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Pervin Malhotra
Q. Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to join the defence forces. I am in final year of graduation (BSc) in a small town. I have registered online for the exam but I can’t afford to join an academy for private coaching. I badly need proper coaching to prepare for the AFCAT of the Indian Air Force. How should I prepare? — Sameera Gambhir
A.To begin with, just relax as there’s a wonderful opportunity for you and other girls like you who wish to join the defence forces. The Mai Bhago Ji Preparatory Institute for girls is offering a one-month residential SSB coaching programme from mid-April to groom girls from Punjab for all the Graduate/Technical and NCC Entry Schemes of Indian Armed Forces (Army, navy and the air force).
It’s good that you’ve already registered for the AFCAT because only those who have successfully applied/cleared the entrance exams and are scheduled for the SSB interview (between Oct 2019-March 2020) can apply. Selection will be based on an interview in early March this year. For details, log onto on to institute’s website the CDAC portal: www.recruitment-portal.in.
Moreover, girls from Punjab who’ve completed Plus II also have a golden opportunity to prepare for an elite career as a Commissioned Officer in the defence forces. The Institute named after the famous Sikh saint warrior, is a pioneering initiative for girls, the institute has a sprawling 8- acre campus in Sector 66, SAS Nagar, Mohali.
The fully residential institute is equipped with all modern facilities, including a multi-gym, swimming pool, shooting, sports fields, walking plaza etc.
The entirely free training includes enrolment in a three-year bachelor’s degree (BSc, BCom, BBA) at MCM DAV College Sector 36, Chandigarh; sports and physical fitness, personality development, communication skills, grooming, extra curricular activities, NCC, professional training and preparation for SSB interview
At the end of three years, the Lady Cadets are ready to take the competitive exam for admission into the officer training academies as per the designated Women Entry Schemes for commission into the defence services.
The selection process includes a two-part written test (the sample paper is available on the website: www.mbafpigirls.in) This is followed by an interview.
The list of 25 selected candidates (+ a reserve list of 10 others, in order of merit) is declared by the third week of June. Don’t miss this golden opportunity!
Taste of a diverse field
Q.I will be taking my Class XII boards. As I enjoy studying geography, I would like to know what pursuing a bachelor’s in geography entails. — Kapil Wadhwa
A.Geography is a very interesting and diverse discipline that bridges the arts, social and natural sciences. While providing a broad education it addresses several pressing issues, including environmental change, regional and global inequalities, the transformation of global economy and culture, ethnic segregation, urbanisation, planning, natural hazards, and many more.
Studying geography at the bachelor’s level will give you a coherent view of the rapidly changing world and the ways in which society influences and is influenced by it. While a large number of universities offer BA in geography, some also offer a BSc in geography, which allows you to move into geology and meteorology, GIS and quantitative research which essentially involves number crunching (for market research and surveys etc).
A good base for MBA
Q.I have done my MA in political science and am teaching in a coaching institute. I’m also preparing to take the CAT next year. Would my academic background be in sync with wanting to work in the corporate sector? — Vipul Bajaj
A.Don’t worry, your degree in political science would have prepared you to use the tools of data analysis and market research to conduct surveys and interviews to find out people’s opinion on political issues, or to analyse election results ability to scrutinise documentation.
If you couple your political science degree with an MBA (more so if you specialise in Human Resource Management), you would be an expert in increasing productivity, work with the physically challenged, and women in the work force, bring about Assistive Technology and also work on improving the corporate culture, group dynamics and organisational development. At the end of the day, no learning goes waste – more so in the highly interdisciplinary world we are moving into!
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