Rising in down times
When the going gets tough, the tough need to open their minds to new and different careers and jobs, writes USHA ALBUQUERQUE. Here are some options after graduation where you can use your talent and shine irrespective of the ups and downs of the economy

RECESSION, job losses and layoffs have become integral to our every day vocabulary, causing a great deal of fear and confusion among students graduating from colleges this year. Will I get a job? Where should I work? Should I continue studying?

On the other hand, the government tells us that the economy continues to grow — and that too at 7 per cent. Even the World Bank has projected an 8 per cent growth for India in 2010, which would make it the fastest-growing economy in the world for the first time, overtaking China’s expected 7.7 per cent growth in the process.

But these numbers bring little cheer to thousands passing out of colleges this year, including engineers, management graduates, IT professionals, fashion designers, merchandisers, retail sector professionals, pilots and aviation industry staff and other professionals. Three million graduates will be joining the employment pool — including more than 10,000 engineers from just the top 25 colleges including the IITs and over 5,000 MBAs from the top 25 B-schools. And then there are professionals of Indian origin returning home as job opportunities dry up in the US and other developed economies. When there are limited or decreased campus placements, what should the newly graduating (and their parents) do?

Firstly, accept the new ground reality that merely a degree — even a professional qualification and from a top rated institute — is not enough to guarantee you a job of your choice. In the past, fresh professionals could have their pick of the industry, company, city, job profile and compensation package in urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or Hyderabad, and most often with MNCs in swanky air-conditioned offices. Today, the growth in India's economy is faster and more widespread across the entire urban and even rural India and, therefore, you must be willing to work in these locations and less than perfect conditions. In addition, as analysts inform us the current and future growth of India will actually be driven by agriculture —including food processing, manufacturing, and relatively less attractive service areas such as real estate, infrastructure, healthcare, education and transport.

Most of all, young college graduates must accept the fact that financial aspirations cannot be met in their first five years of employment. You are starting your career and building experience, knowledge and skills. Hence, you must focus on the quality of the job rather than the salary package and understand that working for small and medium businesses can be sometimes more professionally rewarding than global majors and MNCs.

When the going gets tough, the tough need to open their minds to new and different careers, and jobs where you can use your talents and shine, irrespective of the ups and downs of the economy.

You can start by looking at some recession-proof careers. Despite the downturn, we still need essentials like healthcare, education, food and agriculture. Start with jobs in these sectors and with the current focus on development of the economy and infrastructure, other areas such as manufacturing, power, security and the social sectors are also worth considering.

Educate, teach

WITH the current thrust on education and a dynamic new minister, this will be the next big boom sector. For years, students have avoided careers in education and teaching, as it was seen to be a job with little money and no future. But with the rise of so many elite schools and private universities, this is changing. Teachers’ salaries have gone up and when foreign universities are allowed entry, that bar will be raised even higher. Jobs in the educational sector are varied from schools, colleges, universities, research institutes to coaching institutes, special education, as well as jobs with government organisations, non-government organisations, international organisations and education projects and an increasing demand for school administrators, school counsellors, human resources and staff development. You can get into teaching with a degree in any subject, after a BEd or the NET exam after a master’s degree.

Health is wealth

HEALTHCARE is another area with a continuing demand for qualified professionals. It includes preventive, analytical and curative preservation, prescribing or providing drugs, use of medical devices and equipment as also a range of hospital services and maintaining a bank of blood, sperm, organs or any other tissue. This means a demand not only for doctors, specialists, dentists and nurses, but also paramedical services like optometry, laboratory technicians, radiographers, ward boys, pathologists, pharmacists, clinical researchers, hospital administrators and medical representatives. A large number of corporates, private hospitals and private medical practitioners have come into this sector, supplementing government facilities and extending them to semi-urban areas, too. A degree in science — particularly the life sciences, home sciences, biochemistry or microbiology — can take you into specialisations for jobs in the healthcare sector.

Boot up for IT

THE information technology industry remains a huge job provider despite a reduction in the numbers of new recruits. This is largely due to the fact IT has over the years expanded its usages and technologies to cover just about every area of activity. More than software engineering, software systems or programming jobs, it is the Internet that is opening up a whole new world of exciting opportunities that are almost infinite. With efficient and reliable communication between computers, E-commerce technologies are fast replacing traditional paper-based work bringing together customers, vendors and suppliers in ways never before possible. The Internet has become synonymous with the world wide web and the more-in-the-news Youtube and Twitter that is connecting more than 300 million users and making available billion of pages in cyberspace.

Moreover, while most users access the Net through the PC today, new delivery systems such as cell phones, set-top boxes and a host of other Internet-enabled appliances are increasing the reach and scope of the wonder technology bringing revolutionary shifts in which businesses are conducted, requiring a host of new IT specialists such as data management specialists and information security specialists, who manage and provide protection for information assets, such as customer data, financial information and critical infrastructures. So, if you have an IT, computer science, or computer applications qualification, this is another job that can be assured.

Engineer success

WITH the growth in infrastructure there has been a resurgence of the engineering field and growing job opportunities for engineers in private industry and public sector — railways, telecommunications, electricity departments, defence services (as commissioned officers), research organisations and laboratories. The manufacturing sector recorded a 12.5 per cent growth in the last year. With India’s vast domestic market and relatively low cost workers, a large number of international manufactures including auto giants like Hyundai, BMW, Mitsubishi have set up manufacturing facilities in the country. Major electrical and electronic manufacturers like ABB, Schneider, Honeywell and Siemens have also set up production facilities for domestic and export markets. The new government’s thrust of building infrastructure such as roads, airports, metros and so on means an increasing demand for mechanical, civil, electrical, industrial, petroleum and power engineers as distinct from the IT and computer services.

Thousands who dream of an engineering career need to paint the dream with factories, power stations, and outdoor locations as the backdrop, distinct from the air-conditioned environs of the computer filled offices of yesterday.

Serve the nation

COMBINING the security of a government job with that of a career full of promise and adventure is the armed forces. The call of duty is packaged with unique opportunities for young people with varied abilities and qualifications, to carve out a challenging and rewarding career. There is also the promise of a privileged lifestyle, adventure, social status, and above all, openings for women.

With the reputation of being one of the finest forces in the world, a career in the Indian Armed Forces has always been a cherished dream for youngsters. More so today, as it combines technologically challenging work with enhanced salaries, generous allowances and the opportunity of earning honour and social standing, along with the enjoyment of a stylish lifestyle at a relatively young age.

Try voluntary service

AND finally, if there is no job forthcoming on the horizon, take up a volunteer job with a development agency or NGO. As there exists a great gap in social development in the country and a lack of personnel at the grassroot level to handle it, all major agencies involved in development and rehabilitation work are always ready to take on enthusiastic volunteers willing to work in the problem areas.

You could choose from community development agencies, urban and rural government and non-governmental agencies, special schools, family welfare agencies, international agencies and those involved in specialised areas such as childcare, women’s welfare, health, education, environment and so on. As this is one career where educational qualifications and academic criteria are not the only requirements, such work will not only give you good experience and teach you a number of organisational skills, but can also look good on your CV.

So, don’t let the current economic gloom cast a shadow over your career plans. In a developing economy like ours, any need could catalyse a new career opportunity. Look beyond the tried and traditional career paths and focus on your core strengths and goals for the future. India is on the rise and its youth can look forward to an increasing number of employment opportunities, as the country becomes a significant global economic and social power in the 21st century. Good luck with your search!

Ideal time for start-ups

IF you have a streak of entrepreneurship, this is the time to try out the new, offbeat, career idea that you may have dreamt about but dared not risk. More and more young people are looking to start up ventures on their own, preferring entrepreneurship to a job. Several stories of IIM graduates opening up fastfood outlets, starting coaching centers, setting up NGOs and so on are inspiring many others.

The scope and variety of self-generated work is unlimited -- whether it is making chocolates, growing organic foods, telemarketing, event management, setting up a travel or a real estate agency, providing IT/ design/recruitment services, entrepreneurship has become the call of the day. Offbeat careers like health and fitness training, food styling, wedding planning, adventure touring, art management, choreography, cosmetology, music technology and many others can open up opportunities not even dreamt of!

Career Hotline
Pervin Malhotra
This column appears weekly. Please send in your queries, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: The Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers @tribunemail.com 
Converting wood into paper 

Q. What exactly is wood and paper technology? Where is this course offered?

— Deepak Mendiratta

A. Wood and paper technology is all about applying chemical, physical and engineering principles to analyse the properties and behaviour of wood and wood products. It is used to develop processes for converting wood into paper and other products.

The course will teach you how to classify and test wood and develop wood-based products. You will also learn about the latest manufacturing and processing technologies, and how to design and develop related equipment and systems. You can pursue BTech Pulp and Paper Technology from:

n IIT Roorkee, Department of Paper and Pulp Technology (BTech and research programmes)

Website: www.rurkiu.ernet.in

n Amravati University, Department of Chemical Technology, Near Tapovan, Amravati-44602

Website: www.amtuni.com

n Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, (PG diploma in paper and pulp technology)

Eligibility: MSc (Chemistry/applied chemistry/industrial chemistry)

n Nagpur University, Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Amravati Road, Nagpur-440010

n Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Saharanpur

Also see courses like those offered by the Indian Institute of Packaging Technology, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai

Course: PG diploma in packaging tech

Duration: Two years

Eligibility: BE/BTech/BSc

Website: www.iip-in.com

Biology
Understanding who we are 

Q. I want to know about new career opportunities for students of biology stream. I am in class XII right now.

— Kanika Mehra

. Approx 3.5 billion years old (give or take a 100 million years), biology is the study of the natural world and all the organisms inhabiting it -- everything from frogs to monkeys to your irritating cousin! Many students are afraid of taking biology because they think it’s about smelly labs and test tubes. But if we don’t understand who we are, how will we understand anything?

Students of biology go on to become doctors, biotechnologists, scientists, clinical researchers and environmentalists. But the most important reason for taking biology is that it opens up myriad opportunities in life sciences at the college level. And beyond.

Biological science is an exciting and rapidly moving subject area, with many applications in fields as diverse as conservation biology and molecular genetics. The study of living things has undergone tremendous expansion in recent years, and fields such as molecular genetics, neuroscience, biotechnology, evolutionary biology and ecology are advancing rapidly. These developments will have a considerable impact on fields such as medicine, environment and agriculture. Plant protection, forestry, epidemiology, applied entomology and ecology are other interesting areas.

Rapid expansion has been accompanied by a blurring of the distinctions between disciplines: for instance, a biologist with an interest in tropical plants may well use many of the tools and techniques that are indispensable to a medical researcher.

And although it’s often believed that biosciences don’t require any mathematical ability, this isn’t true. Physics and chemistry to some extent, demand familiarity with mathematical concepts. Also, should you wish to pursue BTech Biotechnology or Bioinformatics, you will find that maths is generally required in addition to PCB.

General subfields

WITHIN biology there is anatomy, astrobiology, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, botany, cell biology, ecology, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, genomics, marine biology, human biology, microbiology, molecular biology, origin of life, palaeontology, parasitology, physiology, taxonomy, and zoology, in alphabetical order.

Ensuring health standards

Q. I am doing BSc and want to do a course in health and food inspector. Please give me details.

— Farhan Qureshi

A. As a health / sanitary inspector you will survey, prepare reports, do field work and research on various aspects of health environment, conditions and the norms to be followed. The core job remains to ensure that people / companies abide by health standards. Many opportunities exist in the government sector.

Though the qualification is not comparable with other high profile courses it gives enough scope to climb the ladder in a shorter time. The key skills required:

n Ability to work in a team and take bold decisions against all odds.

n Good communication skills (to convince people to accept the recommendations/ precautions)

n Good physical fitness and stamina to withstand the pressure of extra work / long work.

Job prospects

n Many vacancies exist in central and state government health departments.

n Work as consultant/supervisor/chief manager in private hospitals, MNCs and other health-related departments. You could later go on to get supervisory, managerial level jobs

n On completing a sanitary inspector’s course you can become a sanitary /food/ malaria inspector in municipal bodies (like NDMC or MCD), railways, airports, port trusts, hospitals, hotels and industries and organisations responsible for health and sanitation management such as sugar mills, packaged food industries as well as the armed forces.

n You could do a health sanitary inspector course (one year) from any institution / polytechnic recognised by your state Directorate of Technical Education and Industrial Training.

Mission admission

Admission is on the basis of marks in Class 12 (some even take students after class 10). Preference is given to those who have passed Class XII (science) or with higher qualifications i.e. degree.

Courses offered

n Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal (MP)

n All India Institute of Local Self-Government, D22-23 Institutional Area, Pankha Road, D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058. Tel: 25592465 (branches in other states)

The Ancillary Medical Training Schools in Jammu and Srinagar also offer diploma courses. The duration of these courses ranges from 10-15 months. Admission is based on merit in the qualifying exam, although some institutions do conduct an entrance test. You could also check out IGNOU’s courses in nutrition and health education or National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi’s PG course in health and family welfare management– all of which can be pursued through correspondence.

Contributing to rural development

Q. I have done MA in political science. Now, I am pursuing a PG diploma in rural development from IGNOU. Please tell me about the job opportunities after completing this course.

— Vineet Shankar

A. Rural India (65,000 villages), which contributes 60 per cent of the country’s GDP and accounts for 53 per cent of the fast moving consumer goods, is the backbone of our economy. The 300-500 million rural consumers offer a huge untapped opportunity and challenge for global marketeers.

A rural management and development programme imparts specific management skills for targeting this segment and managing a rural enterprise or cooperative. It, therefore, deals with all the functional areas such as marketing, managerial accounting, finance, rural behaviour, rural environment and production, rural research methodology, field studies of rural producers, human resources, integrated rural management, communicating developmental and social messages.

Anyone with an agricultural background or leaning, who is interested in working in a rural set-up, is well suited for a career in rural management. You can find meaningful work in rural development projects with NGOs, the government and corporates in their rural initiatives and various agricultural or agri-business cooperatives and international/ national development agencies.

With a rural management degree, you can work in banks (Nabard, ICICI, UTI), insurance companies (ICICI Lombard, LIC), retail chains and MNCs or rural consultancies (ITC e-choupal, the SCS Group, Grossman and Associates). You can also join research agencies, including subsidiaries of the UN and its subsidiaries after acquiring higher qualification and experience.

Be an education specialist

Q. Could you please tell me something about the master’s programme in education offered by IGNOU?

— Divya Bhatt

A. IGNOU’s Master of Arts (education) Programme is an innovative programme that provides a wide and comprehensive understanding of education covering a variety of areas ranging from understanding the concept of education to understanding how knowledge is generated in education. The course will help you acquire a higher level of specialisation in a specific aspect of education:

n Higher education

n Distance education

n Educational technology

n Educational management

The objective is to produce trained professionals who are knowledgeable about education and its various dimensions. The total number of credits in the programme is 68. You must cover 34 credits each year. The dissertation work in Year 2 carries 10 credits.

Eligibility: A bachelor’s degree (any discipline) with or without a degree in education.

Duration: You can complete the programme in a minimum of two years and maximum of five.

Medium of instruction: English

The multi-media instructional mode combines self-instructional print material, audio/video components, assignments, counselling sessions, teleconferencing, interactive radio counselling, and dissertation work. For more details, log on to www.ignou.ac.in

To a bright future!

Q. After completing Class 12 with biology, I joined as a dark room assistant in a hospital. Then I started working as an X-ray technician. I have also completed my BA. As I don't have a diploma or degree, I get a low salary. Can I do any course related to X-ray technology?

— Gurpreet Ahuja

A. Sure you can. Besides some institutes, hospitals also offer courses in X-Ray technology and radiology. For instance, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector 12, Chandigarh-160012

Eligibility: 10+2 (science) or

(a) HSc/PUC with physics and chemistry

(b) Certificate or diploma in radiography

(c) Five years experience as radiographer

Banking leads the way
Crowned highest job generator in Q1 FY'10 followed by IT/ITeS sector

THE banking sector has emerged as biggest job generator in the first quarter of the current fiscal with the segment increasing headcount by more than 16,000, a survey by the industry body Assocham has found.

The sector topped the chart with the highest number of job announcements at 16,200 during first quarter of 2009-10, it said in the survey on 'Headcount Expansion Activities'. In the total job announcements during the study period, the sector's share stood at 42 per cent, the survey said.

The country's largest lender, State Bank of India, has emerged as the highest job generator, announcing 13,000 jobs "for its process of recruiting officers, marketing and recovery (Rural), and technical officers (farm sector)", followed by Danalakshmi Bank, which announced recruiting 1,300 employees, Andhra Bank (900) and Yes Bank (1,000).

The IT/ITeS sector was the second-highest employment generator, creating 12,200 jobs during the period, the survey said. "Global demand for tech-services is propelling Banking and IT/ITeS to emerge as the top employer, carving out a share of nearly 74 per cent in total hiring plans during first quarter of financial year 2009-10," Assocham said.

The other major sectors which contributed in total headcount announcements during Q1 FY'10 were, diversified (2,000 employees), pharmaceuticals (1,300), steel (600), aviation (500) and consumer durables (200). — PTI

Course chat
TNAU launches e-registration of courses

TAMIL Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), the first such varsity in the country to implement ICT-based teaching, has introduced e-registration of its courses. Students can log on to TNAU Student Management System portal and e-register for the courses, TNAU sources said.

This would help the university save on stationery and cutting down time for teachers and students. Parents can view their wards' progress using unique ID, the sources said, adding that online attendance could also be introduced. The university has implemented online examination from 2007-08 academic year and about 1,120 students from 14 campuses have been enrolled under the system, they said.

IGNOU’s PG programme in gender & development studies

THE Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) will launch a post-graduate programme in gender and development studies from next month.

The course, conducted by IGNOU's School of Gender and Development Studies, can be completed in a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years, an IGNOU release said. Bachelor degree holders in any discipline can apply for the course. Post-graduate diploma will be given to students after successful completion of the first year. — PTI 

Being BOSS
Praise makes the world go round 
Shower ample praise on your team members and see them give the task at hand their 110 per cent 
D.C. Sharma

TALKING about his workforce, a boss once said, “I pat once and thrash thrice!” Perhaps he was right. Psychological studies have revealed that once the person at the helm of affairs pats a worker, the latter’s dedication, hard work and sincerity is in overdrive. Even minor criticism doesn’t matter then!

Even very simple kind acts on the part of the boss encourage team members to do their best. Rahul Joshi, who works with an MNC, says with all elation and praise, “My boss never keeps me waiting whenever I visit his office. The moment I inform him, he calls me in, and very sympathetically listens to me and eagerly solves my problems there and then. And I always do my best to keep him pleased with my best possible output.”

Listening to him, Sanjay Suri, also an MNC employee but with a different firm pulls a long face. “My boss is a hard nut to crack. He always has something negative to say even when we have done an excellent. Leave aside seeing him in his office, he is always interfering in our work, criticising just about everyone. The stiff-neck that he is, he even reciprocates our ‘good morning’ wishes hesitantly. No one feels like giving his or her best at our workplace,” he shares.

This is how much words and actions of praise and criticism at a workplace are matter. Actually, when a worker is praised, most of the burden of fear about work is lifted off his back. It simply has a wonderful effect upon the worker’s output. The worker’s ability to work is enhanced many times under a dose of praise. Even latecomers are known to start reporting on time! Shirkers, when showered praise, start doing a good job. The morale of the worker is miraculously improved when his boss praises him. The healthy signs of productivity start showing up almost immediately.

When I had newly taken over as head of my department, a rather big one, I would get impatient and rude whenever I found my juniors doing their work in a wrong way. One particular person in question, even though in the wrong, would often retaliate, justifying his stand. That method made me an utter failure as the person at the helm of affairs and the net output begin to slip.

Finding me in utter distress, an experienced head of another department showed me the way out. “Listen boy, never find faults with your workers even when the latter commits a mistake. That would only aggravate the situation. Simply tell him in private — that too kindly and sympathetically — exemplifying what you would have done had you been in his position.” This mantra worked wonders. While earlier it seemed easier for me to criticise, now it seemed easiest to praise my workforce. The method really boosted the morale of my juniors, and they would always strive to do their best for my sake. In less than month, my superior praised my skill of getting things done though I had never disclosed to them that praise was my main mantra in getting the job done. Each and every individual — irrespective of status — yearns for praise. If showered praise, a Class I student will does his home tasks well and a housewife will pleasingly prepare the family’s favourite dish. Find fault with her and you may end up missing breakfast, school or office! Even the domestic help craves for a word of praise. Be lavish with your words and see your home transform into a spick and span one.

But be warned: This doesn’t mean that you go on praising in spite of flaws in work. Beware of the flaws of unworthy praise -- it may prove costly. In order to praise a piece of work, there must be some good points in the job done. Look into the minute details. Praise first and then say, “You’ve got such a wonderful brain for such tasks but how do these flaws occur? I’m sure the next time would be better since you are such a skilful worker.” Having said that, sit back and see how the performance of the individual miraculously improves.

An attitude of praise doesn’t find the glass half empty but half full. Different persons interpret identical situations differently. The one having an attitude of praise is honoured everywhere, but the one always finding faults in others but overlooking his own is universally despised. Fault-finding nature is a sure sign of failure.

To err is human and it is a universal truth. Even a super boss can’t be without flaws. Knowing fully well that no one is perfect and that finding faults leads one nowhere, a good boss always looks for an opportunity to praise his team. It is a proven fact that when you tap the positives of a worker, he shall show his true worth. God has gifted us all with fine virtues, which we have to explore. Praise simply enables your team to discover those.

The big choice
Fringe benefits or jobs?
Battling slowdown, companies add more responsibilities to job roles to get maximum value from employees
S.C. Dhall

AS the slowdown refuses to go away, corporate HR professionals are under severe pressures to work out innovative ways and means to cut unnecessary organisational frills and reduce fringe benefits such as bonus, LTC and other allowances besides curtailing administrative costs.

A whopping 135 of the 150 HR professionals of companies affiliated with Assocham who participated in a seminar said that a new paradigm shift has taken place among corporates. Layoffs were being avoided since attrition had virtually halted. “Sensitivities among majority corporate managements are on a high and no employees is being dismissed. Rather, corporate restructuring is taking place with focus on a human face,” said Assocham president Sajjan Jindal while releasing the Chamber’s findings.

There is a virtual ban on fresh recruitment in the private sector as attrition rate has almost subsided in all sectors of economy barring knowledge, banking and finance. In order to compensate against layoffs, the management in majority of the cases is being advised by HR professionals to curtail to a legitimate extent of 10-15per cent wage cuts in total emoluments at middle and senior middle level and that of 25-35per cent at senior levels, including promoters and proprietors.

Efforts are being put in the direction that only 5-7 per cent wage cuts are being recommended for lower levels of employees as the focus is more towards cutting administrative costs such as stationery, conveyance and electricity consumption.

Over 100 HR professionals above ranks of general managers came out with a finding that unions in corporate world have stopped wage revision demand and are, in fact, cooperating with the management by suo moto offering to be part of decisions that aim at curtailment in their annual allowances with a request that layoff should be avoided as far as possible.

Nearly 20 per cent HR professionals who participated in the seminar said that some corporate houses continued to follow policies of the past and had hardly exerted any unwarranted pressures on HR executives for strategies that suggest wage cuts and even slight relaxation in corporates perks and perquisites.

“People in India derive a greater sense of pride and self confidence in their jobs than their counterparts in other countries. More than 50 per cent are prepared to accept a lower wage or a lesser role if their work contributes to something more important or meaningful,” says B.B. Goel, professor at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He said that over 90 per cent people in India say their work gives them a sense of pride and raises their self-confidence and most say they will forego income or status to do something more meaningful.

The good times

SLOWDOWN is likely to remain for another few months. The corporates would unveil their revival package after May 2010 as by then the economy is expected to start bouncing back. Absence of political turmoil, resumption of stalled projects and fresh budgetary allocations are likely to yield benefits by the end of fiscal 2009-10.

Buzzing sectors

BANKING, finance and business outsourcing sector still has space to accommodate fresh recruits because these sectors are now open for revival and demand is picking up in them at a steady pace, said HR professionals. In other manufacturing sectors which also include steel and cement, recruitments were being avoided.

Fortnightly Quiz-339

An engineering feat

1. Name the world-renowned pop singer whose albums are titled ‘Thriller’, ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Bad’.

2. Name the technocrat who has been chosen by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to head the agency (Unique Identification Authority of India) that will prepare and maintain a national identification database of Indians.

3. Who was recently re-elected President of Iran?

4. In which Indian town is the famous Gaiety Theatre situated?

5. Name the three deities whose annual rath yatra is taken out in Puri (Orissa).

6. Who was recently appointed the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand?

7. In which Indian city is an eight-lane 5.6 km bridge, to be constructed in open sea conditions, being built?

8. Which country recently won the Confederation Cup?

9. Who was the man of the match in the final of the recently concluded Twenty20 World Cup?

10. Who recently scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament by clinching the Indonesian Open title?

— Tarun Sharma

Winners of quiz 338: The first prize by draw of lots goes to Jatin Chopra, class IX-B, St Joseph’s Convent Secondary School, Civil Lines, Bathinda, Pin Code - 151001

Second: Lokesh Yadav, class IX-B, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Zainabad (Rewari), Pin Code - 123411

Third: Noyonica Bhardwaj, class VI-C, DAV Centenary Public School, Una, Pin Code - 174303

Answers to quiz 338: Fourteen; Cairo; H1N1; Habib Tanvir; Sunlight; Kulu; Singapore; Kaka; Leander Paes; Fred Perry (UK), Don Budge (USA), Rod Laver (Australia), Roy Emerson (Australia), Andre Agassi (USA) and Roger Federer (Switzerland)

Cash awards of Rs 400, 300 and 200 are given to the first, second and third prize winners, respectively. These are sent at the school address.

Note: Kindly mention the pincode of your place to facilitate the delivery of the prize money.

Answers can also be sent at quiz@tribunemail.com