Category: Article

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.

Wave

Riding the Forensic Wave

One of the career options that occupies a broad surface area is that of Forensic Sciences. From firearms to blood pattern analysis, from psychological testing to DNA sampling, the world of forensic science offers numerous career paths for those who are interested in pursuing a fascinating career.
Let us understand what Forensic Sciences is and the career options it entails.

Forensic Science is all about the application of scientific knowledge and methodology to legal problems and criminal investigations. It is actually a vast and diverse subject which comprises various fields of science such as chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, social science, geology, psychology, etc. Forensic Scientists use their forensic acumen in the collection, preservation, and examination of physical evidence during an investigation. Commonly, forensic science can pick up fingerprints from a crime scene and investigate who actually committed the crime from the information gathered. Other samples such as blood can be tested in the lab to detect a crime.

Forensic science experts thus have a crucial role to play in the modern-day judiciary. They analyze evidence using scientific procedures and principles to deduce facts that are legally valid in the Court of Law. They play a key role in ensuring that the original form of evidence is retained during gathering and transfer. This is because even slight tampering of evidence can alter the results of the forensic analyses significantly. Some forensic scientists focus on biological and life sciences to help those in the legal world understand what happened in a particular situation. These scientists can often be found in laboratory or other investigative settings, where they closely examine a variety of evidence. Other forensic scientists focus on the behavioral sciences; specifically, they look at the psychology behind certain criminal behaviors. There are others who focus on cyber crimes, they are Cyber Forensic Experts.
Course Cursor:
B.Sc. in Forensic Science

The basic criterion of eligibility needed to be met for admission to the course is a Higher Secondary (10+2) or equivalent qualification from a recognized Board, with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and/ or Math as main subjects and a minimum aggregate score of 55%. However, a few private universities in India conduct their own entrance tests for evaluating and admitting students to the course.

tBachelor’s degree program is a 3- 4 years degree program with an average of 120 semester credit hours of work. The course curriculum includes the subjects like Criminal Procedure and Evidence, Crime Victim Studies, Constitutional Issues in Criminal Procedures, Fingerprint Analysis, Crime Scene Investigation, and Theories of Crime Causation. 

M.Sc. in Forensic Science or PG Diploma in Forensic Science

Master’s degree in forensic science prepares the individuals for advanced positions within the forensic science industry. It typically consists of core subjects like drug analysis, criminalistics, biological evidence, DNA analysis, trace evidence, Blood splatter patterns, and toxicology. 

A graduate in microbiology, biochemistry, zoology, chemistry, physics, applied science, botany or medicine can pursue a Master’s degree in Forensic Science. Even law students can pursue a career in forensic science by completing a suitable certificate or diploma course. Students have the option to choose between different specializations – forensic physics, forensic medicine, forensic biology, forensic pathology, forensic chemistry, and much more according to what interests them. It’s also possible to become a Forensic Scientist with an

MBBS

background. After an  MBBS, you can pursue an MD in Forensic Science.

Ph.D. in Forensic Science

If you wish to get into teaching or research, a doctorate degree is mandatory. Core subjects include Forensic Instrumental Analysis, Advanced Forensics, Physical Evidence Concepts, Controlled Substance Analysis, Forensic Laboratory Management, and Research Design in Forensic Science, Pattern, and Law and Forensic Sciences. To join the doctoral courses aspirant have to complete his/her master’s degree and have to get at least a 3.0 GPA.  An aspirant can pursue his/her specialization course in the fields like Forensic Biology, Forensic Serology, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Ballistics, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Botany in the Forensic science field.

Institutescape: 
  • FS Indian Education Department, Pune
  • Lady Harding Medical College, New Delhi
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
  • Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai
  • Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science (LNJN NICFS), New Delhi
  • Institute of Forensic Sciences (Gujarat Forensic Sciences University), Gandhi Nagar
  • Centre for Cyber Forensics and Information Security (University of Madras), Chennai
  • Government Institute of Forensic Science, Aurangabad
  • St. Xavier’s College (University of Mumbai), Mumbai
  • Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi
  • Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology (Panjab University), Chandigarh
  • Amity University (Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences)
  Career Pathways:   This is one field where there is a scope of employment in both the private as well as the government sectors. Successful graduates can find work in both government and private agencies, in hospitals and laboratories. Some corporate organizations hire graduates as Document Experts. Other areas include:
  • anti-terrorist operations
  • mass disaster- management
  • cybercrime investigation
  • protection of human rights
  • environment
  • consumer
  • intellectual property rights.
Almost all government hospitals and police departments employ forensic experts. The most common government investigative agencies that hire forensic professionals in large numbers are that of CBI, RAW, IB, and the state police departments. Other than these, there are many more other job roles from various areas such as civil services, banks, police, pharmaceutical industry, paint industry, clinical research, biotechnology, and software. Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) across India hire forensic scientists.  

After having completed the necessary qualifications, you can choose to work as a crime scene investigator. In case you are interested in working in a more specialized area, you may want to be a trace evidence analyst or a forensic pathologist. Most of the job-specific skills that are required for this are learned as and when one is working. As you already have an MD degree, you may choose to work as a teacher, reviewer or reformer of law as well. Criminal rehabilitation is another area where there are a lot of employment opportunities for qualified personnel. In case you are interested in the legal side of forensic medicine, you may choose to look for employment in that sector as well.



Riding the tech wave- Cyber Forensics

With the technology wave disrupting the way we interact with each other and do businesses, there is a growing need for professionals who can help organizations prevent cyber attacks. Besides, the cryptocurrency fever has brought about a new form of crypto mining activities that have triggered cybercrime. Cryptominers steal power usage for computer processing from enterprises and consumers to mine cryptocurrencies. This new form of cybercrime involving cryptocurrencies can slow down devices, overheat batteries and in rare cases, render devices inoperative. These kind of cyber crimes bring about an upsurge in jobs in cyber forensics.

Cyber Forensics or Computer Forensics is the application of Computer Science for assisting in the legal and criminal justice system. In case you are a graduate in Computer Science, Information Technology or Computer Applications, you are most  eligible for Cyber Forensics courses. A Cyber Forensics professional needs to pursue a post-graduation in Cyber Forensics or a certification in Information or Cyber Security.

Cyber Forensics Courses in India
  • IFS Forensic Science Education, Pune
  • Gujarat Forensic Sciences University
  • Indian School of Ethical Hacking
  • IIIT Delhi (Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology)

Some typical examples of jobs in cyber forensics are Computer Forensics Investigator, Computer Forensics Technician, Digital Forensics Specialist, Computer Forensics Analyst, Computer Forensics Specialist etc.

Professionals trained in Cyber Forensics can also provide training and education to students in various private and public colleges. Additionally, they also have a shot at bagging a job at one of the many Central Forensic Science Laboratories located PAN India.

Summing up:

The rising level of demand for forensic science professionals has been correlated with the meteoric rise of technological solution prominence across nearly all industries. Forensic information will be far more accessible and actionable with the assistance of cutting edge technological developments, making those who specialize in collecting said information more valuable to their employing organizations by default.

This makes the Forensic Scientists, whichever branch they choose to specialize in, at a career escalator.

Emerging LLM Courses

One career pathway that runs through all the three organs of the Government viz Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary, is LAW. If you’re dead serious about law and already have some legal working experience behind you, an LLM could be your passport to success.

Why an LLM?

Once upon a time, the only people who pursued an LLM did so to become familiar with another legal system, generally that of the US or the UK, or as a stepping stone to a career teaching law. The increasing complexity of modern legal systems has pushed ever more lawyers to seek additional training. In most developed countries, for instance, lawyers routinely take continuing legal education courses in a way that would not have been recognizable a decade ago. More and more lawyers are currently pursuing LLMs. And it is not just lawyers wrestling with the increased complexity of legal practice who now pursue LLMs. Some seek simply to strengthen their core skills, writing, and research, for instance, to be better at traditional lawyering.

An LLM degree offers many specializations.  Two emerging options in LLM  are in the field of Environment and Natural Resources Law and  Specialization in Infrastructure and Business Laws.

Let us examine them in detail

LLM ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

The specialized LLM in Environmental and Energy Law is designed for lawyers interested in careers in environmental, land use, and energy law. Individuals who aim to work for governments, international organizations, or NGOs; who aspire to cutting-edge private practice with law firms; or who will pursue academic careers, study with leading experts in these areas. Each year, students in the program form a close community that enjoys the benefits of being a distinct cohort within the larger student body.

Course Content:

 

The primary focus of LL.M. specializing in Environment and Natural Resources Law stream is to understand how the legal framework can reorient economic activity towards sustainability. This reorientation can happen in different ways like prohibiting or regulating environmentally damaging activities, assigning liability for environmental harms, clearly defining property rights and providing adequate incentives for benign environmental activities. The course will also address the principles of allocation of natural resources according to the concepts of due process of law and equity. This specialization offers a broad range of introductory and specialized courses.

LLM Environmental Law course covers local and international legal frameworks for environmental protection, climate change protection and vital use of natural resources. During the programme, you would be exposed to many issues like water law, business and trade, different forms of pollution, land issues and environmental justice.

As a student of LLM Environment Law, you would get to study topics like Environmental Law and Policy, Energy Law, Mining and Mineral Laws, Forest Law & Policy and International Environmental Law and also the Environmental Aspects of Business Activities, Climate change, and law and Hazardous Waste Law.

Getting in:

LLM Environmental Law is a 1-2 year postgraduate degree in law with an environment as the subject specialization. The colleges offering LLM Environmental Law are conducting the course in full-time mode and distance learning mode as well. The course can be pursued by candidates possessing BA LLB or LLB degree with a minimum of 45% or 50% marks in aggregate. The admission procedure shall differ for each college but primarily be based on merit or entrance exam conducted by the concerned college.

Given below is the list of colleges around India offering LLM Environmental Law course:

Institute in Focus:

The TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS), New Delhi is a not-for-profit Deemed University sponsored by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) with the objective of building capacity in various themes of sustainable development. Currently, TERI SAS offers Ph.D. & Master’s programmes in Legal Studies, Biotechnology, Policy aspects, Energy and Environment, Business Sustainability, and Natural Resources and various other executive programmes. While offering these programmes the University adopts an interdisciplinary curriculum incorporating the most contemporary, research-based evidence.In 2016, the Centre for Post Graduate Legal Studies (CPGLS) was established at TERI SAS as an interdisciplinary Centre of excellence dedicated to legal research and teaching on issues pertaining to sustainable development. Currently, CPGLS offers the following research-based academic programmes:

               

  1. Ph.D. in Legal Studies (with a focus on Law and Sustainability)
  2. One-year LL.M. in Environment and Natural Resources Law
  3. One-Year LL.M. in Infrastructure and Business Law

TERI SAS offers one-year LL.M. programme with specialization in Environment and Natural Resources Law and Infrastructure and Business Law fully in tune with the UGC norms. 

The highlights of TERI SAS LL.M are that the courses are designed in consultation with industry and focusing on National and International developments and are aimed at balancing theoretical rigor and practical application with a prime focus on skill development through research assignments, field visits, case study, group work, role-play, guest lectures, seminars, and workshops.

 

Online options:

Lewis & Clark Law School in the Northwest of the United States is now offering its LLM degree in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law via a distance-learning online option.

The online LLM in Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Law is specifically designed for attorneys who want to practice more effectively with today’s global environmental legal issues, but that can’t or don’t want to relocate. The online LLM draws on the expertise of Lewis & Clark’s on-campus Environmental Law Master of Laws, that has been helping lawyers enhance their careers for 30 years.

The LLM in Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Law includes study modules on Climate Change, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Wildlife Law, and Public Lands. It has been designed for those interested in this field, including lawyers who are in private practice, those who serve as government employees, elected officials, energy advisors, and natural resources law specialists.

 

LLM INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUSINESS LAW

LL.M. with specialization in Infrastructure and Business Law addresses the policies and laws relating to major sectors viz., transport (including railways and civil aviation), energy, telecommunications, urban infrastructure, and water. The purpose of this specialization stream is to provide an insight into the fundamental legal concepts relating to business in general and various infrastructure sectors in particular including the issues involved in the development, financing, and management of projects. The programme will address issues relating to public-private partnership in detail.

Career Avenues

For LLM students from premier Law schools, there are excellent career opportunities.

LLM degree prepares a candidate to become a teacher, researcher, litigating lawyer or a corporate lawyer. An LLM in Environmental Law degree program prepares attorneys and legal professionals to promote environmentally sustainable legal outcomes in cases dealing with pollution control and remediation, land use and infrastructure, resource conservation and management, and more.

Furthermore, having an LLM in Business Law could put you in a good position to pursue a career as a company secretary, provided you go ahead to earn the required professional qualifications because law and/or business degrees are considered attractive for company secretary positions. If your first degree happens to be in business, economics or management then your attractiveness as a candidate would be greatly enhanced.

Summing up:

Therefore, if you wish to push the law envelope further and hone your lawyering skills, options like LLM in Environmental Law and LLM in Infrastructure and Business Law are worth exploring.

Pharmacovigilance - Keeping up the Vigil

Pharmacovigilance – Keeping up the Vigil

One sector that would always boom and is recession proof is Healthcare and its cousin, Pharma. With many drugs hitting the market, there is a  growing need for vigilance and a check to prevent and monitor the adverse effect of drugs. There is a complete science to it. It is called Pharmacovigilance.

Let us understand what it is and what are the careers in this growing field.

Pharmacovigilance (PV or PhV), also known as drug safety, is the pharmacological science relating to the collection, detection, assessment, monitoring, and prevention of adverse effects with pharmaceutical products. As such, pharmacovigilance heavily focuses on adverse drug reactions, or ADRs, which are defined as any response to a drug which is noxious and unintended, including lack of efficacy.Medication errors such as overdose, and misuse and abuse of a drug as well as drug exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding, are also of interest, even without an adverse event, because they may result in an adverse drug reaction.

Simply put, Pharmacovigilance, is drug safety. It can be defined as the study and prevention of adverse effects caused by pharmaceutical products. Pharmacovigilance is the reason that many drugs are withdrawn from or not even brought into the market at times.The government supports and helps to implement courses in pharmacovigilance as their primary goal is to ensure students of medicine are aware of the adverse effects of certain pharmaceuticals. Pharmacovigilance makes it possible to implement quality systems in all pharmaceutical companies that manufacture large amounts of medicine.

Information received from patients and healthcare providers via pharmacovigilance agreements (PVAs), plays a critical role in providing the data necessary for pharmacovigilance to take place. In fact, in order to market or to test a pharmaceutical product in most countries, adverse event data received by the license holder must be submitted to the local drug regulatory authority. Ultimately, pharmacovigilance is concerned with identifying the hazards associated with pharmaceutical products and with minimizing the risk of any harm that may come to patients. Companies must conduct a comprehensive drug safety and pharmacovigilance audit to assess their compliance with worldwide laws, regulations, and guidance.

Who are Pharmacovigilance officers?

Pharmacovigilance officers are drug safety officers. They are responsible for monitoring and reporting the effectiveness and any adverse effects or side effects of pharmaceutical products on the market in the general population and in hospitals and research trials. They must liaise closely with medical and drug company representatives, patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals to record the effectiveness of drugs and other treatments. The data is meticulously recorded, analyzed and processed because the informed opinions of pharmacovigilance officers will help pharmaceutical companies maximize product safety and performance, and cut down on adverse effects.

Genesis:

Pharmacovigilance (PV) was officially introduced in December 1961 by an  Australian doctor who first suspected a causal link between serious fetal deformities and thalidomide, a drug used during pregnancy: Thalidomide was used as an antiemetic and sedative agent in pregnant women. In 1968, the World Health Organization (WHO) promoted the “Programme for International Drug Monitoring”, a pilot project aimed to centralize world data on adverse drug reactions (ADRs). In particular, the main aim of the “WHO Programme” was to identify the earliest possible PV signals. 

Career scape:

Pharmacovigilance is a great career option for life science and pharmacy graduates. It is a scientific discipline that is primarily concerned with reporting and analyzing of drug side effects. It is primarily due to the work of Pharmacovigilance professionals that the drugs in the market that we consume are mostly safe and those that are found harmful are taken off the market. Pharmacovigilance professionals continuously monitor the safety of the drugs in clinical trials as well as the drugs already being sold in the market. After a drug side effect is reported, the Pharmacovigilance professionals enter the event in relevant databases, follow up with the case to gather more information and forward these reports to regulatory authorities and other applicable bodies. The Pharmacovigilance professionals identify signals in data that may point towards a potential side effect and probe the case further.

Job responsibilities:

  • recording and reporting adverse reactions received from healthcare professionals and consumers
  • conducting in-depth interviews with patients and healthcare professionals
  • developing a thorough knowledge of products
  • completing periodic safety update reports on drugs and other treatments
  • writing and reviewing serious adverse effects reports and forms
  • flagging up early warning signs of adverse effects of drugs
  • minimizing the risk of serious side effects
  • completing safety audits
  • working on clinical trials of new drugs

Getting in :

Candidates of pharmacovigilance can pursue both certificate and diploma courses.In order to pursue a career in pharmacovigilance, the minimum eligibility criteria to apply for the course is:

  • A postgraduate or graduate degree in Bioscience/Life Sciences (with any of the following subjects: Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Biotech) with at least 50% marks in aggregate
  • A postgraduate or graduate degree with Chemistry as a subject with at least 50% marks in aggregate
  • A postgraduate or graduate degree in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • A postgraduate or graduate degree in Medicine

Institute scape:

  • Institute of Clinical Research, India, postgraduate diploma in Pharmacovigilance. 
  • Clinical Research Institution and Management Academy, CREMA, Mumbai, and Bangalore offering postgraduate diploma in Pharmacovigilance.
  • Apeejay Stya University, Gurgaon, Certificate in Drug Regulatory Affairs.
  • Innovative center for BioSciences Clinical Research, Mohali,postgraduate diploma in Pharmacovigilance. 

Career Pathways:

Till a few years ago, B.Sc and M.Sc graduates were hired for Pharmacovigilance. Soon companies started getting B.Pharm people in the same pay scale as B.Sc n M.Sc. hence companies started hiring Pharmacy graduated and postgraduates. You can make a career in creating, Individual Case safety reports(ICSR’s), PSUR Periodic Safety update reports, Signal detection, Risk Management, Medical Coding, and Medical Writing.

An entry-level job in Pharmacovigilance is DSA (Drug Safety Associate). DSAs are mainly involved in case  creation, checking for MSI (Minimum safety information – a patient, a reporter, a suspect drug and an adverse event), reconciliation and followup process, data entry of all information available in the document and medical coding. Once a candidate has 2-3 Years experience and builds required skill sets (Medical coding, narrative and scientific writing, good understanding of medical terms and basic understanding of regulatory affairs, ICH-GCP and compliance) he can go on to become a DSS (Drug Safety Scientist). 

Top recruiters:

You can find good job options in the following sectors:

  • Pharmaceutical Companies (MNCs & Indian) & Biotech companies.
  • Clinical Research Organizations.
  • Regulatory Agencies like DCG (I) & CDSCO
  • Pharmacovigilance units in Medical colleges & Hospitals

Asian clinical trials serene, Bioserve, Clin invent, Clintec international, Clinigene, Dr Reddy’s lab, Elly Lilly,  Glaxo SmithKline, IGATE clinical research, Johnson & Johnson, Lambda therapeutic research, Lupin limited, Matrix laboratories ltd., Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Pharmanet, Quintiles, Ranbaxy, Roche India, Sristek, Siro Clinpharma, Synchron, Sanofi Aventis, Torrent Pharma,  Reliance life science,  Amed,  Accutest, Actimus, Adroit insights, Alembic, Asian Clinical Trials.

The Road Ahead:

The career in  Pharmacovigilance is quite bright. At present, India is the fourth largest producer of pharmaceuticals in the world and therefore is a surfeit of drug brands with more than 6,000 licensed drug manufacturers and over 60,000 branded formulations. India offers unique advantages for the growth of Pharmacovigilance that include rapid induction of New Chemical Entities (NCEs) and high technology pharmaceutical products in the market, an abundance of patients with genetic diversity, presence of Lakhs of formulation in the domestic market and a large world-scale Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) database.

All this makes India an escalating platform for an exciting and lucrative career in Pharmacovigilance.

B.Sc Mathematics

B.Sc. Math Honours is a 3-year graduate degree program, the minimum eligibility is XII class with Mathematics as one of the subjects. You can get admission in the course on the basis of your performance in a relevant entrance exam, and subsequent round of counseling. This course builds up comprehension of analytical skills and purposeful abilities and competencies in Mathematics. The program deals with the comprehension of fundamental applications of mathematical strategies that are applied to general concepts outside the extent of theoretical mathematics.

Institute scape:

  • Punjab University, Chandigarh, offers B.Sc Maths, Honors.
  • GNDU Amritsar
  • NIT Jalandhar
  • Punjabi University, Patiala
  • LPU, Jalandhar
B.Sc. Math Honours degree course serves as a reason for further studies in this discipline, for example, M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. Degree program in Mathematics, after its successful completion the candidates can be eligible for the post of a lecturer in various colleges and institutes. B.Sc. Math Honours degree program is very supportive in attaining different degrees in accounting and statistics, for example, ICWA, and so on. After finishing B.Sc. Math Honours course, you can go for post-graduation in Mathematics, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Astronomy, Actuarial Science, MCA/MBA/CA/CS and in some more fields. You can follow the teaching profession by teaching in schools or opening their own coaching classes. B.Sc maths degree holders are also required in Banking and Business services, Government Jobs, Investment and Insurance among many other employment areas. Besides, Mathematics would hold you in good stead for the SSC competition, IBPS, and Bank PO.
SSB 2018

Gearing up for the SSB

One of the most prestigious and coveted body known for analysing candidates holistically- cognitive, affective and behavioral domain is the SSB, the Services Selection Board that conducts personality and intelligence tests and interviews to determine suitability of a candidate applying for Indian Military Forces.

 

SSB Examination

Candidates applying for the Army/Navy/Naval Academy and Air Force have to secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in written test & Officer Potentiality Test.Candidates applying for the Air Force,  also have to qualify the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) & Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) separately.

 

SSB Interview 2018 for NDA 142 will be commenced in the month of January 2019. SSB (Service Selection Board) is an organization which is set-up by the Ministry of Defence, India. Service Selection Board is the body that schedule, organize and conduct the SSB Interview of the candidates applying for Indian Military Forces. SSB screens the candidates for the Army, Navy and Air Force. SSB Interview is five days long procedure which includes two stages of testing as stage I & stage II. This procedure is organized at the SSB Centers (designated by SSB). SSB Interview  includes Intelligence & Personality Test. 

 

SSB Interview Procedure

The SSB Interview Procedure comprises of two stage selection process: Stage I & Stage II. Candidates, who qualify the Stage I, only they are permitted to appear for Stage II. 

Stage 1:

This stage consists of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and Picture Perception & Description Test (PP & DT). Stage 1 is a screening test. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of combined performance in OIR Test and PP & DT.

Stage 2:

This stage is conducted for four (4) days. Stage II consists of Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO Tasks), Interview & Conference.

 SSB Selection Procedure

Day 0 (Reporting):

On this day, candidates have to report to the selection center. Candidate’s original documents along with photocopies will be verified. After the documents verification, Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ) Forms will be filled.In this form, candidates have to fill their personal details regarding educational profile, family background, etc. 

Day 1 (Screening Test):

Candidates have to give an Intelligence Test (Verbal & Non-Verbal) & Picture Perception Test. In PP test, slide (hazy or clear) is shown for 30 seconds & candidates have to write the story. After finishing this test, the group discussion round takes place. This sequence is commonly known as Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT).

Intelligence Test:

It comprises of both; verbal and non-verbal questions. It is a written test which includes multiple choice questions. The time allotted to answering each question is 30 seconds.

Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP & DT):

This test includes story writing and discussion. A picture will be shown to the candidates for 30 seconds and candidates have to write a story based on the picture in 3 minutes.

Day 2 (Psychology Tests):

It is a set written tests, organized by a Psychologist. In these tests, candidates psychological suitability will be checked to be an officer. These tests include:

  • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT):

    It is called as Picture Story writing. This test is very similar to PPDT. In this test, about 11 pictures will be shown. Each picture will be displayed just for 30 seconds after that candidates have to write a story based on the picture within 4 minutes. After 4 minutes another picture will be displayed and the same procedure will be followed till the last slide. The twelfth slide will be blank where a candidate is supposed to write any story of their own choice.

  • Word Association Test (WAT):

    It is the second psychological test of SSB selection procedure. In this test, 60 words will be shown back to back for a period of 50 seconds. Candidates have to write the first thought that comes to their mind for those words.

  • Situation Reaction Test (SRT):

    In this test, candidates will get a booklet with 60 situations written on it. Candidates have to write their responses based on those 60 situations.

  • Self Description Test (SD):

    In this test, candidates have to write their opinion about their parents, themselves, friends, teachers & others. The time will be allotted 15 minutes.

Day 3 & Day 4 – Group Testing Officer Tasks (GTO Tasks):

These tests are interactive indoor and outdoor activities as a combination of mental and physical work. These tests are as follows:

  • Group Discussion:

    In this round, a certain situation or topic (mostly current affairs) is given to a group of candidates. They are expected to discuss the various aspects of the issue. Group Task Officer observes each candidate during the course of the group discussion.

  • Group Planning Exercise (Military Planning Exercise):

    In this round, a model of real life practical circumstances is presented to a group of applicants. They have to write their own plan of action for the mentioned problem.

  • Progressive Group Tasks (PGT):

    In this round, the group of candidates has to cross some obstacles with the help of supporting materials such as rope, plank, wood log etc.

  • Half Group Tasks:

    This round is same as PGT but the numbers of group members will half. Candidates get more chance to show their potential.

  • Individual Obstacles:

    In this round, candidates are required to attempt 10 obstacles individually.

  • Group Obstacles Race or Snake Race:

    In this round, all group members will compete to the other groups. Candidates are required to cross certain obstacles with the snake-like rope.

  • Command Task:

    In this task, an aspirant will be a commander. He will be required to cross some obstacles with the help of 2-3 subordinates.

  • Lecturette:

    In this round, each individual has to give a lecture for 3 minutes on a topic selected by them.

  • Final Group Task:

    It is same as PGT. Candidates have another chance to show their potential.

Day 5 (Conference):

On the final day, candidates & all the SSB members sit together and have a chat to the candidates to ask a few general questions. The conference is just to decide whether you recommend as an officer in Indian defense forces or not. 

Medical test:

After the SSB results,recommended candidates appear before the medical board for their medical test. It takes 4 to 5 days time for the concerned

Military Hospital

to complete the medical board and after that the candidates are dispersed.  NDA candidates are examined both for Army and Navy unless otherwise instructed and endorsement of fitness status will be made accordingly.  

Physical Fitness Standards at IMA/OTA

  • Running : 2.4 KM in 15 minutes

  • Push ups: 13 Nos

  • Sit ups: 25 Nos

  • Chin ups:  6 Nos

  • Rope climbing: 3-4 metres

Candidates are advised to build themselves up by physical training, sports, running, swimming etc, so that they meet the training goals successfully.

Medical Standards:

  • The candidate should be free from wax (EARS), DNS, Hyrocele/Phimosis. Defective Colour Vision, LASIK Surgery, Over/Under Weight, Under Chest, Piles, Gynecomastia, Tonsillitis, Veri-Cocele and Aids.

  • You should be able to read 6/6 in a Distant Vision Chart

  • Colour Vision Standard should be CP-III

  • Minimum 14 Dental Points With Sound Teeth

 

 

Selection in SSB  

For selection in SSB, all three techniques namely Psychology, Interview and Group Testing  are important. Each technique has equal weightage. SSB is assessed out of 900 marks. Out of this, 225 marks are reserved for board conference and the remaining 675 marks are divided between the three techniques which mean each assessor has 225 marks to award. The conference marks are divided into three parts with the Interviewing Officer having a slightly larger share.It is not important to pass in all three techniques. In fact, most successful candidates are cleared in two out of the three techniques. Very few candidates are cleared by all three and there are also few candidates who actually pass in only one technique but get cleared by the board after discussions during the board conference.It’s also possible that a candidate initially clears in all three techniques and yet fails in the end of board conference. 

  When should you start preparing?

Well, the earlier you start them the better. One more thing the quantity of time never matters for preparations, what matters is the quality of time you put in and how sincerely you are preparing.The OLQ’s which are the most important aspect of SSB can’t be developed in a day. 

Have an in depth knowledge of the pattern:

To get through the SSB, remember, you should know what all would be asked in each test. What would be the pattern? What kind of candidates normally make it? The knowledge of all this would hold you in good stead since you will start practicing early. In the psychological tests, you cannot fake it. Give ample amount of time to know yourself, and analyze your positives’ and negative. 

Introspect:

Do a SWOT analysis of yourself. Write down everything you need to know about yourself and your near ones. This includes your positives, negatives, achievements. Basically an introspection of your personality. Your hobbies, interests and information related to that. Information related to your friends, family and their likes dislikes, and your likes and dislikes in them.Remember, you can’t fake it in SSB so either you have the personality they want or you don’t.

 

You come to know whether you have the right ethical values and whether you are cut out for the role.

Discipline your mind and body:

The singular quality that would set you apart from others is discipline that becomes evident in the way you walk and talk. It is not just about walking in line and reaching on time. Discipline is when your mind directs your body not to walk on wrong lane, it is when you stand straight in assembly when a long speech is being delivered from stage, its when you attentively listen to others without showing negative gesture indicating lack of interest. It should be in your conscience

.

To be an officer you need to develop the qualities of an officer, and these cannot be developed overnight.

Therefore, if you have to gear up for the SSB, start preparing now. Wear the most positive and outright attitude you can and steal the show.

Tectonic Shift in Health Care

Recently, two states – West Bengal and Karnataka – announced their decision to opt out of the National Health Protection Scheme this week, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananth Kumar said that the scheme, ‘Ayushman Bharat’, has the potential to “turn India into the largest pharma manufacturer of the world in about three years. He said that Ayushman Bharat “will lay down an ambitious framework for Universal Health Coverage by giving assured affordable and quality health cover of Rs 5 lakh per year to about 50 crore poor people in India.

It seems to be one of the most aspiring and pioneering steps in healthcare, not only in India but across the world. For its successful implementation, it requires intervention in various spheres like management, delivery channels, healthcare investments and many more. This step will undoubtedly, create a new spiral of jobs in Pharmaceutical Sciences that fringe on drug development, research, quality, clinical trials and management using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Pharmaceutical Sciences- Upskills and New Skills.

The careers in the Pharmaceutical Sciences will need an upskilling and also learning of new skills. Till now it required a strong interest in mathematics, biology, and the scientific process with a sharp focus on a specific phase of the drug-development cycle — research, testing, or manufacturing.
With Ayushman Bharat, healthcare system will focus increasingly on availability, authenticity and affordability without compromising on quality.Therefore,a candidate wishing to pursue Pharma Sciences would also need to develop a consumer focus with an error free and efficient patient care using the latest technologies such as AI and ML to minimise TAT( TurnAround Time).

Institute scape:

  • Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal
  • University institute of pharmaceutical sciences, Chandigarh
  • Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
  • Poona College of Pharmacy, Erandwane, Pune
  • Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad
  • Bombay College of Pharmacy, Mumbai
  • Birla Institute of technology, Ranchi
  • Amrita School of Pharmacy, Kochi

Emerging Career Options:

With the Modicare scheme in place, the number of directions a career in pharmaceutical science can take is nearly limitless. Developing new medicines or improving the way they are delivered. Investigating crimes and providing regulatory guidance. Enhancing the durability of paint. All these roads begin in the same place.

Let us explore some of them:

Global Pharmaceutical Companies:

Working for a pharmaceutical company is one of the more obvious options open to pharmaceutical science graduates, but it is also one that offers a huge variety of career paths. Particularly within global companies there are opportunities to explore new areas of expertise, develop strong business skills, and travel and work globally. You may be required to develop products as a Business Manager, and scope external innovation initiatives to bring into the company.

Regulatory affairs:

With Ayushman Bharat, the government needs to use this opportunity to create a robust regulatory framework keeping in mind the interest of all stakeholders. This would increase careers in Regulatory affairs. The work involves ensuring a company and its products meet government regulations. For companies producing new pharmaceutically-based products, it is a crucial discipline. A skilled Regulatory Affairs Officer can be the difference between an effective product reaching the market or not.

Regulatory professionals are expected to know the ins and outs of the medical marketplace, and to understand how changing regulations will impact their industry. There is a growing need for qualified professionals who see regulatory oversight not as something that blocks progress but rather an opportunity to help bring more safe, affordable and efficient innovations to market.

Business Development:

With more and more Pharma companies coming up with affordable drugs, they would need professionals to market it. You can team up your degree in Pharma Sciences with an MBA to get this role. The best people for selling the benefits of a product are often those with the deepest understanding of how it works. For complex products developed and manufactured using pharmaceutical or chemical science, there is often a need for Sales and Marketing representatives able to talk with authority about the science behind the product.

Product developer/formulator

Product development scientists work in a variety of industries, including food, biotechnology, pharmaceutical science, and medical device manufacturing. They are typically based in the lab, developing new foods, drugs, and medical technologies or researching and developing ways to enhance existing products. They typically possess a bachelor’s degree, but a graduate degree may be required for advancement.

He now works on the research and development of injectable drug formulations for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases.

Medicinal Chemist

Medicinal chemistry is an interdisciplinary science, drawing graduates from a range of different fields. A career in this area usually involves working on the development and testing of potentially therapeutic compounds. This might be within a company that is developing new products, for a research facility exploring new compounds, or at a regulatory agency testing pharmaceuticals for compliance. Medicinal Chemists can often find themselves working closely with Regulatory Affairs, both in the private and public sectors.

Patent Attorney

Pharmaceuticals are big business. It’s not all about research; to be successfully taken to market, new discoveries need to be commercialised and a company’s intellectual property protected. That’s where a patent attorney comes in. In the pharmaceutical sector, they will often come from a pharmaceutical sciences background. A patent attorney will typically work for a specialist consultancy, advising a range of clients within their field of specialisation.

Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance

The three A’s of Ayushman Bharat also hingle very heavily on Quality The whole idea is to make Healthcare affordable to the masses with no compromise on quality. This necessitates  a systems-based career, often focused on designing, implementing and managing new systems for the manufacturing process. And it can be an extremely satisfying; by ensuring the quality of the products being produced, you are making an important contribution to your employer’s reputation and commercial success.With the continual development of superfoods, non-animal protein alternatives, dietary supplements and new therapeutic remedies, and the rise of new regulatory systems to cope, 

Medical Science Liaison

The Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is a specific role within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and other health-care industries. An MSL typically has advanced scientific and academic credentials, including a doctorate degree in the life sciences.A medical science liaison usually concentrates on a specific therapeutic area, such as Oncology or Hematology, and works for a company developing pharmaceutical products for that therapeutic area.

Their primary purpose is to establish and maintain peer-to-peer relationships with leading physicians and opinion leaders at major academic institutions and clinics. They help ensure that products are utilised effectively and serve as resources for both the medical community and their internal colleagues.

Medicines Adviser

For graduates with a desire to work in the social advancement field, one career path is to work with an International Non-Governmental Organisation (“INGO”), like the World Health Organisation (“WHO”).With a goal to build a better, healthier future for people all over the world, WHO staff work side by side with governments and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people. As a Medicines Adviser, a pharmaceutical science graduate is able to be part of an important humanitarian mission and play a part in improving lives around the world.

Science Writer

Completing any science-based degree requires you to learn how to write well about different scientific concepts and communicate your ideas and observations clearly. For some graduates, these skills can be the foundation of a career as a science writer.

Science writers research, write and edit scientific news, articles and features. If they work in the media, they can write for business, trade and professional publications, specialist scientific and technical journals, and the general media. If they work for non-media organisations, it is usually in a communications or marketing role, explaining scientific research to a professional or lay audience through articles, press releases and other written content.

 Biomedical researcher 

Biomedical researchers investigate how the human body works with the aim of finding new ways to improve health. Usually based in a laboratory, you will conduct experiments and clinical tests and record and report on the findings. In general, biomedical researchers within a university will tend to focus on improving tools and techniques, studying healthy biological processes and the causes and progress of diseases. It can be an extremely rewarding career path to follow, as the discoveries that you contribute can have a measurable and lasting impact on society. 

In addition to research labs within universities, a pharmaceutical science qualification can also lead to a career in biochemical research within the private sector. This path would often take a graduate into the pharmaceutical industry, where their research focus would be on generating and evaluating possible treatments for diseases and medical conditions.One of the biggest advantages to a private sector research role is the resources available. Private sector labs are usually developing high value products that generate considerable income for the company. This means they can invest in state of the art facilities and equipment for their employees.

Due to the commercial nature of the job, private sector biomedical researchers don’t always enjoy the same autonomy as their academic counterparts. 

Clinical Research Associate

Any new pharmaceutical-based product developed needs to go through clinical trials to ensure its safety and efficacy. As a Clinical Research Associate, you will use your experience in running experiments, gathering data and documenting the results during clinical trials. The typical employers for this role include Clinical Research Organisations (“CROs”), pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies or, less frequently, hospitals and universities.

However there are many more responsibilities. For example, every trial is overseen by an ethics committee who ensure it is conducted in an ethical manner. A clinical research associate will need to liaise with this committee and keep them informed of how the trial is progressing. Depending on the trial, there can also be a high level of contact with trial participants, so good interpersonal communication skills can be valuable.

The Road Ahead:

With Ayushmaan Bharat, the future of pharmaceutical sciences is to a great degree positive. Modi had announced that while the scheme would initially cover 10 crore poor families as per the socio-economic census of 2011, it will “in the coming days also benefit the lower middle-class, middle-class and upper-middle class” by way of jobs in the medical sector as new hospitals will open in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Modi said the number of beneficiaries of the scheme would be almost equal to the combined population of USA, Mexico and Canada or of the European Union. 

Thus, if you wish to ride on this once in a lifetime tectonic shift, tune in to  a career in Pharmaceutical Sciences.