IIIT CSE vs. IIITDM Dual Degree: Seeking Advice as I'm Torn

Ans: Hello Binod
Chances are moderate to slim. Explore other options if possible.
Best of luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I want to defend her but most of her behavior seems unnatural. Ok, I agree, there are many people who don’t post couples pics. But I have met no one who doesn’t have a single friend and yet stays online till late at night. The different number thing sounds suspicious too and blocking you when you refuse to buy her things is downright manipulative and extremely weird. I am sorry but this isn’t normal behaviour in a healthy relationship and yes, you should worry. Maybe try having a conversation and reconsider the relationship depending on how the conversation goes. I am sorry you are going through such an emotional rollercoaster.

Best Wishes.

Ans: Hello dear
Preference order: (1) CSE @ Akhilesh (2) Chemical @ IP Main Campus (3) Mech @ MAIT. The final choice will be yours.
Best of luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear
Not yet. Please be in touch with official website for more updates.
Best of luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand your concerns and they are totally valid. Please understand that romance and the idea of it is different for different people. For your parents, and their generation, romance growing after marriage might have been good enough but that does not necessarily mean it should be the same for you, or the same thing will happen in your marriage. I am not trying to scare you but rather I want you to know that your concerns are valid. Having said that, your partner’s idea of romance can be different from yours. The best thing here is to talk it out. Tell him what’s bothering you and ask if there is anything going on with him. It’s always better to address the issue no matter how uncomfortable it might be than regret later. Calling off is quite a serious decision, and it’s best you speak to him and think long and hard before deciding. But if your instincts say something is off, there is always a 50% chance that something indeed is- don’t ignore it.
Hope this helps.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I didn’t understand how the guy you like can be Hindu and Jain both? Both are different religions. Nevertheless, while to you religion might not matter in love, which is the case for most young people, for parents, it is more important than we know. You can try to convince them by highlighting all the positives in the guy and also telling them that there are similarities between the two religions. They are not drastically different. So, adjusting wouldn’t be much of an issue. You can also try to arrange a meetup between the two families so yours can see them in person and decide.
Best wishes.

Ans: Reviewing Your Income Needs
? You have amassed a corpus of Rs.?1 crore.
? Likely aim: withdraw around Rs.?60,000–80,000 monthly.
? Income must support lifestyle, health, and other expenses.
? Corpus longevity is essential—it must last many years.

Overview of Fund Types Suitable for SWP
Aggressive Hybrid Funds
? These blend equity and debt—typically 60–80% equity.
? They balance growth and safety, ideal for withdrawals.
? Offer smoother performance compared to pure equity.

Large-Cap or Flexi-Cap Equity Funds
? Provide long-term growth and inflation protection.
? Use equity withdrawals to support corpus growth.
? Maintain moderate exposure for stability.

Short-Term Debt / Liquid Funds
? Ensure cash flow without touching equity in downturns.
? Provide buffer to fuel SWP during volatile periods.
? Preserve capital while offering liquidity.

Gold Funds (Optional)
? Hedge against inflation and long-term volatility.
? Can complement corpus if desired.

Avoid pure small/mid-cap or thematic funds for SWP—they can be volatile and may harm regular income needs.

Why Live Actively Managed and Regular Plans Matter
Active funds allow managers to rotate out of risky assets in stress.

Index funds lack flexibility—they track market blindly.

SWPs need defense when markets drop; active funds help.

Direct plans lack periodic review and emotional guidance.

Regular plans via CFP-backed distributors offer discipline, advice, and tax aid.

Crafting a Sustainable SWP from Rs.?1 Crore
You’ll create monthly withdrawals that provide income without depleting principal:

Choose One Aggressive Hybrid Fund

Allocate around 60% of corpus (~Rs. 60 lakh).

SWP from this fund covers 60–70% of your desired monthly income.

Select One Equity Fund (Large/Flexi)

Allocate 20–30% of corpus (~Rs. 20–30 lakh).

SWP from this supports inflation and long-term growth.

Create a Short-Term Debt Buffer

Allocate 10–15% of corpus (~Rs. 10–15 lakh) to liquid or short-term debt.

Use this buffer to supplement income during equity market dips.

(Optional) Gold Exposure

Allocate 5% (~Rs. 5 lakh) to a gold fund.

Hedge against inflation and add a non-equity component.

Setting Up Monthly Withdrawals
Suppose your goal is Rs.?75,000 monthly (Rs.?9 lakh annually).

Withdraw around Rs.?50,000 per month from the hybrid fund.

Withdraw Rs.?20,000–25,000 from the equity fund.

Debt buffer steps in if markets fall short; hybrid and equity SWPs could be deferred or reduced.

How the Buffer Works When Markets Fall
If equity value dips, use buffer disbursement first.

Pause or reduce equity SWP to preserve principal.

Hybrid SWP may taper as well if buffer is available.

When markets recover, return SWP to normal rates.

This preserves your corpus and protects withdrawals.

Rebalancing & Portfolio Tracking
Assess allocation every six months.

If hybrid portion exceeds 70%, pause SWP via hybrid and redirect funds to debt or buffer.

If equity has dropped below 20%, stop equity SWP and invest hybrid returns into equity.

Rebalancing through SIPs avoids capital gains tax and simplifies execution.

Taxation of SWP Withdrawals
Equity and hybrid withdrawals taxed at LTCG 12.5% beyond Rs.?1.25 lakh annual gains.

Short-term gains taxed at 20%.

Debt fund income aligned with your tax slab.

Use SWP structure to manage taxable events gradually.

CFP guidance ensures you maximise LTCG exemptions annually and minimise overall tax.

Building Flexibility for Corpus Longevity
Keep your buffer fund uninvested and liquid—no SWP from it.

Hybrid equity SWP continues unless buffer is tapped.

Equity fund SWP can pause in low equity markets.

Ensure total SWP rate does not exceed safe withdrawal rate (4–6% initially).

Review and adjust annual based on inflation and corpus performance.

Why This Balanced SWP Works
Hybrid fund offers near-bank-like stability yet retains equity growth.

Equity fund ensures inflation resistance and long-term portfolio health.

Debt buffer protects principal and allows smooth income flow.

Gold allocation, if used, boosts defense against macro shocks.

Active funds and CFP oversight ensure strategic agility.

Implementing the SWP Structure
Step 1: Contact a CFP-backed MFD and set up regular plans for hybrid, equity, debt, and optional gold funds.
Step 2: Allocate corpus according to recommended percentages.
Step 3: Automate monthly SWP transactions: hybrid + equity withdrawal.
Step 4: Monitor buffer usage; top-up using redirections when markets recover.
Step 5: Revisit allocation strategy every 6 months; rebalance as necessary.
Step 6: Review tax impact annually and schedule SWP to use exemption thresholds.

Handling Market Downturns Without Selling Equity
Use debt buffer first to meet income needs.

Pause hybrid SWP if buffer is depleted.

Keep equity invested to recover from downturns.

Align SWP with recovery—reactivate hybrid and equity withdrawals when allocations rebalance.

Addressing Inflation Over the Long Run
Equity exposure should rise modestly over time to offset inflation.

Hybrid fund’s equity cushion also supports in rising cost environments.

Revisit SWP amount annually and adjust for living cost changes.

Keeping a portion in gold and equity helps retain purchasing power.

Safeguarding Through Swiss Cheese Protections
Ensure you hold a 6–12 month emergency fund outside SWP.

Maintain adequate health and term insurance.

Stay away from high-risk or illiquid investments.

Keep portfolio disciplined and consistent.

Avoid occasional mistakes—maintain regular structure.

Role of CFP?Backed Support in SWP Success
Advisors help you choose suitable hybrid, equity, and debt funds.

They assist with tax-efficient SWP scheduling and rebalancing.

They monitor risks, inflation, and portfolio drift.

They keep you emotionally grounded during market stress.

Tracking Progress for Peace of Mind
Use digital dashboards to track corpus performance monthly.

Receive biannual reports on asset allocation and debt buffer status.

Evaluate timeline and adjust desired SWP amount if needed.

Let the CFP help validate your strategy and adapt to life changes.

Considering Corpus Growth Over Time
Leave equity untouched for at least 5–7 years to allow compounding.

Hybrid reinvestments or buffer top-ups help preserve equity value.

Adjust equity SWP based on goals—perhaps increase after 5 years.

Corpus should generate steady income while retaining real value.

Handling One Ragged Edge: Ad-Hoc Inflows or Market Shocks
Bonus or inheritance can be deployed to buffer or equity buckets.

In a market crash, consider buying additional hybrid or equity portions.

If needs change—reduce SWP, augment buffer, or refresh allocation.

Always revisit goals and financial standing every year.

Final Insights
You have built a strong Rs. 1 crore corpus. This SWP design ensures steady withdrawals while preserving your wealth.
By blending hybrid equity growth, short-term buffer stability, equity inflation protection, and optional gold, you get a well-rounded solution.
Active funds and CFP support complete the picture—helping with tax, market shifts, and disciplined rebalancing.
This is the blueprint for sustainable income, financial independence, and peace of mind over coming decades.

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

Ans: Sweta, With an All India rank of 14,416 in SRMJEEE Phase 2, securing BTech CSE with specialization is feasible only at less demanded SRM campuses. Historically, Kattankulathur CSE closes by rank 9,000, making it unattainable at 14,416, while Ramapuram and Vadapalani accept up to rank 65,000–68,000, Tiruchirappalli up to 12,000, and Delhi NCR up to 54,000. Branch-specific specializations (e.g., CSE–AI/ML) have similar cutoffs or slightly tighter by 2,000–5,000 ranks. Given these trends, you can expect CSE seats with specialization at Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli, and Delhi NCR campuses, but not at the main Kattankulathur campus. All these campuses offer strong placement rates—over 85% for CSE—with major recruiters and modern labs, though batch sizes and infrastructure maturity vary by location.

The recommendation is to participate in counselling with preferences for Ramapuram or Vadapalani for CSE specializations, followed by Tiruchirappalli or Delhi NCR, and avoid Kattankulathur at your current rank. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Siddhartha, SRM Vadapalani charges ?3–3.5 lakh per year for BTech CSE/ECE and ?1.5 lakh for ECE/Mechanical, with hostel fees ranging from ?82,500–2.08 lakh; placements are strong, with 93–95% for CSE/ECE and top recruiters participating. SRM Ramapuram has similar fees (?3–3.5 lakh/year for BTech), hostel fees of ?95,000–1.6 lakh, and 92–95% CSE placement, with over 700 CSE students placed in 2025 and marquee offers exceeding ?20 lakh. SRM Trichy’s BTech fee is ?1–2 lakh/year, with hostel fees around ?90,000–1.5 lakh, and average placements at 90% for CSE, though the highest package is lower than Chennai campuses. SRM AP and NCR Delhi have comparable fee structures (?2.5–3.5 lakh/year), with CSE placement rates of 85–90% and growing recruiter bases, but the Chennai campuses (Vadapalani and Ramapuram) have the longest placement track record and more established industry connections. The recommendation is to prioritize SRM Vadapalani or Ramapuram for their superior placement percentages, established recruiter networks, and strong academic support, followed by SRM AP, NCR Delhi, and Trichy, which are good alternatives if you seek lower fees or regional preference. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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