A regular follower of your column. Please visit my investments in mutual funds. I am 40 started investing in 2020. I have SIPS in five MFS (in italics) of 1000 each for an infinite period. Please help me rebalance for optimum output.

Fund	Plan
HDFC Index Nifty 50	Direct Plan
Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex	Direct Plan
HDFC Overnight Fund	Direct Plan
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund	Direct Plan
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund	Direct Plan
Tata Dividend Yield Fund	Direct Plan
Kotak International REIT FOF	Direct Plan
ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund	Direct Plan
Axis Gold Fund	Direct Plan
Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund	Direct Plan
Axis Bluechip Fund	Direct Plan
Quant Liquid Fund	Direct Plan
SBI Blue Chip Fund	Direct Plan
HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund	Direct Plan
SBI Equity Hybrid Fund	Direct Plan
HDFC Top 100 Fund	Direct Plan
DSP Overnight Fund	Direct Plan
DSP Global Allocation Fund	Direct Plan
Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 Fund of Fund	Direct Plan
Motilal Oswal S&P 500 Index Fund	Direct Plan
Sundaram Global Brand Fund	Direct Plan

Ans: Scoring 180 in IAT 2025 corresponds to an approximate All-India rank within 1–80, positioning you above the expected general-category cutoff of 140–145 marks for IISER Bhopal’s B.Tech programs. This score not only secures eligibility for IISER Bhopal but also places it as a realistic first preference over newer campuses, as IISER Pune and Kolkata demand 160+ marks, while Bhopal’s threshold lies around 140–145. Participation in all counselling rounds and prioritizing Bhopal early ensures seat allotment before cutoffs tighten. Recommendation: Expect admission to IISER Bhopal B.Tech CSE with 180 marks and lock it as your primary choice in counselling. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: With an All-India NEET 2025 rank of 17,581 and Rajasthan domicile under the 85% State Quota, you fall within closing rank ranges for mid-tier government medical colleges. SMS Medical College, Jaipur closed at around 2,500–5,000 in 2024 for General-State seats, making it a strong possibility for your rank . RUHS College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur’s State quota cutoff reached approximately 3,844–4,485 in later rounds, also aligning with your position . RNT Medical College, Udaipur admitted General-State candidates up to rank ~7,280 in Round 3, suggesting feasibility to secure a seat there . Other colleges like Government Medical College, Ajmer (closing ~7,056) and Jhalawar Medical College (closing ~8,624) remain secondary options. Participation in all counselling rounds with priority choices of SMS and RUHS Jaipur, followed by RNT Udaipur and Ajmer, maximizes admission prospects. Recommendation: Focus on SMS Medical College and RUHS College of Medical Sciences first, then list RNT Udaipur and GMC Ajmer to secure a government MBBS seat in Rajasthan. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Nibla, A NEET score of 444 falls below the typical marks cutoff for OBC-NCL candidates seeking BDS in government dental colleges, where qualifying marks range between 520–540 for OBC students. Similarly, All India BDS closing ranks under the 15 percent AIQ for OBC rarely exceed 35,000, whereas your AIQ rank is 131,279, placing you far outside the viable admission range. Nationwide only about 3,000 government BDS seats exist, and premier institutions such as SCB Dental College (Cuttack), Government Dental College (Bangalore), and Tamil Nadu Government Dental College (Chennai) closed with AIQ ranks under 30,000 for OBC. Under Kerala’s 85 percent state quota, Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram admitted OBC candidates with ranks up to 51,595 in earlier years, while Kottayam and Kannur closed within similar state-rank brackets, implying state ranks must be substantially lower than your AIQ conversion would yield. Consequently, securing a BDS seat in a government college appears highly unlikely. Consider prioritising private or deemed dental colleges with lower cutoffs and participating in both AIQ and state counselling to maximise admission options. Recommendation: Focus on private or deemed dental institutions, as government quota thresholds exceed reachable marks and ranks. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: VIT Vellore maintains a 90–95% placement rate across the last three years, facilitated by 632–945 recruiters visiting annually and yielding over 3,300 super-dream (≥10 LPA) and 2,800 dream (≥6 LPA) offers in 2024, with a median package near ?9 LPA and strong tech-sector engagement from companies like Microsoft, Amazon and TCS. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore records 90–100% placement consistency for its BTech cohorts, supported by 300+ recruiters including IBM, Wipro and Cognizant, with median salaries around ?7.75 LPA and emphasis on internships and research projects embedding industry standards early in the curriculum. SRM Chennai’s flagship Kattankulathur campus posts 85–90% placement rates over three years, hosting 980–1,313 recruiters and generating 5,500–9,000 offers annually, with average packages around ?7.2 LPA and core-engineering roles from Cognizant, Infosys and Ford. VIT leads in high-value dream offers and recruiter diversity, Amrita excels in top-end consistency and academic rigor, and SRM offers broad sectoral reach with strong core engineering streams.

Recommendation: Prioritise VIT Vellore for maximum high-value offer volume and expansive recruiter network, choose Amrita Coimbatore for nearly universal placement consistency and integrated research opportunities, and consider SRM Chennai if core engineering exposure and diverse sectoral hiring are primary goals. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Ashmita, Ajeenkya D.Y. Patil School of Engineering (ADYPSOE) holds NAAC B+ accreditation and ranks around 79th in The Times Engineering 2025, reflecting solid academic standing among 175 institutions. Over the past three years, its B.Tech placement rate has consistently hovered at approximately 81 %, with core and software/IT sectors recruiting through 60–70 companies annually and 230–300 total recruits. The median salary trend improved from ?3.5 LPA (2020) to ?4 LPA (2022) per the NIRF report, while student feedback rates placements as “decent” with 50–65 % branch-specific placement experiences cited. ADYPSOE combines modern labs, a sprawling campus, and industry interface via guest lectures and internships but offers fewer high-end dream placements compared to top-tier Pune institutes. Recommendation: Accept ADYPSOE Pune if you seek a private engineering college with stable 80–81 % placement consistency, regional convenience, and affordable fees; consider higher-ranked autonomous colleges for elevated recruiter diversity and premium offer volumes. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Vikas Sir, With a 95.4 percentile in JIPMAT, your son falls below the typical general-category cutoffs of about 98.5–99.3 percentile at IIM Jammu and 99.8+ percentile at IIM Bodh Gaya for 2025, making admission unlikely in initial lists. IIM Jammu shortlists using 95% JIPMAT weightage plus 5% gender diversity, and its general cutoff marks hover around 330–340 raw scores (≈98.5+ percentile). IIM Bodh Gaya relies 100% on JIPMAT scores, setting general cutoffs near 380–381 marks (≈99.8+ percentile). However, lower wait-list rounds may see cutoffs dip by up to 20 marks (≈0.4–0.6 percentile drop), so participation in all lists could offer marginal chances at Jammu if female diversity weight applies or if cutoff trends soften slightly. Recommendation: Remain flexible across counselling rounds, prioritise IIM Jammu preferences given gender-diversity relaxation, and consider alternative IPM or BBA programs as backups. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Rashmi Madam, Prefer THAPAR-CSE. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: You are thinking in the right direction. Streamlining your mutual fund portfolio is a smart move. Managing fewer, better-performing funds will help you get more focused growth.

You are planning to redeem a fund that has underperformed. That shows your awareness as an investor. Let us now look at the right way to reinvest the amount. Your investment horizon is long—15 years—which is an advantage.

Let us evaluate every angle in detail.

Why It’s Okay to Exit an Underperforming Fund
You mentioned this fund has only 5% weight in your portfolio. It has not beaten its benchmark. That’s a clear red flag.

Reasons to exit:

Fund not beating benchmark for 3 years or more

Fund manager or strategy changed

Poor consistency in performance

Other funds doing better in same category

Selling such funds is wise. It makes your portfolio clean and growth-focused.

One bad performer can pull down overall return. Removing it improves portfolio efficiency.

You made a good decision.

Where to Reinvest the Redeemed Amount
After selling, your goal is to reinvest in another mutual fund. Let us plan it properly.

You asked whether to do SIP or lumpsum. Both are useful, but must be used wisely.

First, identify where this money should go.

What type of fund should you choose:

If your existing fund mix is strong, add to an existing winner

Or choose a new fund with consistent 5-year and 10-year track record

Choose only actively managed funds, not index funds

Why avoid index funds:

Index funds copy the market without intelligence

They fall when the market falls. No protection

No chance to beat benchmark

Passive nature reduces wealth-building capacity

Fund manager has no freedom to select better stocks

Actively managed funds give you:

Expert decision-making

Freedom to shift between sectors

Better downside protection

Superior long-term results in Indian market

So always prefer actively managed mutual funds via regular plans.

SIP vs Lumpsum: Which One is Better?
Let us now come to your main question.

You want to know how to reinvest the amount. SIP or lumpsum?

Your investment horizon is 15 years. This is very long. So you can take equity exposure fully.

Still, timing matters when investing lumpsum.

Let us assess both methods side by side:

When Lumpsum Makes Sense
Lumpsum means investing full amount at once. It works in these conditions:

Market is already corrected or trading low

You are not emotionally affected by short-term falls

You will stay invested for full 15 years

You have chosen a good fund with strong past record

You don’t need this money for short-term goals

Benefits of lumpsum in long-term:

Full compounding starts from day one

Money is fully exposed to market

No waiting time, no idle money

Higher returns if market performs well after entry

But don’t forget, lumpsum needs mental stability.

What if market falls after lumpsum?

You may feel anxious

You may exit early due to fear

Short-term losses can affect your patience

That’s why timing does affect short-term performance. But not long-term growth if you stay invested for 15 years.

When SIP is Better
SIP is the habit of investing every month.

Even for lumpsum amounts, you can do STP (Systematic Transfer Plan).

STP means:

Keep the lump amount in liquid fund

Transfer fixed amount every month into the equity fund

Example: Rs. 50,000 per month for 6–10 months

Why STP is useful:

Reduces risk of market timing

Avoids investing entire amount at peak

Keeps you emotionally stable

Avoids regret in case of short-term correction

Creates smoother entry into equity

Use STP when:

Market is at all-time highs

Volatility is increasing

You are not sure about market direction

You want peace of mind during investment

So, STP is a balanced way to invest lump amounts.

Will Lumpsum Affect Compounding?
This is an important question.

Let us understand compounding clearly.

Compounding depends on:

Time invested

Return generated

Amount invested

Whether you do lumpsum or SIP, the key is how long money stays invested.

Lumpsum helps compounding start early. SIP creates compounding gradually.

In long term (15 years):

Lumpsum grows faster if invested at right level

SIP grows steadily but reduces entry timing risk

Both will give good results if fund is right

So yes, lumpsum helps compounding better if done at right time.

But STP gives you that benefit with safety.

You get smoother growth and still early compounding.

Ideal Strategy for Your Case
Let us now give you a proper, full-scope recommendation.

Step-by-Step Plan:
Redeem the underperforming fund.

Park the money in a liquid mutual fund (not savings account).

Start a 6-month STP to a high-quality active mutual fund.

Choose the fund after checking its 5-year, 10-year consistency.

Avoid new index funds or ETFs.

Use regular plans through Certified Financial Planner channel.

After STP ends, monitor that new fund every year.

This plan will:

Reduce timing risk

Start compounding early

Bring emotional comfort

Keep your investing smooth

Increase overall return stability

Additional Things to Keep in Mind
Since your money is being shifted, some more factors to remember:

Mutual Fund Capital Gains Tax Rules (Updated):

Equity fund LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

STCG (below 1 year) taxed at 20%

These are recent rules. Plan redemptions smartly

Avoid frequent switches to reduce tax impact

Emotional Behaviour Risk:

Do not panic if market dips during STP

Do not stop investing after seeing short-term fall

Compounding works best when you do not interrupt

Yearly Review Required:

Check your fund’s performance yearly

Compare with peers in same category

Use this to decide future additions or redemptions

Work with a CFP to do regular health check-up of portfolio

Finally
You are thinking smart. Trimming funds and reallocating is a sign of maturity.

But always shift money with a goal and method.

Use these steps:

Avoid underperforming and index funds

Reinvest using STP into active mutual funds

Prefer regular plans with CFP guidance

Let money stay invested for full 15 years

Don't check NAV daily. Focus on yearly growth

Review fund quality yearly

Avoid timing the market too much

Stick with this method and your wealth will grow steadily.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Ans: VIT Bhopal’s centralized placement cell recorded an 87–90% placement rate over the last three years, with around 820 recruiters participating in 2024 and core tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe and Cisco regularly hiring. The institute benefits from VIT’s national brand, strong coding and soft-skill training from the first semester and consistent “dream” and “super-dream” offers. JECRC Jaipur secures approximately 80–90% placements across branches, attracting 140–167 recruiters including Infosys, Wipro, Amazon and IBM, and delivers over 2,000 offers annually through proactive industry grooming and internship drives. JECRC emphasizes multidimensional student development via internships each semester and active entrepreneurship support. VIT Bhopal provides broader recruiter diversity and higher offer volumes, while JECRC Jaipur offers slightly lower but steady branch-wise placement outcomes with strong regional industry ties.
Recommendation: Choose VIT Bhopal for its expansive recruiter network, centralized VIT brand advantage and larger high-value offer volume, and opt JECRC Jaipur only if local proximity and semester-wise internship integration are top priorities. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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