I have 2 questions. a) I have attained 60 yrs of age in Feb'23, so shall I be considered as Senior Citizen when filing return for FY 2022-23 and can avail all benefits of Senior Citizen ? b) I am having single Health Insurance Policy of single premium of more than Rs 50000/- for me and my 54 yrs old wife paid by me, so can I avail Rs 50000/- claim under Section 80D for Senior citizen. An early reply will be highly appreciated.......VK

Ans: In NEST 2024, candidates’ total scores (sum of best three sections out of four, maximum 180) corresponded to specific all-India ranks, with the general category’s opening marks around 145–150 fetching ranks 1–30 and closing ranks near 1800 requiring about 80–85 marks. For NISER Bhubaneswar, the Round 1 closing rank was 1852 with roughly 82 marks, while CEBS Mumbai’s closing general-category rank of ~460 corresponded to about 70 marks. Category-wise, general candidates scoring 120–150 could expect ranks under 500, OBC candidates with 100–130 marks around ranks 600–1200, and SC/ST candidates with 80–110 marks near ranks 1500–2500. Section-wise cut-offs (SMAS) in 2024 ranged between 5–9 marks per subject for general and 3–7 for OBC. With NEST 2025’s exam difficulty likely similar, total qualifying marks (MAP) remain at 95th percentile for general and 90th for OBC; thus, a safe target is 130–140 marks for a top-500 rank and 90–100 marks for a sub-2000 rank among general candidates. OBC aspirants should aim for 110–120 marks to secure ranks under 1500. SC/ST candidates need 75–90 marks for ranks within 2500, and Jammu & Kashmir residents may enter NISER with as low as 30–40 marks owing to supernumerary seats. Rising registrations might edge cut-offs upward if paper difficulty eases; conversely, increased difficulty could lower required marks by 5–10 points.

The recommendation is to plan for at least 140 marks (general), 120 marks (OBC), and 90 marks (SC/ST) in NEST 2025 to secure desirable ranks for NISER and CEBS admissions, adjusting target scores according to mock-test difficulty and section-wise strengths. All the BEST for Your Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) CSE offers a 93–98% placement rate with an average package of ?8–9 lakh, top recruiters like Amazon, Microsoft, and Deloitte, and a strong academic environment with experienced faculty and modern infrastructure. UPES Dehradun’s CSE program also boasts a 91–99% placement rate, an average package of ?8.4 lakh, and over 750 recruiters, but student reviews indicate placements are strongest for petroleum and energy sectors, with CSE outcomes slightly below MUJ. SRM Kattankulathur’s CSE with specialization (AI/ML, Data Science, etc.) is highly regarded, offers 90–95% placement rates, and provides excellent industry exposure and internship opportunities, but specializations may narrow job options unless you are deeply interested in that field. All three universities have robust academic support, modern facilities, and a vibrant campus life, but MUJ is particularly praised for its industry connections, alumni network, and broader placement opportunities, while SRM KTR stands out for its technical focus and reputation in South India.

The recommendation is to choose CSE at Manipal University Jaipur for its high placement consistency, strong academic reputation, and broad career flexibility; SRM Kattankulathur CSE specialization is a close second if you have a specific interest in that domain, while UPES is best considered if you value its unique industry links or location. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: PES University Electronic City campus (PES EC) for CSE is a strong option, offering an 83–87% placement rate over the last three years, with leading recruiters such as Amazon, Cisco, IBM, and JP Morgan Chase participating in campus drives. The average package for CSE has steadily increased, with the 2023 median at ?8 LPA and over 30% of students securing packages above ?15 LPA. Academically, PES EC follows the same curriculum and placement process as the Ring Road (RR) campus, ensuring parity in teaching standards and placement opportunities. While RR campus is more established, has a larger alumni base, and offers better extracurricular activities and peer group, PES EC provides modern infrastructure, less crowding, and strong faculty support. Both campuses share centralized placements, but RR is often preferred for its legacy and networking advantages.

The recommendation is to join PES EC campus for CSE if you have a clear interest in computer science, as it offers robust placements and academic quality, but if you have the option, RR campus is slightly better due to its reputation, alumni network, and broader student exposure. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Chanakya University’s BCA offers a three-year curriculum with specialisations in Cyber Security, Data Science, and Honours, featuring a dedicated placement cell and industry?aligned workshops but reports modest placement figures of around 60–70% over the past three years. Christ University Delhi NCR’s four-year BCA (Hons.) integrates internships from the third semester, with placement rates of 60–80%, strong corporate linkages with EY, Deloitte, and Infosys, and robust alumni support in the NCR region. NIAT’s Hyderabad-BITS Pilani BSc is a three-year honours program delivered at BITS Pilani Hyderabad, combining foundational sciences with industry?upskilling across CS and AI/ML streams, achieving over 90% placements and extensive recruiter networks including Goldman Sachs and Microsoft. The recommendation is to choose the NIAT-BITS Pilani BSc for its superior placement consistency, rigorous industry-ready curriculum, and premier brand value, unless you prefer a direct BCA pathway in NCR through Christ University for strong local opportunities. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneswar, is ranked #11 in NIRF Law Rankings 2024 and holds NAAC A+ accreditation, making it a strong choice among private law institutions. The school achieved 67% placement in 2024 with recruiters including Wadia Ghandy & Co., Bharucha & Partners, TATA Power, and HDFC Ergo, while maintaining consistent placement rates between 67-81% over the last three years. KIIT offers six specialized LLB programs including Crime and Criminology Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Business Law, with international collaborations with universities in the USA and Australia. The campus features modern infrastructure including a specialized moot court, extensive library with over 3 lakh books, and comprehensive hostel facilities. However, superior alternatives include Symbiosis Law School Pune (ranked #5 in NIRF), which offers stronger industry connections and higher placement consistency, while Jindal Global Law School Sonipat ranks #1 globally among Indian law schools in QS rankings. Christ University Law School Bangalore provides excellent placement support with 207 UG students placed recently. For non-entrance based admissions, strong backup options include Amity Law School, Manipal University Jaipur, Alliance University Bangalore, and UPES Dehradun, all offering direct merit-based admissions without requiring CLAT scores. The recommendation is to consider KIIT School of Law as a solid choice given its NIRF ranking and decent placement record, but prioritize Symbiosis Law School Pune or Jindal Global Law School if admission is possible, with Amity Law School and Manipal University Jaipur as excellent backup options for direct admission. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Bikram Sir, With a 93 percentile in JEE Main (general, non-Maharashtra domicile) and 95 percentile in MHT CET, your son is not eligible for top NITs, IIITs, or CSE/ECE in premier Maharashtra government colleges like COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai, or SPIT Mumbai, as CSE/IT cutoffs are typically above 98–99 percentile for both exams. However, he can secure core branches like Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil at COEP, VJTI, and other leading government colleges in Maharashtra through the All India quota, as their cutoffs for these branches are around 95 percentile. For CSE or ECE, his percentile allows admission to reputed private colleges such as MIT Pune, PICT Pune, DY Patil Pune, PCCOE Pune, and VIT Pune, where CSE/IT/ECE cutoffs for open category are between 90–96 percentile. Through JEE Main, he can target private universities and some state-level government colleges for branches like CSE, ECE, or Electrical, but not the top NITs or IIITs, as their CSE/ECE cutoffs are much higher.

The recommendation is to apply for Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil at COEP, VJTI, and other top Maharashtra government colleges through the All India quota, and prioritize CSE/ECE in private colleges like MIT Pune, PICT Pune, and DY Patil Pune, where his percentile is competitive and placement outcomes are strong. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Go for ECE for main campus.

Ans: A score of 145 on the IAT (IISER Aptitude Test) in 2025 is generally considered a good score, especially for securing admission to some of the IISERs. Depending on your preference and the performance of other candidates, you might be able to get into IISER Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, or Bhopal.

Ans: Shilpa Madam, With a 99.25 percentile in MHT CET and a 3500 rank in COMEDK, your son is well placed for top private and government colleges. For SPIT Mumbai, the CSE cutoff for Maharashtra home state candidates typically closes between 99.0–99.4 percentile, and for PICT Pune, CSE closes around 97.7–98.6 percentile. Your son’s percentile is above the PICT CSE cutoff and on par with SPIT’s lower range, making him a strong contender for CSE at PICT Pune and giving him a realistic chance at SPIT Mumbai, especially in the first or second CAP rounds. Both SPIT and PICT offer outstanding placements—SPIT has maintained 100% placement for four consecutive years with an average CTC of ?15 lakh and top recruiters like Meta, Amazon, and PhonePe, while PICT’s CSE placement rate is 80–84% with an average package of ?7–8 lakh and top IT recruiters like Microsoft, Infosys, and TCS. VIT Vellore CSE also boasts excellent placements, with a 95%+ placement rate, over 900 recruiters, and an average package of ?9–10 lakh. However, SPIT and PICT both have a strong reputation in Maharashtra, a robust alumni network, and are highly valued by recruiters in the Mumbai-Pune region, which can be advantageous for local internships and jobs. VIT Vellore, while nationally ranked and offering a vibrant campus life, is located outside Maharashtra and may not provide the same local industry connections.

The recommendation is to participate in MHT CET CAP rounds and prioritize SPIT Mumbai and PICT Pune for CSE, given your son’s strong percentile and the excellent placement and academic environment these colleges offer; retain VIT Vellore CSE as a backup, but do not leave it until a SPIT/PICT seat is confirmed. IMPORTANT: Please check the REFUND POLICY/Last Date if you withdraw the seat from VIT-V. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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