Aspiring Physicist with IIT and IISER Options: Which Path Should I Take?

Ans: BITS Pilani’s 2+2 Mechanical program delivers excellent core engineering exposure and boasts ~95% placement in Mechanical over the last three years, but carries a steep total cost: ~?17–18 L for the first two years plus ~USD 60 000–80 000 (?50–65 L) for the final two years abroad. In contrast, Manipal University Jaipur’s CSE offers ~88% placement consistency with top IT recruiters, Shiv Nadar University engineering branches exceed 85% placements annually, and Tier 3–4 colleges see just 30–50% placement rates. If you aim to build a CS career, a direct CSE program at Manipal Jaipur or Shiv Nadar provides strong IT alignment at far lower cost, while Tier 3-4 branches risk limited CS opportunities.

The recommendation is to prioritise admission in CSE at Manipal University Jaipur or Shiv Nadar University for reliable CS placement outcomes and reasonable fees, and only consider BITS 2+2 Mechanical if you can fully fund its high expense and remain committed to Mechanical engineering rather than CS. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a JEE Main 2025 rank of 84,000, getting into the top NITs (like NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal) is unlikely, but you might have a chance at some of the newer or NITs in the northeastern states. If NITs are not an option, consider exploring other government institutions like IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology) or CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutes.

Ans: With a JEE Advanced rank of 4213, it is highly likely a candidate will get into IIT Jodhpur for AI (Artificial Intelligence) and potentially IIT Delhi for Civil Engineering, depending on the specific category. IIT Jodhpur's AI program is relatively new and the cutoff for it may be around 4000 or slightly higher. IIT Delhi, being a more established and competitive institution, is also likely to have Civil Engineering seats available for a rank around 4213.

Ans: Continue B.Tech from Meshra only.

Ans: With a COMEDK rank of 1556, you have the option of ECE at RV College of Engineering (RVCE) or CSE at MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) and BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE). RVCE’s ECE program is highly reputed, with 75–97% placement rates over the last three years and strong industry collaborations, but fewer core ECE recruiters compared to CSE, and CSE at RVCE is not available at this rank. MSRIT and BMSCE CSE both report 97–100% placement rates, excellent industry connections, and higher average and median packages than ECE at RVCE, with CSE graduates being in greater demand for both IT and non-IT roles. BMSCE and MSRIT consistently attract top recruiters such as Amazon, IBM, and Adobe, and offer robust alumni networks and modern infrastructure. Market trends also show CSE graduates have broader career options and higher placement rates compared to ECE, especially as the tech industry continues to expand rapidly.

The recommendation is to prioritize CSE at MSRIT or BMSCE over ECE at RVCE, as CSE offers stronger placement prospects, wider career opportunities, and better alignment with current industry demand, ensuring long-term career growth and flexibility. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: you have a good chance of getting into a decent NIT or IIIT for Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE). You can target NITs like NIT Calicut, NIT Surathkal, or IIITs like IIIT Kancheepuram, IIITDM Jabalpur, or IIIT Pune.

Ans: With a rank of 3500 in the IAT 2025, it's possible to get into one of the newer IISERs, but it will depend on the specific campus and your category. The newer IISERs like Tirupati, Berhampur, and Trivandrum often have closing ranks around 3500-4000 for the general category.

Ans: You both have done great financial planning already. Your savings pattern is strong. Your investment assets are well-diversified. You have a good chance to achieve FIRE in 5 years. But to reach Rs 5 lakhs monthly post-retirement income, a full 360-degree review is essential. Let us go step by step.

Income and Age Profile

Your combined age is ideal for aggressive compounding.

Your monthly income of Rs 8 lakhs is very good.

You are already saving and investing wisely.

Still, achieving FIRE in 5 years will need sharp optimisation.

Monthly Household Expenses

You must evaluate monthly household spending.

If expenses are high, reduce lifestyle inflations.

Maintain a budget tracker to monitor monthly trends.

Keep yearly expenses not more than 30–35% of your income.

Saving rate of 50–60% will improve FIRE timeline.

Kids’ Education and Marriage Planning

You have two children.

You already have Rs 15 lakhs in Sukanya Samriddhi.

Continue investing here till maximum limit is reached.

Education inflation is around 8–10% per year.

Prepare separate corpus for higher education abroad or in India.

Do not mix retirement corpus with children's goals.

Use equity mutual funds for long-term education goals.

Insurance Planning

Please review your life insurance cover.

Only term life insurance is needed.

Ideal cover = 15 to 20 times of yearly income.

Cancel all LIC or ULIP or endowment policies.

Reinvest surrender value in mutual funds.

Health insurance for family must be adequate.

Take personal health cover apart from company policy.

Critical illness and accidental cover are also important.

Debt Investment Assessment

Rs 1.3 crore in EPF is excellent for long-term wealth.

EPF continues till your retirement. Let it grow silently.

Rs 50 lakhs in PPF is good. Do not withdraw early.

You also have Rs 25 lakhs in bonds and FDs.

Interest on these is taxable. Use only for safety and liquidity.

Avoid increasing allocation to debt products further.

For FIRE, equity-focused investments work better.

Real Estate Holding

You own two flats. That is enough.

Avoid buying any more properties.

Real estate has low liquidity and high transaction costs.

Rental yield is low. Not good for wealth building.

Focus more on financial assets.

Mutual Fund Portfolio – Key Evaluation

Rs 1.5 crore in mutual funds is very healthy.

Review all schemes with a Certified Financial Planner.

Actively managed funds offer better risk-reward balance.

Avoid index funds. They just copy market.

Index funds underperform in falling markets.

Good active funds outperform with skilled fund management.

Diversify across large cap, mid cap and flexi cap categories.

SIP mode and goal-linked strategy is needed.

Choose regular plans through an MFD with CFP credentials.

Direct plans don’t offer guidance and handholding.

Regular plans bring expert insights and performance reviews.

Indian Stocks Holding – Suggestions

Rs 1 crore in Indian stocks shows good confidence.

Review the portfolio quality.

Avoid over-concentration in few stocks.

Retail portfolios are often not balanced well.

Use stop-loss discipline to avoid capital erosion.

Avoid trading-based approach.

Continue with fundamentally strong companies.

Shift part of this portfolio to mutual funds if needed.

US Stocks Holding – Key Points

Rs 4 crore in US stocks is sizeable.

Currency risk is involved.

Exposure to global tech and innovation is good.

But limit international allocation to 20–30% of total.

Review portfolio weight of high beta stocks.

Rebalance towards safer options if too volatile.

Don’t increase allocation further.

Asset Allocation Strategy for FIRE

Target balanced growth and safety mix.

Aim for 65% equity, 30% debt, 5% liquid for 5 years.

After FIRE, switch to 50% equity, 45% debt, 5% liquid.

Keep equity in quality mutual funds, not in index or direct schemes.

Liquid bucket must cover 18–24 months of expenses.

Use SWP (systematic withdrawal plan) post-retirement.

Tax-efficient withdrawals help maintain longevity of funds.

Tax Planning Perspective

Optimise investments to reduce taxable interest income.

Post-FIRE, you won’t have salary income.

Plan to fall in lower tax bracket.

Equity mutual fund LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG in equity MFs taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains taxed as per slab. Plan redemptions smartly.

Split withdrawals between spouses for better tax efficiency.

Emergency Fund Setup

Maintain Rs 15–20 lakhs as emergency fund.

Keep in high-safety liquid instruments.

It should cover medical, job loss, or urgent needs.

Review and refill yearly.

Retirement Corpus Assessment

You target Rs 5 lakhs monthly income post-retirement.

That means Rs 60 lakhs annually.

You need an inflation-proof retirement plan.

That corpus should be structured to last till age 85–90.

You already have Rs 8.7 crore approx in financial assets.

That is a solid base. But lifestyle and inflation can erode value.

Focus on risk-adjusted real returns.

Cash Flow Strategy Post-Retirement

SWP from mutual funds for monthly income.

Keep 2 years’ expenses in low-risk funds.

Remaining in equity MFs and hybrid MFs.

Use tax harvesting to reduce tax outgo.

Never break long-term corpus for short-term needs.

Estate Planning Essentials

Write a registered Will.

Nominate in all financial products.

Discuss inheritance plan with spouse.

Appoint trustworthy executor.

Create Power of Attorney if needed.

Minimise disputes and confusion for children.

What To Avoid Going Forward

Don’t invest in real estate again.

Don’t invest in endowment or ULIP plans.

Don’t chase quick returns or trending stocks.

Don’t rely on index funds. They lack active judgment.

Avoid direct funds. MFD-led regular plans provide handholding.

Yearly Portfolio Review Must

Sit with a CFP every year.

Review mutual fund performance and reallocate if needed.

Check asset mix and risk profile.

Track expenses and adjust FIRE plans.

Children’s needs may increase. Update goals timely.

Align all investments to family’s needs.

Finally

You are in a strong financial position today.

Your portfolio is diversified and well-structured.

With focused actions, FIRE in 5 years is possible.

Stay invested in quality assets.

Monitor, rebalance, and seek guidance regularly.

Secure your family's future with care and clarity.

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

Ans: It depends on individual priorities and preferences. Banasthali is a well-regarded women's university with a strong focus on holistic development and strong academics, especially in computer science. Gurugram, on the other hand, offers a wider range of options, including institutions with strong industry connections and access to the Delhi NCR tech hub.