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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 10, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2023Hindi
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Hello sir I am investing 3000 per month as SIP in kotal small cap fund(regular growth),kotak emerging equity fund(regular growth) and Mirae asset emerging bluechip -regular Growth fund. Pls suggest should I continue with these or not. I am planning to invest for atleast next 7 years.

Ans: Considering your investment horizon of at least 7 years, your choice of mutual funds, including Kotak Small Cap, Kotak Emerging Equity, and Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip, appears suitable. These funds have the potential to generate favorable returns over the long term, given their focus on small and emerging companies. However, regularly review the performance of your investments and ensure they align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Consult a financial advisor if needed to reassess your investment strategy and make any necessary adjustments based on changing market conditions.
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 08, 2024

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I am 26 years old and investing Rs.5100 each in Kotak Small Cap Fund & PP Flexi Cap Fund, through SIP since last 18 months. I have a long term view of over 10 years and may even like to continue even after 10 years. These fund have not shown much appreciation in last 2 years. Is there any need to review my investiment or I may continue above SIPs ? I am also thinking to start another SIP of 5000 in a large cap fund i.e. Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund, for a long term view. Whether it will be a good decision OR please suggest any other good option for large cap fund. Please guide.
Ans: Given your long-term investment horizon and diversified portfolio, it's natural to experience periods of lower growth or volatility, especially in specific market segments like small caps. However, it's essential to periodically review your investments to ensure they align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Considering your existing SIPs in Kotak Small Cap Fund and PP Flexi Cap Fund, it's advisable to assess their performance against their respective benchmarks and peer funds. If they consistently underperform, you may consider reallocating or discontinuing these SIPs.

Regarding starting a new SIP in Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund or any other large-cap fund, it's a prudent move to diversify your portfolio across different market segments. However, before making a decision, thoroughly research the fund's historical performance, fund manager's track record, expense ratio, and investment philosophy.

Alternatively, you can explore other large-cap funds known for consistent performance and stability, ensuring they complement your existing investments and contribute to your long-term financial objectives.

Remember, regular portfolio reviews and adjustments are crucial to optimize returns and mitigate risks over the long term. Consulting a financial advisor can provide personalized guidance based on your individual circumstances and investment goals.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 30, 2024

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I am investing monthly Sip for horizon 15-20yrs should I continue. Mirae asset tax saver fund parag parikh flex cap fund motilal oswal midcap fund Nippon india small cap fund quant small cap fund monthly10k in each shouid continue ? Can I add Sbi contra fund to my portfolio
Ans: Evaluation of Existing SIP Portfolio and Potential Addition

Current Portfolio Review:

Your current SIP investments in Mirae Asset Tax Saver Fund, Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund, Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund, Nippon India Small Cap Fund, and Quant Small Cap Fund reflect a well-diversified approach across different market segments. These funds cater to varying risk appetites and have the potential for long-term wealth creation.

Assessment of Continuing SIPs:

Mirae Asset Tax Saver Fund:

This ELSS fund offers tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act and has a track record of delivering consistent returns.
Given your investment horizon of 15-20 years, continuing SIPs in this fund can be beneficial for wealth accumulation while availing tax benefits.
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund:

Known for its global diversification strategy and focus on quality stocks, this fund is suitable for long-term wealth creation.
The fund's flexible allocation across market caps provides stability and growth potential, making it suitable for your investment horizon.
Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund:

Midcap funds tend to be more volatile but offer higher growth potential over the long term.
Considering your extended investment horizon, continuing SIPs in this fund can help capture the growth opportunities presented by mid-cap stocks.
Nippon India Small Cap Fund and Quant Small Cap Fund:

Small-cap funds have the potential for significant growth over the long term but come with higher volatility.
Since you have a long investment horizon, maintaining SIPs in these funds can capitalize on the growth potential of small-cap stocks.
Potential Addition:

Considering adding SBI Contra Fund to your portfolio merits evaluation. Here's why:

Contrarian Approach: SBI Contra Fund follows a contrarian investment strategy, investing in stocks that are undervalued or out of favor.
Diversification: Adding this fund can further diversify your portfolio, as it focuses on stocks across market caps and sectors.
Potential Upside: The fund's contrarian approach can lead to outperformance during market cycles, complementing the growth-oriented nature of your existing SIPs.
Conclusion:

Continuing SIPs in your current portfolio funds align well with your long-term investment horizon of 15-20 years. Additionally, considering the potential benefits of SBI Contra Fund and its diversification advantages, adding it to your portfolio can enhance diversification and potentially boost returns over the long term.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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