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Seep Pahuja  | Answer  |Ask -

NEET-UG Expert - Answered on Mar 03, 2023

Seep Pahuja is a biology expert and faculty at Unacademy, an online learning platform. A GATE-qualified teacher, Pahuja has approximately 10 years of teaching experience including online coaching for the medical entrance examination and for Classes 11 and 12. She is a gold medallist with a master's degree in science from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and has a bachelor of education degree from Maharshi Dayanand University.... more
Rajesh Question by Rajesh on Feb 27, 2023Hindi
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My son wants to pursue Astronomy/Environmental Science. Kindly suggest good institutes within India or Global universities

Ans: A. The options for Astronomy which is a sub-field of Physics are also dependent on the branch your son would like to pursue. Astronomy is further divided into several branches such as Astrophysics, Astrometeorology, Astrobiology, Astrogeology, Astrometry, Cosmology etc.
Amongst the many Indian universities that offer a course in Astronomy in India, here are some of the best options to choose from for a degree in the subject:

1. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital
2. Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
4. Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
5. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune
6. Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad

Additionally, here are a few of the top global universities candidates can look at:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Harvard University, USA
Standford University, USA
University of Cambridge, UK



I also feel Environmental Biology offers more career-related opportunities currently as it is an extensive and widely accepted field that offers a vast scope of jobs in the Government and private sectors. Some universities that offer a degree in Environmental Biology are Delhi University, Punjab University, and Banaras Hindu University. I would suggest that your son attempts the CUET- UG to get admission to any of the Central universities I’ve mentioned.

I believe both are good options for degrees and will depend on the choice your son would like to opt for basis his interest.
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Mayank

Mayank Chandel  |2311 Answers  |Ask -

IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Feb 17, 2025

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Hi Sir My son is appearing in CBSE 12th class this session and has cleared JEE mains with 99 percentiles. He is keen to pursue the career in research in Astro Physics. Can you please guide as to what course should he undertake, the institutes (both Indian and Foreign) and the admission process. Also if you could guide about the scope in this field.
Ans: Hi Puneet
Your son has an excellent percentile in JEE Mains, and his interest in Astrophysics is great for a research-oriented career.
There can be two ways either with B.Tech or B.S Course.
B.Tech in Engineering Physics / Electrical / Mechanical / Computer Science
Followed by an M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Astrophysics
Recommended if he also has an interest in technology, instrumentation, or computational astrophysics.

B.Sc. in Physics / Astrophysics
Followed by M.Sc. Physics / Astrophysics
Ph.D. in Astrophysics
Recommended if he is deeply interested in theoretical physics and cosmology.

IISc Bangalore – BS (Research) in Physics, followed by M.Sc./Ph.D.
IITs (IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi) – B.Tech in Engineering Physics / Physics
IISERs (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research) – 5-year Integrated BS-MS in Physics
IIA (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore) – Ph.D. programs in Astrophysics (after M.Sc.)
IUCAA (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pune) – Ph.D. in Astrophysics
TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai) – Integrated M.Sc.-Ph.D.

For abroad he needs to appear for SAT after 12th for UG courses & GRE for PG courses.


Scope & Career Opportunities in Astrophysics
Academia & Research: Professors, Scientists at ISRO, NASA, ESA, etc.
Observatories & Space Organizations: Working with telescopes and space missions.
Data Science & AI: Many astrophysicists work in AI, ML, and big data analytics.
Finance & Consulting: The analytical skills from physics are in demand in finance.

..Read more

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4699 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 21, 2025

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Sir, I have got 87% marks in mains. Please tell me a college where I can get a branch.
Ans: Aditi, Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main/Advanced Results – A Step-by-Step Guide

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Also, please have some other back-up options instead of relying only on JEE/JoSAA/NITs/IIITs/GFTIs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions and a bright future!

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