Post-graduate Professional courses 

Essential details of post-graduate programmes in medicine, engineering and technology, along with the names and addresses of some of the educational institutions in the field are presented here. Channels of professional studies for graduates in commerce and other disciplines have also been briefly covered.

Salient aspects of post-graduate medical admission through All-India entrance examination, specialisation through the facilities offered by the National Board of Examination, and the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering are indicated. Finance professions which have assumed greater significance in the emerging scenario of liberalisation and privatisation are also highlighted. A brief write-up on the steps leading to a career in the Indian Civil Services is also given at the end.

P.G. admission through all India entrance examination

Admission to 25 per cent of the total seats for various postgraduate courses (MD/MS/PG Diploma/MDS) in all the Medical and Dental Colleges in the country run by the Union of India, State Governments, and municipal or other local authorities, is made based on an All India Entrance Examination.

The Examination is usually conducted in January. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi would issue a notification in August, inviting, application. Those who would complete their rotating internship by the subsequent March are also permitted to apply for admission. Candidates who have obtained MBBS/BDS degrees from the colleges in Andhra Pradesh or Jammu and Kashmir are not eligible to apply, unless they had been nominated by Govt. of India to do MBBS/BDS in these two states. Applications are to be submitted before mid-September.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110 029
This is an institute of national importance.

 

Course Title	Duration (Year)	Entry qualifications
1. P.G. Diploma	3 year Degree	B.Tech in Mech/in Plastics Engg. Chem/Prodn/Polymer/Tool Engg.
2. P.G. Diploma	3 year Degree	in Plastics with Chemistry processing as one subject Technology
3. P.G. Diploma	3 year Degree	Plastics Testing and Conversion with Chemistry Technology as one subject

Courses available at the various Centres (Sl. No. refers to the table above):

Chennai	-	Sl No. 1, 2, 3
Ahmedabad	-	Sl No. 1, 2, 3
Amritsar	-	Sl No. 2
Bhopal	-	Sl No. 2, 3
Bhubaneswar	-	Sl No. 2, 3
Hyderabad	-	Sl No. 1, 2, 3
Imphal	-	Sl No. 2
Lucknow	-	Sl No. 1, 2, 3
Mysore	-	Sl No. 1, 2
Patna	-	Sl No. 2, 3
Howrah	-	Sl No. 2, 3

Selection based on academic record and the performance in a Joint Entrance examination held in July every year at about 30 centres in the country.

School of Planning and Architecture, 4 Block-B Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi-110 002.
(Deemed to be a University)

Master's Programmes
(i) Architecture (35 seats) with specialisation in

(a) Architectural conservation

(b) Industrial Design

(c) Urban Design

(ii) Building Engineering and Management (15 seats)

(iii) Landscape Architecture (15 seats)

(iv) Planning (70 seats) with specialisation in

(a) Environmental Planning

(b) Housing

(c) Regional Planning

(d) Transport Planning

(e) Urban Planning

Eligibility for Doctoral Programmes

(i) M.Arch - open to B.Arch/B.Planning
For specialisation in Industrial Design only B.Arch. holders will be considered.

(ii) B.E.M. - open to B.Arch/B.E. (Civil)/B.Arch. Engg.

(iii) M.L.A. - open to B.Arch/B.Planning

(iv) M. Planning - open to B.Arch./B.Planning/B.E. (Civil) B.Arch. Engg)

Doctoral Programmes
in the fields of Architecture, Planning, Urban Design, Industrial Design, Architectural Conservation, Lanscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, Housing Transport Planning, and Building && Engineering Management.

Eligibility for Doctoral Programmes
Master's Degree in any one of the above courses conducted by the School or its equivalent with 55% marks, or B.Arch/B.Planning with 55% marks and five years of professional experience.

Some of the Institutions which conduct PG Courses in Architecture/Planning
1. School of Planning && Architecture, Indraprastha Estate, New Delhi-110 002.

2. IIT, Kharagpur-721 302

3. Centre for Environmental Planning andTech. Ahmedabad-380009

4. Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engg, Nagpur-440 011.

5. School of Architecture and Planning, Anne University, Chennai-600 025.

6. Faculty of Engg and Tech. Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032.

7. Bengal Engg College, Howrah-711 103.

8. Sri J.J. College of Architecture, Dr. D.N. Road, Mumbai-400 001.

9. University of Roorkee, Roorke-247 667.

Other Institutions where there are facilities for PG Studies in at least ten disciplines.
1. University College of Technology, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007

2. S.V. University College of Engg. Tirupati-517 502.

3. College of Engg. Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam-530 003.

4. Faculty of Technology and Engg. M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390 001.

5. University Visweswaraya College of Engg, Bangalore-560 001.

6. College of Engg, Trivandrum-695 016

7. G.S. Institute of Technology and Science, Indore-452 003

8. Victoria Jubilee Tech. Institute, Mumbai-400 019.

9. Govt. College of Engg. Pune-411 005

10. College of Agricultural Engg. Ludhiana-141 004

11. MBM Engg. College, Jodhpur-342 001.

12. PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 004

13. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002

14. Pant College Technology, Pantnagar-263145

15. University of Roorkee, Roorkee-247 667

16. Faculty of Engg. && Tech. Jadavpur University Calcutta-700 032.

17. Bengal Engg. College, Howrah-711 103

18. Regional Engineering Colleges at Warangal 506 004/Surathkal Srinivasanagar-574157/Calicut-673601/Tiruchirapalli-620 015.

Higher Studies/Career Opportunities for commerce graduates

Avenues which lead to three qualifications with statutory powers in the finance professional spectrum are indicated below:
1. Company Secretaryship
2. Chartered Accountancy
3. Cost Accountancy

These are open to graduates in most other disciplines as well. Management training which leads to MBA or equivalent qualification can also be taken up by candidates with a University Degree.

Company Secretary

The Company Secretary, by virtue of his professional education and training, has become an important adjunct in corporate management hierarchy. He meets the legal requirements and ensures all aspects of statutory compliance of the company. He should be conversant with the diverse areas of law, management, finance, and corporate governance. He acts as a vital link connecting the company, the board of directors, the shareholders and governmental agencies. He takes part in the formulation of corporate policies, perform accounts and finance functions and acts as the registrar for the company.

A graduate in any discipline (except fine arts) can become an Associate member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He should pass the intermediate and final examination conducted by the institute. He is further required to possess the specified practical experience.

Candidates who do not have a University Degree, but who have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination can undergo an 8 month foundation course of the Institute.

Papers for the foundation examination:
1. Business Communication
2. Business Law and Management
3. Principles of Accountancy
4. Economics and Statistics

After passing the foundation course examination candidates can appear in the Intermediate and final examinations.

Companies with a paid-up share capital of Rs. 50 lakhs or more are compulsorily required to appoint a whole-time Company Secretary. Companies with a paid-up share capital if less than Rs. 50 lakhs can appoint even candidates who have passed the intermediate examination as Company Secretaries. Companies seeking listing on stock exchanges are required to have a whole time Company Secretary.
The candidates for the foundation, Intermediate and final examinations should undergo a course of compulsory postal tuition imparted by the Institute.

Address: Head Office, The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, ICSI House, 22, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

Regional Councils of the Institute
1. Eastern India Regional Council, ICSI, 18-A, Everest House (18th Floor) 46-C, Chowringhee Road, Calcutta-700 071.

2. Northern India Regional Council, ICSI-NIRC Building, Plot No. 4, Institutional Area. Prasad Nagar, New Delhi-110 005.

3. Southern India Regional Council, ICSI No. 4, Wheat Crafts Road, Chennai-600 034.

4. Western India Regional Council ICSI, No. 13, Jolly Maker Chambers No. II (First Floor) Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021.

The Institute has 36 Chapters distributed in the various parts of the country.

Chartered Accountant

Chartered Accountants play a vital role wherever financial transactions are involved in business organisations. They maintain accounts, prepare financial statements, and control financial aspects of firms. They conduct not only internal audit but statutory audit of companies. Tax planning, representing access before income-tax authorities and preparation of wills are some of the other function of Chartered Accountants. Analysis of financial performance of firms and advising top management on financial property of administrative action also come under their field of activity.
There is a 3-tier examination system for entry into the profession. The Foundation, Intermediate and Final examination have to be cleared before becoming a Chartered Accountant.

The following categories of graduates are expected from passing the foundation examination. (They can start at the Intermediate stage directly)
a.) Commerce graduates with Accountancy Auditing and Mercantile law or commercial law as full papers securing in the aggregate a minimum of 50 per cent marks.

b.) Non-Commerce graduates with Mathematics as one of the subjects, securing in the aggregate a minimum of 60 per cent marks.

c.) Non-Commerce graduates with subjects other than Mathematics, securing in the aggregate a minimum of 55 per cent marks.

Graduates/post-graduates in music, painting, photography, sculpture, etc are however not exempted from the foundation examination.

Students who have passed the Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent examination can undergo the 10-month foundation course.

Papers for the foundation course:
1. Fundamentals of Accounting
2. Mercantile Law
3. Mathematics and Statistics
4. Economics

As part of the preparation for the foundation, intermediate, and final examinations, the candidates should undergo the postal tuition offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The facilities for oral coaching at the accredited centres may also be gainfully utilised.

While preparing for the intermediate final examinations the candidate has to undergo practical training for a period of three years as an "articled clerk" in the office of a Chartered Accountant.
There is an alternate provision for the candidate to work as an audit clerk for a period of four years in the office of a Chartered Accountant.

After passing the final examination the candidate can apply for the associate Membership of the Institute (ACA) which empowers him to start practice as a Chartered Accountant. After gaining five years of practical experience, the candidate can become a fellow of the Institute (FCA).

Address: For the purpose of registration, candidates from each region should apply to the respective specified regional office.

Cost and Works Accountant

Scientific management has recognised cost and management accountancy as one of the essential management services. The cost and management accountant aids in stabilising budgets and standards, evaluating operational efficiency and effectiveness of production, formulating profit planning programme, guiding managerial decisions and identifying accountability for cost and profit variances. He advises on provident planning, product pricing, inventory control, export profitability, feasibility studies, investment proposals, marketing and finances.

(The professional whom we call 'Cost and works Accountant' in India is popularly known as 'Cost and Management Accountant in other countries)
Several members of the Institute of cost and works Accountants of India hold top management positions in the corporate sector. Many industries have been covered under the statutory maintenance if cost accounting under the Companies Act. The Cost Accountant can offer his services for acting as trustee, executor, administrator, arbitrator, receiver, appraiser, values adviser, secretary, or as a representative for financial matters including taxation. He can take up appointment that may be made by the Central/State government, Courts of law, labour tribunals, or other legal authorities.

There are three levels of examination conducted by the Institute for candidates desirous of entering the profession - Foundation, Intermediate, and Final.
A graduate from any recognised university can register for direct admission to the Intermediate examination. However a candidate who has passed the Senior Secondary examination (10+2), or equivalent should apply for admission to the foundation course examination, consisting of four papers:
1. Business fundamentals and Economics.
2. Management and organisation.
3. Basic Mathematics and statistics
4. Commercial Laws.

It is obligatory on the part of the registered students to undergo a course of tuition, either postal or oral, before they are permitted to appear at the Intermediate or final examination. Postal tuition is conducted by the coaching directorate of the Institute through its Regional Councils. Oral tuition is imparted by such colleges or institutions as are recognised by the Director of Studies of the Institute for the purpose.

A person who has passed the final examination and has acquired three years of relevant experience can seek Associate Membership of the Institute (AICWA) After five years of practice as an associate Member, he can apply for fellowship (FICWA)

Addresses: Candidates seeking registration as students should apply to the respective Regional Councils. The address of each Regional Council, along with the area covered by it is indicated below.

1. Western India Regional Council of the ICWAI, Rohit Chamber (4th Floor), Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001

• Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Daman, Dui, Dadra && Nagar Haveli.

2. Southern India Regional Councils of the ICWAI, 65-Montieth Lane, Egmore, Chennai-600 008

• Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep

3. Eastern India Regional Council of the ICWAI, ICWAI Bhavan, 84 Harish Mukerjee Road, Calcutta-700 025

• Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tripura, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, Andaman && Nicobar, and foreign countries.

4. Northern India Regional Council of the ICWAI, ICWAI Bhawan, 3 Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

• Haryana Himachal Pradesh, J&&K, Punjab, Rajsthan, U.P. Delhi, Chandigarh

Chartered Financial Analyst

It is true that the CFA Programme conducted by the Institute of chartered financial Analysts of India does not offer a qualification with statutory powers. However, those who have acquired this qualification are in great demand in the finance profession.
The CFA programme addresses the broader financial and managerial issues in the areas of corporate finance, International finance, Investment Management and financial services. Since this programme does not lay emphasis on areas such as book-keeping, auditing and taxation, there is little overlap with the CS/CA/ICWA programmes.
The CFA qualification can be acquired either through a two year full-time format or through a three-year distance learning format.

Applicants for the CFA programme should be graduates (from any discipline-English medium) with 50% marks. Selection is based mainly on past academic records, admission test score and performance in interview/group discussion.

Address: The Institute of chartered financial analysts of India, Road No. 3. Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-500 034.

Management

Business management has in recent years emerged as an attractive career option. The spectrum of management training is so large that a candidate has necessarily to choose an area of specialisation. The most common disciplines are.
1. Finance
2. Marketing
3.Personnel (Human Resources Development), 4.Operation (Production)
5. Systems (information Tech)
6.Material.

In management studies a very significant factor is the reputation of the business school. Severe competition has to be met for entering top class institutions. Admission is usually given to graduates in any discipline, with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination, a group discussion, and an interview as part of the selection procedure. Good proficiency in English and general knowledge, along with excellent communication skills is essential to pass the tests in leading management schools.

Some of the business schools well known for their quality in training are listed below.
1. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM)
There are six units of IIM at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Calicut, and Indore. Admission to PGP (Post-graduate programmes) in all these institutes is made based on a common admission test (CAT) held at nearly 20 centres in the country, during the month of December every year. Notification appears in August. There are some differences in the minimum mark conditions. At Ahmedabad, Calicut, and Indore, even graduates who have scored less than 50% marks in the qualifying examination will be considered. Institutes at Calicut and Indore were started recently.

The addresses of three institutes are given below.
IIM, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380 015
IIM, Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Alipore Post, Calcutta-700 027
IIM, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore-560 076.

2. XLRI, Jamshedpur-831 001

3. Jamanlal Bajaj Institute of Management and Studies, Mumbai-400 020.

4. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai-400 088

5. Faculty of Management studies, Delhi University, New Delhi-110 007

6. Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune-411 004

7. Faculty of Management Studies, M.S. University, Vadodara Gujarat-390 002.

8. Department of Business Management, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007.

9. Department of Commerce && Management, Bangalore University, Bangalore-560 001

10. College of Engineering, Guindy, Chennai-600 025.

11. Bharatidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli-620 015.

12. Institute of Management Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Indore-452 001

13. Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005.

14. Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Management, Vijapur Road, Solapur, Maharashtra-413 004.

15. S.P. Jain Institute of Management && Research, Mumshinagar, Mumbai-400 058.

16. T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal, Karnataka-576 119.

17. PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore-641 004.

Management courses in specialised areas of study:
1. Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA), Gujarat-388 001

2. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi-110 016.

3. Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, Bhopal-462 003.

4. Indian Institute of Finance, Ashok Vihar, Delhi-110 052.

(Facilities for management courses available in the Indian Institute of Technology and certain other Engineering institutions have been mentioned in the concerned section.)

Civil Services

The Indian Civil Services are open to candidates with a University Degree in any discipline. It is well-known that many of the high-ranking candidates in the admission lists of leading business schools are graduates in engineering. An engineering degree along with an MBA offers a very useful cocktail for effective management. Entry to the Civil Services is another positive diversion of the graduates in Engineering. Candidates with degrees in medicine, commerce, and technology join these services together with those qualified in humanities.

The IAS is perhaps the most well-known service, followed by the IFS and the IPS. Many refer to the Civil Service Examinations as the IAS examination.

The UPSC conducts the Civil Service Examinations every year for selection of candidates to be appointed to 28 different services as given below.
1. Indian Administrative Service
2. Indian Foreign Service
3. Indian Police Service

Group A Services
4. Indian P && T Accounts and Finance Service
5. Indian Audit and Accounts Service
6. Indian Customers and Central Excise Service
7. Indian Defence Accounts Service
8. Indian Revenue Service
9. Indian Ordinance Factories Service
10. Indian Postal Service
11. Indian Civil Accounts Service
12. Indian Railway Traffic Service
13. Indian Railway Accounts Service
14. Indian Railway Personnel Service
15. Assistant Security officers in Railway Protection Force
16. Indian Defence Estates Service
17. Indian Information Service
18. Indian Trade Service
19. Assistant Commandants in Central Industrial Security Force

Group B Service
20. Central Secretariat Service
21. Railway Board Secretariat Service
22. Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Service
23. Customs Appraisers Service
24. Delhi, Andaman && Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman && Diu, and Dadra && Nagar Haveli Civil Service
25. Delhi, Andaman && Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman && Diu and Dadra && Nagar Haveli Police Service
26. Deputy Superintendents of Police in Central Bureau of Investigation.
27. Pondicherry Civil Service
28. Pondichery Police Service.

The examination will be in three stages - Preliminary, Main and Interview.

A. Preliminary Examination
Two papers with multiple choice type of objective questions only
Paper I - General Studies - 150 marks
Paper II - one subject to be
selected from 23 optional subjects - 300 marks.
This is only a screening test. Marks secured in this will not be recorded for final ranking.

B. Main Examination
There are nine written papers which will be of the conventional essay type.
Paper I- An Indian languages in the eighth schedule of the constitution - 300 marks
Paper II - English 300 marks
Paper III Essay 200 marks
Paper IV, V General Studies - 2 x 300 marks
Paper VI, VII, Any two subjects to
VIII, IX be selected from a large number of - 4 x 300 optional subjects.
Each subject will have two papers.
The papers on Indian Languages and English will be of qualifying nature; the marks obtained in these will not be counted for ranking. The remaining seven papers carry a total of 2000 marks. Those who perform well in the written papers of the main examination will be called for the interview/personality test, which carries 300 marks. The preparation of the final merit list will be on the basis of the total marks of 2300, for the written papers of the main examination and the interview put together.

B.S. Warrier
Formerly Joint Director,
Technical Education, Kerala.
( Courtesy: Manorama Knowledge Adventure )