Category: 2024

Civil-Services

The Civil Services

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) is a nationwide competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission for recruitment to various Civil Services of the Government of India, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. It is conducted in two phases –
  • a preliminary examination consisting of two objective-type papers (general studies and aptitude test), and
  • a main examination consisting of nine papers of conventional (essay) type, followed by a personality test (interview).

Stage I: Preliminary examination – A qualifying test advertisied in Feb-March and held in June-July each year. Results are published in mid-August.

Stage II: Main examination – Held in October every year. Results are usually published in the second week of March.

Stage III: Personality Test (interview) – held in December each year. Final results are usually announced in May .

The candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years (for the General category candidate) on August 1 of the year of examination. Prescribed age limits vary with respect to caste reservations.

General category candidates = 6.[6]

In the initial stages of their career, IAS officers join as the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDM) in a state and go on to occupy positions such as District Magistrate, Divisional Commissioner, etc. They are appointed as the heads of Government Organizations, Public Service Undertakings and also act as Secretary to the Government of India.

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.

The Building Blocks

Today, living standards have gone up – from sky scraping buildings that have sensors and digital safety standards to planning of towns and cities, we have it all. One sector that keeps pace with the improved standards is Architecture. The career is under the light now and looks out for the professionals who are not only good with their practical knowledge but can also take reliable decisions with accuracy and scalability.

Getting in

Admission into Bachelor of Architecture courses in India is usually conducted on the basis of entrance examinations conducted by various universities. This could be state-wise; students can take the National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) or a separate examination conducted by the IITs (Architecture Aptitude Test) for admission into their elite set of institutes. Other reputed universities like BITS conduct their own entrance examinations.

If you want to apply for undergraduate programme for studying architecture, you must have passed the Class XII examination with science subject such as Biology, Maths and Chemistry. The bachelor’s degree is usually four years long.If you are interested in taking your career forward, eligibility for postgraduate programmes will be on the basis of a bachelor’s degree in (B.E/B.Tech) or any other equivalent branches of engineering. The duration for this course is two years.

Course Cursor

  • Diploma in Architecture Engineering
  • Diploma in Architecture Assistantship
  • Bachelor of Engineering in Architecture Engineering
  • Bachelor of Technology in Architecture Engineering
  • Master of Technology in Architecture Engineering

Institute Scape

  • Delhi School of Architecture and Design, Delhi, offering Diploma in Architecture
  • Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Chandigarh, offering Diploma in Architectural Assistant
  • Amity University, Gurgaon, offering Bachelor of Architecture
  • Chandigarh College of Architecture, Punjab University, Chandigarh, offering Bachelor of Architecture
  • Sir J J College of Architecture, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, offering Bachelor and Master of Architecture.
  • Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, offering Bachelor and Master of Architecture.

Career Scape

The career opportunities for architects are very high because of the boom in the construction and designing fields. They are demanded in various government and private organizations. You can work in the sectors of construction, urban planning, urban development corporations, public works departments, interior designing, etc.

Landscape Architect

Designing outdoor landscapes, including infrastructure, public areas, agriculture and forestry is vital for constructing the webs that bind our urban and rural spaces, but also, and perhaps more importantly, it’s essential for responding to globalization and climate change. Landscape architects are involved in storm and water management, environmental restoration, and recreational areas among other things. If you enjoy working with and in the natural environment, this could be the path for you.

Urban Planner

As a result of a rapidly growing percentage of our population moving into urban areas, the conditions of urbanism are constantly in a state of flux. The dynamic state of the urban environment makes it an exciting path to take as an architect, covering everything from economic and demographic changes, to sustainable development. It’s an essential responsibility within our profession, but a challenging one; it requires adaptability and problem solving on a large scale.

Restoration Architect

Our societies’ heritage and history as presented through architecture are not only beautiful glimpses into the past, but also crucial to understanding our culture as a discipline. Conservation and restoration of buildings is undeniably a challenge; it is never possible to please everyone. The media often targets the act of restoration as a “heritage massacre,” in spite of the often very beautiful solutions.

Research Architect

With the current wave of digital design and constant advancement of digital tools, our methods of representation and expression are changing dramatically. Information technology has had a profound impact upon architecture that is far from over. These constant improvements are in part made possible by the exciting research being done by architects, not necessarily consisting of designing buildings, but focusing more on how these new tools can enhance our work.

Lighting Architect

Light has a profound impact on our mental and physical health, as anyone living at high latitudes can empathize with. Delving into the architecture of lighting entails improving the quality of our experiences, our health and well-being, and the sustainability of not only the natural environment, but also smaller spaces such as our work environments.

Extreme Architect

With the current development of climate change, extreme weather conditions such as floods, heat waves and hurricanes are predicted to increase. Existing extreme environments, such as deserts, are likely to expand due to phenomena such as desertification. Being an architect who specializes in extreme weather conditions is therefore not only an incredibly fascinating way to tackle the subject, but also invaluable for us to adapt to the future of our planet.

Industrial Designer

Several architecture firms have branched into industrial design, due to their close creative ties. However, industrial design focuses on smaller scale objects of mass production, as opposed to large-scale buildings designed for a specific context. If the prospect of designing something enormous, permanent, and landscape changing sounds all too intimidating, industrial design is a great, smaller scaled alternative.

Graphic Designer

Graphic design is the way in which we take in our world and identify it. It is invaluable when it comes to communication. It can also be so aesthetically pleasing that one can hardly resist becoming a graphic designer. Taking a short course in graphic design to supplement a degree in architecture can open up a range of possibilities to still work within the field.

The Road Ahead:

India is on a continuous streak of success and has been ranked the top exporter of information and communication technology (ICT) services in a new UN report which highlighted the rise of the country as an emerging innovation centre in Asia. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in its 10th edition of the ‘Global Innovation Index (GII)’ also ranked India 60th on its list of 130 most innovative countries in the world, according to news agency PTI.The report, co-authored by WIPO, Cornell University and INSEAD, added that India maintains its top place in Central and Southern Asia, moving up six spots from 66th last year to 60th this year overall. Thus, the incorporation of technology in architecture is apparent and genuine as well. Technological advancement promises employment of architects with creative minds. Thus, overall, Architecture & Planning comes out to be a promising career option in India. You can have a look at all the compelling points and become the part of the your own reassuring career journey.