I™m interested in a career in military engineering after completing class XII (science) next year. Apart from the Army Institute of Technology (AIT), Pune, which other institutions offer courses in military engineering? Amit Patil, Pune Admission into the AIT is restricted to children of army personnel. You could instead try for entry into the technical cadre of the army. To qualify for admission, you need to begin with a three-year pre-commission training (phase I) programme at the College of Military Engineering, Pune; Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow, or the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Secunderabad. After four years of education and training, successful candidates are commissioned as lieutenants and are required to complete a year-long post-commission training (phase II) at one of the three said institutions. Successful candidates are awarded an engineering degree and permanent commission in the Indian army. After completing class XII (science) next year, I wish to pursue a career in the merchant navy. Which institutes in India offer training for the merchant navy? Raul Braganza, Panjim If you have read physics, chemistry, mathematics (PCM) and English in class XII, you can apply for courses in nautical science and marine engineering which can lead to careers in the merchant navy. Every institution stipulates its own selection procedure. Admission into the three-year B.Sc (nautical science) programme offered by T.S. Chanakya, Navi Mumbai; four-year marine engineering programme of the Marine Engineering & Research Institute (MERI), Kolkata; and the three-year polyvalent B.Sc (maritime sciences) degree programme of MERI, Mumbai is open to candidates who have cleared Plus Two with PCM. Moreover, candidates should have normal vision of 6/6 for each eye separately, with MERI allowing glasses upto plus or minus 2.5. Defective colour vision is a disqualification for all three programmes. Other institutions such as the Tolani Maritime Institute, Pune (www.tolani.edu), Don Bosco Maritime Academy, Mumbai (www.donboscotech.com), R.L Institute of Nautical Sciences, Madurai (www.rlinstitutes.com) stipulate their own admission processes but basic educational requirements and physical standards are common. After completing class XII, I want to pursue a course in logistics. Please advise. Suresh Raghavan, Chennai You could enroll in either a BBA/BBM/B.Com in logistics and shipping or a diploma/advanced diploma in logistics and transport/logistics management undergrad programmes, the duration of which varies from six months to three years. Contact preferred institutes for their application procedures. Can I prepare for the civil services and engineering exams simultaneously? Nirmala Rao, Bangalore A graduate in any stream in the 21-30 age group is eligible to write the Union Public Service Commission™s Civil Services Examination (CSE). Your graduation subjects don™t limit you to subject choices for CSE. Visit www.upsc.gov.in for a complete outline of the exam, subject choices, syllabus, etc. You can start preparing for CSE while enrolled in an engineering undergrad programme or immediately thereafter ” several study guides, correspondence courses and classroom coaching options are available. It™s advisable to prepare for the General Studies paper of CSE while in your final year. The first stage of CSE is a…
