Confused 26-Year-Old Seeking Clarity in Career Choice: Accounting or Digital Marketing?

Ans: IIIT Bangalore’s four-year B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science is NBA- and NAAC-accredited, led by PhD-qualified faculty, and supported by over a dozen specialized AI/ML, vision, NLP, robotics, and data-science labs including the Scalable Data Science and AI (ScaDS.ai) Lab. The institute achieved near-100% placement rates in 2025 with 638 job offers and an average package of INR 37.01 LPA. IIT Goa’s B.Tech CSE is NAAC- and NBA-accredited, delivered by research-active faculty in AI, systems, and algorithms, and features modern computing, cybersecurity, and network labs alongside a high-performance computing cluster. Its 2024 placement rate was 90.7% for B.Tech, with a median package of INR 13 LPA and top recruiters such as Amazon and Microsoft. Both institutes hold strong industry tie-ups and active career cells. IIIT Bangalore offers a more intensive AI-centric curriculum with superior placement consistency and higher average packages, whereas IIT Goa provides a broader CSE foundation with solid research collaborations in a government-funded IIT environment.

recommendation:
For highest placement consistency, specialized AI & data-science training, and cutting-edge labs, choose IIIT Bangalore AI & DS. If you prefer a traditional CSE pathway within an IIT’s broader research ecosystem and solid government backing, opt for IIT Goa CSE. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hello dear.
Yes, you are correct.
General/OBC: Minimum 75% aggregate in all 5 subjects.
SC/ST: Minimum 65% aggregate in all 5 subjects. (Not just PCM.)
Yet, it is strongly recommended to refer to the brochures published by competent authorities and visit the official website to review any recent changes related to the admission process.
Good luck!
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Radheshyam

Ans: BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE) is NBA Tier-1 and NAAC A++ accredited, taught by PhD-qualified faculty across 49 specialized labs (Power Electronics, VLSI, Embedded Systems) with extensive industry MoUs and research collaborations. Its first-degree EEE placements have ranged from 95–96% over recent years, offering strong core-engineering recruiter engagement. NIT Surathkal Mechanical Engineering (ME), ranked #17 in NIRF 2024, is NAAC A+ and NBA accredited, features comprehensive labs (Fluid Mechanics, IC Engines, Robotics, Virtual/Remote Labs), and records ~94% placement for ME undergraduates, supported by its robust Career Development Centre. Both offer PhD-active faculty, affordable fees, and strong campus resources.

Recommendation: For cutting-edge core-electronics research, personalized mentorship, and proven EEE placement consistency, prioritize BITS Hyderabad EEE. If long-term infrastructure and heavy-machinery sector roles with broader mechanical exposure and equally high placement rates appeal more, your son can go for NIT Surathkal Mechanical. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hello Vinod. The CSE and Electrical branches are completely different. Instead of focusing on fees criteria, it is better to prioritize the choice of branch. Considering the recent trends and the upcoming technological era, it is recommended to choose CSE+DS. However, if someone is interested in electrical due to various reasons, they may opt for electrical+CS. The final decision is yours.
Good luck!
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Radheshyam

Ans: GL Bajaj mey direct admission CSE branch mey school percentage se possible hai, lekin management quota ke liye 80%+ chahiye 12th mey aur JEE Main ya UPCET ka score bhi mandatory hai. Sirf school marks se bina entrance exam ke admission nahi hota. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Harsh Sir, IT Bombay’s B.Tech in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science is ranked #3 by NIRF and delivered by PhD-qualified faculty in a department equipped with central and FIST facilities—OIM & Texture, X-Ray, Nanoindenter, TEM prep, Scanning Probe Microscopy, Hyperflash thermal analysis, dual vacuum SEM, and an HPC cluster—on a 500-acre Powai campus. Accredited by AICTE, NBA, and with NAAC recognition, the program recorded a 70.37% batch placement rate in 2024 through core recruiters like Intel, Qualcomm, and L&T. DA-IICT’s B.Tech in Information and Communication Technology holds NAAC A+ accreditation, UGC approval, and operates a 1:1 computing infrastructure—including a five-node GPU-enabled HPC cluster, 1 Gbps campus LAN, 1,300+ desktops, 30 servers, and 22 teaching plus 11 research labs (Electronics, DSP, CS, HPC, IoT, VLSI)—supported by PhD faculty and industry-seasoned instructors. Over the past three years, 80–90% of ICT graduates secured placements via 120+ recruiters such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, with 390+ offers in 2024 and strong internship-to-offer conversion.

Recommendation: Weighing premier brand value, specialized materials labs, and solid core-engineering placements at IIT Bombay, finalize IIT Bombay Materials Engineering for long-term research and industry roles. Opt for DA-IICT ICT only if interdisciplinary ICT training, cutting-edge computing infrastructure, and its higher placement consistency (80–90%) align more closely with immediate software and communication technology goals. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hello Hemlata
Prefer CSE @ IIT Ropar if possible.
Good luck!
Follow me if you like this reply. Thanks!
Radheshyam

Ans: Planning for a wedding of Rs. 25 lakhs needs thoughtful strategy. Your savings are well structured across mutual funds, FDs, and liquid savings. You also identified underperforming funds. That’s a good sign of financial awareness.

Let us now analyse each component and suggest a complete 360-degree solution.

Understanding Your Current Assets
You have distributed your savings across different instruments:

Mutual Funds: Rs. 30 lakhs
  • Out of this, Rs. 7–8 lakhs are underperforming

Fixed Deposits: Rs. 10 lakhs

Savings Account: Rs. 5 lakhs in liquid balance

Goal: Wedding expenses of Rs. 25 lakhs

All the components are useful in different ways. Let us now evaluate each.

Clarity on Investment Purpose
The most important question is: Is this Rs. 25 lakh wedding cost your only financial goal now?

If yes, then:

More capital can be safely withdrawn

Long-term investments can be used partly

If no, and other goals like retirement or children’s future also exist, then:

Use least-impact method to fund the wedding

Protect long-term assets meant for other goals

Withdraw from surplus or non-performing assets only

Let us now evaluate each asset class one by one.

Using the Liquid Balance (Rs. 5 Lakhs in Savings)
This is your most accessible and risk-free asset.

Easily withdrawable

No loss or tax on redemption

Best for immediate upfront payments

Suitable for wedding advance booking, decoration, etc.

Use this amount first for initial wedding expenses.

Keep Rs. 1 to 1.5 lakhs aside for emergency use.
Don’t exhaust full Rs. 5 lakhs if this is your only contingency reserve.

Using the Fixed Deposit (Rs. 10 Lakhs)
FDs are safe and stable but taxable.

Premature withdrawal may reduce interest slightly

There can be penalty charges

You may lose 0.5% to 1% of expected interest

However, capital is protected

Ideal for short-term high liquidity needs

Use part of FD after exhausting liquid fund.

Withdraw from the FD that has completed most of its term.
This way, you avoid high penalty or interest loss.

Keep one FD untouched for emergency or health need.
Use maximum Rs. 8 to 9 lakhs from FDs if required.

Using Mutual Funds (Rs. 30 Lakhs)
This is your wealth-building asset. Use it carefully.

First Priority: Use Underperforming Funds

You have Rs. 7 to 8 lakhs in non-performing funds

These funds are dragging your overall returns

This is the best time to exit and use this amount

You will avoid future underperformance

That amount can be re-purposed without regret

Second Priority: Use from Surplus Growth

If other funds have grown beyond your goal amount

You can redeem part of that as needed

Withdraw in tax-efficient manner

Avoid disturbing core long-term goal SIPs

Important Tax Rule

Long-term capital gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

Short-term gains taxed at 20%

Plan redemption with help from your Certified Financial Planner

Spread withdrawals over 2–3 months to manage taxation

Do Not Use Entire MF Corpus

MF corpus is best for long-term growth

Use only what is necessary

Retain funds linked to retirement or child future goals

Never redeem from consistent performing funds if avoidable

Disadvantages of Direct Funds If Applicable
You didn’t mention direct or regular plan. But if you are using direct mutual funds, consider this:

You will miss guidance during redemption

No yearly review support

You may redeem from the wrong fund

Wrong fund selection can cause tax loss

No behavioural coaching during volatility

Switch to regular mutual funds through an MFD with CFP.

This ensures you redeem the right funds at the right time.

Avoid Index Funds for Liquidity Needs
If you are invested in index funds, avoid withdrawing from them.

Index funds track the market passively

They offer no downside protection

No active strategy to rebalance during fall

They do not suit lump sum withdrawal planning

You may exit at market bottom unknowingly

Instead, use actively managed funds with better control.

A Certified Financial Planner can suggest funds with better return potential and timing flexibility.

Ideal Fund Source Combination
Here is the best step-by-step approach:

Use Rs. 4 lakhs from Savings Account
 • Keep Rs. 1 lakh as emergency backup

Use Rs. 8 lakhs from FDs
 • Prefer FDs near maturity

Use Rs. 7 to 8 lakhs from underperforming mutual funds
 • Replace them with better funds later if surplus is available

Use Rs. 5 to 6 lakhs from good performing mutual funds if still needed
 • Withdraw slowly and tax-efficiently

This will reduce pressure on your wealth portfolio.
You avoid touching future retirement or long-term goals.

Future Planning After Wedding
After wedding expenses, rebuild your corpus quickly.

Restart SIPs immediately

Use bonuses to refill FD or savings

Increase SIP by 10% yearly

Stay invested in actively managed mutual funds

Use regular plans with annual review

Maintain asset allocation

Wedding is a one-time expense.
Your retirement and future income needs are ongoing.

Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t take a personal loan for wedding

Don’t redeem full mutual fund in panic

Don’t ignore tax on redemptions

Don’t sell good performing funds

Don’t touch health insurance or emergency funds

Don’t make withdrawals without plan

Don’t believe in market timing advice from non-professionals

Take support from a Certified Financial Planner to execute redemptions smartly.

Finally
Rs. 25 lakhs wedding can be funded from existing savings

Use savings account and FDs first

Use underperforming mutual funds as next source

Use growth mutual funds only if absolutely required

Redeem funds in stages to manage tax

Avoid redeeming SIP-linked long-term funds

Rebuild your corpus after wedding slowly

Use regular plans via MFD for better planning

Avoid direct funds and index funds for this need

Focus on preserving wealth, not just paying bills

Wedding is a happy event. With proper planning, it should not shake your financial foundation.

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

Ans: Pradeep, At a CRL of 33 498, securing CSE at LNMIIT Jaipur (closing ~12 000) is unlikely. Among NITs, general?category CSE seats close around 1 200–30 186 across top institutes. In JoSAA Round 2, NIT Uttarakhand filled CSE up to rank 34 445, and NIT Manipur IT up to rank 37 000; MNIT Jaipur CSE closed at ~30 186 in Round 4, while NIT Andhra Pradesh and NIT Nagaland often extend beyond 30 000 for allied IT branches. Other viable JEE Main options include IIITDM Kancheepuram CSE (closing ~17 677) and IIIT Kota CSE (opening ~30 755), as well as newer IIITs and GFTIs with closing ranks up to 40 000. All these institutes feature NBA/NAAC accreditation, PhD?qualified faculty, modern labs, strong industry linkages, and 80–95% placement rates over three years.

Recommendation:
With rank 33 498, recommendation is to prioritise NIT Uttarakhand CSE for its confirmed CRL cutoff (~34 445) and robust placement record, followed by IIITDM Kancheepuram CSE (closing ~17 677) and IIIT Kota CSE (closing ~30 755). Consider other IIITs/GFTIs under JoSAA for additional options. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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