Can I Save Tax via NPS in the New Tax Regime? A Private Sector Employee's Dilemma

Ans: With a JEE Main CRL of 1,91,000 and OBC-NCL rank of 65,000, CSE in top NITs, IIITs, or premier Delhi colleges is not possible, as their closing ranks for CSE are well below your OBC rank. In JoSAA and CSAB rounds, you may get CSE or IT in lower-tier GFTIs or northeastern NITs like Assam University Silchar (CSE), Mizoram University (IT), or Puducherry Technological University, where closing ranks for CSE can extend to your range. In UPTAC, top colleges like IET Lucknow, JSS Noida, and HBTU Kanpur have OBC CSE cutoffs between 18,000–45,000, so you may get allied branches or CSE in lower-tier UP colleges. For JAC Delhi, CSE/IT for outside Delhi OBC closes near 8,000, making admission highly unlikely. GGSIPU outside-Delhi OBC cutoff for CSE is around 21,500, also out of reach. The recommendation is to participate in CSAB and state-level counseling for CSE/IT in GFTIs, northeastern NITs, or private/state colleges, as your chances in major NITs, IIITs, and Delhi institutes are extremely limited at your current ranks. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Switching from PCMB to commerce is a practical option if you find physics calculations challenging and lack interest in science, as commerce offers a wide array of career paths with good earning potential. BCom opens doors to fields like finance, accounting, management, banking, and government jobs, with entry-level salaries ranging from ?3–6 lakh and much higher with professional qualifications (CA, CMA, CS, MBA, CFA) or government exams. BCom graduates can also pursue LLB, which leads to roles such as corporate lawyer, legal manager, or advisor, with average salaries of ?4–8 lakh and scope in both private and public sectors. If you are interested in technology, BCA is accessible after commerce and offers strong IT placements, with roles in software development, data analysis, and web design, and average starting salaries of ?3–6 lakh, rising with experience or after MCA. Commerce is generally considered less difficult than science, with moderate math, and is suitable for those interested in business, finance, or law.

The recommendation is to shift to commerce if science subjects do not interest you, as BCom, BCA, or LLB all offer good earning potential and diverse career options, especially when combined with further specialization or professional courses. Choose based on your interests—finance, tech, or law—for long-term satisfaction and success. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a 97.37 percentile in MHT CET, you are just below the cutoff for CSE in the top government colleges like COEP Pune (CSE cutoff 99.95–99.99), VJTI Mumbai (99.96), and PICT Pune (99.5+), but you have good chances for Mechanical Engineering in COEP (98.2–98.5) and VJTI (98.4–98.6), and for CSE or E&TC in strong private and semi-government colleges. For CSE, top options include Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering (PCCOE), Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Technology, Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering, and Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, all of which have solid placement records and modern infrastructure. For E&TC, you can target SPIT Mumbai (cutoff ~98.5), PCCOE, and Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering. For Mechanical, COEP, VJTI, and Walchand College of Engineering Sangli are the best, with cutoffs in your range and a legacy of academic excellence. Faculty quality in these top colleges is generally high: COEP and VJTI have 80–90% PhDs, experienced professors, and a supportive environment, though some variability in teaching style exists. SPIT and PICT also have well-qualified, experienced faculty, with practical, industry-oriented teaching, though some students note inconsistencies. Walchand College faculty are highly qualified, supportive, and maintain strong industry links, especially in mechanical and civil branches.

The recommendation is to target Mechanical at COEP, VJTI, or Walchand for the best academic and placement outcomes in core engineering, and CSE or E&TC in PCCOE, D.Y. Patil, Rajarshi Shahu, SPIT, or Vidyalankar for strong tech careers, as these colleges offer excellent faculty, infrastructure, and placement support at your percentile. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With a 92 percentile in MHT CET, you are not eligible for CSE in top government or autonomous colleges in Pune like COEP, PICT, or VIT Pune, as their CSE cutoffs are typically above 98–99 percentile for the general category. Your percentile corresponds to a rank around 15,500, which is below the closing ranks for these premier institutes, where CSE cutoffs usually close between 1,500 and 10,000. However, you have good chances for CSE in reputable mid-tier private colleges such as JSPM Bhivarabai Sawant Institute of Technology and Research (closing rank ~18,382), Dr. DY Patil Institute of Technology, Sinhgad College of Engineering, PCCOE&R, Zeal College of Engineering, and AISSMS College of Engineering, where CSE and allied branches like IT, AI-ML, and Data Science are available for ranks up to 20,000–25,000. These colleges offer decent placement records and industry exposure, making them suitable options at your percentile. The recommendation is to target CSE or its specializations in these mid-tier private Pune colleges, as they offer the best academic and placement prospects at your current score. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: MBA-Marketing at TAPMI (under MAHE) is a highly regarded, industry-accredited program with a curriculum that dedicates over 65% of learning hours specifically to marketing, offering deep exposure to the field and strong interdisciplinary grounding. The program is recognized by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, and the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI), and features experiential learning through BrandScan, live projects, and sector-specific courses delivered by industry professionals. TAPMI’s placement record is consistently strong, with 100% placements in 2024, an average package of ?13.35 lakh for MBA Marketing, and top recruiters from FMCG, consulting, BFSI, and tech sectors. The institute’s faculty, infrastructure, and alumni mentoring are widely praised, and the program’s focus on practical skills, case studies, and leadership development is valued by students and employers alike. The recommendation is to consider TAPMI’s MBA-Marketing an excellent choice for those seeking a specialized, industry-aligned marketing education with robust placement outcomes and global accreditation. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With an IAT score of 100 as an OBC-NCL male candidate, your chances of getting into an IISER are moderate, as the expected cutoff for OBC-NCL across most IISERs in 2025 is between 100 and 110 marks. For IISER Thiruvananthapuram (TVM), the predicted OBC-NCL cutoff is also in the 100–110 range, putting you right at the margin for admission in the first or subsequent counseling rounds. While top IISERs like Pune and Kolkata may have slightly higher OBC cutoffs (115–130), newer campuses such as Berhampur, Tirupati, and possibly TVM are accessible at your score, especially if the cutoffs drop in later rounds. The recommendation is to actively participate in all counseling rounds, prioritize IISER TVM and the newer campuses, and keep alternate options ready, as you are on the borderline for TVM but have a realistic chance for admission to at least one IISER this year. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Priti Madam, Both JIIT Noida (IT) and JSS University Noida (CSE-AI/ML) are reputable private institutes in NCR with strong placement records and industry connections. JIIT Noida’s IT branch consistently achieves over 95% placement rates, with top recruiters like Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, Infosys, and Wipro, and an average package of ?6–8 lakh, supported by a proactive placement cell and robust alumni network. JSS Noida’s CSE (AI/ML) branch also offers solid placements, with 85–90% of students placed, average packages around ?9–10 lakh, and regular visits from companies like TCS, Infosys, and Adobe. However, JSS Noida follows the AKTU curriculum, which some students find less industry-aligned, though faculty support and infrastructure are strong. JIIT Noida’s IT program benefits from a focused curriculum, higher placement consistency, and a slightly better national reputation, especially for IT and allied branches, while JSS Noida’s CSE (AI/ML) is newer but growing rapidly in relevance with the AI/ML boom. The recommendation is to prefer IT at JIIT Noida for its higher placement rates, established industry reputation, and broader career flexibility, but JSS Noida CSE (AI/ML) is also a good choice if you have a strong interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Bikram Sir, With a 97.56 percentile in MHT CET and Maharashtra domicile, your son is eligible for the state merit list, which gives him a competitive advantage in top Maharashtra colleges. The current VIT Vellore IT seat (Category 2) is secure, offering a strong national brand, 90%+ placement rate, and an average package near ?10 lakh, but comes with a higher fee structure. For VIT Pune, the 2025 expected MHT CET cutoff for IT is 98.9–99.0 percentile and for CSE specializations like AI/ML is 98.7–98.8 percentile, both higher than your son’s percentile, making admission challenging but not impossible if cutoffs drop slightly this year. Walchand College Sangli’s OBC cutoff for CSE and IT was 99.1 and 99.01 respectively in 2024, so it is unlikely at your score. Other top-10 colleges like COEP, VJTI, and PICT have even higher cutoffs for these branches, typically above 99 percentile for OBC and general categories. VIT Pune, however, is still possible for Electronics and Telecommunication (cutoff 97.8–98.0), and allied branches, all of which have strong placement records (94–98% in CSE/IT, average package ?9–10 lakh). If you wait for the MHT CET merit list, you may secure a seat in a reputable private or autonomous college in Pune or Mumbai for CSE specializations or IT, but not in the absolute top government colleges. VIT Pune and Walchand both offer excellent placements and industry exposure, but admission to CSE/IT at your percentile is uncertain and depends on this year’s cutoff trends.

The recommendation is to keep the VIT Vellore IT seat as a secure high-quality option (however, keep in mind the last date for withdrawing the seat to get the REFUND, if your son gets a better seat through MHT-CET), and simultaneously participate in the MHT CET counseling process to explore CSE specializations or IT in VIT Pune or other top private colleges; only cancel the VIT Vellore seat if your son secures a confirmed admission in a top-10 Maharashtra college for CSE/IT, as this will optimize both academic quality and placement prospects. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Harshit, With a score of 116 marks in IAT 2025 as a general category candidate, you are below the expected cutoff for IISER Pune (130–135), but within or just above the likely cutoff range for IISER Berhampur (105–110), IISER Tirupati (105–110), IISER Thiruvananthapuram (105–110), IISER Bhopal (110–115), and IISER Kolkata (110–115). IISER Mohali’s expected cutoff is slightly higher (115–120), so you may be on the margin there, but you have a good chance at the newer IISERs and possibly at Kolkata and Bhopal, especially in later counseling rounds as cutoffs tend to drop. The recommendation is to actively participate in all counseling rounds, prioritizing IISER Bhopal, Kolkata, Berhampur, Tirupati, and Thiruvananthapuram, as your score is competitive for admission to these institutes this year. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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