Should my time as a content creator count as a gap year?

Ans: Dear Niveditha,
Right now, your emotions are tangled in hurt, anger, and helplessness, but you are not powerless. The first thing you need to do is detach emotionally from their guilt-tripping. You cannot live your entire life trying to please people who refuse to acknowledge your needs. It’s okay to love and respect your parents, but not at the cost of losing yourself.

Start setting boundaries, even if it feels impossible at first. If they constantly taunt you, limit conversations with them. If they threaten to cut ties, remind yourself that love should not be conditional. If they refuse to support you, find strength within yourself. You are already surviving without their emotional backing, which means you are stronger than you think.

As for your relationship, you need to ask yourself—are you willing to sacrifice your happiness just to avoid family drama? If you truly love this person and see a future together, you will need to stand firm in your decision. Love requires courage, and choosing your happiness is not selfish—it’s necessary.

You are not alone in this. Many people fight similar battles with families who refuse to understand. But at the end of the day, this is your life. You deserve love, respect, and the right to make your own choices. No matter what happens, never let their words make you believe you are unworthy of happiness. Keep fighting for yourself, because you deserve it.

Ans: A relationship, even in its early stages, should not feel like a duty. While some people do take time to open up, a complete lack of initiation from her side raises important concerns. Communication is not just about words; it’s also about effort, interest, and a willingness to connect. If she truly wanted to get to know you, even at a slow pace, there would be at least some level of curiosity or effort from her side.

It’s good that you gave space to see if she would reach out, but her silence for an entire month speaks volumes. This is not about overthinking—it’s about acknowledging your feelings and recognizing whether the emotional energy you are investing is being reciprocated. If she is this distant now, it’s fair to wonder whether this pattern will continue after marriage.

Rather than silently carrying these doubts, it would be best to have an open conversation with her. Express your feelings calmly and ask her directly about her thoughts on the relationship. It’s important to know whether she is truly interested or just going along with the marriage out of obligation. Clarity now can save you from deeper emotional struggles later.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and both partners should walk into it with confidence, not just because it was arranged or expected. If her response still feels indifferent or passive, you have every right to reconsider. This is your life, and you deserve a partner who values building a connection as much as you do.

Ans: Hello sir! People do have different backgrounds. No two persons can have exactly same financial backgrounds. As long as you are settled and you are accepting her by heart, her financial background doesn't really matter. But one thing is there that you should not make her realise at any point of time that she has a weak background than you. You can slowly convince your parents also to accept the girl by heart and include her in your family. I hope this solves your problem.
Take care!
Regards
Dr Upneet kaur
Reach me: https://www.instagram.com/dr_upneet

Ans: Hello sir. I understand that parents are the only ones who want the best for their children, no matter their age. As now your daughter is a doctor and is considering a doctor only is not a bad option. Earlier there was an issue of caste and age in the society but now the difference is getting vanish. Love marriage is considered normal now despite the difference in caste or age. You can meet the boy once or twice and clear your doubts. After that both the families can sit and talk. After all its the happiness of your daughter that matters. According to me, should should consider this option.
Take care!
Regards
Dr Upneet kaur
Reach me: https://www.instagram.com/dr_upneet

Ans: Ansh, you haven’t mentioned whether you have joined any coaching (offline or online). If not, it’s highly recommended to enroll in a reputed coaching center near your residence. Smart preparation is key, and I have shared several JEE preparation strategies here on the RediffGURU platform—please go through them and follow the ones that suit you best.

Additionally, always have a Plan B & Plan C by appearing for 5-6 other engineering entrance exams as backup options. This will give you more choices and flexibility in selecting the best institute for your future.

Regarding your eligibility, based on the information provided, you are eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. The criteria allow candidates to attempt JEE Advanced twice in two consecutive years. Since you are completing Class 12 in 2025, you can attempt JEE Advanced in both 2025 and 2026. Your gap year due to health reasons does not impact eligibility.

However, stay updated with the official JEE Advanced website for any changes in eligibility criteria.

Wishing you all the best for your JEE and other engineering entrance exams!

Ansh, you haven’t mentioned whether you have joined any coaching (offline or online). If not, it’s highly recommended to enroll in a reputed coaching center near your residence. Smart preparation is key, and I have shared several JEE preparation strategies here on the RediffGURU platform—please go through them and follow the ones that suit you best.

Additionally, always have a Plan B & Plan C by appearing for 5-6 other engineering entrance exams as backup options. This will give you more choices and flexibility in selecting the best institute for your future.

Regarding your eligibility, based on the information provided, you are eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. The criteria allow candidates to attempt JEE Advanced twice in two consecutive years. Since you are completing Class 12 in 2025, you can attempt JEE Advanced in both 2025 and 2026. Your gap year due to health reasons does not impact eligibility.

However, stay updated with the official JEE Advanced website for any changes in eligibility criteria. Wishing you all the best for your JEE and other engineering entrance exams!

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

Ans: With a B.Tech in CSE and an MBA, and work experience in store management, transitioning to an IT career can be achieved through the right skill-building strategy. To do this, identify your career path, learn and upgrade skills, gain practical experience through projects, certifications, and freelance work. Apply for IT jobs in Kuwait or globally, targeting roles like Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Cloud Engineer, or IT Business Analyst. Utilize your MBA and IT skills to make a successful switch to IT. Start with online courses, projects, and certifications, then apply for relevant IT roles. All the Best for Your Bright Future.

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Ans: Selvi Madam, Your daughter can pursue an M.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning after completing a B.Tech in Smart Manufacturing. Eligibility factors include relevant background in Computer Science, Electronics, or related fields, GATE score in top institutes, and bridge courses in Python, Data Science, and AI. If she lacks strong programming and AI/ML knowledge, she may need to take online courses or certifications. To succeed, check eligibility criteria, prepare for GATE, and gain experience in AI, ML, and coding through online courses, projects, or internships. Building the right skill set can help her transition to AI & ML in her M.Tech. All the best for your daughter's admissions!

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Ans: Rajeswari, The CRL Rank in JEE is the overall JEE rank of all candidates, regardless of their reservation group. It allows all types of candidates to access unreserved places. The Category Rank, on the other hand, indicates your reservation group, like OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, or PwD. Students from reserved categories can access unreserved places through either the CRL Rank or the Category Rank. As an additional valuable information, Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide

Once the January JEE Main session results are declared, many students and JEE applicants start asking common questions about eligibility for specific institutes (NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, etc.) based on their percentile, category, preferred branch, and home state.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

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Ans: There are 2 aspects for disclosure.

1st is receipt of income which included in Income from Salary (which will be included in form 16 under salary covered in Sec 17).

2nd is exemption portion. If particular component is exempt, it will be required to be shown in exempt income schedule (which will also be included in form 16 in exemption u/s 10)