Dear Mr. Mihir, I was working for a private company and retired on superannuation in November 2022. Thereafter, I was engaged by the company as a consultant to complete some pending project. Therefore during the financial year 2022-23, I have salary income from the company and also some amount the company paid to me for professional services for my consultant role after retirement. Which ITR form should I use, ITR-2 or ITR-3? I have income from salary and also from professional service. Regards

Ans: I assume you are referring to TNEA Counselling for 144.5 Cutoff. Answer to your question: With a TNEA cutoff of 144.5, admission to CSE or ECE in top Tamil Nadu colleges like Anna University, PSG Tech, or CIT is not feasible, as their cutoffs for these branches are much higher. However, you have good chances for CSE, ECE, or IT in reputable mid-tier colleges such as Hindusthan Institute of Technology (Coimbatore), Sree Sastha College of Engineering (Thiruvallur), Prathyusha Institute of Technology and Management (Thiruvallur), M Kumarasamy College of Engineering (Karur), and Government College of Engineering, Bargur, all of which typically accept students with cutoffs in the 140–160 range. Branches like Mechanical, Civil, and EEE are also accessible in these institutions. With a VITEEE rank of 86,687, CSE or ECE at VIT Vellore or Chennai is not possible, but you are eligible for CSE, ECE, IT, or allied branches at VIT-AP and VIT Bhopal, typically under higher fee categories. For JEE Main, a 74.26 percentile does not secure CSE/ECE in NITs or IIITs but may help in private universities or state counseling. Overall, prioritize CSE or ECE in mid-tier Tamil Nadu colleges through TNEA and consider VIT-AP or VIT Bhopal for similar branches, focusing on institutions with solid placement records and infrastructure. All the BEST for your Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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