Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE)

Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE)


Indian Institute of Technologies conducts its all-India examination at eight IIT zones across the country. JEE is a Joint entrance examination which is a first step to get admission in the primer IITs. The programs offered by IITs are the best in the world and plays an important role in technological manpower development. Engineering aspirants who are desirous to get admission into the Undergraduate Programmes have to go through with JEE Exam.

Eligibility Criteria for IIT JEE:

• Candidate appearing for IIT JEE must hold Intermediate (12th standard) or equivalent having 60% (55% for SC/ST applicants).
• Candidate can crack JEE exam only twice in successive years
• Candidates appearing in 10+2 (Class XII) final or equivalent examination with result awaited may also appear in entrance exam.
• Full payment of fees by candidate for admission at any of the IITs, IT-BHU, Varanasi or ISMU, Dhanbad, through earlier JEE will not be accepted.
• If candidates are not awarded the percentage of marks by the Board, in that case calculation is based on the marks obtained in all subjects listed in the mark sheet.
• The candidate has to collect and submit the grade sheet certificate offered by Board at the time of admission at Joint Implementation Committee of JEE-2010.
• The candidates who are appearing in the final examination of the two year course offered by Joint Services Wing of the National Defence Academy.
• The candidates who are holding General Certificate Education (GCE) examination (London / Cambridge / Sri Lanka) at the Advanced (A) level are eligible.
• The candidates holding High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University or International Baccalaureate Diploma of the International Baccalaureate Office, Geneva are eligible to apply for entrance exam.
• Candidate holding 3 or 4 year Diploma recognized by AICTE or a state Board of technical education.

Age limit:


• The upper age limit fixed for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidate is 25 years as on 1.7.2010.
• The SC / ST applicant, whose date of birth falls under July, 01, 1985 will be eligible.
• The candidates falling under General, OBC categories upper age limit is 22 years as on1.7.2010 are eligible to apply.

IIT JEE Test Pattern

There are two papers in IIT-JEE. The both papers are divided into three separate sections on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with objective type questions. The objective type questions are to be answered through ORS – Optical Response Sheet.

How to Apply for JEE-2010:
The applicants can now apply for JEE exam both offline & online. Offline application forms are available on request or by post and by collecting them personally. The applicant can also obtain forms from various branches of Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, State Bank of India, Axis bank & Punjab National Bank.
JEE-2010 Test centers:

• Ahmedabad
• Gwalior
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad
• Bhopal
• Jammu
• Bhubaneswar
• Jaipur
• Chandigarh
• Kolkata
• Chennai
• Lucknow
• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Dehradun
• Patna
• Gangtok
• Shimla
• Goa
• Srinagar
• Gurdaspur
• Thiruvananthapuram
• Guwahati

Important Dates:

• IIT JEE 2010 Examination Date: April 11, Sunday, 2010
• IIT JEE 2010 Results: May 26, Wednesday, 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)

ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT)


ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT) is the common aptitude test for seeking admission in the management programs at ICFAI Business School spread across India. Candidates looking for admission into the MBA/ Executive PG Programs must qualify IBS Aptitude Test (IBSAT 2008). Multiple choice questions were asked at IBSAT which is followed by a general essay test. The candidates have to complete there test within 2 hours duration. The test is designed to check the applicant’s ability in quantitative techniques, data interpretation, data adequacy, vocabulary, analytical reasoning and reading comprehension.

The list of management institutes are as:

• ICFAI Business School (IBS)
• ICFAI National College (INC)
• ICFAI School of Financial Studies (ISFS)
• ICFAI School of Marketing Studies (ISMS)
• ICFAI School of Human Resource Development(ISHRD)

List of IBS Campuses:

There are about 13 IBS campuses in different cities. All these institutes accept IBSAT score.
1. Ahmedabad
2. Bengaluru
3. Bhubaneswar
4. Chandigarh
5. Gurgaon
6. Indore
7. Jaipur
8. Kochi
9. Kolkata
10. Mumbai
11. Nagpur
12. Noida
13. Pune.
Eligibility Criteria for IBSAT:

• Applicant must have bachelor's degree from any discipline, with 50% minimum marks obtained. .
• Applicant appearing in graduation final year can also apply.

IBSAT Test Pattern:

• Duration of IBSAT entrance test: 2 hours
• Objective questions generated at IBSAT exam is from the following sections: quantitative techniques, data adequacy, and vocabulary, reading comprehension, data interpretation and analytical reasoning.

IBSAT Test Centers:

Agra, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai,Nagpur, Nasik, New Delhi, Patna, Pune,Ranchi,Udaipur, Vadodara.

Selection Procedure of IBSAT 2010:

Merit list is prepared on the basis of candidate’s performance in IBSAT test. The short listed candidates are called for the final selection process. The procedure of selection will be completed in one day.

Weightage allotted to different sections for admission to ICFAI is as follows:

• IBSAT - 25%
• Past Academic Record - 20 %( 10th-7%, 12th-7%, Degree-6%)
• General Knowledge Test- 10%
• Micro presentation - 20%
• Interview - 20%
• General Essay (in English) - 5%

Important Dates:


• Last date for receipt of completed Application Forms is: April 18, 2010
• Date of IBSAT Test: April 25, 2010
• Date of Result : May 09, 2010

Friday, March 26, 2010

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)

The Indian Institute of Science and seven IITs conducts GATE exam on behalf of the National Coordination Board - GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), and Government of India. Ambitious aspirants who are desirous to get admission in Graduate programs in one of the most prestigious engineering institutes in India have to qualify GATE entrance exam. Every year, the exam is conducted on second Sunday of February. The student can use GATE scorecard for a period of two years from the date of declaration of the GATE 2010 results. This exam is conduct through the constitution of eight zones

• Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras
• Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

Eligibility for GATE:
• Applicant must have bachelor's degree in engineering / Technology/ Architecture from any recognized institute/university.
• Applicant appearing in graduation final year or pre-final year can also apply.
• Applicant holding Master degree in any branch of Science/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Computer Applications or equivalent.
GATE Exam Pattern:

• Duration of GATE entrance test: 3 hours
• Number of questions generated at GATE exam is 65 and maximum marks allotted is 100.
• The test is based on multiple choices objective type.
• Each question is carrying 4 optional choices for the answer.
• There is a negative marking for each incorrect answer.

How to Apply:

• The Applicant can obtain GATE application form from various branches of the specified banks by cash payment.
• The application forms are also available at Zonal GATE offices of IITs and IISB.
• Offline form costs Rs. 1000 and for online application form costs Rs. 800 for General and OBC students

Score for XAT:


• Candidates seeking admission in top engineering college must have scored “between” 800 to 1000.
• Those who have scored between 425 to 550 in the entrance can apply at good institute

Important Dates:


• Date of Online Examination : Feb 07, 2010 Sunday
• Date of Offline examination : Feb 14, 2010
• Date of Results : March 15, 2010

EAMCET-2010 (Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test – 2010)

EAMCET-2010 (Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test – 2010)

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Conducts EAMCET which is a common entrance test, designated as Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test – 2010 on behalf of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE). Thousand of Engineering and Medical aspirants take EAMCET test every year in the state. The various courses for which EAMCET entrance test are conducted are as follows:

(a) B.E/B.Tech courses (b) B.Pharm (M.P.C.) (c) B.Tech (Ag.Engg) (d) B.Tech (Dairying). (e) B.Tech (FS &T) (f) B.Sc. (CA & BM) (g) B.V.Sc and A.H/B.Sc (Ag)/B.Sc (Hort)/B.F.Sc/B.Tech (FST)/ B.Sc. (Commercial Agri. & Business Mgt) (Bi.P.C) courses (h) MBBS/BDS/BAMS/BHMS/BNYS courses (i) B. Pharm (Bi.P.C. courses). (j) B.Tech. (Bio-Technology).
Following are the list of institutes which accepts EAMCET test:
• Chaitanya Bharathi Institute Of Technology
• Koneru Laxmaiah College of Engineering
• Bapatla Engineering college
• G Pulla reddy Engineering College
• JNTU College Of Engineering, Hyderabad
• Osmania University College Of Engineering
• Vasavi College of Engineering
• MVSR Engineering College
• VNR Vignana Jyoti Institute of Engineering & Technology
• Muffakham Jah College of Engineering & Technology
• Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology
• Sreenidhi Institute Of Science & Technology
• Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology
• G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science (For Women)
• Sagi RamaKrishnam Raju engineering College
• Padmasri Dr. B.V Raju Institute of Technology
• CVR College Of Engineering
• Shadan Women's College Of Engineering & Technology
• Kakatiya Institute Of Technology & Science
• Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering
• JNTU College of Engineering Anantapura
• Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management
• JB Institute of Engineering & Technology
• Teegala Krishna Reddy College of Engineering and Technology
• ICFAI Institute of Science and Technology
• JNTU College of Engineering-Kakinada
• AU College of Engineering Visakhapatnam
• Gayathri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering
• JNTU College of Engineering-Pulivendula
• Shri Vidya Niketan Engineering College
• KU College of Engineering
• Anil Neerukonda Institute of Technology And Sciences
• NBKR Institute of Science and Technology
• RVR & JC College of Engineering
• Velagapudi Ramakrishna Siddhartha Engineering College
• GMR Institute of Technology
• Rajiv Gandhi Memorial College of Engineering & Technology
• Lakireddy Balireddy College of Engineering
• Sir CR Reddy College of Engineering
• MVGR College of Engineering
• Vignan Institute of Technology & Science
• D.V.R.College of Engineering and Technology
Eligibility Criteria for EAMCET:
• In order to secure admission in EAMCET, applicant must have completed 10 + 2 with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry as optional from any recognized board of Intermediate Education.
• Candidates appearing in 10+2 final year conducted by the State Board of Technical Education and Training, Andhra Pradesh or any other examination recognized as equivalent thereto by the State Board of Technical Education and Training, A.P can also apply.
EAMCET Test Pattern:

Duration of EAMCET entrance test: 3 hours
Number of questions generated: 160
o Mathematics Section: 80 questions
o Physics Section: 40 questions
o Chemistry Section: 40 questions
The test is based on multiple choices and each question carries one mark.

How to Apply:
• The applicants can now apply for EAMCET exam both offline & online. Offline application forms are available on request or by post and by collecting them personally.
• The Test is conducted at Hyderabad / Secundrabad only.

Important Dates:


• Date of Entrance Test: 30-05-2010
• Date of commencement of sale and receipt of Application form: 22-02-2010
• Last date of sale of application form: 15-04-2010
• Sale of application at convener's office, Hyderabad: 16-04-2010 to 27-05-2010

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Foreign universities ready for affirmative programmes: Kapil Sibal

Foreign universities ready for affirmative programmes: Kapil Sibal


New Delhi: Reservation laws may not be applicable for the foreign universities aspiring to set up campuses here, but they are ready to carry out affirmative programmes for children of the weaker section, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said today.

"Whichever foreign educational institution has spoken to me, has said 'we in our country carry out affirmative programmes. When we are in India, we will certainly carry out those affirmative programmes'," Sibal told Karan Thapar in India Tonight programme.
The cabinet this week passed the Foreign Educational Institution (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill, 2010, which seeks to allow the foreign educational providers to set up campuses in India and regulate their operations.
Sibal said the aspiring institutions are sensitive to the issue of affirmative action even though reservation laws may not be applicable to them as they will be considered as private education providers.
There is no reservation law for the private education providers in the country currently.
Sibal hoped the new law could be put in place by the end of this year. He said the bill would be introduced in Parliament in April.
The bill would go to a Standing Committee after it is introduced in Parliament.
"By December 2010, this could be a law. I believe so. You should be prepared by the next academic session to implement it," Sibal said.
According to him, there are a number of foreign institutions aspiring to be associated with the education sector here. But not necessarily all of them will set up campuses. Some of them are interested for collaboration, while a few are interested for joint research with Indian institutes. Some are interested for skill development and vocational training, he said.
Sibal said a number of Ivy League universities are also interested to come. Yale is interested for collaboration, he said, adding Boston University is extremely keen to come in some form.
The foreign education providers can operate in India as FDI is allowed in education. But the new law will regulate their operations. At present, 69 foreign education providers are functioning in India.
These universities will decide their own fee as they will be considered as private universities. However, their fee could be much less than the fee they charge in their respective countries, Sibal said.
"It is because the cost of infrastructure and other things is less in India," he said.
In a way it will help students to get education and degree at a much cheaper price from a foreign university which would have cost them hugely if they had travelled to those countries for the same courses, Sibal said.
"Lot of Indian students are unable to pay USD 60,000 or 70,000. If you pay USD 60,000 in the US, you can get the same education at USD 20,000 or USD 15,000 or even at USD 10,000. People may not go abroad but study here," he said.
Sibal ruled out concerns raised over poaching of teachers by the foreign institutions.
He said the attrition rate in IITs is nearly nil despite a lot of private institutes functioning in the country. He said job security and perks given to IIT teachers may not be matched by the foreign universities.
He said the foreign institutes will not be allowed to repatriate surplus generated from education activities in India. "If we feel that services are paid or being paid in an indirect fashion for the purpose of repatriating money, we will certainly look at that issue."
But the all foreign education providers will have get accredited by the proposed National Accreditation Authority for quality control. Their entry will bring revolution in terms of quality, he said. It will have enormous impact on research and creation of Intellectual Property.


Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_foreign-universities-ready-for-affirmative-programmes-kapil-sibal_1361044

ICFAI to offer engg, law from this year

ICFAI to offer engg, law from this year

The Icfai Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) will offer engineering and law courses at its Shankarpally campus, about 40 kilometre from Hyderabad, from this academic year.
The university has already sought permission from the University Grants Commission for the courses. Being a deemed university, it would design its own curriculum and also the admission process for these two courses, according to Icfai Business School (IBS) director DS Rao.
To begin with, it will offer the engineering course in five disciplines and admit 60 students in each stream. The law course, for which it has received permission from the Bar Council, too will be for five years leading to a BA LLB degree.
“We are awaiting an inspection by the UGC team,” Rao said, adding the deemed university would introduce masters programme gradually.
IFHE is in the process of creating the required infrastructure including laboratories and library facilities for the proposed courses.
Meanwhile, the IBS has completed the interviews for admission to its two-year MBA course. On an average, it admits about 900 students. For the one-year executive programme in management education, for which a three-year work experience is mandatory, the intake is 60.
The institute offers the MBA programme only at its Hyderabad, Dehra Dun, Tripura and Ranchi campuses The fee is Rs 4.75 lakh per annum. IBS centres in others cities offer only certificate programmes, Rao said.
It has also announced a BBA course from this academic year, for which admission would be based on the merit in Plus II.
On the placement front, 70 per cent of the 800 students who joined IBS in 2007 (passed out in 2009) have found placement. For the batch that would graduate this year, 60 per cent of the students had been placed so far as management trainees with an average compensation of Rs 5-5.5 lakh. The placement process will go on till April.
“The placement is picking up this year. Industry looks at the capabilities of the students rather than the degree affiliation,” the director said.
As part of its quality assurance system, it will seek SAQS accreditation from the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia shortly and from the Florida-headquartered Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the Association of MBAs in the next phase.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/icfai-to-offer-engg-lawthis-year/389020/

Kolkata B-school ties up with British varsity for MBA

Kolkata B-school ties up with British varsity for MBA



Kolkata: Kolkata-based Globsyn Business School (GBS) on Friday inked a tie-up with Britain's Coventry University for a one-year Master of Business Management (MBA) programme. The course aims to impart quality education as per the standards of a British university, but at a much-reduced cost.

"The one-year intensive programme has been developed on the lines of similar master's level management programmes available in Britain but the entire course will be studied at GBS's two centres - Kolkata and Ahemdabad," Globsyn Group Chairman and CEO, Bikram Dasgupta told reporters at a press conference here.

"The one-year programme will cost about Rs.5 lakh, and on successful completion of the course the students will be given Coventry University's MBA degree and a full alumni status," he said.

Dasgupta said this year there would be altogether 50 students - 25 students in each centre.

"But if we get good students, we can extend the seat limit further. Initially we are looking for the students who have at least two years of experience," he said. IANS

Source: http://indiaedunews.net/West_Bengal/Kolkata_Bschool_ties_up_with_British_varsity_for_MBA_10438

Education and poverty in West Bengal

Education and poverty in West Bengal

THE LITERACY rate of India is just above 50 per cent, while in West Bengal it is 68 per cent. In West Bengal particularly, many half-baked governmental initiatives that were taken up to push education proved to be failures since the rate of literacy remains more or less stagnant, if the amplification of figures by the authorities is not taken into consideration.

There are instances when a person, who is only able to write his name meets the criteria of literacy. Though this is the trend, it is not acceptable. There is a geometrical way, wherein any illiterate is able to ‘sign’ his/her name just like line drawing. If that is done, one starts to be classified as literate. Abysmal but true!

Gender difference is an issue that demands notice of the government. Education for children is one sector where no kind of inequality is acceptable. Statistically speaking, there is a reasonable amount of disparity in terms of the male literacy rate vis-à-vis that of female literacy rate. A sizeable amount of fund goes into elementary education.

Considering that, more is expected in terms of educational progress, since the latter is the backbone of any society which tries to advance. The compulsory education up to 14 years of age is a national step ahead towards literacy. The RTE, which is supposed to commence from April 1, is indeed a breakthrough. In addition, the mid-day meal scheme has attracted students comparatively.

However, the major concerns in East India which persist are absence rates of both, the teachers and the students, class inequality and dependence on tuitions. The major recruitment drive for primary education teachers was a good stride forward but given the present situation grilling of the applicants is an obvious requirement where commitment to the cause should be a greater prerequisite than aptitude.

Tuitions, as remarked by global economist, Amartya Sen, does no good to the poor section, since affordability is a concern along with the fact that the endeavor of providing education to all itself is hampered if tuitions come to benefit and not the initiative. Plus, tuitions and their effectiveness is a myth in India that needs to be curbed. Parents and students equally are responsible in providing a business to unwarranted coaching centers.

A mention of the many Christian missionaries which have reached out to the poor children is pertinent in this context. Very commendable work has been done by free schools run by them to provide education, shelter and food to the poor kids. Also, the ‘elementary education for all’ that had been included as a fundamental right under the 86th amendment to the constitution, once accomplished, should be expanded in the sense that free education should be provided up to the age of eighteen, or tenth standard.

Source: http://www.merinews.com/article/education-and-poverty-in-west-bengal/15801607.shtml

Bill upgrading Presidency College to university passed

Bill upgrading Presidency College to university passed

Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly on Friday passed a Bill upgrading the 192 year old Presidency College into a university.

The Presidency College, which played a sterling role in the 19th century renaissance besides churning out scholars and luminaries in various walks of life, would become a unitary university without the burden of affiliate colleges. So far, it was an affiliate of Calcutta University.

The Presidency University Bill, 2009, was moved by state Higher Education Minister Sudarshan Roy Chowdhury and passed by a voice vote in the absence of any of the opposition parties, who had staged a walkout protesting against some remarks by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Thursday.

Roy Chowdhury later told media persons that it would have been better had the opposition benches not been empty on such a historic day.

He said the university would have a teacher selection committee, which could recruit teachers from any part of the country.

The minister said the post-graduate courses will start from the coming session itself, but was not sure whether the under-graduate studies could also begin simultaneously.

The Left Front government seemed determined to push through the Bill disregarding the opposition's demand to send it to the assembly select committee for further discussions.

The left-leaning West Bengal Government College Teachers' Association (WBGCTA) had also opposed the move to make Presidency a unitary university, demanding that all 35 government colleges in the state be brought in its ambit. It also called for a "ceasework" in all government colleges on Friday on the issue.

Though Presidency, with around 2,500 students, still churns out talent, there has been criticism of its falling standards due to politics in teacher recruitment and frequent student unrest. Founded in 1817 as Hindu College, the institution was christenedPresidency College in 1855.

Among its alumni, the college can boast of poet Rabindranath Tagore, social reformer Swami Vivekananda, freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Marxist legend Jyoti Basu, economist Amartya Sen and scientist Satyendranath Bose.

Students, teachers and alumni first raised the demand for granting autonomous status to the college in the early 1970s.

Two education commissions set up by the Left Front government had also recommended autonomy for the college, but the idea was stalled, thanks to teachers' bodies affiliated to the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) that feared losing control over the college.

The move to give the college university status was spearheaded by none other than Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, who himself is an alumnus. IANS

Source: http://www.indiaedunews.net/West_Bengal/Bill_upgrading_Presidency_College_to_university_passed_11009/

Ayurvedic medicinal herbs

Ayurvedic medicinal herbs

THE USE of herbs for Ayurvedic medicinal purpose is becoming popular nowadays. Alternative medicine is becoming the vogue and Ayurvedic medicines are important part of it. Ayurvedic herbs that are used to treat diseases are called medicinal herbs. Plants that can be used as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb contains photochemicals that have great effect on the physiology of the body. An Ayurvedic medicinal herb can be given single or in combination with other herbs to have the desired effect.

An Ayurvedic herb is a plant source that has importance for its flavour, fragrance or other qualities in one or the other way. Anything useful that is being derived from plant source is considered as herbal. It includes leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, roots bark, resin or some other part of the plant. Herbs can be used in a variety of ways as Ayurvedic medicines.

Ayurvedic medicines health benefits

The Ayurvedic herbal medicines (preparations made using one or more herbs) stimulates the body’s defense mechanism and enhances the natural healing capacity. Ayurvedic herbal remedies detoxify the body system by removing the toxins from the body, helps prevent aging, fight against free radicals and balances the body. The greatest advantage of using Ayurvedic herbal medicines is that they don’t have any harmful side effects unlike other synthetic drugs if used properly under medical practitioner advice. Ayurvedic herbal medicines help to regain health quickly and acts effectively against various infections and diseases.

Ayurvedic herbal products

These days many Ayurvedic herbal products are available in the market with many brand names. Himalaya (one of those brands) has also introduced a wide range of Ayurvedic herbal products that offer good cure to many diseases. These Ayurvedic herbal products range from single herb preparation (for example, capsule Shilajeet, cap Ashvagandha etc) to a variety of combined herbal preparations (for example Tab Rheumalaya forte, Tab Reosteo etc), that contains more than two herbs.

Forms of Ayurvedic herbal supplements

Other than this wide range of herbal products, many of the Ayurvedic natural herbs are also gaining a lot of popularity and attention due to their wonderful effects on the human body. Ayurvedic natural herbs act very gently on the body and protect the body from various infections by providing great strength to the immune system.

Ayurvedic herbal tea and spices

Ayurvedic herbal tea is a herbal infusion made by leaves of plants other than real tea plant (camellia sinensis). Dried flowers, leaves, seeds, roots etc can also be used in the preparation of Ayurvedic herbal tea. Various Ayurvedic herbal teas are available in the market having different effects according to the herb they mainly contain. For example, Ayurvedic herbal tea for digestion, herbal tea to control blood pressure, herbal tea for anxiety, herbal tea for diabetes, herbal tea for rejuvenation etc.

Similarly, Ayurvedic spices do play an important role in treating minor health ailments as indigestion, common cold, cough etc in addition to give taste to the food.

Ayurveda and herbal medicines

Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, herbal medicines, spices, natural herbs are all mentioned in Ayurveda (the Indian text) and Unani science long time back. These Ayurvedic herbs can work wonder for mankind if judiciously used. The science of Ayurveda emphasises on maintaining the health of healthy individual and treating diseased with help of Ayurvedic herbs. In this way, Ayurvedic herbs balance the mind and spirit to achieve harmony inside.


Source Link: http://www.merinews.com/article/ayurveda-and-herbal-medicines-can-do-wonders/15794672.shtml

An education reforms bill to ban unfair practices in institutions of technical and medical education is expected to come up before the Union cabinet.

An education reforms bill to ban unfair practices in institutions of technical and medical education is expected to come up before the Union cabinet. Will such a law help to curb malpractices in educational institutions?


As per the Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill, charging of capitation fee or failure to keep promises of quality education could attract imprisonment of up to three years for administrators and a fine of up to Rs50 lakh for the institute.

The bill will treat such malpractices as criminal or civil offences depending on the nature of the crime. For instance, making promises in the prospectus and not delivering on them, or charging capitation fees from students, would be treated as criminal offences and prosecuted in a court of law. The civil offences will be tried in educational tribunals, which will be set up once the bill becomes law.

The bill is expected to come up before the Union cabinet soon. Will the introduction of such a law help to curtail malpractices in educational institutions?

Source Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/academy/message-board_an-education-reforms-bill-to-ban-unfair-practices-in-institutions-of-technical-and-medical-education-is-expected-to-come-up-before-the-union-cabinet-will-such-a-law-help-to-curb-malpractices-in-educational-institutions_1360972

Unnoticed copying among students taking a toll on academic performance

Unnoticed copying among students taking a toll on academic performance
Washington, DC: With the advent of lecture-hall laptops and online coursework, there has been an upsurge in unnoticed cheating among students, which, according to researchers, is a significant cause of course failure.
A researcher from the University of Kansas has teamed up with colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to get a better handle on copying in college in the 21st century.
Young-Jin Lee, assistant professor of educational technology at KU, and the Research in Learning, Assessing and Tutoring Effectively group at MIT spent four years seeing how many copied answers MIT students submitted to MasteringPhysics, an online homework tutoring system.
"MIT freshmen are required to take physics. Homework was given through a Web-based tutor that our group had developed. We analyzed when they logged in, when they logged out, what kind of problems they solved and what kinds of hints they used," said Lee.
Lee said that it was easy to spot students who had obtained answers from classmates before completing the homework.
"We ran into very interesting students who could solve the problems - very hard problems - in less than one minute, without making any mistakes," said Lee.
Students also were asked to complete an anonymous survey about the frequency of their homework copying.
The researchers found that students who procrastinated also copied more often. Those who started their homework three days ahead of deadline copied less than 10% of their problems, while those who dragged their feet until the last minute were repetitive copiers.
The students who copied frequently had about three times the chance of failing the course.
Results of the survey show that students are twice as likely to copy on written homework than on online homework.
The study showed that doing all the homework assigned is "a surer route to exam success" than a pre-existing aptitude for physics.
"People believe that students copy because of their poor academic skills. But we found that repetitive copiers - students who copy over 30% of their homework problems - had enough knowledge, at least at the beginning of the semester. But they didn't put enough effort in. They didn't start their homework long enough ahead of time, as compared to no copiers," said Lee.
The study has been published in Physical Review Special Topics: Physics Education Research.

Source Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_unnoticed-copying-among-students-taking-a-toll-on-academic-performance_1361050

West Bengal to give scholarships to girl students

West Bengal to give scholarships to girl students

Kolkata: The West Bengal government will provide scholarships to girl students who continue to study after Class 8 in a bid to reduce the drop-out rate among girls, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here recently.

"Most of the girls are not able to continue their studies after Class 8 due to lack of financial support. So, we have decided to providescholarships to girl students who continue their studies after class 8," Bhattacharjee said on the closing day of the Vidyasagar fair.

"It will not only help the girls to continue their studies but will also help parents as the financial burden will be reduced. We want girls of Bengal to get educated and continue their studies. We are with them," Bhattacharjee added. IANS

Source: http://indiaedunews.net/West_Bengal/West_Bengal_to_give_scholarships_to_girl_students_10382/

World Bank provides $1.05 bn to improve education in India

World Bank provides $1.05 bn to improve education in India

The World Bank has approved two projects worth $ 1.05 billion (over Rs 4,800 crore) for India, aimed at expanding the reach of primary schools and the quality of engineering education in the country.
“The World Bank today approved two education projects worth USD 1.05 billion for India, designed to boost the number of children enrolling in and completing elementary school, and to improve quality of engineering education across the country,” it said in a statement.
It further said India has made significant progress in meeting its education goals, especially at the primary level.
Through its 86th constitutional amendment in 2002, India mandated elementary education as a fundamental right of every child.
The same year, the government also launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), a nationwide program to take quality elementary education to all children.
The Bank has supported the SSA with total grants of USD 1.1 billion since 2003, it added.
“SSA -- now the largest ongoing Education for All (EFA) program in the world -- has been remarkably successful, particularly in achieving greater access to elementary education,” said Roberto Zagha, World Bank Country Director for India.
Between 2003 and 2009, the number of children reportedly enrolled in elementary education in India increased by 57 million to 192 million.


Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/education/article258063.ece

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Common Admission Test-CAT

The Indian Institute Of Management (IIMs) conducts its all India test (CAT Exam), at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode. CAT is a common admission test which is a first step to get admission in IIMs. The students who are desirous to pursue management program from prestigious IIMs have to go through CAT entrance. There are around 153 other management institutes, which select candidates on the performance based on CAT score. Around 3 Lack students were appeared for CAT 2010; the exam was conducted in 32 cities and completed in 10 days.

List of Non-IIM Institutes who use CAT 2009 Scores:

ACCMAN Institute of Management, Allahabad Institute of International Management, Alliance Business School, Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Aravali Institute of Management, Army Institute of Management & Technology, Asian School of Business Management (ASBM), Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management,Balaji Institute of International Business (BIIB),Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Usha and Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management, Bharathidasan Institute of Management, BLS Institute of Management, Bengal Institute of Business Studies, Birla Institute of Management Technology, Calcutta Business School, Centner Institute of Management & Communication, Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP), College of Management - Teerthanker Mahaveer University, CORE Business School, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute of Management and Higher Studies, Department of Business Administration, Tezpur University, Department of Business Management, University of Calcutta, Department of Management Studies, School of Management, Dr. Gaur Hari Singhania Institute of Management & Research, EMPI Business School, Banaras Hindu University, Fortune Institute of International Business, Galgotias Business School, Globsyn Business School, Gujarat Institute of Management Research, Heritage Institute of Technology, IFIM Business School, Indian Business Academy, Indian Institute of Finance, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Institute for Financial Management and Research, Institute of Agri Business Management Rajasthan, Institute of Engineering & Management, Institute of Management Development & Research, Institute of Management Studies, Uttarakhand, Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, Institute of Management Technology, Nagpur, Institute of Marketing & Management, INTECH Institute of Business Management, International Institute for Special Education, International School of Business & Media, Invertis Institute of Management Studies, ITM Business School, Jagran Institute of Communication & Management (JICM), Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow, Jaipuria Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad, K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, Kohinoor Business School & Centre for Management Research, Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management & Technology, Management Development Institute, National Institute of Bank Management, National Institute of Technology, National Insurance Academy Balewadi, National School of Business, NIMT, Pailan College of Management & Technology, PES Institute of Technology, S D M Institute for Management Development, School of Management KIIT University, School of Management Sciences, School of Petroleum Management, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial College of Engineering and Management, Sri Mata Vaishno Devi University,Suryadatta Group of Institutes, Taxila Business School, Teri University, Thiagarajar School of Management, United World School of Business, University of Calcutta, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management, WLC College India Ltd., Accurate Institute of Management & Technology, Alliance Business Academy, Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, Amrita School of Business, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, Apeejay School of Management, Army Institute of Management, Aryans Business School, Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, Aurora's Business School, Balaji Institute of Management and HRD (BIMHRD), Balaji Institute of Telecom and Management (BITM), Centre for Management Training & Research, College of Agribusiness Management, College of Management Studies - IILM Academy of Higher Learning, Cosmic Business School, Delhi School of Professional Studies & Research, Department of Business Management, Department of Management Studies, Indian School of Mines University, Doon Business School - Global, Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM), Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, FORE School of Management, Fostiima Business School, Gitam Institute of International Business, Graduate School of Business & Administration, Haryana School of Business, IEC College of Engineering & Technology, IILM Institute for Higher Education, Indian Business Academy, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Indian Institute of Management Training, Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Institute for Integrated Learning in Management, Institute of Business Management & Technology, Karnataka, Institute of Management and Development Management, Institute of Management Education, Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, Institute of Management, Nirma University of Science & Technology, Institute of Public Enterprise, Integrated Academy of Management and Technology, International Management Institute, New Delhi, International School of Management Excellence (ISME), ISBR Business School, Jagan Institute of Management Studies, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, JK Padampat Singhania Institute of Management & Technology, Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies, Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Lovely Professional University, Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA), National Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, National Power Training Institute, Faridabad, NIILM Centre for Management Studies, New Delhi, NIMT Institute of Management and Technology, Ghaziabad, Parul Institute of Management, Gujarat, Proton Business School, Indore, S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai, School of Management Sciences, Lucknow, School of Management Studies, Hyderabad, Shobhit University, Uttar Pradesh, Skyline Business School, New Delhi, St. Kabir Institute of Professional Studies, Gujarat, T. A. PAI Management Institute, Karnataka, Techno India, Kolkata, The Business School University of Jammu, United School of Business, Greater Noida, University Business School Panjab University, University of Lucknow, University School of Management, Kurukshetra, VIT Business School (VIT University) VIT University, Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research.

CAT Test Pattern


The CAT test is divided into four parts which are Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Problem Solving and Data Interpretation. The candidates have to complete there test within 2 hours and 30 minutes. The questions are based on multiple choices. While answering candidates must use HB pencil for shading the correct answer.

Score for CAT Test:

Candidates seeking admission in MBA in IIMs and other management institutes must have scored high in the entrance test and get the ranks as per the criteria fixed by institutes. The graduates who have scored 98.60 percentile in the entrance can get call from IIMs. Those who have scored minimum 65+ percentile in the entrance can apply at any of the institutes. The candidate should score between the above percentiles for getting enrolled in any of the management institute.

Eligibility Criteria for CAT:

• Candidate should have completed Bachelor's Degree with minimum marks obtained is 50% or equivalent.
• Candidate appearing in graduation final year with result awaited can also apply.

Registration of CAT Test:

• Applicant can obtain CAT test application form from various branches of the State Bank of India.
• Applicants can download application form in the month of April. The form is to be filled and submitted once.
• Candidates who are interested in non-IIM institutes have to fill a separate form available from their institute.

Selection Procedure of IIMs:

• Candidates screened on the basis of CAT performance will be called for Group Discussion and Interview by IIMs.
• Candidates at the time of interview must submit a copy of their mark sheets and degree certificates.
• At the time of interview, candidate must show a photocopy of caste certificate

Important Dates for CAT:

Exam Date: 28th November 2009 to 7th December, 2009
Starting date of CAT Voucher Sale: 31st August, 2009
Last Date of CAT Voucher Sale: 1st October, 2009
CAT Test held: Saturday, 28 November 2009 - Monday, 7 December 2009
Second phase of Test will be held on: January 30th and 31st, 2010

Actual IIM GD Topics

GD topics for CAT 2008

* He who knows how to be poor knows everything
* Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy
* A fool can ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years
* You have to break a few eggs to make an omellette
* When all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail
* If you want peace, prepare for war
* Patience is a bitter plant but it bears sweet fruit
* Cursing the weather is bad farming
* It is better to be born lucky than rich
* Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement
* If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem
* Rules are made to be broken

GD topics for CAT 2007

* Business and Ethics do not go together
* Performance enhancing drugs should be legalised in sports
* The test of a successful man is not an ability to eliminate the problem before it exists, but to meet and resolve it whenever it arises
* Good economics is bad politics
* A successful man is not one who has ability to eliminate problems before they occur, but who can face the difficulties as they arise and solve them
* Good things always arise from good thinking
* A successful man is one who plans for the problems and avoids them and not one who faces problems as they come and solves them
* Faith is to believe what you do not yet see, reward for faith is to see what you believe
* Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative
* When you find that you are on the side of majority, it is time to reform
* Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind
* Morality is the creation of the weak to deter and limit the strong
* Winning is what matters, whatever may be the cost
* Education is a progressive way of discovering your ignorance
* Great spirits face violent opposition from mediocre minds
* Helping hands are better than praying lips
* Necessity is the mother of all invention
* Thinking about the worst prepares you for the worst
* A closed mouth catches no flies
* You don't have to be different to be good; but you have to be good to be different
* If you give a man a fish, he eats it once. You teach a man to fish, you lose a business opportunity
* A man with words and no deeds is like a garden full of weeds
* For an idea to be accepted it has to be advertised by a good salesman
* Law is the creation of the strong to rule the weak
* Happiness is a mystery like religion, and it should not be rationalised
* Hope for ill gains is the beginning of loss
* Education is what remains after one forgets what one has learnt in school

GD topics for CAT 2006

* Life has become dangerous in this unipolar world
* A permanent seat in the UN Security Council is neither necessary nor sufficient for India [ Images ] to become a world power
* A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in teaching the students
* In business, the rear view mirror is clearer than the windshield
* True happiness can be got only when you make the others feel that they are responsible for it
* A room without books is like a body without soul
* Speculation is an art of life
* The validity of science lies in its power to predict
* Freedom is the freedom to say 2 + 2 = 4. Once that is granted, everything else follows
* That so few people now dare to be eccentric, is the chief danger of our times

Monday, March 22, 2010

Have we Become Slaves Of Technology

Imagine the scenario, wherein on a particular day, every piece of technology that we so conveniently depend on for our day-to-day existence fails to work. You wake up in the morning and after brushing, turn on the gas for a cup of hot tea, only to find the gas supply has exhausted. You turn on the heater and a nasty shock awaits you -the electricity supply is down and the inverter is not working. You are frustrated and as you are already running late for office, you decide to skip any idea of tea or breakfast and rush to bathe. And then you remember that there is no electricity. So, there is no way whatsoever of getting hot water. You make do with near freezing water and rush out. You just want to be doubly sure that you are not too late after all. So, you turn to your watch to check the time only to find that the watch has run down and ditto with your mobile. Seething with anger and irritation, you switch on the car ignition and the car refuses to budge. You decide to take the trusted rail route to work and the greatest shock comes in the form of a road and rail strike. Tired, hungry and frustrated, you return home and slump into bed.

This situation is not entirely hypothetical and is quite possible in real life as well. What happens then? Would we be able to run through such a day like any other day or would it actually affect us? Majority of us would say it obviously would affect us and that too, in a big way: We would be left totally paralysed, and our schedule would go haywire. Does this indicate that we have become slaves of technology?
Let us analyse what exactly technology means before arriving at an answer to this question.
Technology, though always associated with modernisation, is actually nothing new or modern, but is a constantly evolving process that had begun in the remote antiquity. It is definitely not something which has materialised overnight. It is the result of a continuous evolution of thought processes, triggered by man's constant and ever increasing needs for a better and more comfortable way of living. Man's need to improve the manner in which a certain thing was being done would trigger some ideas in the relevant direction. This would lead to the conception of a technique or invention of a tool to do the same work with less effort. These inventions and constant evolutions have been happening continuously from time immemorial.

The ancient man's need to keep himself warm, protect himself from wild animals, etc., led to the discovery of fIre. His need for cutting down trees for shelter, skinning animals for flesh and developing weapons for self¬defence led to the invention of the axe and the knife. Somewhere down the line, man felt the need of a faster and easier method of mobility. This led to the invention of the wheel. Things like the fIre, the knife and the wheel have become so much a part of our day-to¬day life today that we fInd it tough to digest the fact that there was a time when man did survive on the earth without using any of these things.
These discoveries and inventions by the prehistoric man could also be described as part of the process of technological evolution.
In comparatively much recent time, Alexander Graham Bell was probably just thinking of a means to make possible long distance communication, when he was working on the invention of the telephone. He definitely wouldn't have anticipated the gradual metamorphosis of the telephone into a cell phone, which has, of late, become kind of a lifeline for a majority of people, especially the younger generation. If we look at the uses of a telephone keeping in mind the intention with which it was invented, the transformation is mind blowing. The world without the telephone must have been so very different from what it is today. To deliver news-however urgent or important-people had to go personally to• the recipient to deliver it or fInd some alternative option for doing the same. The invention of the telephone enabled the same news to be delivered immediately. No doubt, it revolutionised people's lives and made life much more easier. But, what about today's situation? Youngsters are hooked to the cell ph~nes, to such an extent that they behave as if their very lives depend on talking over the phone. Now, one can't help but call this an absolute dependence on technology, to the extent of becoming slaves to it.
Benjamin Franklin wondered at the power of lightning and after lots of research and experiments, discovered electricity. Electricity, the basis of all modern inventions, was no doubt a very useful invention. For example, Thomas Alva Edison made use of electricity and invented the electric bulb. Edison must have just been thinking of a way to light up people's homes when he was working on the invention of the same. It no doubt added comfort to people's lives. But today, can we think of electricity and bulbs as just a means of adding comfort to our lives? Absolutely not. They have rather become absolute necessities in our day¬ to-day life. As discussed in the imaginary situation at the beginning, without electricity, our life goes for a toss. People in areas facing load shedding in our country can vouch for it. But, weren't people living equally or much more happily and peacefully before these inventions? They obviously were. So, why do we depend on these so much today? It is because we are so used to enjoying these comforts that rather than being just a comfort, they have become absolute necessities, thus making us their slaves.

Charles Babbage's obsession with tidiness and precision in mathematical calculations led him to go for one invention after another and finally led to the conception of the computer, the device which has taken over man's life at a much faster pace and a more incredible way than any other device ever invented. The computer, though invented purely with the aim of faster and more precise mathematical calculations, led to a series of inventions of computer languages as well as of related technologies like the Internet and got a huge grasp over people's lives today. Here again, the computer, with its original intention did make people's lives easier, and clumsy and cumbersome calculations faster, but it would have been good if it had stopped at that. But today, people have become entirely dependent on it.

The basic aim behind the invention of any piece of technology was to ease people's lives, save quality time by quickening otherwise time-consuming processes, add some comfort and enrich the overall quality of life. But now, rather than using technology to quicken processes and get some quality time to do some other useful work, people tend to use technology throughout and are left with a lot of time, with which they know not what to do. Rather than using technology just in places where otherwise manual slogging would be required to the extent of adversely affecting health, today people use technology so much that there is no room for. physical exercise and then complain about a whole lot of health problems. The problem basically lies in technology being used as an end in itself, and not as a means to an end.

At the same time, we can't generalise this opinion as well. There are many rural areas still where technology has not creeped in and~ taken control of people's lives. And people in those areas are also going about their lives and-so are others, who are dependent on technology. But, it is obvious that those who have got the taste' of technology are fast falling prey to its lure and becoming its slaves.
It would be better before it is too late, if we understand that technology was invented by man and is meant to be controlled by man and not vice¬ versa. If used prudently and wisely, it would enrich our lives as never before and if used excessively, it would degrade us equally. The ball is in our court and it is for us to decide how to use it to our maximum advantage.

Empowerment of Women in India

India today is at the cusp of a paradigm change in its growth and its position in the world. We (both men and women) must act decisively to capture this opportunity. We need to think big and scale up rapidly in each and every area, be it education, infrastructure, industry, financial services or equality of both genders. For around two centuries, social reformers and missionaries in India have endeavoured to bring women out of confines in which centuries of traditions had kept them. According to the 2001 Census, the percentage of female literacy in the country is 54%, up from 9% in 1951.


But we should not forget that history is a witness to the women who have in the past demonstrated unique leadership capabilities. Razia Sultana, Rani of jhansi, Sarojini Naidu and Indira Gandhi are motivating examples' of women empowerment. Earlier, most women were able to demonstrate the leadership qualities only on their home fronts, as in Indian society man has always acted as the master of the scene and the decision regarding the issue of empowering women has always been taken by him. God has gifted women with compassion, tender-heartedness, caring nature, concern for others. These are very positive signs which imply that women can be leaders. Though some women have shown their mettte yet a large number of them have to sharpen their leadership qualities in various ways. In order to help women to be in limelight, they need to be empowered. Therefore, empowerment of women is the prerequisite to transform a developing country into a developed country. I would like to peep into tbe past when the stature of women was destroyed. They were treated as chattel in the early Roman society. In France, they were termed as half-soul creatures responsible for the destruction of society. The Chinese considered them as devil's soul. Japanese men preferred to live unmarried lives. Before the advent of Islam, Arabs buried their daughters alive considering them as a sign of disgrace. In this way, they deprived women of their due place. Most men view themselves as being the superior life-form in society. They justify this belief by saying that they are stronger and more capable; thus, making them more qualified for the more important roles in society. They place themselves on pedestals and force women to believe in their own inferiority to men and their incapability to excel educationally, politically, economically and domestically. But the truth is that women have advanced in all those areas.

In Shakespeare's works, many female characters are portrayed as being manipulated, if not controlled outright by the men in their lives as fathers, uncles, suitors, husbands. Therefore, Shakespeare's works appear to send mixed signals regarding the notion of female empowerment. Empowerment has multiple, interrelated and interdependent dirnensions-economic, social, cultural and political. It can be understood in relation to resources, perceptions, relationship and power. But what does women empowerment mean? Women empowerment generally has five components: firstly, women's sense of self worth; secondly, their right to have and determine choices; thirdly, their right to have access to opportunltles and resources; fourthly, their right to have the power to control their own lives, both within and outside home; and lastly, their ability to influence the direction of social change to create a just social and economic order- nationally, internationally and universally.

Educational attainment and economic participation are the key constituents in ensuring the empowerment of women. Educational attainment is essential for empowering women in all spheres of society, for without education of comparable quality and content given to boys and men, updated with existing knowledge and relevant to current needs, women will be able to have access to well-paid formal sector jobs and advance with men. The economic empowerment of women is a vital element of strong economic growth in any country.
Empowering women enhances their ability to influence changes and to create a better society.

Other than educational and economic empowerment, changes in women's mobility ant! social interaction and changes in intra-household decision-making are necessary. Slight improvement in women's involvement in household decision-making in male-headed household, on such issues as credit, the disposal of household assets, children's education and family healthcare can work wonders. Traditionally, gender-based divisions persisted in intra-household decision-making. Women basically decide on food preparation and men make the financial decision. Women are one of the greatest assets in our society. They are equal to men in all aspects. Women are more perfectionists in all spheres. 'A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.' Today, women are emerging as leaders in a growing range of fields. Be it aeronautics, medicine, space, engineering, law, politics, education, business ... you just name the profession and they are there, all that needed in today's world is their empowerment.

In India, the empowerment process has already begun. We are now witnessing a steady improvement in the enrolment of women in schools, colleges and even in professional institutes. Their health status is better as compared to earlier decades. In this decade, women are entering into the job market in increasing numbers. They are showing their skills even in non-traditional sectors like police, defense, administration, media and research fields. Twenty-six laws have been enacted so far to protect women from various crimes. The recent law on the 'protection of women against domestic violence' satisfies the long pending demand of the women activists.
In the political field, the reservation for women is a significant step forward towards their political empowerment. When thirty-three percent reservation for women in Parliament becomes a reality, women's voice will be heard in the highest forum of democracy. That day, women of India will reach zenith in their empowerment. But a lot of work has to be done as there is a category of women (who consider themselves highly educated) that proudly accepts that they don't have digital literacy even though they own a computer, they cannot even operate bank accounts or make travel arrangements for family or handle hospital admissions even during emergencies. Even for a simple task like social visits or shopping generally they need the company of their husbands.
Women in India feel proud to display that they are well protected and pampered by their husbands without realising that they are making themselves helpless. Such women's economic literacy is so low that they cannot play any role in family's decision regarding family's budget, savings and investments. To such women, the national budget discussion is for men only and soap operas are for them. Such women suffer a lot if something untoward happens to their husbands. This type of extreme dependency is not good for the development of women. Women should remember that they are also rational, intelligent and thinking human beings. Dependant women are not empowered women. If modern women think that they are empowered, it's a myth for them. Empowerment means to inspire women with the courage to break free from the chains of limiting beliefs, patterns and societal or religious conditions that have traditionally kept women suppressed and unable to realise their true beauty and power.

Some qualities to be acquired by women to become truly empowered are awareness about risks prevailing at home, in work place, in travelling and staying outside home. They should have political, legal, economic and health awareness. They should have knowledge about support groups and positive attitudes towards life. They should set goals "for future and strive to achieve them with courage. The best gift parents today can give to their daughters is education. If women choose to be ignorant then all the efforts taken by the government and women activists will go in vain. Even in twenty-fifth century, they will remain backward and will be paying a heavy price for their dependence. So, it is a wake-up call for women to awake from their deep slumber and understand the true meaning of their empowerment. In the end I would like to conclude with the following words, "Women as the motherhood of the nation should be strong, aware and alert".

The Globalisation of Indian Economy

India is the seventh largest and the second most populous country in the world. A new spirit of economic freedom is now stirring in the country, bringing sweeping changes in its wake. A series of ambitious economic reforms aimed at deregulating the Indian economy and stimulating foreign investment have moved India firmly into the front ranks of the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region and unleashed the latent strengths of a complex and rapidly changing nation. The opportunities generated consequently are immense and the leading MNCs have been typically quick on the uptake. GE Capital terms the Indian economy unique, PepsiCo finds it one of the fastest growing and Motorola is sure it will turn into a major sourcing centre. Indian operations have occupied centre stage in these giants' global networks. India's process of economic reform is firmly rooted in a political consensus that spans her diverse political parties. The country's democracy is a known and stable factor, which has taken deep roots over nearly half a century. Importantly, India has no fundamental •conflict between its political and economic systems. Its political institutions have fostered an open society with strong collective and individual rights and an environment supportive of free economic enterprise.



India's time-tested institutions offer foreign investors a transparent environment that guarantees the security of their long-term investments. These include a free and vibrant press, a judiciary that can and does overrule the government, a sophisticated legal and accounting system, and a user-friendly intellectual infrastructure. Post 1991, India's dynamic and highly competitive private sector has been the backbone of its economic activity. It accounts for over 75 percent of its Gross Domestic Product and offers considerable scope for joint ventures and collaborations. Today, India is one of the most exciting emerging markets in the world. Skilled managerial and technical manpower that match the best in the world and a vibrant middle class whose size exceeds the population of the USA or the European Union, provide India with a distinct cutting edge in global competition.

Indian economy had experienced major policy changes in the early 1990s. The new economic reform, popularly known as Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation (LPG model) aimed at making the Indian economy globally competitive and ensuring faster growth. The series of reforms undertaken with respect to industrial sector, trade as well as fmancial sector have been aimed at making the economyy more efficient. With the onset of reforms to liberalise the Indian economy in July 1991, a new chapter has dawned for India and her billion plus population. This period of economic transition has had a tremendous impact on the overall economic development of almost all major sectors of the economy, and its effects over the last decade can hardly be overlooked. Besides, it also marks the real integration of the Indian economy with the global economy. ThiS" era of reforms has also ushered in a remarkable change in the Indian mindset, as it deviates from the traditional values upheld since Independence in 1947, such as self-reliance and socialistic policies of economic development, which mainly due to the inward looking restrictive form of governance, resulted in the isolation, overall backwardness and inefficiency of the economy. This situation had been prevailing despite the fact that India has always had the potential to be on the fast track to prosperity.

Now that India is in the process of restructuring her economy, with aspirations of elevating herself from her present precarious position in the world, the need to speed up her economic development has become even more pronounced. And having witnessed the positive role that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has played in -the rapid economic growth of most of the South East Asian countries and most notably China, India has embarked on an ambitious plan to emulate the success of her neighbours to the east and is trying to sell herself as a safe and profitable FDI destination. Globalisation has many meanings depending on the context and on the person who is talking about it. Though the precise definition of globalisation is still unavailable, a few definitions are worth viewing. Guy Brainbant says that the process of globalisation not only includes opening up of world trade, development of advanced means of communication, internationalisation of financial markets, growing importance of MNCs, population migrations and more generally increased mobility of persons, goods, capital, data and ideas but also infections, diseases and pollution. The term globalisation refers to the integration of economies of the world through uninhibited trade and financial flows, as also through mutual exchange of technology and knowledge. Ideally, it also includes free inter-country movement of labour. In the Indian context, this implies opening up the economy to foreign direct investment by providing facilities to foreign companies to invest in different fields of economic activity in India, removing constraints and obstacles to the entry of MNCs in India, allowing Indian companies to enter into foreign collaborations and also encouraging them to set up joint ventures abroad; carrying out massive import liberalisation programmes by switching over from quantitative restrictions to reduction of tariffs and import duties, etc. Therefore globalisation has been identified with the policy reforms of 1991 in India.

In the year 1492, Columbus had set sail to discover an India rich in spices and treasure. In the 21st century the world has set sail .for India for finding that treasure, as the trend shows. A large number of global multinational brands such as Coca-Cola, Google, Micro-soft and Mercedes-Benz have been successfully operating in India. Indian brands which were operating locally in India earlier have started competing internationally. From New Delhi to New York brands have become global. The pattern of consumption in India has also changed. Level of spending on private consumption has been rising significantly. Young consumers in India are regarded as the most powerful consumers. In an era of globalised environment, the country has become a major player in the socio-economic field from being merely a third world country not very long ago. Many studies and reports have forecasted India to be the third largest economy in the world by 2040. Globalisation in India has transformed the country's system. Presently India is regarded as an economy-dominated country rather than a politics-driven one, as it was earlier. Political dominance has declined significantly these days. Adoption of Globalisation in India and liberalisation principles have widened the horizon of the country's consumers worldwide. Consumers in India have become more conscious. Market information in India has become clear. Liberalised policies have led the industrial sector to grow at a faster pace. BPO, IT, ITES, Retail and Insurance sectors have performed well. Both male and female have got equal opportunity in that sector. A substantial success in this regard is the reduction in gender inequality in India. Moreover, progress in education and awareness, a gift of globalisation, has elevated the country to a higher pedestal in the community of nations.

Management As A Career

"The conventional definition of management is getting work done through people, but real management is developing people through work".

An individual grows up till his early teens with the comforts of his home and tutelage of the parents and teachers. The student is directed or guided at these stages and does not have any academic choices to make. The student may have preferences or aptitudes for some subjects, but he or she cannot do away with any of the "not-so-preferred" subjects, at least up to class X. The real challenge starts when the student has to make a choice after passing out from secondary school. At present, the student has many options to choose from-engineering, medicine, pharmacy, technology, research, pure sciences, commerce, advertising, tourism, law, management and so on. And within each category, in engineering for example, there are branches such as mechanical, chemical, electronics and communication, information technology, bio-technology, fashion technology, visual communications, and the list goes on. What the students choose at this stage, is driven by the dreams of their parent(s), influences by the friends and neighbours and very less by the aptitude of the students though there has been a change in the trend, of late. This course decision almost decides the career path.

Choosing a career is one of the most important milestones in anyone's life. Therefore, it becomes all the more necessary to be very diligent while taking a decision of the career path. Management as a course is one of the many good options 1vailable to students. There are several questions when one zeroes in on a course in management. Some of these questions are: What is management? Why should one choose management programme? Who can choose a management course? When can one choose this option? Which course in management IS to be chosen? Where the course needs to be done? What are the prospects for a student of management? All these questions which come in every student's mind are now answered, one by one.

Management is the art of managing things, events and people to achieve the desired objective. It is not only an art but also a science in as much as it has a structured and logical basis with a theoretical framework.

The Value of Computer Education Today

The proverb "necessity is the mother of invention" holds true for computers also, because computers were invented as a result of man's search for a fast and accurate calculating device.

The earliest device that qualifies as a digital computer is the abacus, also called soroban. This device allows the users to represent numbers by the position of beads on the rack. Although abacus was invented around 600 BC, it is interesting to note that it is still used in the Far East and its users can calculate at an amazing speed. The first mechanical adding machine was invented by Blaise Pascal in 1642. Keyboard machine and concept of punched cards came up around 1880. Business machines and calculators made their appearance in Europe and America towards the end of 19th century. Charles Babbage, a 19th century professor at Cambridge University, is considered to be the father of modern digital computers. In 1842, he came out with the idea of Analytical Engine which was automatic and capable of performing the basic arithmetic functions of any mathematical problem at an average speed of 60 additions per minute.

There was a rapid change in the field of computers in the 90's. Slowly the advent of a new era came up with software industries. It is not just the phenomenal rate of growth or even the large foreign exchange earning potential, the uniqueness lies in the utter reliance of man on it. Software is the ideas and solution coded in computer in understandable form by suitable qualified personnel. The never-ending thirst for perfection led to the development of the modern IT industry. This led the computer industry through an e-way into the dot com world.

Now there has come a new trend in all the government departments around the world. It has transformed not only the way public services are delivered but also the relation between government and citizens. The next revolution of e¬-government has begun. In the Arizona state of USA, the citizens are allowed to renew their car registration, pay traffic fines, replace lost identity cards online thus escaping the huge endless queues in a municipal office. In Chile, people routinely submit their income tax returns over the Internet which has increased transparency, reduced drastically the time taken .and• the number of errors and litigation with the tax department. Suppliers find tenders and' purchase orders on site and they can post their catalogues, bid for contracts, submit invoices and check their payment status over Internet. In India, many villages have now internet booths where farmers can check the market rates of agricultural commodities along with data on agricultural schemes and technologies, when to spray and plant their crops; bus and railway time tables. They also find vocational guidance on jobs, applications for ration cards, kerosene, gas burners . and land records extracts with details of land ownership.

Computer education is not confined to all these but it has given a new boom to numerous engineering colleges and polytechnics. Besides offering 4 years B.E./ B.Tech./ B.Sc.(Engg.] courses, many colleges and universities have started offering application-oriented courses, modular courses, part-time courses, fast track courses. Universities are also taking to corporate training thereby educating people from different streams. The Tamil Nadu government has laid a 3000 km of fibre optic cable to create a Tamil network which will offer all types of forms, land resources and personal records. In Kerala, all the villages have got linked online to the district headquarters allowing citizens to compare the development practices of their villages with other villages. In Andhra Pradesh, too, every district headquarter is linked to Hyderabad via internet to enable the Chief Minister to contact district officials via Internet.

In these days of "Global Economy", technology is considered as one of the important engines of economic growth. Trade barriers among nations are falling. The dot com 'world has reduced our needs to dot; now everything is at our finger- tips. But still there Seems to be some lacunae in cyber communication. So, digital money has come up wherein one can make payments online with ~mart cards. Internet industries, enterprises and e-business operators can’t get by with a promising product alone which business makes. There are key factors, comprising the twin pillars of today's Internet economy.

The utilisation of computers has started in headquarters of all the nationalised banks throughout the country and now it is being possible to control and supervise the working of more than 45,000 branches through computer. The Life Insurance Corporation of India has gone in for computerization of its works in a big way. Its service to the policy holder has become more reliable and faster than before.

The employment of computer in transport system has been found to be very useful. The international airlines have already got it. In the railways, computer has very much facilitated the job of reservation of seats and berths in advance of the scheduled journey. Computer has been found useful in controlling rail and road transport. The importance of computer for police and justice can hardly be overemphasized. It has been found possible to detect crimes with the help of computers. Hence the computers fitted in the State Police headquarters are linked with national computer centre situated in New Delhi. The computer plays a notable role in medical field also; it is being used in India in ECG and blood analysis and surgeries.

The computerisation of military, posts and telegraph, commerce and industry and education. has revolutionised the working of these departments. Computer has been found to be of immense use in the statistical department for the purpose of data analysis and prediction of results. The expediency of computer technology in communication can also hardly be overstated.
It is true that computer does not grow food, does not move the wheels of industry to turn out more and more finished goods. It does not open schools and- colleges to educate more and more _ people. It does not reduce illiteracy, but it does add to efficiency, speed and accuracy which help not only in producing more and more goods and services but also in improving their standard and quality. It generates in the personnel engaged in work the required qualities of smartness, dash and promptness. An organization making use of computers on an optimum scale earns more respect, credibility and reliability from its clientele. As India's industrialisation goes apace, computerisation on a larger and larger scale will be a natural corollary.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 was instituted to provide legal framework to facilitate electronic commerce and transaction. This act also aims at recognizing electronic contracts, prevention of computer crimes, electronic filing/documentation, and digital signature. To integrate technology into learning environment, the Department of Information Technology has formulated two programmes- Vidya Vahini and Gyan Vahini. The former would provide connectivity to schools across the country and the latter, IT infrastructure at all the higher learning institutions in the country. Sankhya Vahini, the project launched by Indian Telecom Services along with IU Net .is all set to lihk over 100 universities, schools, hospitals and corporate establishments which would enable cheaper and instantaneous data exchange. An ambitious project V-cop is on the anvil to connect the Police Stations through an all India network. The software FACT provides fingerprint statistics with • centrally located server at National Crime Records Bureau.

There has been a considerable shift in the learning paradigm due to the introduction of technology and newer methods of imparting education. New technologies are being gradually integrated into the learning environment. Networking and internet are being used as cost-effective tools for improving learning opportunities for students, faculty development, supporting professional development, increasing productivity of members of the learning community and improving the efficiency of educational institutions and administration.

As of now, India is well on course to becoming an IT superpower. Indian firms like Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro are considered as the best in business. As a frontline political leader had once put it : "Indians are capable, we can compete with anybody in the world, in knowledge, in performance, in vision. We have to create that opportunity. We have all the resources-natural and human. If you have a vision, things will automatically happen".

BITSAT Exam

Birla Institute Of Technology & Sciences (BITS Pilani) conducts its computer based online test (BITSAT Exam). Candidates who are desirous to get admission into the integrated first year degree program have to go through with BITSAT Exam. BITS Pilani is a renowned all India institute known for imparting quality higher education particularly in engineering and allied sciences.

Eligibility Criteria

• A candidate should have completed 10+2 from a recognized central or state board or its equivalent with subjects physics, chemistry and mathematics.
• Candidate appearing in 10+2 (final) or equivalent examination with result awaited may also go through the entrance exam.
• A minimum marks obtained in 10+2 is 80% in physics, chemistry and mathematics, with at least 60% marks scored in all the subjects.
• Candidate must have ample knowledge of English language.

BITSAT Exam Pattern:

BITSAT exam is framed to assess the candidate’s knowledge with keyboard, mouse & basic computer operations. Candidates who are keen in appearing in exam have to finish their test within 3 hours of prescribed time allotted. The test is divided into four sections and total number of questions generated is 150. The questions are based on objective type and multiple choices. Every question has four optional answers to choose from. As this is a computer based test, candidates are not allowed to choose more than one option.

How To Apply:

The applicant can now register their names online at www.bitsadmission.com for prescribed application form.

Test Centers for BITSAT- 2010:

Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad City, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad Campus of BITS, Chandigarh, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Gurgaon, Coimbatore, Indore, Kolkatta, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Gwalior .


Important Dates:

• BITSAT Online tests: 10th May – 10th June 2010
• Admit List and Wait List announcement: 1st July 2010

Thursday, March 18, 2010

AIMS Test For Management Admissions, ATMA

AIMS Test For Management Admissions (ATMA) is a standardized admission test framed by AIMS which helps budding aspirants to join desired postgraduate management courses in different institutes in India. An AIMS is a national association of management schools which is approved by AICTE. ATMA test patter is designed to evaluate the skill for management education including verbal skills, quantitative skills and analytical reasoning of candidates.

List of best institutes which accept ATMA Scores:

• Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management
• Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research(Pune & Bangalore)
• Sikkim Manipal University
• Madurai Kamraj University
• IILM Institute of Higher Education
• Indian Institute of Fundamental Research
• International School of Management & Research
• Institute of International Business & Research
• International Institute of Management Human Resource Development for Women
• Acharya Institute of Management & Science
• Indian Business Academy
• Rai Business School

Eligibility criteria for ATMA:


• In order to secure admission in ATMA, applicant must have bachelor's degree in any discipline from any recognized institute/university.
• Applicant appearing in graduation final year can also apply.
Test Pattern and Duration:
• The aptitude test contains 170 Questions covered under Six Sections
• Time allotted is three hours.
• The questions are based on Analytical Reasoning Skills, Quantitative Skills and Verbal skills.
• For each right answer a candidate will get 1 mark and for wrong answer 1/3rd marks will be subtracted for each question.

How to Apply:

Graduate applicant seeking admission in ATMA can gather ONLINE application kit from ATMA office. The applicant can also obtain forms from various branches of IMS Learning Centres, Axis Bank, Career Forum, Cerebral Heights, Career Launcher & PT-Education Centres and AIMS.

ATMA Test Centers:

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar,Chandigrah, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Noida, Goa, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nasik, Nagpur, Nashik, Patna, Pune Raipur, Ranchi, Sangli, Trichy.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Group Discussion and Personal Interview Tips

Are You Ready For Admission in MBA?


GD and interview preparation is not a 10 to 15 sessions' programme, but a continuous, a year-long process. They are more about sharpening your business acumen and skill. There are topics in GD which give you surprise such as

• Do you know something about impact of China's deliberate slowdown on Indian economy?

• Why does the Indian Prime Minister give top billing to infrastructure?

• What are your thoughts on the consolidation in the Indian telecom sector etc.?

If you have an idea of the current affairs and topics likely to be discussed in GD like above, your preparation has direction. If not, you probably are so engrossed in your Mathematics and English that you are ignoring the real aspects of preparation for admission.

Apart from your performance in the Written Entrance Test, Group Discussions and Personal Interviews are vital and an integral part of the selection processes of most the top B-Schools. While the weightage given to these factors varies ftom one B-School to another, it is normally in the range of 30-40 percent of the total weightage. So, when it comes to GD and Personal Interview preparation, leave no stone unturned.

What is a Group Discussion (GD)? A GD is a process and forum to discuss and put forth your opinion on a topic in a logical, coherent, and mature manner. The person who conducts the GD and assesses your performance is called a moderator. The number of students participating in a Group Discussion varies from 8 to 10 to about 15 to 20, which differs from school to school.

In order to prepare well to be successful in Group Discussions, it is important for you to understand what a GD is all about and the various parameters on which you are likely to be judged. A GD is a many¬to-many interaction where a participant, at any time, may interrupt another to put forth his/her point of view on the topic. The competencies that are looked into are-your personality, logical thinking, strategy (for solutions), listening skills, reactions and proactiveness, verbal communication, etc. In earlier times, GD used to be topical and main concentration was on the content and attitude. Today, things have changed. GD has become more of an exercise of Group Dynamics rather than a discussion. There are basically three types of Group Discussion:

(a) Topic-based GD : In topic-based GDs, an individual will be asked to discuss a knowledge-based topic that may pertain to society/social trends, education, politics, economics, legal! judicial system, information technology, sport or current events as mentioned in the opening paras above.

(b) Article-based GD : Sometimes, the GD is based on an article from a newspaper clipping.

(c) Case-based GD : The GDs at some top institutes such as IIM¬ Ahmadabad, IIM-Bangalore, and IIM¬ Indore have case studies instead of regular topics. Institutes such as SCMHRD and IRMA have, as a part of their selection process, been asking students to enact role-plays and analyze situations.

Tips for participating in Group Discussion:
1. Appearance & Attitude:

Appearance and Attitude are like the two sides of the same coin. If one dresses smartly, it has a direct positive impact on the attitude of the individual. As in anything ilnd everything in life, the key to success lies in our attitude towards things and how we orient our minds accordingly. If one looks at this GD as unachievable, success is indeed going to be difficult to achieve. However, if one learns to look at it from the perspective of self-development and as a positive challenge, the whole mind set towards it changes for the better.
2. Cool & Calm Orientation: In the GD, maintain your cool, posture, and modulate your voice well. Admission coordinators look for team players, candidates with original ideas & analytical skills, and quick thinkers.

3. Be your natural self: Do not attempt to garner attention during the Go. Be your natural self. Do not fake up your answers in the interview. Be honest if you do not know the answer.
4. Communication & Content:
Communication does not refer to use of flowery language. It means conveying one's ideas in such a manner that the persons being addressed clearly understand what you are telling them. Students who use simple, easily comprehensible language to convey their ideas, will have an advantage over others. Content refers to the quality of 'what you say'. In a GD, unless one knows something about the topic, one will not be able to make a positive contribution to the topic, hence the content is the single most important factor that determines success in a GD. So one must read as much as one can.
5. Listening Skills: One is also expected to be a good listener. Unless an individual is a good listener, he/ she will fmd it very difficult to add to the points made by other participants. Moreover, one may be asked to summarise the cliscussion and unless you are a good listener, you will not be able to do that.
6. No Room for Emotions: The disagreement that an individual expresses is with the point of view or a particular data he or she is provided with. It is not your personal opinion. In GD topics that are a little emotional like "Inclia should give away Kashmir to Pakistan", the aspirant is there to discuss and understand the probability to have a Plan of Action or a solution coming in from a mature person. Emotions are best left outside the GD room.

7. Time-factor: We all know that a normal GD would have a time¬frame of 20-30 minutes. If there are 10 students sitting in the GD, that translates into 2-3 minutes per person. This is one of the biggest truths that GD takers forget. The ideal time for one to talk would be this duration. A very big fact that many of us tend to overlook is that during the GD process, the GD taker needs to ensure that the candidates do their job perfectly. So the message is quite clear ¬"Concentrate on your role and your job as a team person. Forget the rest”

PERSONAL INTERVIEW: Interviewers develop an impression of an individual in the first few minutes of the meeting, and spend the rest of the interview confirming their initial impression. Therefore, practice, practice and practice some more... The information given below has tips on attending interviews for the purpose of joining an MBA programme (in top B¬Schools). B-School interviews may become a strong' tool for both MBA applicants and admission committee representatives to take the final decision. From a college's point of view, it would be able to gauge through applicant's interpersonal skills and pick candidates who not only look great managers on paper but also in real life.

Tips for a successful B-School Personal Interview-

1. Attitude towards the Interview: An admission interview should always be treated as a healthy conversation and with the understanding that the people sitting on the other side of the table are interested in knowing you. The questions in B-School interviews can range from academics to work experience to broad discussion on life.

2. Body Language: As soon as a candidate walks into a room, he/ she exudes certain qualities such as positivity /negativity, charm/ dullness etc. Interviewers are definitely looking forward to meeting pleasant candidates who know how to conduct themselves.

3. Prepare, prepare and prepare: Well prepared candidate will always stand out from the crowd. The following points should be kept in mind while preparing: It is imperative to be thorough with what has gone in the admission essays, resume, etc. There should be no mismatch between what an individual would be speaking and what has been written in his/her Business School application. Practicing mock interviews and work on the feedback can also prove a good idea. Answers to questions on programme that you have applied for, career goals/ vision, strength and weakness, why XYZ B-School, work experience, extra-curricular experience, and why MBA, such kind of questions should be at your fingertips.
4. Be Your natural self: Do not try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see through your masks. Be honest and sound honest. This is mostly appreciated and tends to give the applicant brownie points as well.

5. Don't beat about the bush: Maintaining focus on fostering a friendly conversation with the interviewer is important.
Interviewers want to know how interested the applicant is in their B-School and not otherwise. A thorough research on B-School (programmes, alumni, student clubs, specialization etc.), clarity about goals, vision, and work experience would always help candidates to give concrete and concise answers.

6. Dress Code: Well cut, clean, and neatly ironed conservative business suits or dress are appreciated.

Your personality is combination of all factors added together, may be your communication, may be your body language, may be your dress, may be your attitude ete. In fmal decision to select a student for admission, your personality plays an important role however intelligent you may be.