A. The following subject combinations are not allowed in the Mains. To avoid inconvenience at a later stage, do check out for these combinations right in the beginning.

(a) Political Science & International Relations and Public Administration

(b) Commerce & Accountancy and Management

(c) Anthropology and Sociology

(d) Mathematics and Statistics

(e) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science

(f) Management and Public Administration

(g) Of the Engineering subjects, viz., Civil, Electrical and Mechanical — not more than one subject

(h) Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science and Medical Sciences.

A The scope is immense. Cyber security has emerged as perhaps the most critical issues in IT. With the proliferation of e-commerce (more and more organisations moving their offline transactions online), the need for developing "fool proof" e-security systems to safeguard information from rampant cracking is the no #1 global IT concern.

Companies hire smart hackers to test the robustness of their network security systems in order to ensure that credit card operations are foolproof, that bank operations can be safely accessed through the Net and that data on local computers and servers is secure.

Virtually every Fortune 500 company employs hackers to protect their critical data from possible cracker attacks. Hackers also educate government, defence services, law enforcement bodies and business houses on how to harness technology to get their work done securely.

To begin with, you require thorough knowledge of C coupled with mastery of one UNIX operating system and assembly language, networking, TCP/IP and various other protocols. There are no short cuts. Get hold of several technical manuals and get going. You can also learn from the Net and hacking clubs (in India, young Ankit Fadia’s "hackingtruths" club provides training material to aspiring hackers. There is an annual convention of hackers in the US where experts exchange knowledge. But the best training is on the job.

What distinguishes a hacker from a cracker is that the former is actually paid to identify security breaches in an organisation’s network. Constructive hacking is legal and ethical/because it is done with the client’s permission.

However, all said and done hacking is a double-edged sword -both parties need to agree that none of the exercises carried out will be in violation of section 65/66 of the IT Act.

The work can be highly challenging. You’ve got to be on your toes all the time to stay ahead of hackers. There’s never a dull moment - you’ll find a new problem everyday! The rewards are excellent. Experts command huge salaries to consult companies on security issues. They command a premium over their conventional networking and software counterparts.

Training Websites: http://hackingtruths.box.sk; www.foundstone.com;

www.verisign.com/training/courses/hacking/;

www.sensepost.com/training/hacking.txt

www.arabtrust.com/training /courses/hacking/index.html.

A Don’t worry. With a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, you could become a consultant, thereby earning both money as well as respect of the farmer community.

And the best part is that you could do so straight after college (or even while working)!

The M/o Agriculture, in association with NABARD has launched a unique program to tap the expertise available in the large pool of Agriculture graduates or those in allied fields.

Irrespective of whether you are a fresh graduate or currently employed, you could open your own Agriclinic or Agribussiness center to provide professional extension services to farmers like advising them on crop selection, best farm practices, post-harvest value added options, key agricultural information, etc

The government provides a free 2-month start-up-training programme comprising of Entrepreneurship, Bussiness Management and Skill Improvement modules in your chosen area of expertise. On completing the training you can also apply for special start-up loans for your venture.

For detailed information regarding modules, enrolment criteria, institute closest to you and the business potential in the field of your choice, contact, Post Bag No 1, Agriclinic & Agribussiness Centers Cell, National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030 (AP). For details log on to www.manage.gov.in.

In the meanwhile also visit agriculture expositions/fairs conducted by the agriculture universities of your area. This will help you gain invaluable knowledge about the industry and other opportunities in this field.

A You could look at the following courses in Journalism through correspondence:

A) Bachelors in Journalism & Mass Comm (1-year). Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree):

• Kota Open University, Rawatbhata Road Akelgarh, Kota 324010.

• Barkatullah Vishwavidalaya, Institute of Open & Distance Education, Bhopal 462026.

• Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidalaya, Deptt of Correspondence Courses, Sagar 470003.

• Guru Ghasidas University, Institute of Distance Education, Bilaspur 495009.

• Guru Jambheshwar University, Directorate of Distance Education, Hisar 125001.

• Awadesh Pratap Singh University, Distance Education Centre, Rewa 486003.

• Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishvavidyalaya, Bhopal offers undergraduate as well as postgraduate courses in Hindi Journalism.

B) MA Journalism & Mass Communication (2-yr)

• Alagappa University, Directorate of distance Education, Karaikudi,

• Madurai Kamraj University, Directorate of distance Education, Madurai

• Mother Teresa Women’s University, School of Distance Education, Chennai. Duration: 2-yrs. Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree

• Madurai Kamaraj University, Directorate of Distance Education, Palkalainagar, Madurai 625021. Course: PG Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication (1-yr).

C) Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068.

Course: PG Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication Eligibility: Graduates with 2 years experience. Duration: 1 yr.

Course: Diploma in Creative Writing (Eng/Hin). Eligibility: 10+2 or equiv. Duration: 1 yr.

Course: PG Certificate in Writing for Radio (Duration: 6 mth). Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.

D) Kurukshetra University, Department Distance Education, Kurukshetra 132119; Course: PG Diploma in Journalism & Mass Communication. Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.

E) Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Dayagangotri, Nasik 422005 (1-3 yr); Course: Certificate course in Journalism (1-3 yr). Eligibility: Class 12 with experience.

While these courses will help polish your style and presentation skills, you could start contributing your articles to newspapers and magazines straight away - if you already have a flare for writing.

A Admission to B.E. courses in the Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), Bawana and Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT), Dwarka will be conducted centrally by Delhi University through a Common Entrance Examination (May 26 ‘02).

Students who have completed Class 12 PCM, 60% agg (50% for SC/ST) are selected for various courses depending upon their performance in this test.

The total seats earmarked for B.E. Courses are allocated region-wise as follows:

Delhi Region (85%): For Students passing from schools in the NCT of Delhi.

Outside Delhi Region (15%): For students passing from schools located outside the NCT of Delhi.

The criterion for deciding your eligibility for a seat reserved for any region is the location of the school/college from which you have passed the qualifying exam.

The criterion for deciding the region in case you have passed / appearing in the Qualifying Exam through Patrachar / Correspondence / Open School is the location of the school. You should be registered with any school for the purpose. The CEE form is common for both categories.

There are no separate seats or quota for NRI students. However, NRI students can apply for the CEE Exam under the "Outside Delhi" category if their Class XII exam is recognized as equivalent to the CBSE/ICSE by the University of Delhi.

Centres for the CEE exam are only located in the NCT of Delhi. There are no centres outside Delhi.