The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

I have taken up a course in gemology. What are the job prospects in this field?

Q I am a diploma-holder in engineering and very keen on pursuing a career in the Indian Navy. Is it possible?

Soumitra Chatterjee, Chandigarh

A While there are several direct as well as special entry routes into the Indian Navy through Permanent Commission or Short Service Commission for Engineering graduates, diploma-holders in Engineering need not loose heart.

The propulsion machinery, weapons, sensors and equipment on board the Indian Navy’s highly sophisticated ships, submarines and aircraft are operated by Artificer sailors of the Marine Engineering branch. In order to become an Artificer sailor, you should have passed a 3-year diploma with minimum 50% marks in Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics/Telecommunication/Aeronautical/ Ship Building & Architecture/Automobile/Instrumentation Engineering from a Government-recognised polytechnic or institute. Unmarried males between 17-21 years of age are eligible (Nepali citizens can also apply).

The initial 9-week training at INS Chilka, Orissa, is followed by afloat and professional training. You will be initially engaged for a period of 20 years (which is extendable) till you attain the age of 57. You can be promoted to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (equivalent to Subedar Major). Promotion to the post of Commissioned Officer is also possible for those who perform well and pass the prescribed examinations. While you will be paid approximately Rs. 5,900 p.m. during the initial training, you can expect between Rs. 8,700-16,700 p.m. depending on the rank you attain and the seniority. The perks include children’s education and HRA and a host of other entitlements.

The selection procedure is through an objective-type written test (conducted at over 14 centres) consisting of English, Science, Maths and General Knowledge which you have to qualify separately. Successful candidates are then required to clear the physical fitness and medical tests.

Luckily for you, the last date for receipt of applications is 28 December, ‘98.

For further information, you may contact: Indian Navy, DMPR, Naval Headquarters, Sena Bhawan, DHQ Post Office, New Delhi 110011. Tel: 3016296.

Q I have taken up a course in gemology. What are the job prospects in gemology and jewellery designing?

Ridhi Rastogi, Dehra Dun

A In sheer size, there’s little that comes even close to the jewellery industry in India. At Rs 40,000 crore, it’s all sheen vying for buyers conditioned by tradition and faith in the inherent value of the stuff. And now like its international counterpart, the relatively new branded jewellery segment is also slated to touch a new high. So all in all, it’s a great field to be in.

While gemology involves sorting, grading, valuation, identification and cutting of gems, jewellery design deals with the designing of ornaments - precious, costume or junk jewellery. Accordingly, a Jewellery Designer works with precious and other metals, gems, precious and semi-precious stones, terracotta, glass and wooden beads, plastic, cowrie shells, etc.

Trained designers usually work for established manufacturers and are employed by precious and costume jewellery-making firms, export houses, buying agencies and large jewellery exporters and showrooms.

You can also work for established jewellery designers. Even hi-fashion jewellery magazines like G & J that highlight the latest trends in jewellery design recruit upcoming designers. Yet another option is to work as regular or part-time faculty in a reputed design school. Of course with some experience, you can even launch into marketing of designer or costume jewellery on your own.

Q I am a student of Class XII with physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology as subjects. Could you please tell me whether, given a choice, girls should prefer to study BE or MBBS?

Arpita Kumar, Jammu

A Making a career decision is not the easiest thing in the world. But please don’t let mere statistics guide your choice of career. Numbers don’t count. Your calibre does. While there may be relatively fewer women in the traditional branches of engineering like civil or mechanical which involve working outdoors, on site, or on the factory shop floor, there are any number of hot-shot electronics and computer engineers who are women. And the same goes with doctors.

Both medicine as well as engineering are top-of-the-line professional courses which leads me to believe that you are keen on pursuing a professional career. It is therefore very important to go by your interests, aptitude and inclination rather than conforming to outdated beliefs and assumptions. Which is certainly not to belittle certain practical considerations. For instance, if you are keen on medicine but do not savour the prospect of being on call round-the-clock, you may opt for fields like dentistry, ophthalmology or dermatology which pose fewer emergencies. But remember that if women continue to do only what other women have earlier done, they’re bound to remain confined to conventional age-old stereotypes.

Q I would like to join BITS, Pilani. Can you tell me something about this institute?

Satish Gugliani, SAS Nagar

A BITS Pilani offers a wide choice of courses: B.E.(Hons) in: Chemical Engg., Civil Engg., Electrical Engg., Electronics Engg., Instrumentation Engg., Mechanical Engg. and Computer Science. Besides Engineering BITS offers courses in pharmacy, bilogical sciences and finance. Amongst the ones is the dual degree scheme under which a student is awarded two integrated degrees after five years of study.

Spread over a 325-acre complex with 12 hostels, six labs equipped with 200 computers and a well stacked library.

Admission are made on an all-India basis. The normal eligibility for admission is 10+2 or its equivalent from a recognized Board with Physics, Chemistry, Maths and proficiency in English. The cut-off percentage is steep and range from 95 to 98%. There is no separate entrance test as is the case with all other engineering colleges in the country. Roughly 2400 students are admitted each year

With a campus placement of 90% with salary package of Rs. 2 lakh pa, BITS is described as "university attached to industry" as students conduct projects in various industries while studying. Several Singapore-based companies even bear the expenses of students working on such projects for them.Please send in your query preferably on a postcard along with your name, complete address and academic qualifications to:

Editor, Career Hotline, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh.

Admission deadline

Civil Services

Mar 12 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Dholpur House, New Delhi-110011.

Website: www.upsc.gov.in

Indian Forest Service Examination-2001.

Elig: Indian Citizens with Bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sc, Botany, Chem, Geol, Maths, Phy, Stats, Zool or Agri, Forestry or Engg. or equivalent.

Age: 21-30 yrs (SC/ST/OBC etc: 35 yrs) on 1 July.

Exam: 14 July.

Appln F & Detailed Info: Employment News Feb 19-16.

Computers/Management

Mar 15 Professional Examination Board, MP, Chayan Bhavan, Main Road No. 1, Chinar Park (East), Bhopal-462011

Email: vyapam@mp.nic.in

Twin Entrance Test for MCA-MBA-2001 (MP & Chattisgarh States)

Test: 15 Apr at Bhopal, Jabalpur, Raipur, Gwalior, Indore, New Delhi & Lucknow

Appln F: Send Rs. 175/- (MCA)/Rs. 275/- (MCMJET) by crossed DD favouring "Professional Examination Board" payable at Bhopal before Mar 10. Also available in cash Rs. 100/- for MCA & Rs. 200/- for MCMJET at counter and at:

1) College of Correspondence Courses, 5, Cavalry Lines, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007. Ph: 7256773.

2) University Teaching Department, New Delhi. Ph: 3368035.

Engineering

Mar 14 University of Delhi, Faculty of Technology, Mechanical Engineering Block, Old Delhi College of Engineering Bldg, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110006.

Combined Entrance Exam (CEE) for Admission to BE Courses in:

Delhi College of Engineering & Netaji Subhas Instt. of Technology.

Test: 20May.

Elig: 10+2 from CBSE (PCM) or equivalent with (60%) (SC/ST: 50%; CW (Defence) Category: 55%) in PCM. Age: Min 17 yrs.

Appln F: Send Rs. 280/- by DD favouring "The Registrar, Delhi University, Delhi" drawn on SBI, Service Branch, New Delhi (Code No. 7687) on reserve of DD stating your name, add & Ph no. plus 3 self-add slips to the Assistant Registrar to above address before Mar 2.

At counter: Rs. 250/- by DD at above add and NSIT, Sector-3, Dwarka, Papankalan, New Delhi 110045 or at the abaaove add. before Mar 14.

Apr 07 Birla Instt. of Technology Mesra, Ranchi 835215.

Admission through All India Entrance Exam:

1) Undergraduate Degree Courses:

BArch (5 yrs); BE (4 yrs) (Civil, Comp Sc; Electrical & Electronics; Electronics & Comm; Mechanical; Production; Polymer Engg; Information Technology); BPharm (4 yrs)

2) PG Degree/Diploma Courses:

MSc (2 yrs) (Info Sc-MIS); MSc (21/2 yrs) (Bio-medical Instrumentation-BMI); PGDCA (1 yr); MBA (F/T 2 yr, P/T 3 yrs); MCA (F/T 3 yrs, P/T 41/2 yrs).

Admission to PG Programs Based on Merit in Qualifying Exam/ GATE Score & Interview:

3) ME (F/T, P/T); MPharm; MTech

Exam: (1 & 2): 26-27 May at 31 centres including B’lore, Kolkatta, Ch’garh, Chennai, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Trivandrum, Vijayawada & Visakhapatnam.

Appln F: Send Rs. 200/- by crossed IPO/DD favouring "Birla Instt. of Technology", payable at Mesra, Ranchi to the Controller of Entrance examination at the above add stating your name, add on the reverse of IPO/DD plus two self-add slips (3" x 4") superscribing choice of course before Mar 26. At counter (by IPO/DD for Rs. 150/-) from BIT Extension Centre, A-7, Sector 1, Noida, UP 201301.

Apr 20 Sant Longowal Instt. of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal-148 106, Dist: Sangrur, Punjab.

Website: www.sliet.org

Admission through All India Entrance Test

(1) Degree, (2) Diploma & (3) Certificate-level Courses in Engineering & Technology.

Test: 24 June.

Elig: (1): Diploma-holders. (2): 10+2 (PCM) or Certificate-holders of SLIET. (3): Class X.

Appln F: Send Rs. 325/- by DD favouring "Director, SLIET" payable at Longowal to the above add before 20 Apr or Rs. 300/- (cash) at counter.

Food Processing

Mar 24 Govt. Fruit Preservation & Canning Instt (D/o Horticulture & Food Processing, UP), 18-B, Ashok Marg, Lucknow

Website: www.upinfo.org

PG Associateship in Fruit & Vegetable Technology-2001 (2 yr)

Elig: Bachelor’s degree in Science or Agriculture (45%) with Chemistry as a subj. Age: 20-25 years on 1 Feb 2001.

Test: 22 Apr.

Appln F: Send Rs. 70/- by DD favouring "Joint Director (Fruit Preservation) Govt. Fruit Preservation & Canning Institute, Lucknow" with self-add envelope (23x15 cm) before Mar 3. From Officer-in-Charage: Rs. 50/- (cash).

Management

Feb 28 NIILM Centre for Management Studies, B-II/66, SS Marg, Mathura Rd, New Delhi 110 044.

Website: www.niilm.com

PG Diploma in Business Management

Elig: Bachelor’s degree and scores in MAT of AIMA, GMAT.

Appln Form: Send 550/- by DD favouring "NIILM" payable at New Delhi to the above add. At counter: Rs. 500/- (cash).

Mass communication

Apr 26 Indian Instt. of Mass Communication, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, JNU Campus, New Delhi-110 067.

Website: www.iimc.ac.in

PG Diplomas:

Journalism (Eng)

Journalism (Hin)

Journalism,.Radio & TV

Advtg & PR

(Courses offered at Delhi: 1, 2, 3, 4; at Dhenkanal (Orissa): 1)

Elig: Bachelor’s degree. Age: Born after 1 Aug ‘76 (‘71 for SC/ST and ‘73 for OBC).

Appln F: Send Rs. 200/- by DD favouring "Indian Instt. of Mass Communication, New Delhi" along with self-add, stamped (Rs. 10/-) envelope (27 x 17 cm) to the Registrar at the above address before Apr 12. Separate forms for (1-3) & (4).

Scholarships

Mar 15 BD Bangur Endowment Educational Scholarships.

Scholarships for Higher Study Abroad

Students pursuing Masters/ Doctoral Courses in Science, Engineering, Humanities, Medicine, Business Admin and other professional areas.

Elig: Indian Nationals with relevant Bachelor’s Degree. Age: 19 to 30 yrs.

Appln F: Send bio-data outlining academic achievements, copies of marks sheets, admission letter (if available), attested copy of proof of date of birth, details of existing financial support with self-add, stamped (Rs. 6/-) envelope (15x25cm) to the offices of the Endowment C/o Graphite India Ltd., 31, Chowringhee Road, Calcutta-700016. OR C/o Carbon Everflow Ltd, Bakhtawar (2nd Floor), Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021.

Sciences

Apr 20 Indian Instt. of Technology Kharagpur-721302.

4th yr of MSc (5 yr-Integrated)

Physics, Applied Geology & Exploration Geophysics

1st yr of MSc (2 yrs)

Mathematics, Chemistry

Elig: BSc with relevant subj. Age: Born after October 1 ‘73 (SC/ST: 5 yrs relaxation).

Test: June 3 at Calcutta and IIT, Kharagpur. (Also in Delhi, Waltair Ranchi & Bhubaneshwar if enough candidates).

Appln F: Send Rs. 400/- (SC/ST: Rs. 250/-) by crossed DD favouring "IIT, Kharagpur" drawn on SBI (0202) with request on plain paper enclosing self-add envelope (12"x10") to the above add before Mar 12.

CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi.