Home > Career > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help

What Can I Do? Son Wants Non-Engineering Career, Husband Wants Engineering

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1857 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Aug 31, 2024

Dr Dipankar Dutta is an associate professor in the computer science and engineering department at the University Institute of Technology, the University of Burdwan, West Bengal.
He has 27 years of experience and his interests include AI, data science, machine learning, pattern recognition, deep learning and evolutionary computation.
Aside from his responsibilities at the college, he also delivers lectures and conducts webinars.
Dr Dipankar has published 25 papers in international journals, written book chapters, attended conferences, served as a board observer for WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination) exams and as a counsellor for engineering college admissions in West Bengal. He helps students choose the right college and stream for undergraduate, masters and PhD programmes.
A senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (SMIEEE), he holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College and a an MTech degree in computer technology from Jadavpur University.
He completed his PhD in engineering from IIEST, Shibpur (formerly BE College).... more
Asked by Anonymous - Aug 31, 2024Hindi
Listen
Career

My son is in class 12th and is very good in maths and physics however he is not interested in pursuing engineering. However my husband is insisting on pursuing engineering only. Kindly suggest what to do.

Ans: Do not insist him. Ask him about his willingness. In which stream he wants to do his higher studies?
Career

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10943 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 24, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 24, 2025Hindi
Career
Hi sir, I am from Chennai. My son is in 12th std. (CBSE) and studying PCMB. He is not interested to write NEET or JEE. Also not interested to join any engineering courses. I believe that he will score above 85% in his board exams. He has good analytical skills. He also writes well (mostly fictional stories till now). As of now, he doesn't know what he anted to study. What are his options if he is not interested in medical and engineering?
Ans: Before making a decision on educational or career direction, the most effective and personalized approach is for your son to undergo a psychometric assessment. This scientifically designed evaluation will identify his natural aptitudes, interests, personality traits, and career preferences. Armed with these insights, he can confidently select courses or paths best aligned with his strengths, ensuring long-term satisfaction and success. Taking a psychometric test offers clarity amidst uncertainty by narrowing down options that best suit his unique profile and comparative advantage, laying the foundation for a truly fulfilling educational and professional journey. Value added information/answer to your question: Students completing 12th grade with PCMB who are strong analytically and enjoy writing have a wealth of non-medical, non-engineering pathways align with rigorous academics, practical training, strong faculty, modern infrastructure, industry engagement and reliable placement outcomes. Bachelor of Science degrees in disciplines such as Biotechnology, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Genetics or Statistics provide deep research foundations and laboratory exposure at institutions like IISERs (BS-MS) and top BSc colleges (BHU, DU, JMI) offering 75–90% placement rates and faculty-led projects. Interdisciplinary BSc programmes in Data Science or Bioinformatics emphasize advanced mathematics, computing and analytics, supported by AI-enabled labs and internships with 80–85% graduate employability. Mass Communication and Journalism (IIMC Delhi, Xavier Institute of Communications Mumbai, SIMC Pune) combine creative storytelling with multimedia labs, ethical reporting modules and 85–95% placement consistency at leading media houses. Integrated Law programmes (BA LLB) develop argumentative writing, legal research and moot-court skills, with sustained campus recruitments in top law firms. Degrees in Psychology, Economics or Hospitality Management blend conceptual coursework with industry practicum and yield 70–80% placement across clinical, corporate and service sectors. Across these options, accreditation by UGC/AICTE, experienced PhD faculty, outcome-based curricula, active industry partnerships and track-record placement cells ensure robust career pathways for students with strong board performance and versatile skill sets.

Recommendation:
For a blend of analytical rigor and creative expression, BSc Data Science at IISERs offers cutting-edge labs, research mentorship and high placement consistency; Mass Communication at IIMC Delhi provides multimedia facilities and robust media industry tie-ups; Integrated BA LLB develops legal writing and courtroom training; BSc Biotechnology at BHU ensures strong research infrastructure and industry internships; Psychology at DU fosters critical analysis and clinical practicum.

Alongside these programmes, admission requires success in specific entrance examinations. Admission to IISERs BS-MS/Data Science is through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), testing domain knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology over 60 objective questions in three hours. Entry to IIMC Delhi’s Mass Communication PG Diploma is via the IIMC Entrance Exam, a three-hour online test with 100 multiple-choice questions covering General Knowledge, Aptitude and Media Awareness. Integrated BA LLB programmes admit through national law tests such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT-India and SLAT, assessing English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Ability and Current Affairs. BSc Biotechnology at BHU requires the CUET-UG exam, evaluating subject-specific and general aptitude sections for Sciences. BA Psychology at DU follows CUET-UG, with components in General Psychology, Reasoning, English and Quantitative Aptitude, though some seats are allotted on the basis of class 12 merit and cutoffs. All the BEST for a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11062 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 14, 2026

Money
I am 61, minimalist with no bad habits in the life style of NO PILL; NO ILL. Now, the market is down and NAV falls down. my investments are comfortably positive even in the negative market. becuase the investment started very early and unis purchased at very low price. Now, the question is should I withdraw the funds; a portion of profit and invest in the downward trend so that I will get more units and i will not loose the capital because I am planning to withdraw only the portion of the profits. Please guide me should I need to reshuffle by withdrawing and re investing ..!!
Ans: Your disciplined lifestyle and long investing journey are truly inspiring. Starting early and holding investments patiently has created a comfortable cushion for you. Even when the market is falling, your portfolio remains positive. That itself shows the power of long-term investing.

Now your question is about withdrawing profit and reinvesting during the market fall. Let us examine this carefully.

» Understanding What You Are Trying To Do

Your idea is:

– Withdraw only the profit portion
– Reinvest when NAV is lower
– Get more units
– Protect original capital

This approach looks logical on the surface. But in practice it becomes very difficult to execute consistently.

» The Challenge of Timing the Market

To succeed in this strategy two things must happen correctly.

– You must sell at the right time
– You must reinvest at the correct lower level

Predicting market movement precisely is extremely difficult. Even experienced investors struggle with this.

If markets suddenly recover after you redeem, you may lose the opportunity of further growth.

» Impact of Taxes on Withdrawal

Whenever you redeem equity mutual funds:

– Long term capital gains above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%
– Short term capital gains are taxed at 20%

So withdrawing profit may trigger tax liability. This reduces the benefit of trying to buy more units.

Frequent reshuffling can quietly reduce long-term wealth.

» Your Age and Investment Objective

At 61, your goal should shift slightly.

Earlier the focus was:

– Maximum growth

Now the focus should be:

– Capital protection
– Controlled growth
– Income stability

So instead of frequent buying and selling, gradual portfolio balance is more suitable.

» A Better Approach for Your Situation

Rather than timing the market, consider this approach:

– Keep the core long-term equity investments untouched
– If equity allocation has grown very large, slowly shift small portion into safer assets
– Continue enjoying compounding from existing units purchased at low prices

This maintains growth while protecting accumulated wealth.

» Systematic Withdrawal Planning

If you need regular income later:

– You can withdraw small amounts periodically
– This reduces market timing risk
– Portfolio continues to grow while providing income

This is usually more comfortable for retired investors.

» Emotional Discipline

Your biggest strength so far has been patience.

The temptation to reshuffle during market movements often disturbs long-term success.

Many investors lose wealth not because of bad investments but because of unnecessary switching.

» Finally

Since your investments were made early and units were bought at very low prices, the best strategy is usually to stay invested and allow compounding to continue.

Avoid frequent profit booking and reinvestment based on market movements.

Instead:

– Maintain a balanced asset allocation
– Protect capital gradually
– Allow long-term equity investments to keep growing

Your disciplined journey has already created strong financial security. Preserving that strength is now more important than trying to capture short-term opportunities.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11062 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 14, 2026

Money
I am a retired doctor with 1lac pension kindly suggest to invest 30000per month
Ans: Your disciplined habit of investing even after retirement is very encouraging. With a pension of Rs 1 lakh per month, planning to invest Rs 30,000 shows that you are thinking about preserving and growing your wealth in a structured manner.

At this stage of life, the focus should be balanced between safety, regular growth, and liquidity.

» Understanding Your Financial Stage

You are a retired professional receiving steady pension income.

This means:

– Your regular expenses are already supported
– Investment goal is wealth preservation and moderate growth
– Liquidity for health and family needs is important

So the investment approach should be balanced and not aggressive.

» Emergency and Medical Reserve

Before starting monthly investment, ensure:

– At least 12 months of expenses kept in safe liquid instruments
– Adequate health insurance coverage

Medical expenses increase with age. Having a dedicated medical reserve prevents disturbance to investments.

» Balanced Investment Approach

For a retired person, full equity exposure is not suitable. But avoiding equity completely also reduces growth.

A balanced structure is ideal.

For the Rs 30,000 monthly investment:

– Around Rs 15,000 in actively managed diversified equity mutual funds
– Around Rs 10,000 in short duration or conservative debt mutual funds
– Around Rs 5,000 in gold allocation for diversification

This structure provides growth with stability.

» Importance of Actively Managed Funds

Actively managed mutual funds are suitable because:

– Fund managers actively select strong companies
– They adjust portfolio when market conditions change
– Aim to generate better returns than the market

This professional management helps investors who prefer not to monitor markets regularly.

» Investment Horizon and Liquidity

Even after retirement, investments can continue for 10 to 15 years.

So:

– Continue SIP regularly
– Review portfolio once every year
– Keep sufficient liquidity for emergencies

Avoid locking large amounts into instruments with long lock-in periods.

» Tax Awareness

If you redeem equity mutual funds:

– Long term capital gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%
– Short term gains taxed at 20%

Debt mutual fund gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.

Planning withdrawals carefully can reduce tax impact.

» Finally

Your plan to invest Rs 30,000 monthly is a strong step toward maintaining financial independence.

A balanced portfolio with equity, debt, and gold can help:

– Preserve your wealth
– Provide moderate growth
– Maintain liquidity for future needs

Regular review with a Certified Financial Planner can ensure that your investments remain aligned with your lifestyle and health needs during retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x