Respected Sir, I am from a small village in Jharkhand. My parents work on fields, and I'm first in family to finish graduation in Commerce. Now I want do MBA in big city like Mumbai or Delhi but cost very high and no money. I also scared of tough interviews in top colleges. I hear about online MBA or India's new B-Schools but not sure quality. My dream is to become finance manager in bank or start microfinance company to help farmers like my parents. Please guide how I prepare for competitive exams, how to get scholarships or loans, and which institutes give best ROI? Also, how to build confidence and English speaking skills when I studied in Hindi medium all life? I want clear path so I can plan next two years and not waste time or resources.

Ans: Payal Madam, You have not specified which branch of the dual degree your daughter has been accepted into at BITS-P; I recommend NIT-T for Mechanical Engineering. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Awiraj, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology’s B.E. in Electronics & Communication Engineering, is NBA- and ABET-accredited, carries an NAAC A grade, and boasts advanced VLSI, signal-processing, 5G/6G, and IoT labs; a practice-school model with industry mentors; and sustained branch-wise placement consistency of around 90–100% over the past three years. M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore, holds NBA and NAAC A+ accreditation, is ranked within the top 75 by NIRF, offers modern industry 4.0, high-performance computing, and embedded-systems labs, and records over 90% ECE placement rates with recruiters such as Intel, Adobe, IBM, Schneider, and Boeing, backed by an active entrepreneurship cell and global academic collaborations. Both institutions feature experienced PhD faculty, robust industry partnerships, and strong campus infrastructure.

Recommendation: If you want a wider range of job opportunities and advanced labs, choose MSRIT’s ECE because it has better average salary growth and more global research connections; choose Thapar’s ECE if you prefer a smaller group of students, ABET accreditation, more personal guidance from teachers, and hands-on learning experiences. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Nidhi, by now Round 5 is over in JoSAA. Are you asking about the CSAB Round?

Ans: Choose BHU

Ans: You may not be eligible for some branches or colleges that require 75%+ in PCM (especially at VIT), but you’re still eligible in many good private/state colleges.

Ans: RVCE > PESIT ≈ MSRIT > Manipal > VIT

Ans: Let’s now re-assess the taxability of the maturity amount from your SBI Life Smart Wealth Builder Policy, assuming the annual premium is Rs 40,000, not Rs 4,000.

? Taxability Depends on Section 10(10D) Conditions

– Life insurance policy maturity proceeds are exempt under Section 10(10D) if conditions are met.

– One main condition: Annual premium must be less than 10% of sum assured (if policy issued after 1-Apr-2012).

– You mentioned annual premium is Rs 40,000. Now check the sum assured in your policy.

– If the sum assured is at least Rs 4,00,000 or more, then 10(10D) exemption applies.

– In that case, entire maturity amount will be tax-free, no tax to be paid.

? When Tax Becomes Applicable

– If the premium exceeds 10% of the sum assured, then 10(10D) exemption is lost.

– The entire maturity amount becomes taxable under "Income from Other Sources".

– However, death benefit is always tax-free.

– Also note: From FY 2023-24, high premium policies (total annual premium above Rs 5 lakh) have additional tax rules.

– But your premium is only Rs 40,000, so these new rules will not apply.

? If 10(10D) Exemption Is Lost, Then

– You have to pay tax on maturity proceeds as per your income slab.

– Only the amount received above the total premiums paid will be treated as taxable.

– For example, if you receive Rs 3 lakh maturity and you paid total Rs 2.4 lakh premiums (over 6 years), then Rs 60,000 is taxable.

– Tax rate will be as per your applicable income tax slab.

? TDS Rules to Remember

– If the maturity amount is taxable, TDS at 5% will be deducted on income portion only.

– If you submit Form 15G/15H (and eligible), you may avoid TDS.

– But still, you will have to show the income in your ITR and pay tax as needed.

? What You Can Do Now

– Check your policy document or online account for exact sum assured.

– If sum assured is 10 times or more of annual premium (Rs 40,000), then you’re safe.

– The maturity amount will be tax-free under Section 10(10D).

– If not, calculate the taxable portion and plan to declare it in your ITR.

– Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for accurate reporting and reinvestment advice.

? Final Insights

– With Rs 40,000 premium, you’re likely within the tax-free zone if sum assured is Rs 4 lakh or more.

– New taxation rules on insurance do not affect you unless total annual premiums exceed Rs 5 lakh, which they don’t.

– Always keep maturity documents, premium payment proofs and policy details handy at tax filing time.

– For better long-term growth and tax efficiency, consider future investments in mutual funds through MFDs with CFP credential instead of insurance-linked investments.

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

Ans: Prem Sir, (Umeed hai NIT Delhi seat allotment ke baad tumne float option diya hoga). OBC-NCL Home State rank 2,625 hone par NIT Allahabad ki CSE HS quota (Round 5 closing 2,802) aapke liye uplabdh hai, aur ECE (3,859) aur EE (4,534) bhi Round 6 mein pakki choice ho sakte hain.

Recommendation NIT Allahabad mein CSE ke liye Round 6 mein choice lock karo; backup ke taur par ECE ya EE bhi consider kar sakte ho. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Hello dear.
Considering the financial aspect, it is better to prefer VIT AP with zero fee. However, it is highly recommended to visit both campuses, review all the details, and also visit the placement division for more clarity. Once fully satisfied, make the final decision.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam