My age is 31. I am trying to save up to 5,000 per month. I wanted to know if my current strategy is correct or not and if the funds are right. Pl advice what should I do. Whether I should continue or switch over to other schemes.

SIPs:

1. Franklin India Smaller Companies Fund - Gr - Rs.2000/-

Lumpsum investments:

1. Axis Focused 25 Fund - Gr - Rs.50,000/- From 19-03-2020
2. BNP Paribas Focused 25 Equity Fund - Gr - Rs.5000/- From 11-02-2021
3. Nippon India Liquid Fund - Gr - Rs.50,000/- From 27-03-2019
4.Nippon India Low Duration Fund - Gr - Rs.5000/- From 19-12-2016

Ans: Vidhya Madam, Engineering aspirants who complete high school in the U.S. hold an American High School Diploma that, if issued by a school accredited by one of the six regional U.S. accrediting agencies, is deemed equivalent to India’s Class XII by the Association of Indian Universities. However, admission to BTech programs in India requires candidates to have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) as core subjects in their qualifying examination and to meet specific percentage or rank criteria: while appearing for JEE Main demands only that PCM be passed, entry into NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded institutes also requires at least 75 percent in Class XII (65 percent for SC/ST) or being in the top 20 percentile in the board exam. Foreign?educated students—including NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs—may apply under the DASA scheme by securing a valid JEE Main rank and at least 75 percent aggregate in PCM (or CGPA 7.5/10) from a recognized foreign board after completing at least two years of education abroad, including grades 11 and 12, within the last eight years. Since typical U.S. high school curricula may not separate PCM as mandatory streams, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offers a flexible route: students can register for senior secondary courses in PCM to supplement their diploma, enabling them to fulfill JEE and DASA eligibility and appear for all major engineering entrance tests accepted in India, such as JEE Main, BITSAT, and COMEDK UGET. Alternatively, students enrolled in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs who take HL courses in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics may also meet AIU and JEE requirements, provided they obtain equivalence certificates from AIU and clear the requisite entrance exams. Careful planning—enrolling in NIOS or IB to secure PCM subjects, obtaining AIU equivalence for the diploma, and preparing for JEE Main/Advanced or DASA JEE Main—is essential to transition smoothly from the U.S. curriculum to an Indian engineering college.

Recommendation: Enroll in NIOS senior secondary PCM subjects alongside the U.S. high school curriculum to obtain a recognized Class XII certificate with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Secure AIU equivalence for your American diploma, then prepare for and appear in JEE Main (or DASA through JEE Main) to access premier engineering institutes in India; IB students should ensure HL Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and obtain AIU equivalence before applying to JEE or DASA. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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