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Mayank

Mayank Chandel  |2668 Answers  |Ask -

IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Mar 18, 2026

Mayank Chandel has over 18 years of experience coaching and training students for various exams like IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA and CS.
Besides coaching students for entrance exams, he also guides Class 10 and 12 students about career options in engineering, medicine and the vocational sciences.
His interest in coaching students led him to launch the firm, CareerStreets.
Chandel holds an engineering degree in electronics from Nagpur University.... more
Sourindra Question by Sourindra on Mar 15, 2026Hindi
Career

Sir, I have passed 12th in May 2024. I took a gap for preparation for NEET, but could not get good college. But in September 2025, I took admission in IIT Jodhpur's B.Sc./B.S. in Applied AI and Data Science (delivered in online mode, similar to IIT Madras's B.S. program), of which currently I'm a bona-de student, and upon graduation in 2029, I will become an alumnus of IIT Jodhpur. Along with this, I will be joining an engineering college in 2026 to pursue dual degree (IITJ+ offline college). Sir, do I have a gap of 1 year or 2 year in my education? What to write in my gap certificate ? It would have been very kind of you if you could help me regarding this matter.

Ans: Official gap = 1 year (2024–2025)
NOT 2 years, because from Sept 2025 you are already a bona fide student of a recognized IIT program.
In Gap certificate you can write
During this period, I was fully engaged in academic preparation and did not enroll in any regular academic program.
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Dr Nagarajan J S K

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NEET, Medical, Pharmacy Careers - Answered on Mar 20, 2026

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I have passed 12th in May 2024. I took a gap for preparation for NEET, but could not get good college. But in September 2025, I took admission in IIT Jodhpur's B.Sc./B.S. in Applied AI and Data Science (delivered in online mode, similar to IIT Madras's B.S. program), of which I'm currently a bona-fide student, and upon graduation in 2029, I will become an alumnus of IIT Jodhpur. Along with this, I will be joining an engineering college in 2026 to pursue dual degree (IITJ+ offline college). Do I have a gap of 1 year or 2 year in my education? What to write in my gap certificate ? It would have been very kind of you if you could help me regarding this matter.
Ans: Hi Sourindra,

Greetings from RediffGurus!

It's great to know that you're pursuing a dual degree, one from IIT and the other from another engineering institution. However, when selecting your engineering course, it's crucial to choose the right one. Even though you are pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied AI and Data Science online at IIT (J), it's important to have a traditional, on-campus degree as well because it will be beneficial when applying for jobs later.

You should be very careful to complete your courses on time. Otherwise, you may face challenges in finishing your degree within the prescribed duration. This is an essential aspect to consider when compared to obtaining a gap certificate.

Regarding the gap certificate, it's worth noting that most employers do not typically request it. However, when you submit your resume while applying for jobs, they may inquire about any gaps in your education. Given that you joined IIT (J) in 2025, the gap amounts to approximately 1.5 years. This will also be reflected in your resume.

There's no need to worry too much about the gap certificate. Just share this information in your resume proactively, before they ask. It's quite common nowadays, so you should be fine.

Best regards,

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10988 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Career
Sir My son has completed his B.Com Honours from SASTRA during the year 2025. He is interested in pursuing MA from Madras School of Economics in this year 2026. He is currently enrolled in the Executive course of Company Secretary from ICSI. I wanted to know whether pursuing the course in Madras School of Economics is worthwhile and also the likelihood of getting good placements after successful completion of the course. Please provide your advice and suggestions which would help me in taking a decision. Thanks and Regards V NARASIMHAN
Ans: Narasimhan Sir, according to today’s (13th April 2026) Times of India (Education Times) advertisement, Madras School of Economics offers multiple programmes such as a 5?year Integrated MA, MA programmes in five specialisations, MBA, MSc in Data Science, and even PhD. Now, regarding your son’s wish to pursue an MA and also keeping in mind that he is already pursuing the ICSI Executive Course, it is important to know whether he has decided which one of the five MA specialisations—Actuarial Economics, Applied Quantitative Finance, Environmental Economics, Financial Economics, or General Economics—he wants to choose and why. However, since he has already joined the ICSI Executive, it is advisable to go for the MA in Financial Economics, because its core courses and electives in financial markets, asset pricing, corporate finance, risk, and regulation directly complement the CS Executive papers on Corporate Accounting, Financial Management, Capital Markets, and Securities Laws. This combination is very helpful for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, and financial?compliance advisory, where both domain?specific economics knowledge and legal?compliance skills are highly valued. At the same time, your son must be sure and confident that he can comfortably manage the workload of both ICSI and the MA in Financial Economics. As far as placements are concerned, all five MA specialisations—General Economics, Financial Economics, Applied Quantitative Finance, Actuarial Economics, and Environmental Economics—have broadly similar placement outcomes, but Financial Economics and Applied Quantitative Finance usually lean more towards higher?paying jobs in finance and analytics, while Environmental Economics and General Economics often lead more towards policy, research, consulting, and data?heavy roles. It should also be noted that success in placements does not depend only on the specialisation, but also on the student’s skill upgradation, soft skills, a strong LinkedIn profile, and effective networking strategies. ALL the BEST for Your Son's Prosperous Future!

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