Category: 2019

5 careers - Little heard of, but with more Impact

5 careers – Little heard of but with more Impact – Copy

What is common between Podiatry, Speech Therapy,Radio Jockeying, Cartography, and Occupational Therapy? Well, one common thing is- all these career options are little heard of and they evoke skepticism in the minds. One – because of little knowledge about them and two- they are quite offbeat. Let us take a look at the ‘little heard of’ careers that have a strong impact.

Podiatry

Podiatry is an exciting and varied career. It offers you the chance to make a difference, a high degree of flexibility and excellent employment prospects. Podiatrists treat a variety of foot and ankle ailments, including calluses, ingrown toenails, heel spurs, arthritis, congenital foot, and ankle deformities, and arch problems. They also treat foot and leg problems associated with diabetes and other diseases. Some podiatrists spend most of their time performing surgery, such as foot and ankle reconstruction. Others may choose a specialty such as sports medicine, pediatrics, or diabetic foot care.

Course Details

Candidates must have passed the 10+2 level of examination, or its equivalent, from a recognized board, with Physics, Chemistry, and biology as compulsory subjects, in order to seek admission in a Bachelor’s degree program in medicine. They are required to take and qualify in the medical entrance examination, conducted by various institutions across India. On obtaining an undergraduate medical degree, candidates can apply for a post-graduation program in podiatric medicine. Podiatric medicine is offered as a four-year program, which follows a curriculum similar to the one followed at other medical schools. The first two years educate students on basic sciences, such as anatomy, chemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. The latter two years comprise clinical rotations at private practices, hospitals, and clinics. Here, the interns are taught the basic and modern ways of noting down general and podiatric histories, performing routine physical examinations, interpreting tests and findings, making diagnoses, and carrying out therapeutic procedures.

Graduates who successfully complete the podiatric medicine course are awarded the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree. This is followed by a 2-4 year residency program at a hospital wherein podiatrists are taught how to execute surgery and other medical processes, like anesthesiology or radiology. It is during this period that one has to choose his specialized field, namely, geriatrics, pediatrics, biomechanics, surgery, sports medicine, dermatology, radiology, orthopedics, and primary care. After completing the residency program, podiatrists are licensed to practice in their chosen field.

Institute scape

Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, New Delhi  offering diploma in Podiatry.

Speech Therapist

Speech therapy is an allied branch of health sciences related to the disorder of speech, voice, and language of a person. Speech therapy and audiology have become promising career options in recent times. Speech therapists are specialists who treat people facing problems related to speech disorders.

Course Details

In India, you can study both speech therapy and audiology together at the Bachelor’s as well as the Master’s level. Postgraduate programmes with specialization either in speech-language pathology or audiology are also offered. Several courses on speech therapy are available for interested students. The basic courses are B.S.C (speech & hearing), B.S.C (Audiology and Speech & Language), and M.S.C (Speech Pathology and Audiology). The qualifications required for pursuing a course in speech therapy are:

  • For pursuing a diploma course a candidate must pass the 10+2 examination
  • An undergraduate course for three years requires a candidate to have passed the XIIth standard with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology preferably with 50%-60% of marks. The cut off marks vary with institutes.

Institute Scape

The Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi, governs all institutes imparting training in speech therapy, and on http://ishaindia.org.in/ of the Indian Speech and Hearing Association, a national professional organization of speech therapists.

  • Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai and regional centers in Kolkata, Secunderabad and New Delhi offering B.Sc. Hearing and language and M.Sc. Hearing, Speech and Language.
  • All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, Mysore
  • BYL Nair Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai.
  • Dr. SRC Institute of Speech and Hearing, Bangalore.
  • Dr. MV Shetty Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore

Cartography

Cartographers use information from surveys, photographs and other reports that they have gathered and created for the purpose of creating a new digital map or updating existing ones. These professionals use global positioning systems (GPS), computer-aided design (CAD) programs and specialized mapping software to create maps for a variety of purposes. Cartographers typically do fieldwork to collect and verify data used in creating maps. They will also collect and analyze geographical data, such as population density, demographic characteristics, and annual precipitation patterns;examine and compile data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare thematic maps and prepare thematic maps in digital or graphic form to be used for social, environmental, political, business, educational, and design purposes.

As for academic qualifications, you could get a B.Sc Geography, M.Sc Geography, M.Sc Applied Geography, M.Sc Spatial Information Technology, M.Sc Cartography, M.Sc Geographic Information System, M.Sc Remote Sensing, M.Sc Geoinformatics, M.Tech Geoinformatics, P.G.Diploma in GIS, Cartography, Surveying and mapping/topographic/earth sciences or urban and land studies before applying for jobs.

Institute Scape

  • IIT, Mumbai
  • Burdwan University – Bardhaman (Master of Science- Remote Sensing & Geographic Information System)
  • Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai)
  • Jamia Millia Islamia – Diploma in Cartography
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University
  • MS University of Baroda – Diploma in Cartography
  • North Orissa University – Baripada (Master of Science in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)
  • Osmania University – Diploma in Geographical Cartography
  • Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University – Raipur (Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)
  • Sam Higginbotom Institute of Agriculture – Allahabad (Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System)

Occupational Therapy

An occupational therapist is responsible for providing medical help and/or rehabilitation to individuals suffering from functional disabilities that prevent them from leading fully functional and healthy, independent lives, in the workplace and/or at home. Occupational therapy employs various exercises and physical and mental activities meant to challenge and thereby further improve and develop motor and sensory perception, judgment and problem-solving skills, cognition, hand functions, and hand-eye coordination. Patients with physical limitations that cannot be healed or cured are taught how to circumvent those limitations in order to manage everyday activities and work-specific tasks independently, sometimes through physical or mental exercises, and sometimes by using specially designed devices.

Institute Scape

  • Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
  • National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Kolkatta, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, B.Sc. (Hons) Occupational Therapy
  • Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, Delhi
  • Christian Medical College, (Tamil Nadu), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) 
  • Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research(SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, 
  • NIMS College of Physiotherapy, Jaipur.
  • National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (NIRTAR), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)
  • Manipal University, Manipal, Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Radio Jockeying

Radio Jockeying is a talent based field. Even though no formal educational qualification is required, a degree or at least plus two is generally a prerequisite. Qualification for Diploma & Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming & Broadcast Management: graduate in any field with 60% aggregate in graduation.

Entrance Exam for Radio Jockey courses is conducted by Encompass Institute of Radio Management. Some institutes also conduct their own screening test, voice test in the case of certificate courses. Following are some of the courses in Radio Jockeying.

  • Diploma and Certificate course in Radio Jockey
  • Diploma in Radio Management
  • Diploma in Radio Programming and Management
  • Diploma in Radio Station Operations and Management
  • Certificate Course in Announcing, Broadcasting, Compere  and Dubbing
  • Certificate Course in Radio Production Programme
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Radio Programming and Management

Institute scape:

  •  Academy of Radio Management, New Delhi.
  • Xavier Institute of Communication Mumbai.
  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
  • Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi.
  •  FILM Institute New Delhi.

Summing up:

Therefore,if you wish to step into a career that is offbeat and gives you a high impact, choose any of the above that you gel in with and watch your career soar high.

Coveted-Career-Gauri-Chhabra

Clinch the Coveted Career

The Govt departments and ministries offer the most coveted of job positions. At Grade B and C posts, SSC CGL is the best option for the young graduates. As an SSC CGL officer, you will be a catalyst in the nation’s growth curve besides being in a lucrative career option. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) holds the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Exam for the appointment of candidates in Grade “B” and “C” category posts at various Government Ministries, Departments, and Offices. The SSC Combined Graduate Level exam has a four-tier system, in which tier I and tier II are computer-based, while in tier III and IV, job applicants take up a descriptive paper and a computer proficiency test or skill test & document verification. The entire process of registration and communication will be online through the official website of SSC CGL. Aspirants must qualify each phase of the SSC CGL exam to go on to the next one, before being finally selected.
The CGL Examination for Tier I will be held from 2 to 11 March 2020 and will be a computer-based examination. According to the official notification, the Combined Graduate Level Examination-2019 for Tier II and III will be held from 22 to 25 June 2020.

SSC CGL Exam Eligibility

1.Educational Qualifications:

The educational qualifications varies according to the post for SSC CGL 2019 and is listed below:

SSC CGL Post

Educational Qualification

Assistant Audit Officer

Bachelor’s Degree in any subject from a recognized University

OR

Desirable Qualification: CA/CS/MBA/Cost &

Management Accountant/ Masters in Commerce/

Masters in Business Studies

Statistical Investigator Grade – II Post

Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University

with minimum 60% in Mathematics in Class 12th

OR

Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline with Statistics as

one of the subjects in graduation

Compiler Posts

Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University

with Economics or Statistics or Mathematics as

compulsory or Elective Subject

All Other Posts

Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a

recognized University or equivalent

2. Age Limit-The minimum age limit defined for SSC CGL is 18 years and the maximum age limit is 32 years depending on the type of post.

3. Citizenship: Candidate must be a citizen of India

Schedule for SSC CGL 2019

The schedule of the exam as per the latest notification of SSC CGL 2019 is given below. 
Activity Date
SSC CGL 2019 Notification Release Date 22nd October 2019
SSC CGL 2019 Application End Date 25th November 2019
SSC CGL 2019 Tier- I(CBE) Exam Date 2nd to 11th March 2020
SSC CGL 2019 Tier- II(CBE) & Tier-III(Des) Exam Date 22nd to 25th March 2020
SSC CGL 2019 Tier- IV To be notified later

Tier I: Preliminary Examination

The exam comprises of four sections having 100 questions (25 questions in each section) which will account for a total of 200 marks (maximum 50 marks in each section). The time duration of Tier-1 exam will be 60 minutes and would be conducted online. It would cover the subjects of:
  • General Intelligence and Reasoning
  • General Awareness
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • English Comprehension
There is negative marking in SSC CGL 2019-20 Tier 1 Exam. 0.5 marks will be deducted from every question that is attempted wrong by a candidate in all the sections. The exam duration is 80 minutes for candidates who are visually handicapped and suffering from Cerebral Palsy. Based on results from Tier I, qualified candidates can then take the Tier II and Tier III exams.

Tier II: Mains Exam

SSC CGL 2019-20 Tier-II exam is an objective exam which will be conducted online. The exam comprises of four Papers – Quantitative Abilities, English Language and Comprehension, Statistics and General Studies (Finance & Economics). The time duration for each Paper is 2 Hours. The section-wise details of the exam are shown in the table given below:
Paper Subject No. of Questions Max Marks Exam Duration
I Quantitative Abilities 100 200 2 Hours
II English Language and Comprehension 200 200 2 Hours
III Statistics 100 200 2 Hours
IV General Studies (Finance & Economics) 100 200 2 Hours

Tier III exam: Descriptive Paper

SSC CGL Tier – III Exam is a descriptive paper which will be taken offline via pen and paper mode. In this exam, candidates’ language proficiency, grammar knowledge, vocabulary usage and writing skills will be tested in English/Hindi. Candidates are required to write essays, précis, application, letter, etc. in 60 minutes.This exam will be bilingual means, Hindi/ English as per the choice filled by the candidate earlier at times of application filling.The questions are based on 10+2 level.The exam is qualifying in nature. At least 33% should be scored by the candidate to qualify this particular tier, rest is dependent on cut-offs.The exam duration is 80 minutes for candidates who are visually handicapped or suffer from cerebral palsy.

SSC CGL Tier – IV Exam 

The SSC CGL Tier – IV Exam comprises of a couple of skill tests which are required for certain government posts and document verification procedure:

DEST (Data Entry Speed Test):

Data Entry Speed Test (DEST) at 8,000 (eight thousand) Key Depression per hour on Computer is specifically for the post of Tax Assistants (Central Excise & Income Tax). The “Data Entry Speed Test” Skill Test will be conducted for a passage of about 2000 (two thousand) key depressions for a duration of 15 (fifteen) minutes.

CPT (Computer Proficiency Test):

The Commission will hold CPT, comprising three modules,Word Processing,Spread Sheet and Generation of Slides.The test will be conducted for the post of Assistant Section Officer of Central Secretariat Service (CSS), Assistant Section Officer (MEA), Assistant in Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and Assistant (GSI) in the Ministry of Mines.

Document Verification:

The last step to the final selection would be Document Verification. Candidates will have to submit copies of various documents like Matriculation Certificate, educational qualification, caste certificate, relevant document, if any relaxation is taken, etc. Candidates will be required to produce all documents in original for verification at the time of document verification.

Tier II Quantitative Aptitude
Sample Questions:

  1. In an election between two candidates one got 52% of the total valid votes, 25% of the total votes were invalid. The total number of votes was 7200, the number of valid votes that the other candidate got was.
    • 2592
    • 2808
    • 2604
    • 2716
  2. A man spends 30% of his income on food, 12% on house rent, 28% on miscellaneous. If his savings at the end of a month is Rs. 8100, than the man’s total income is
    • Rs. 273
    • Rs. 249
    • Rs. 285
    • Rs. 305
  3. A sum of Rs. 817 is divided among Amit, Banti and Chintamani such that ‘Amit’ receives 25% more than ‘Banti’ and ‘Banti’ receives 25% less than ‘Chintamani’. What is the ‘Amit’ share in the amount?
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • History
    • Ethnology
  4. Amit, Sonu and Monu played cricket. Runs scored by them are in the ratio 2: 3: 4 respectively. If sum of runs of Amit and Sonu was 180, find the runs scored by Monu.
    • 144
    • 214
    • 196
    • 124
DRDO

DRDO Jobs

Strategic sectors offer stability and a range of career options This has brought back  ISRO, DRDO, and DAE back into the reckoning. 

Recruitment of Scientists in DRDO

Recruitment and Assessment Centre (RAC), DRDO Ministry of Defence, GoI has released a notification for GATE qualifiers for Scientist ‘B’ in Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The recruitment will be completely based on GATE Result.

RAC, the Recruitment and Assessment Centre of DRDO undertakes various recruitment programs to induct scientists each year in a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines relevant to DRDO Laboratories. Every year RAC recruits Scientists in DRDS mostly at entry-level (Scientist ‘B’). However, depending on the requirements in specialized areas of research & development, the limited number of scientists are also recruited in higher grades (Scientist ‘C’ to Scientist ‘H’).

Essential Qualification:

  • Engineering Disciplines (ECE, Mechanical, Computer Science, Chemical, Electrical, Aeronautical, Civil, Instrumentation, Textile, Production / Industrial Production) 1st class Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (BE) or Technology (B.Tech) in concerned discipline.
  • Science Disciplines (Food Science, Geology, Material Science, Metallurgy, Maths,  Physics, Chemistry)  At least First class Master’s Degree in concerned discipline.

DRDO Recruitment through GATE 2020: 

The online application form of DRDO recruitment through GATE 2019 was available from August 10. The last date to apply for DRDO Recruitment through GATE was August 31. Interested and eligible candidates had to first fill their application form of DRDO recruitment through GATE 2019 and pay the application fee of Rs 100 (SC/ST/PwD/ Female candidates are exempt) on or before August 31. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is recruiting Scientists ‘B’, through scores secured in GATE. Candidates who applied for recruitment to DRDO through GATE must have qualified GATE in order to be eligible for the same. Shortlisted candidates for Scientist “B” posts in DRDO will also have to appear for a written descriptive test followed by a personal interview after which their recruitment by DRDO will be finalised. Candidates applying for recruitment can refer to this article for detailed information related to DRDO recruitment through GATE 2019.

Eligibility:

  1. A candidate must be an Indian National.
  2. A candidate must have scored a minimum of 60% marks in the qualifying exam. In cases where the conversion formula is not obtainable, CGPA/CPI of 6.75 (for a 10 point scale) will be taken as equivalent to 60%, as per AICTE guidelines.
  3. A candidate having knowledge of German, French, Russian, Japanese or Chinese is desirable. But it is not compulsory.
  4. The maximum age of the candidate must be 28 years as on closing date 10 April 2020. Age Relaxation will be as per Government directions.
  5. Final Year Students are eligible to apply, only if they submit their final marks sheet by August 10, 2020.

The important dates for the entire examination procedure:

Online Application Start Date

March 20, 2020 (tentative)

Online Application Closing Date

April 10, 2020 (tentative)

Personal Interviews may start in the month of May.

What is DRDO Exam 2020?

It is a National Level Entrance Examination conducted by Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence for posting in Junior Research Fellows. DRDO exam is of three hours duration consisting of two sections viz. Section ‘A’ of 100 questions to test the candidate’s knowledge in the subject of their BE/ BTech (for Engg discipline) or MSc ( for Science Discipline) and Section ‘B’ of 50 questions to the candidate’s ability in analytical and qualitative skills, current affairs and general awareness to test the aptitude and scientific knowledge required for Applied Research & Development. Based on the organization’s requirements, DRDO SET is conducted in Engineering Subjects such as Aero, Civil, Electrical, Chemical, Computer, Electronics/Electronics & Communication, Instrumentation, Mechanical, Metallurgy etc and Science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Maths/ Operations Research/ Statistics etc.

Selection Criteria

Part I: The final selection of the candidates is based on GATE 2020 scores and Personal Interview. 80% weightage is given to the GATE score and 20% weight age to marks in the personal interview. A candidate must secure a minimum of 70% qualifying marks for General candidates (60% for OBC/SC/ST/PWD candidates) in Personal Interview in order to get selected.

Part II: The final selection of the candidates is based on marks scored in a personal interview. A candidate must secure a minimum 70% qualifying marks for General candidates (60% for OBC/SC/ST/PWD candidates) in Personal Interview in order to get selected.

The offer of appointment to the selected candidates is limited to the number of vacancies in order of merit. In the case of Group ‘A’ Technical posts of Govt. of India with Field Service Liability the appointment is based on satisfying conditions like qualifying the Medical examination and verification of required documents.

Pay Scale: 

A candidate will get a salary of around INR 15600- 39100/- and Grade Pay INR 5400/-. Total Emoluments at the time of joining will be roughly INR 60,000/- per month.

About DRDO

DRDO is one of the nation’s leading Research and Development Institute that recruits brilliant, competent and skilled scientists in Group ‘A’ (Gazetted) technical service known as Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS). DRDO offers exhilarating and demanding career prospects in a very wide range of R&D at its more than 50 laboratories throughout the nation. 

DRDO is dedicatedly working towards enhancing self-reliance in Defence Systems and undertakes design & development leading to the production of world-class weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the expressed needs and the qualitative requirements laid down by the three services. It undertakes design and development leading to the production of sophisticated weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the needs and the qualitative specifications laid down by the three services – Army, Navy, and Air Force. This includes areas such as aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation, and life sciences.

ABOUT GATE:

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering is a computer-based standardized test conducted at the national level in India with an aim to examine the understanding of various engineering and science undergraduate subjects. In the last couple of years, GATE exam has been opened to international students from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Having a GATE score of more than 890 provides the maximum chance of an interview call for DRDO scientist/engineer subjected to a vacancy posted. If there is a vacancy of more than 25, you can even get a call up to GATE score 840. If you have AIR less than 200 in your stream, there is the maximum chance of getting a call for an interview.

GATE Sample Paper:

  1. The sum and product of two integers are 26 and 165 respectively. The difference between these two integers is _______.
  1. 2 B. 4 C. 6 D. 3 Ans: option (B) 
  2. John Thomas, a __________ writer, passed away in 2018. 
  3. prominent B. imminent C. eminent D. dominant 
  4. The minister avoided any mention of the issue of women’s reservation in the private sector. He was accused of _________ the issue. 
  5. skirting B. tying C. belting D. collaring 
  6. A worker noticed that the hour hand on the factory clock had moved by 225 degrees during her say at the factory. For how long did she stay in the factory? 
  7. 7.5 hours B. 4 hours and 15 mins C. 3.75 hours D. 8.5 hours 
  8. _________ I permitted him to leave, I wouldn’t have had any problem with him being absent, _______I? 
  9. Have, wouldn’t B. Had, wouldn’t C. Have, would D. Had, would

 Ans: Option (D) 

Hard Sell

Getting into the “Hard Sell’

Have you considered a career in insurance? If you haven’t, then you’re possibly missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime! Here’s why. By the year 2020, the insurance industry will need to fill nearly 400,000 positions at all levels, and in all areas. Actuary, an insurance profession whose practitioners compile and analyze risk, is expected to grow 9% by the year 2024.

Insurance careers span an incredible range of skills and talents—from actuaries and analysts to data scientists and marketers to drone pilots and engineers. Insurance is the backbone of the global economy. Without insurers and the thousands of different professions in insurance, businesses wouldn’t be able to build factories and offices. Concerts, sporting events, the film industry, even universities, libraries, and parks—all are made possible in part by the careful management of risk—and that’s what insurance does: It makes great things happen.

Working in insurance or one of the many related fields offers opportunities that extend far beyond the bottom line on your paystub, or the walls of your workplace. Whether you’re interested in serving your community, or experiencing different cultures around the world, or choosing a career path that offers real opportunities to grow and learn every day, a career in insurance can help bring your goals and dreams within reach. 

Insurance brings to our mind Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), which is the largest Life Insurance Company in India having 2048 Branches and 109 Divisional Offices. Life Insurance Corporation of India has released the recruitment notification for the post of Assistant. It is a golden chance for all government job seekers who have the opportunity to grab these jobs.

Age Limit (As on 01.09.2019):

Minimum Age shall be 18 years and maximum not be more than 30 years.

Age Relaxation:

Relaxations in upper age limit for Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe(ST)/Other Backward Community(OBC)/ Ex-Servicemen/Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) /Confirmed LIC employees shall be as under : Relaxation of Upper Age Limit:
Sr.No Category Age Relaxation upto
1. SC/ST 5 Years
2. OBC 3 Years
3. PWD (Gen) 10 Years
4. PWD (SC/ST) 15 Years
5. PWD (OBC) 13 Years
6. ECO/SSCO (GEN) 5 Years
7. ECO/SSCO (SC/ST) 10 Years
8. ECO/SSCO (OBC) 8 Years
9. Confirmed LIC employees Further Relaxation of 5 Years

Educational Qualification:

Bachelor’s Degree (10+2+3 pattern) in any discipline from a recognized Indian University / Institution. Selection Process LIC Assistant selection is done on the basis of two-phase examination i.e. Preliminary Examination (Phase I) and Main Examination (Phase II) followed by Interview. Marks obtained in the Main Examination only will be considered for shortlisting for interview and marks obtained in Main Examination + marks obtained in Interview will be considered for final merit listing of candidates. Exam Pattern  LIC Assistant 2009 will be conducted in two phases: Prelims and Mains. LIC Assistant Prelims Exam: LIC Assistant Prelims Exam will be of 100 marks. There will 100 questions from Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, and English Language/Hindi Language. The Written Exam will contain 3 sections namely: Reasoning, English Language / Hindi Language, Quantitative Aptitude. The total duration of the written exam will be 1 hours or 60 minutes. 0.25 marks will be deducted if a candidate attempts a question wrong. 
S.N. Sections Number of Questions Total Marks Duration
1. Reasoning Ability 35 35 20 minutes
2. Numerical Ability 35 35 20 minutes
3. English Language / Hindi Language 30 30 20 minutes
Total 100 60 minutes

LIC AAO Exam Pattern For Mains

LIC AAO Exam Mains is scheduled to be held on December 22, 2019. LIC AAO Mains exam pattern is different for the different posts of AAO (Generalist/IT/Chartered Accountant/Actuarial/Rajbhasha). For all these posts, the Main exam has both objective and descriptive sections and both are conducted in the online mode.
Sections Number Of Questions/Maximum Marks Time Duration
Reasoning Ability 30/90 40 mins
General Knowledge & Current Affairs 30/60 20 mins
Data Analysis & Interpretation (For Generalists)Professional Knowledge (For IT/Chartered Accountant/Actuarial/Rajbhasha) 30/90 40 mins
Insurance & Financial Market Awareness 30/60 20 mins
Total 120/300 120 mins or 2 hours
English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)/Knowledge of Language (Descriptive) for Rajbhasha 2/25 30 mins
The descriptive test will be conducted immediately after the objective exam is over. The sections of the Main exam too are separately timed. The descriptive test, for all posts, is qualifying in nature. This means the marks secured by the candidates in the descriptive test will not be considered to compile the final merit list.

Personal Interview

Shortlisted candidates, who qualify in the Online Test, will be called for Personal Interview round. Usually, the number of candidates called for this round is three times the number of vacancies available for the post of LIC AAO in various branches of the organization across the country. The Interview is conducted for 30 marks. For SC/ST candidates, the qualifying marks is 27 whereas, for candidates belonging to other categories, the minimum qualifying marks is 30.

Final Selection

Final selection is made based on merit, that is, based on the marks secured by the candidates in the Main Exam and Personal Interview. In the case of two or more candidates securing the same aggregate marks, the candidate with the higher educational qualifications will be given preference. If the tie still persists, the candidate older in age will be given preference. Selected candidates will first have to undergo a Pre-Recruitment Medical Examination as well as Document Verification. If they are found medically fit and their documents are found in order, they will be appointed as Assistant Administrative Officers (AAOs). Sample questions:( Prelims) Direction (1 -5):  Study the arrangement carefully to answer these questions.
  1. There are 6 persons sitting in a row facing south. Each of them speaks different languages- Hindi, Spanish, French, English, Chinese & Arabic, but not necessarily in the same order. The person speaking Hindi is sitting 2nd to the right of the person speaking French but is not at the end. The Spanish speaker is sitting at the extreme end, but not adjacent to the Hindi speaker. The person speaking English is sitting adjacent to the person speaking Hindi but not adjacent to the French speaker. The Chinese speaker is 3rd to the left of the Arabic speaker, who is sitting at one of the ends.
  1. Which pair of speakers among the following are sitting at the extreme ends?
  1. English- Spanish
  2. Spanish- Chinese
  3. Arabic- Spanish
  4. Spanish- French
  5. None of the above
  1. What is the position of the Hindi speaker with respect to the Chinese speaker?
  1. Immediate left
  2. B.Immediate right
  3.  3rd to the left
  4. 2nd to the right
  5. None of the above
  1. If all the speakers sit according to the languages as they will appear in the dictionary,    from right to left, how many speakers will not change their seats?
  1. 1           B. 2
  1. 3         D.4      E. None
   
  1. If the speakers exchanged the seats in the following manner: Arabic with Chinese, English with French, Hindi with Spanish & Spanish at the last with English, which among the following is the correct combination of the speaker and the position of the seat?
  1. Chinese speaker is 2nd to the right of the English speaker.
  2. Arabic speaker is the immediate left of the English speaker.
  3. Hindi speaker is at the extreme left.
  4. English speaker is sitting 3rd from the right end.
  5. All of the above.
  1. From the following pairs find the odd one out.
  1. Hindi- Chinese
  2. English- Arabic
  3. French- Spanish
  4. Chinese- French
  5. English- Chinese
Summing up: Therefore, gear up for the ‘hard sell’ and ensure a lucrative and prestigious career for yourself.
IELTS

Gear up for IELTS

If your dream is to work, study or live abroad, taking an IELTS test can help you make that dream come true.

 

What is IELTS

 

IELTS(International English Language Testing System) is an English language exam that is required to be taken by international candidates considering studying or working in a country where English is the main language of communication. Most popular countries where IELTS is accepted for university admissions are the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada. The exam mainly measures the ability of test-takers to communicate in the four basic English language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. IELTS exam is jointly owned and conducted by IDP Education Australia, British Council, and Cambridge English Language Assessment.



You can choose to take your IELTS test either on paper or computer, depending on your convenience. There is no difference in the content, format or level of difficulty between the two options. 

 

Types of IELTS:

 

There are two IELTS tests available – IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. The test you choose should be based on what it is you want to do.

 

IELTS Academic – measures whether your level of English language proficiency is suitable for an academic environment. It reflects aspects of academic language and evaluates whether you’re ready to begin training or studying. It is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors and nurses who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country.



IELTS General Training – measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both workplace and social situations. It is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.

There’s also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills. It is intended for those who need to prove their English speaking and listening skills at Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels A1 or B1 and can be used to apply for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa, indefinite leave to remain or citizenship in the UK.



Format and Duration:

 

IELTS has been developed by some of the world’s leading language assessment experts and will test the full range of English skills needed for success in your new job or study placement abroad.

You’ll be assessed on the following subskills:

  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Speaking

 

For the Speaking test, you can book a slot online on your preferred date and time. If you fail to choose a slot within the stated time period, a time slot will be automatically allocated to you. The total test time is under three hours.



Listening test (30 minutes)

You will have to listen to four recordings and then answer the questions asked. The recordings are of native English speakers and the duration of the test is 30 minutes.

Reading test

(60 minutes)

The IELTS Reading test requires you to answer 40 questions and is designed to test you on an array of reading skills. You would have to read for gist, main ideas, details, logical arguments, skimming, and figuring out the writers’ attitudes, opinions and intentions.

Writing test (60 minutes)

The IELTS writing test requires you to complete two tasks and covers topics of general interest based on the module you are taking.

Speaking Test (11-14 minutes)

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your spoken English skills. The test is recorded and conducted in three parts.




Listening

The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes 40 minutes: 30 – for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.

  • Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
  • Recording 2 – a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
  • Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
  • Recording 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Reading:

The Reading paper has three sections and texts totaling 2,150-2,750 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views, labeling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings.  In IELTS Academic, the three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. In  General Training, Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics. Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts, training materials and Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.

Writing

The writing paper has two tasks. In task 1, you describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in your own words. In task 2, you may be required to discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Depending on the task, test takers may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions, and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument. You should write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In task 2, you should be able to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

In IELTS General Training in Task 1, you would write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. In Task 2, test takers write an essay about a topic of general interest. 

Speaking

The speaking test is a face-to-face interview. The speaking test contains three sections.

  • Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking the IELTS exam as well as other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers and the Internet.
  • Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
  • Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in Section 2.

 

The validity period of the result:

While it is up to each organization to set a validity period that works for their purposes, the IELTS partners recommend a 2-year validity period for IELTS test results based upon the well-documented phenomenon of second language loss or ‘attrition’.

 

Test Dates:

The IELTS test dates in India are available four times a month or 48 times a year (for paper-based) and are generally held on Saturdays and Thursdays to provide flexibility and convenience to the test seekers. With the computer-delivered IELTS, you can choose from multiple dates and time slots in a day and get your results within 5-7 days. However, the availability of the IELTS dates may differ as per the test type and module you have opted for – Academic or General Training.

 

Scoring:

Listening

 

The IELTS Listening test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale and reported in whole and half bands.

 

Reading

 

The IELTS Reading test contains 40 questions. Each correct answer is awarded one mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS nine-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

 

The Academic and General Training Reading tests are graded on the same scale. The distinction between the two tests is one of genre or text type. However, Academic Reading tests may contain texts which feature more difficult vocabulary or greater complexity of style. It is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score.

Writing

  • Task Achievement (for Task 1), Task Response (for Task 2)
  • Coherence and Cohesion
  • Lexical Resource
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Speaking

 

  • Fluency and Coherence
  • Lexical Resource
  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  • Pronunciation

Top websites for preparation:

  • IELTS.org. 
  • IELTS-simon. 
  • IELTS Buddy.
  • IELTS Liz YouTube channel
  • IH London blog.

Summing up:

Therefore, if you wish to make get a foothold in the UK, Canada, Australia, the USA for academic or career purposes, fine-tune your proficiency in English Language and get a dipstick into the IELTS exam.

That would serve as a litmus test for your proficiency in the language.

image selection 2018

Just the Right Image

Do you have an uncanny knack for dressing up well? Do you also keep abreast of the latest fashion trends? Do you dress to impress and for success? If your answer to these questions is yes, you should be getting into the most talked of career of the decade- that of an image consultant.

In India, the need for Image Consulting is catapulting and people are realizing the need for projecting the right image in order to have a better personal, professional and social life. Looks matter. And people seemed to have realized that. With human lives being enveloped by social media Tsunami, there is an increasing awareness among people from all walks of life- corporate execs, interns fashionistas, singles looking for partners how relevant it is to cast a good first impression and to immaculately retain it. India is the youngest country in the world today and statistics saying that by 2020, the average age of India is going to be 21, the competition and the need to be one up is going to be more than ever before. More and more people will look for an Image Consultant to enhance their lives. With this, the demand for Image Consultants will grow exponentially. This provides an excellent opportunity for becoming to take up Image Consulting as a career. 

Career Avenues:

As an image consultant, you would be majorly self-employed and work with individual clients or work with an image consulting agency. There is also work with groups, conferences, department stores, and presentations. This is an entrepreneurial profession that gives you flexible hours, your own business, and client control. You can choose to work full or part-time; from home, office or commercial premises. 

Here are some job avenues you can aim at:

Recruitment or Training firms: 

An image consultant can find a job easily at Recruitment or Training firms. These companies need to have expertise in dealing with people and set the benchmark of the perfect image of employees. So image consultants can add value to their service.

Airlines and Hospitality Industry: 

Here the success of the industry is mostly dependent upon by the company employees. Be it ground stuff or front desk executive the service delivery of such company is mostly depended upon the employee’s image.

Fashion:

Fashion is akin to an image. Image consultants are very important to build up the career of an upcoming fashion model or fashion designer. So an image consultant can get hired by grooming institutes for a model or individually work as image consultants.

Organized Retail:

As the number of people who buy garments after changing fashion and without implementing their common sense much, the retail industry now appoints persons who can advise buyers for what to buy for certain occasions or for certain projects. People will obviously love to get advice from a pro instead of getting advice from a salesperson.

Getting in

No specific educational qualification or experience is necessary to enter into a career as an image consultant. However, you may find it useful to have experience in areas like public relations, fashion, hair and beauty therapy, consultancy, human resources management. There are certification programs available for those who wish to receive job training. These programs cover image consulting, fashion design, body types, and clothing portfolios.

Institutes:

  • Image Consulting Business Institute, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Nagpur
  • Impact, Image, Style and Etiquette Consultants, Gurgaon (regular courses in Bangalore, Mumbai)
  • Istituti Callegari, Mumbai
  • First Impression, (a unit of Frankfinn group), Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Amritsar
  • Xavier Institute of Communication, Mumbai
  • Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication,
  • Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad
  • Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi

Online courses:

  • Fashion Image Institute
  • The Image Maker Inc.

The Road Ahead:

Image Management is ubiquitous. Everyone needs it. From CEOs to employees at the lowest rung, multinational companies to startups, people living in metros to the smallest towns and villages, high net worth individuals to those from the lower socio-economic strata, from homemakers to retired personnel to career people, everyone needs image management. And these different segments of people are seeking the services of Image Consultants.

This is the reason behind the large Rs.624 crores per annum market size of Image Consulting in India. The more interesting aspect is that this market is growing exponentially. If celebrities, the rich and the famous were the only people to hire Image Consultants, the market would not be a quarter this size, nor would it show the kind of tremendous growth it has been showing.

Therefore, join the bandwagon and be a part of the most talked of career of the decade

Geology

Getting into Geology

Are you looking for an opportunity with the Central Government and that too in a career that deals with the natural world? If yes, you can gear up for the geologist examination conducted by the UPSC. For Central Government agencies, The

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

conducts a Geologist exam.

The Union Public Service Commission will hold a Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2020 (Computer Based Test) on 19th January 2020 for selection to the Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination 2020, in accordance with the Rules published by the Ministry of Mines in the Gazette of India dated 25th September 2019.

How to become a Geologist?

  • To become a Geologist, you must have completed your 10+2 examination from any stream & pursue a bachelor’s degree from any university.

  • After passing the bachelor’s degree, you can pursue a master’s degree. If you want to get admission in government colleges, you have to appear for the national level exam like

    GATE 2020


UPSC Geologist Exam 2020 Important Dates

  • Pre Exam Date – 19th January 2020
  • Pre Admit Card Available: January 2020
  •  Main Examination – 27th & 28th June 2020
  • Duration of Examination: Three Days

UPSC Recruitment

Category I

(Post in the Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines)

  1. Geologist, Group A: 79 Posts

  2. Geophysicist, Group A: 05 Posts

  3. Chemistry Group A: 15 Posts

Category II

(Posts in the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources)

  1. Junior Hydrogeologists (Scientist B), Group A: 03 Posts

Eligibility and Age Limit

  1. Nationality: A candidate must be either (a) a Citizen of India, or (b) a subject of Nepal, or (c) a subject of Bhutan, or (d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 01st Jan 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or (e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

  2. Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) above shall be a person in whose favor a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Govt. of India.

Age criteria as prescribed below:

  1. a) For Geologist/Geophysicist & Chemist (Group ‘A’) in the Geological Survey of India, an attached office of Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India.

  2. A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years on the first day of the month of January of the year in which the Exam is to be held (i.e. as on 01st Jan. 2020] i.e. he/she must have been born not earlier than 02nd January 1988 and not later than 01st January 1999.

  3. b) For Jr. Hydrogeologist (Scientist B) (Group A) in Central Groundwater Board, Ministry of Water Resources.

  4. Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained at the age of 35 years on 01st January 2020 he/she must have been born not later than 02nd January 1985 and not later than 01st January 1999.

  5. c) The upper age limit will be relaxable up to a maximum of 7 years in the case of Govt. servants if they are employed in dept. mentioned. Age Relaxation is 5 years in case of SC/ST candidates and 3 years for OBC candidates

  6. Age is additionally relaxable by 5 years for those applicants who had ordinarily been domiciled in the Kashmir Division in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period 01st January 1980 to 31st December 1989.

  7. 3 years for Defence Services personnel (disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a consequence thereof)

  8. 5 years in case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs

  9. 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and Orthopaedically Handicapped persons

Educational Qualifications

  1. For Geologists Gr ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India:

    Masters Degree in Geological Science or Geology or Geo-Exploration or Mineral Exploration or Engineering Geology or Marine Geology or Earth Science and Resource Management or Oceanography and Coastal Areas Studies or Petroleum Geosciences or Petroleum Exploration or Geochemistry or Geological Technology from a university incorporated by an Act of the central or State Legislature in India or an Educational Institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed university u/s 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956

  2. For Geophysicists Gr. ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India:

    M.Sc. in Physics or Applied Physics or M.Sc (Geophysics) or Integrated M.Sc (Exploration Geophysics) or M.Sc. (Applied Geophysics) or M.Sc (Marine Geophysics) or M.Sc (Tech) (Applied Geophysics) from a University incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India or other educational institutes established by an Act of the Parliament or declared to be deemed universities under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

  3. For Chemists Gr ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India

    : M.Sc in Chemistry or Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry from a University incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature or other educational Institutes established by an Act of the Parliament or declared to be deemed Universities under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) i.e. recognized University.

  4. For Junior Hydrogeologists (Scientist-B) Group ‘A’ in Central Ground Water Board:

    Masters Degree in Geology or Applied Geology or Marine Geology from a from a university incorporated by an Act of the central or State Legislature in India or an Educational Institution established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed university under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or Masters Degree in Hydrogeology from a recognised University.

Physical Standards

Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to the Exam 2020 as per Regulations are given in Appendix-II of the rules for the Combined Geoscientist Exam 2020 in Gazette of India dated 25th September 2019

 Examination Pattern

The question paper will be a subjective or Written Exam.For all the posts there will be three question papers of 200 marks each.For the Jr. Hydrogeologist candidates required the qualify the 2 Question papers of Geology and 1 paper of Hydrogeology. Once you qualify the written exam, there would be an interview/Personality test of 200 marks. 

Prelims 

The examination, of two hours duration has one common paper and the other stream specific paper. There are 3 streams namely  Geologist and Junior Hydrogeologist, Geophysicist and that of Chemist. For all 3 streams, Paper I would be of General Studies carrying 100 marks; Paper 2 

would be stream specific like geology/ Hydrogeology (300 marks), Geophysics (300 marks)

 and Chemistry (300 marks) respectively. 

Main Examination

The examination will be of three hours. There will be 3 papers in each stream carrying 200 marks each.

 

Employment arena:

  • Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board select geologists through an examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

  • Geologists work in the private sector as consultants. They are involved in exploration and survey

  • Geologists are recruited with companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Coal India, Mineral Exploration Ltd. Oil and Natural Gas Commission

  • ONGC holds annually a written examination in two parts. The papers are in General Studies, English and Geology. This is followed by an interview. The selection is based on vacancies.

  • Oil India Limited is involved in oil exploration. The Mineral Oil Exploration Corporation Limited interviews academically bright candidates for placement

  • Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL) and Coal India Ltd. offer jobs after a written examination of two papers followed by interview

  • The Atomic Mineral Division at Hyderabad functions under the ministry of Atomic Energy. The recruitment examination is exclusively in Geology and has an objective paper and a test of practical knowledge. Selected candidates have to take an interview. The National Geophysical Research Institute at Hyderabad and the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa select geologists with specialization with a doctorate qualification. Similar openings are in Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun

  • In Research geologists work as research associates with institutions like the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the department of Science and Technology. These institutions also recruit geologists as scientific officers

  • Doctorates are preferred for these posts. Many students take up research studies and are aided financially in this by the examination conducted by CSIR. This a shared fellowship scheme granted under this examination by CSIR and UGC. The fellowship is tenable for 4-5 years

Sample Questions for Geology Exam

  1. Describe the following in brief with diagrams wherever necessary :  5×10=50 

(a) Measurement of strain from deformed conglomerates 

(b) Ductile shear 

(c)  Image filtering in remote sensing 

(d) Assemblage zone 

(e)  Pandyan Mobile Belt 

(f)  Glossopteris flora 

(g) Upper Siwalik fauna from India 

(h) Chemical denudation 

(i) Continental growth 

6)  Low-velocity zone in the mantle 

SECTION—B

Attempt any one question 

  1. (a) Describe with sketches, the drainage pattern associated with faulted and folded regions. Give two examples of anomalous drainage indicative of Neotectonism.  

(b) Describe the landforms produced by glacial and fluvial actions with examples  from India. 

  1. (a) Enumerate the salient features of aerial photographs and remote sensing  imagery. 

(b) Illustrate the principle of using remote sensing in mineral exploration. 

(c) Write a note on the Indian satellite Cartosat 2. 

Gearing up for the CRPF

Gearing up for the CRPF

Gearing up for the CRPF Wish to be a part of the force that safeguards the country? That too in a broad spectrum? From environment control to fighting aggression? If yes, gear up for the CRPF. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the largest of India’s Central Armed Police Forces.The demand of this Force from States and Union Territories has substantially increased and this Force has been called upon to help the States in almost every situation. The role of the Force and services rendered by it have extended beyond the nation’s borders as well. Genesis Raised as the Crown Representative Police on 27 July 1939 with one battalion, the CRPF today is the largest CAPF in the world with over 240 battalions. CRPF is the main Force of the union of India entrusted with maintaining and safeguarding the internal security of the Country. The duties performed by the Force span the broadest possible spectrum imaginable. Since its origin as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, the Force has maintained its highest traditions of professionalism and valour. It functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India,  The main task of the CRPF is to maintain internal security. The CRPF is deployed to perform a broad gamut of duties which include:
  • Crowd control
  • Riot control
  • Counter militancy/insurgency operations
  • Fighting Left wing extremism
  • Overall co-ordination of large-scale security arrangement (especially during elections in sensitive areas)
  • VIP protection
  • Environmental degradation checking
  • Fighting aggression
  • Participating in UN peacekeeping Mission
  • Rescue and relief operations (during natural calamities)
Eligibility and Entry Levels The CRPF gives an opportunity to those who have passed VIII standard up to graduates. Women can also get entries in some categories of CRPF. The selection board of Central Police Organizations (CPO) selected the officers of CRPF through a competitive examination, physical test, medical test, and interview.  One can join the CRPF at these levels:
  • – 25% of the vacancies occurring in a year are being filled by direct recruitment through Staff Selection Commission. 
  • Constable Constable (GD) – 100% vacancies are filled by direct recruitment from open market. Constable (Tech/Trade) – Recruitment of Tradesmen and Technical Staff is decentralised and the vacancies of these categories are filled by Unit Commandant under the directions of Sectors IsGP after observing all due formalities
  • Followers (Cook/ Water Carrier/ Barber/ Washerman/ Safai Karamchari are the members of the CRPF that comes under followers category) – By respective Unit Commandant under the directions of Sectors IsGP after observing due formalities. 
  • Head Constable
  • Assistant Sub- Inspector (ASI)
Let us discuss the post of entry level that is of the Constable Age limit Constable is an entry level post within the CRPF. Duty assigned to a 10th recruit is – General Duty. Applicant must be between 18 to 23 years of age at the time of applying. Upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST candidates. It is relaxed by 3 years for OBC candidates.  Educational Qualification Minimum educational qualification required is – 10th pass or equivalent. Physical and Medical Standards  
  • Minimum height required is 170 cm. For male candidates, height will be 170 For female candidates height would  be 157 cm.
  • Chest: 80-85 cm (breath in and breath out)
  • Weight should be in proportion to height of the candidate
Selection Process: The selection process consists of two main stages. They are –
  • Physical Fitness Test (PST)
  • Written Examination
  • Medical Examination
  • Interview
  After checking the application forms, call letters are sent to deserving candidates. These candidates are subjected to physical examination. Once they clear the physical requirements test and physical fitness test, they are supposed to appear for the written examination. Stage I – Physical Fitness Test This is the first stage of the selection process. In this stage physical measurements of candidates are taken by the authorities. They are also made to undergo the physical fitness test like:
  • Long Jump (11 Ft)
  • High Jump (3.5 Ft)
  • One Mile race (must be finished within six minutes)
 Maximum three chances will be given to a candidate to perform Long jump and High jump in satisfactory manner.Once a candidate clears Physical Fitness Test, he is selected to undergo the written exam.  Stage II- Written Exam  The written exam is of 120  minutes duration and is  divided into two parts viz Part A and Part B. Part A consists of objective type questions whereas  Part B consists of descriptive questions. It carries 50 marks with each part of 25 marks. The syllabus covers subjects like Science, General Knowledge, Numerical Aptitude, Test of Reasoning to check General Intelligence, Numerical Aptitude, Clerical Aptitude and a Descriptive Paper (Essay writing and letter writing) You would be required to carry original certificate that were attached with the application form. Candidates should also carry with them two passport size photographs.Candidates who manage to clear written examination must undergo medical examination. Medical examination is followed by interview. Final selection will be made on the basis of a merit list prepared by the authorities. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of marks scored in PFT, written exam, medical examination and interview.   Service Allocation:  Service Allocation will be made on the basis of position in the Merit List and the Service Preferences. The service preferences would have to be indicated by the candidates at the time of filling up the Detailed Application Form after qualifying the Physical and Medical Standards Tests and the Physical Efficiency Tests.

Promotional Avenues for Non Gazetted Executive Force Personnel

Constable to Head Constable Head Constable to Sub-Inspector Sub-inspector to Inspector
Must have completed minimum 8 years of service as Constable from the date of enlistment. Must have completed minimum five years service in the rank, subject to a total service of 18 years. Must have minimum three years service in the rank
Must have qualified in Junior Cadre Course and Section Commander Course. Must have qualified in W&T course. However, Head Constables who have qualified in Senior Cadre Course are not required to undergo W&T course. Must have qualified in Platoon Commander Course as well as Senior Sub Inspector Cadre Course.

Promotional Avenues for Gazetted Officers

After joining service as Asstt.Commandant the following promotional avenues are available to cadre officers
Rank Qualifying service for Promotion.
Dy. Commandant. 5 years as Asstt. Commandant.
Second-In-Command 5 years as Dy.Commandant (with total 10 years Group ‘A’ service).
Commandant 5 years as Second-In-Command (with 15 years Group ‘A’ service)
DIGP 3 years as Commandant (with 20 years Group ‘A’ service)
IGP 3 years as DIG (24 years Group ‘A’ service)
Sample English Practice Questions for CRPF  Directions : Of the four alternatives given under each sentence, find the one that best fits into the blank space.
  1. A …..thief was caught by the police last night.           
(a)    Famous            (b)   Popular            (c)    Renowned            (d)   Notorious
  1. Despite her pleas, the mistress did not…..to her request.
(a)    Accede (b)   Convince (c)    Favour (d)   Approve
  1. The bank clerk tried to…..money from his friend’s account.
(a)Empower (b)Embellish (c)Embroil (d)Embezzle
  1. The figures were barely ….. in the dim light.
(a)Obvious (b)Perceived (c)Perceptive (d)Susceptible
  1. Giving to his sons the key to success, he slept a (an) ….. sleep.
(a)Perennial (b)Amiable (c)Ephemeral (d)Eternal
  1. The doctor gave the women a ….. to calm her down.
(a)Tonic (b)Sedative (c Antiseptic (d)Antidote
  1. The accused denied having committed the crime but could advance no sound arguments to ….. the charges.
(a)Refuse (b)Repress (c)Refute (d)Reproof Therefore, gear up for getting into one of the most prestigious forces, viz, the Central Central Reserve Police Force…  

Fuelling for Growth – Copy

Social media has come full circle. With a brand new image.  It is no longer the cute and cuddly space where teenagers drooled over stuff. Today, it is serious business- a platform which all sane organizations are getting to in order to attract and retain customers. With this backdrop, when businesses have realized that social media is essential to any organization’s marketing and customer success strategy,many are still struggling to find people who can truly make social media work to their advantage concerning engagement and revenue. If you love social media, the good news is that there are plenty of jobs out there. There are even six-figure  positions available for those who are more experienced and can grow their business and leadership skills.

Some of these are

Influencers:

Influencers are people who partner with a brand to be a sort of informal spokesperson. The influencer you choose for your brand must represent both the brand and target demographic in an authentic way. You should understand the person’s reach and message, as well as the type of engagement they have with their audience.

There are many different kinds of social media influencers – from bloggers and YouTubers to celebrities and Instagrammers. In a nutshell, social media influencers work with brands to help them gain more publicity. As someone whom their followers trust and admire, they have the credibility and reach to promote brands they are passionate about – in a convincing way.

In the same way traditional publications used media kits, influencers now use them to show brands their own audience demographics as well as a host of channel analytics. Influencers are able to pitch campaign ideas to brands and show them why their audience aligns with the brands target market.

Should the brand decide to run the campaign, the influencer needs to send out professional quotes to brands to ensure they get compensated for the work they do. On theses quotes, influencers are able to break down costing for brands and offer value adds just like any other business, offering a product or service.

Today the influencer ‘game’ is actually a $2.38 billion.In most cases, influencers get to charge as per their following, engagement, reach and clout. The bigger the influencer, the bigger the budget. One can spend anywhere from INR 10,000 to lakhs of rupees for a single post.

The skillsrequired can vary depending on both your channel and your audience. An Instagrammer needs to be able to take and edit great photos, whereas a good YouTuber requires a flair for presenting. Bloggers, of course, need to be able to write engaging content. What many social media influencers have in common is an interesting personality or something that makes them stand out from the crowd. A sound knowledge of online marketing will help you to understand why social media influencers are so important to brands. Consider learning about different types of content, as well as search engine optimisation (SEO) and what’s trending within your niche. It is also worth researching your competition and looking at how they got to where they are today.

  Above all, it is essential to know how social media works. If you are considering a career in influencer marketing, you are most likely already familiar with the most important platforms. Even if you use them every day in a personal context, however, it can be useful to understand their role in brand marketing.   Social media manager Alternatively, your expert knowledge could lead you to a career as a social media manager or marketing consultant.

If so, this is the right job for you. A social media manager  leads the group and takes charge to keep an eye on what the strategy is and how to implement it. If you work for a small business, it is very easy to execute the plan but if you work for a big multinational company then several people work under you and you should know how to monitor and manage them efficiently. The growth in this profession outlook is  13 per cent.

Social Media Examiner, Copyblogger, and Sprout Social are just three of many websites that you’ll want to follow for information and ideas about how to enhance your social media strategy. Although formal qualifications are not necessarily required, some employers may expect you to have a degree. Relevant degrees include advertising, public relations, business, digital marketing, media and journalism. Versatility is part of this career field. There are many different roles that come with different expectations and responsibilities based on the company and the size of the social media community. The same career title at five different companies could look dramatically different, contributing to the excitement of social media career opportunities. Online Courses:

  • Hubspot Academy’s Inbound Marketing Certification

  • Social Media Marketing Specialization, Coursera

 

Content Creators

Content can come in many formats, with blogs, images, and videos being the most basic types. But these days there are more options to choose from and plenty of new ways to engage with audiences.Temporary content like Instagram Stories is an example of a simple way to connect instantly and authentically and even add some creative elements in such a way that shows your personality. You’ll also want to ensure you have at least a basic knowledge of image and video editing as well as the associated tools and platforms. Photoshop, Canva, and iMovie are great places to start when it comes to learning more about visual production.   Graphic Designers Graphic designers are the people behind the beautiful and creative images on social media. They basically create images for publishing, printing and even for the electronic media. Most of the time, they need to work on software like Photoshop or Lightroom to create images to publicise a certain company or website and their content. They also create designs and motion graphics for example GIFs. They need to be well aware of how to hold the audience by their designing and graphics. Most professional graphic designers have a foundation degree, or degree in graphic design or other art and design-based subject. You will also need a working knowledge of desktop design software, such as Illustrator, InDesign or QuarkXPress, and image-editing packages such as Photoshop. In India, many universities offer admission to students on the basis of marks secured in the entrance examination. You may appear for the AIEED entrance exam for admissions in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Here we have listed some examination in which you can appear for admission in graphic design courses.
  • National Institute of Design, New Delhi
  • Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur
  • Industrial Design Centre (IIT Bombay), Mumbai
  • Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune
  • MIT Institute of Design, Pune
  • Wigan and Leigh College (WLCI), New Delhi
The Road Ahead: Today, social media marketing in general and influencer marketing in particular, is considered the best form of delivery for content marketing  with more tech companies hiring outright these influencers in a formal capacity.   At the end of the day, when deciding what products to purchase, personal authenticity mediated through new technology matters a lot. And that is enough reason for you to future ready your career with social media.

Routing for the Diploma:

DIPLOMAS AFTER XII

Career in Virology

Career in Virology

Viruses have plagued human beings since the beginning of history. Some, more lethal than others, such as chickenpox, Ebola, AIDS, hepatitis, and influenza are viruses that both human beings and virologists have been struggling with.
Today, as Government expenditure focuses more and more on wellness rather than illness, fileds that focus on prevention of disease before it strikes are on the rise. One such field is that of Virology. Virology is the study of viruses – submicroscopic, parasitic particles of genetic material contained in a protein coat – and virus-like agents. This field frequently uses laboratory research to study the structure, classification, and evolution of viruses, as well as their interactions with host cells and the way other living creatures fight them. Virology also focuses on the spread of infectious disease, including threats like the common cold, rabies, yellow fever, and polio. Virologists often work with research centers, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies to develop vaccines that help fight viral infections. More recently, virology has started to focus on using viruses or virus-like structures for medical treatments, such as mapping neurons in the brain.

Virologists usually are some of the best trained public health professionals, with most in this field earning at least a bachelor’s degree in a science, and then a masters degree in Public Health in addition to a Ph.D. in some cases.

Virologists study how viruses are able to replicate in animal, plant and bacterial cells. To replicate, viruses take over the host cells on which they are parasites. The viral parasite causes changes in the cell, directing the host cell’s metabolism to produce new virus particles. Viruses come in two basic types, having a genome of either DNA or RNA. Accordingly, viruses infect all major groups of organisms including vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, fungi and bacteria. 

You can be in the field of medicine or research. Medical doctors focusing on virology may carry out clinical research or work with patients afflicted with viruses. Virology researchers work under a broad range of issues including viral pathology, viral oncology, emerging viruses, virotherapy, viral replication, virus-cell interactions, and plant virology.

Because virologists work with infectious microorganisms, there is a small risk of illness, but preventive measures minimize that risk. Virologists work in office and laboratory settings, though a few may take samples in the field. Virologists, like other microbiologists, work on a full-time basis and usually collaborate with other scientists.

Education and skill set:

Virology is a subdivision of Biology, so, you need an undergraduate degree in Biology. You will also need to take Physics and Chemistry at the university level.

  • A graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology is qualified to work at various research and technical positions, including veterinary microbiologist, research assistant and food microbiologist. Laboratory and clinical experience is decidedly important for a virologist, and most virologists get this experience in graduate school.
  • With a Master of Science in Microbiology, you can hunt for positions as a supervisor or laboratory manager, research associate or instructor on the community college level.
  • A Doctoral Degree, Ph.D. in Microbiology is necessary for the uppermost posts in this field, such as a professor at a college / university, researcher, or a research director.

A clinical virologist follows the traditional medical school path for four years after completing undergraduate studies. As a scientific virologist, you’ll typically join a Ph.D program for four to six years, combining coursework, lab rotations and research. Some medical schools offer a joint MD and Ph.D qualification. This usually splits a regular med school program into two sets of two years, with as many as four years of Ph.D study in between.

M.Sc. Virology:

M.Sc Virology is of 2 years full time postgraduate biomedical course. The minimum eligibility for the same is bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or B.V.Sc. or B.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology or MBBS or B.Sc. Biotechnology or B.Sc. Microbiology/ Biochemistry/Zoology or any other related subject with over 50% marks in aggregate.

Some institutions offer direct admissions, some prepare the list on the basis of merit and the some of the highly reputed colleges and universities conduct their own entrance tests to select the candidates on the basis of performance in the same.

The candidates who wish to have a comprehensive theoretical knowledge of and practical training in animal virology including the mechanic’s terms of virus spread disease causation diagnosis treatment and prevention of viral infections should definitely opt for the course. You are required to process skills like observation, communication, analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, reasoning and, perseverance for pursuing this course.

Graduates of this course who are willing for further higher studies can go for a Ph.D. in microbiology or related fields.

Institute scape:

  • National Institute of Virology, Pune
  • Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
  • Savitribhai Phule Pune University, Maharashtra
  • Manipal University, Karnataka
  • Amity Institute of Virology and Immunology, Noida

Career Pathways:

There are a host of opportunities available. You may reflect on what aspect of virology you are interested in (i.e. research, public health or medical doctor), since, each aspect needs different education and training. Virologists are employed in just about every industry; food, health, agriculture, control, pollution, bio-technology, and pharmaceuticals. They are also engaged in government agencies and laboratories, such as, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, water treatment facilities, and hospitals. 

A virologist has an option of having a career in research and education as well. They split their time between these two activities. They may also work as science writers or pursue additional training to work in pharmaceutical business or law. Researchers may be employed by universities, government agencies, or health organizations. Some virologists work in industry research and develop new medications.

Research

For those who get an idea of what a virologist is from television or film, you may have a skewed notion of the work day of a virologist. Actually, most of the work in this field is serious laboratory research, which is what draws so many people to this exciting field.

Some of the hottest areas of research in virology include:

  • Emerging viruses, such as Ebola, Sin Nombre and SARS. These have only recently been discovered, and are the focus of a tremendous amount of fascinating research.
  • Viral pathogenesis, which looks at how viruses cause disease. Much of the research here involves using animal studies, and also use information from host and viral genomes to determine viral virulence.
  • Plant virology, which is the study of viruses and how they affect plants. These infections can have a terrible impact on agriculture in developing nations.

Public Health and Safety:

Outside of direct research efforts, some jobs in virology specialize in public health and safety, and these roles often help decide when to declare a quarantine or send doctors to help treat viral infection outbreaks. A few virologists focus on examining and implementing safety procedures to limit the potential for viruses to move into an uncontrolled environment.

The Road Ahead:

India, being a country of extreme geo-climatic diversity, faces a constant threat of emerging and re-emerging viral infections of public health importance.There is a need for strengthening disease surveillance in the country focusing on the epidemiology and disease burden. This sets a spiralling need for virologists who can change the course of health care and preventive medicine.