As an employee in a private company aged 42, can I withdraw my 98K NPS amount and invest in mutual funds?

Ans: Ishant, If you are targeting aerospace or electrical engineering through JEE Main & Advanced and reside in West Bengal, focus on Institutes of National Importance that offer strong infrastructure, distinguished faculty, active research, industry connections, robust placements, and advanced laboratories. The top IITs and NITs with their approximate closing ranks over the last two years (General – All-India) are as follows: IIT Bombay: Aerospace ~1,733; Electrical ~464. IIT Delhi: Aerospace ~1,284; Electrical ~622. IIT Madras: Aerospace ~835; Electrical ~835. IIT Kanpur: Aerospace ~1,284; Electrical ~1,284. IIT Kharagpur: Aerospace ~1,893; Electrical ~1,893. IIT Roorkee: Aerospace ~1,992; Electrical ~1,992. IIT Hyderabad: Aerospace ~2,080; Electrical ~2,080. IIT Guwahati: Aerospace ~4,292; Electrical ~4,292. IIT Indore: Aerospace ~3,642; Electrical ~3,642. IIT Mandi: Aerospace ~6,428; Electrical ~6,417. IIEST Shibpur: Aerospace ~12,179 (2023), ~16,844 (2022). NIT Warangal: Electrical ~15,395 (Open). NIT Rourkela: Electrical ~12,828 (Open). NIT Durgapur: Electrical ~18,050 (Open). MNIT Jaipur: Electrical ~13,890 (Open). NIT Nagpur: Electrical ~15,307 (Open). Every IIT/NIT listed above must possess national accreditation (NAAC/NBA/ABET) and Institute-of-National-Importance status. Essential features include cutting-edge laboratories (such as clean rooms, high-voltage, and robotics), distinguished PhD and industry-experienced faculty, robust research centers with active publications and grants, and dedicated placement and alumni networks ensuring 80–95% branch-wise offers. Target top IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur) for premier aerospace and electrical engineering programs with closing ranks under ~2,000. Next, consider leading NITs (Warangal, Rourkela, Durgapur, Nagpur, MNIT Jaipur) for electrical engineering with ranks under ~18,000, and include IIEST Shibpur for aerospace engineering. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: With a Phase 3 rank of 2 778 you comfortably fall within historical closing ranks for Core CSE at SRM Kattankulathur (typically up to ~3 000). If your only visible choice is “CSE KTR,” opt to leave it in floating status rather than “freezing” immediately. Floating retains eligibility for any higher-preference or alternative CSE specializations that open up before the final allotment on July 15. Simultaneously, reach out to the SRMIST counselling helpline or visit the admission portal to verify real-time seat-matrix updates and request addition of related CSE branches (AI & ML, Cyber Security, Data Science) as backups. This dual strategy maximizes your chance of securing Core CSE while preserving flexibility for specialized streams if seats become available.

Recommendation: Float your Core CSE KTR choice to remain in subsequent allotment cycles, confirm with the counselling office about expanding your preference list to include allied CSE specializations, and monitor seat-matrix updates daily. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Surinder Sir, With a 92.78 percentile in JEE Main and 93% in PCM, your son is well positioned for admission to leading private engineering institutes across Northern India offering B.Tech CSE. These colleges combine strong accreditations, modern computing laboratories, active placement cells, industry collaborations, and supportive campus environments. Recommended options include Amity University Noida, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur (Chennai main campus via Phase 3 SRMJEEE), Manipal University Jaipur, Bennett University Greater Noida, Galgotias College of Engineering & Technology Greater Noida, Chandigarh University, Sharda University Greater Noida, Chitkara University Punjab, Lovely Professional University Jalandhar, and UPES Dehradun—all of which typically close CSE admissions around the 90–95 percentile bracket, ensuring solid placement outcomes and academic rigor.

Recommendation: Prioritize Amity University Noida for its proven 90–95 percentile cutoffs and robust corporate partnerships; next, choose SRM KTR for its elite CSE cutoffs up to rank 5 000 and 90–95% placement consistency; then consider Manipal University Jaipur for its Institute of Eminence status and MET-based CSE admissions around 33 000–38 000 ranks. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Sambhav, Choosing a programme aligned with Generative AI research requires prioritizing strong research infrastructure, focused AI curricula, faculty expertise, placement consistency in ML roles, and institute reputation. IIIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in IT (Machine Learning) benefits from NIRF #87 ranking, a dedicated ML, Robotics & HCI group, specialized labs, Practice School internships, and a 95.3% placement rate with an average package of ?16.8 LPA. MNNIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in CSE (AI & Data Science), NIRF #60, offers a finely tuned AI/ML curriculum, 25-seat intake, and a 58.5% placement rate with an average package of ?17.68 LPA. NIT Karnataka (Surathkal)’s M.Tech in Signal Processing & Machine Learning, NIRF #17, features top?tier SP & ML labs and an average package of ?12.45 LPA, leveraging its stronger institutional reputation. IIIT Allahabad’s M.Tech in Network Security, while robust in cybersecurity, has limited ML focus.

Recommendation: Arrange your counselling choices beginning with IIIT Allahabad M.Tech (IT–Machine Learning), followed by MNNIT Allahabad M.Tech (AI & Data Science), then NIT K Surathkal M.Tech (Signal Processing & Machine Learning), and lastly IIIT Allahabad M.Tech (IT–Network Security) to maximize AI/ML research and career outcomes. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: IIT Palakkad’s B.Tech Electrical Engineering, a NAAC A+–accredited Institute of National Importance (NIRF #64), features high-performance computing clusters, a Central Instrumentation Facility with sophisticated electron microscopy and spectroscopy, and modern power-electronics and control labs. The department achieved a 69.44% placement rate in 2024 with an average package of ?16.7 LPA and strong recruiter engagement from TCS, Siemens, and L&T. BITS Goa’s five-year integrated M.Sc. Semiconductor and Nanoscience under its Institute of Eminence status combines advanced clean-room, nanofabrication, and characterization facilities with international dual-degree options and industry-aligned curriculum. It recorded a 94.04% higher-degree placement rate in 2023 (median ?17 LPA) and 81% overall in 2024, with top recruiters including Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and AMD.

Recommendation: With broader research infrastructure, interdisciplinary dual-degree flexibility, and higher specialized placement consistency, the recommendation is to choose BITS Goa’s Semiconductor and Nanoscience program for leadership in emerging micro- and nano-electronic sectors; IIT Palakkad EE remains ideal for core power systems and electrical-engineering roles within national infrastructure projects. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: With an All-India JEE Main rank of 54 678 in the General category, your realistic CSE options include mid-tier NITs and select GFTIs. In JoSAA counselling, you are likely to secure Computer Science at NIT Puducherry and NIT Patna, both of which closed beyond rank 54 678 in 2024. Through CSAB special rounds, BIT Deoghar’s CSE off-campus programme admits candidates up to around 49 849–54 388, offering modern computing labs and consistent 90% placement rates. These institutes feature NBA/NAAC-accredited departments, active placement cells (80–90% consistency), industry tie-ups, and robust infrastructure to support core CSE training and employability.

Recommendation Prioritize confirming your seat at NIT Puducherry for its stronger national ranking and placement cell, then NIT Patna for balanced infrastructure and PSU recruitments; if these options lapse, opt for BIT Deoghar’s CSE off-campus programme to ensure admission into a reputable, government-funded institute. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Nabajit, UIET Chandigarh’s Biotechnology programme under Panjab University records a branch-wise placement rate below 30%, with only 12 biotech students placed in 2023-24 despite an overall institute placement rate of 78.4% and an average package of ?8.5 LPA. Recruiters largely favour core biotech firms, which are scarce in the region, driving many graduates toward research or higher studies. In contrast, private CSE programmes at institutions like VIT Vellore and SRM KTR consistently achieve 80–95% branch-specific placement rates, leveraging 300–980+ recruiters annually and offering average packages between ?7.2 LPA and ?9.9 LPA through extensive industry partnerships and modern computing labs.

recommendation Given the robust placement support, higher recruitment consistency, and broader industry exposure in CSE, recommendation is to opt for a reputable private CSE programme; choose UIET Biotechnology only if you are committed to specialized biotech research and postgraduate pathways. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Sangram, IIIT Dharwad secures CSE admission via JEE Main with a General category closing rank of 34 726–38 187 in 2025, boasts NBA accreditation, modern AI and computing labs, Practice School internships, and a 90% placement consistency over three years with recruiters like Google and Microsoft. In Maharashtra, your 96.68 percentile in MHT CET is similar to the scores needed for good colleges in Pune and Mumbai, like Priyadarshini COE (closing at 96.06 percentile), Dr. D.Y. Patil COE (93–95 percentile), AISSMS COE (94–96 percentile), BVCOE (92–95 percentile), and Sinhgad COE Lonavala (90–94 percentile), all of which have accredited CSE departments, good labs, and placement rates of 75–85%.

recommendation Given its national recognition, superior infrastructure, higher placement consistency, and competitive peer cohort, the recommendation is to prioritize IIIT Dharwad CSE; if you prefer campus proximity and lower cutoffs, consider Priyadarshini College of Engineering Pune and Dr. D.Y. Patil COE as strong state-level alternatives. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: VIT Vellore's B.Tech CSE Category 4 programme operates under NAAC A++, AICTE, and UGC accreditation with an expected cutoff of 64-65 marks for Category 4 admissions. The institute secured 867 recruiters during 2024 placements, achieving 80-90% placement rates across three years with a median package of ?6 LPA for CSE and overall average of ?9.90 LPA. The four-year programme costs ?4.5 LPA annually for Category 4 students, featuring advanced AI/ML laboratories, dedicated Career Development Centre, and strong industry partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, and Bank of America.

RGIPT's B.Tech CSE programme benefits from its Institute of National Importance status under the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology Act 2007, co-promoted by six major PSUs (ONGC, IOCL, OIL, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL) alongside the Oil Industry Development Board. Ranked 80th in NIRF Engineering 2024, the institute achieved 70-90% placement rates with CSE-specific averages of ?8.15 LPA and highest packages reaching ?10 LPA in 2024. The programme costs ?10.77 LPA total for four years, featuring modern computing facilities, mandatory industrial internships, and strong government backing through energy sector collaborations.

Recommendation: Choose RGIPT CSE for its Institute of National Importance status, government backing, specialized energy sector exposure, and cost-effective education with strong PSU placement opportunities; select VIT Vellore CSE Category 4 for broader industry exposure, higher recruiter diversity, and comprehensive placement support across multiple technology domains. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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