Engineering program at Dayananda Sagar’s Harohalli campus offers compelling future prospects in MedTech, healthcare AI, and biomedical instrumentation, making it an excellent choice for your daughter’s engineering career. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hi. Thanks for your query. As someone who is working in disability sector especially person with developmental disability , I would strongly recommend to get your evaluation done either by Psychiatrist or Neurologist and later detailed assessment by Rehabilitation or Clinical Psychologist. They will use various tools to assess. your condition and determine. Please do not hesitate to get professional help as it will help you overcome the doubt about your conditions. Wishing you quick recovery.

Ans: Hello dear
Try with MIT-WPU, PCCOE, or VIIT through lateral entry.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear
Your son is in just 8th grade! It’s natural to worry about your child’s future, but at this stage, the focus should be on helping him explore his interests, build curiosity, and develop strong fundamentals, especially in math, science, and communication. Instead of deciding now between engineering, medicine, or other careers, encourage him to try different activities like coding, science clubs, creative writing, or robotics to discover what excites him. Talk regularly about different professions, expose him to role models, and support both academic and non-academic growth. As he moves to higher grades, his strengths and interests will become clearer, making it easier to guide him toward a well-suited career path. Just ensure that he stays consistent in his studies, attends school or tuitions regularly, and appears for all tests. Don't compare him with others. Always encourage him. Stay relaxed.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear
Placements at Manipal are good. For better clarity, it is highly recommended to contact the placement division of the concerned institution in person instead of relying on other sources.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: You have built a good investment base before shifting to Germany. Maintaining compliance and preserving these investments for your return is very important. Here is a 360-degree view of your choices.

? Understand Your Tax Residency Status
– Your tax residency status in India determines compliance.
– India follows residential status based on days spent in India.
– If you are NRI, you are taxed only on Indian income.
– Mutual fund capital gains in India are still taxable when redeemed.
– If you remain resident, global income becomes taxable in India.
– Confirm your residency status each year based on Indian rules.
– Filing ITR correctly matters. Non-compliance can attract penalties.

? Continue Holding Investments - Benefits and Risks
– Holding mutual funds and stocks keeps them invested for future growth.
– They continue compounding until you return.
– You avoid capital gains tax until redemption.
– But you still must file ITR annually.
– You may need to declare them in schedule for your NRI status.
– You also must ensure KYC and FATCA filings are up-to-date.
– Let these grow if your goal is long-term preservation.
– Investments in Indian mutual funds are easy to redeem when you return.
– Avoid direct index funds or international funds; they don’t give downside protection.
– Prefer actively managed funds through regular plans.
– As you plan to return, long-term equity exposure can continue.

? Switching or Converting Investments
– You may consider converting direct equity or equity funds.
– But conversion to NFO or fund switch may trigger tax if sold.
– A switch within fund family is treated as redemption.
– Conversions rarely help unless fund is poor performer.
– Better is to continue the existing fund if performance is acceptable.
– If you find underperformers, exit gradually to manage tax and timing.
– Avoid moving money to products that attract more tax or lock-in.

? Option to Redeem Investments Before Return
– You could redeem some or all mutual funds before returning.
– LTCG applies at 12.5% above Rs 1.25 lakh exempt threshold.
– STCG taxed at 20%. Plan redemptions across years to reduce tax burden.
– Redeem in stages, ideally over 3 years, to avoid large tax impact in one year.
– Use proceeds to invest in safer assets or move to Germany if needed.
– But keep remaining money invested to benefit from long-term compounding.
– Redeeming entirely early may reduce growth potential.

? Income Tax Compliance While Abroad
– NRIs must file income tax return if taxable in India.
– Dividend from mutual funds and stocks is taxable but with TDS.
– If TDS exceeds tax liability, claim refund by filing return.
– Bonus dividends may attract higher TDS.
– You must maintain bank FDs or mutual fund interest records to file ITR.
– Provide your foreign address in Form 15CA/15CB if you remit money abroad.
– Failure to comply can lead to penalties or interest charges.

? Goal Alignment for Return after 3–4 Years
– Your goal is to return in 3–4 years. Use that to plan investments.
– If you will need funds soon after return, start partial redemptions in advance.
– For long-term needs post-return, keep equity investments intact.
– If you plan to purchase property or fund family goals on return – create separate mutual fund bucket now.
– Reb alance so short-term needs are in liquid or conservative funds.
– Preserve mid-to-long-term corpus in equity funds via SIP or lumpsum.

? Use Regular Plan Route, Avoid Direct Plans
– NRI investors sometimes choose direct plan to save fees.
– But direct plans lack professional guidance, reviews, and rebalancing.
– For long-term benefit and oversight, prefer regular plan route.
– A Certified Financial Planner ensures goal tracking and risk management.
– This becomes more useful as your residency and tax laws evolve.

? Avoid Index Funds and ETFs for This Money
– Index funds replicate market index. There is no downside cushion.
– When markets fall, they drop fully.
– They do not adapt to changing market conditions.
– Actively managed funds provide risk monitoring and strategic shifting.
– For important goals and international residency shifts, that flexibility is valuable.

? Consider Currency Planning
– When you return, you may bring back funds to Indian rupees.
– Keep currency exchange rate in mind. Converting at unfavorable rate reduces value.
– If you plan to continue holding investments in India, there is no currency risk until you remit.
– But if redeeming while abroad, choose optimal timing for rupee strength.
– You may use NRO bank account for Indian investments and NRE for remittance.
– Consult a tax aware advisor in Germany and India to avoid double tax issues.

? Keep Documents Well?Organised
– Maintain fund investment statements, dividends and transaction details.
– File ITR showing these investments and any tax paid.
– This ensures legal compliance on return.
– If you receive letters from mutual fund houses or tax authorities, respond promptly.
– Declare capital gains correctly to avoid penalty interest.

? Action Plan Summary
– Confirm your tax residency status each financial year.
– Continue holding good-performing mutual funds and stocks.
– Use regular funds via CFP for goal tracking.
– Identify any poor-performing assets and exit gradually.
– If planned return expense is due soon after return, begin phased redemption.
– Spread capital gains across multiple years to reduce tax.
– Build a goal bucket if you expect expenses on return.
– Keep fund and dividend tax records for compliance.
– Avoid index funds and direct plans. Stick to active mutual funds via regular plan.
– Maintain NRO/NRE account correctly. Monitor FATCA reporting and PAN filings.

? Final Insights
You have maintained a well?built equity base even after moving abroad. Continuing your investments with thoughtful planning is wise. The focus should be on compliance, risk alignment, and goal linkage. Avoid impulsive redemption or shifting without strategy. With a certified financial planner guiding you via regular fund plans, you can preserve this wealth, remain tax?compliant, and use it effectively when you return in 3?4 years.

Your financial horizon remains strong even from abroad. Smart timing, structured withdrawals, ongoing oversight and goal clarity will help you bridge between Germany and your future back in India confidently.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment