How to select a B School

May 7, 2008
There are 1000-plus B-schools in India and half a dozen rankings to boot; notwithstanding the numerous claims and counter-claims in the print and/or electronic media. All of these seem to be true at first sight but it really is a Hobson’s choice to decide which one to select and which one to prune out from the wannabe list. Following is an exhaustive list of governing parameters in order of importance, for a student to decide the B-school best suited to his/her interests and competence. The governing parameters have been grouped as PRIMARY and SECONDARY:

Primary Parameters

  1. Industry Interface
  2. Pedagogy and Strength of course
  3. Faculty
  4. Alumni Strength
  5. Specialized B-schools
  6. Placements
  7. Infrastructure
  8. Research Excellence Vs Academic Excellence
Secondary Parameters

  1. Degree Vs Diploma
  2. Boarding Vs Day School Programme
  3. Global affiliations and accreditations
  4. Fee Structure
  5. Location
  6. Timing of entrance examination

PRIMARY PARAMETERS

Industry Interface:
The interface that the B-school has, in terms of quality of the companies visiting the campus, the quality of projects, guest lectures, visiting faculty et el gives an idea of the kind of rapport the institute has built up for itself in the industry. This strong linkage is developed and maintained by both the Training and Placement Departments, along with the active participation of the students. The data, about the companies visiting the campuses for summer or other contact programmes, is available in the curriculum details.

Pedagogy and Strength of course:
Some courses have become synonymous with the very best in the world. For instance IIM-A started with the active participation of Harvard & IIT-Bombay has incorporated the course of Sloan School of Management. Not just the course but the unique pedagogy through which the course is administered also plays a very important part in the development of the future manager. For example, IIM-A administers most of the part through case-studies whereas experiential learning is the norm at FMS, Delhi.

Faculty:
The vision and excellence of the faculty not just in terms of academic qualification but also in researches carried out, papers published, projects undertaken, and the first hand experience of the practicability of solutions juxtaposed with the experience of having done the real thing through the students makes for real learning. These details can be readily sourced from the website and/or the brochure of the institute. While considering faculty, one has to look for the number of permanent faculty, the experience of faculty , their experience, and their business knowledge.

Alumni Strength:
The positions occupied in the echelons of management in the corporate world by the alumni give an ample evidence of the locus standi of the school. This goodwill or confidence gets translated into better placements. One can get a general idea, based on the year of establishment of the school. Generally, the older the school, the larger and probably the more distinguished is its alumni strength. The information about alumni is readily available on the websites, brochures, or generally in the alumni databases managed by al coms (alumni committees).

Specialized B-schools:
A student’s interest in a particular field or subject is a vital ingredient in the choice of a B-school. Some schools have become synonymous with one of the specializations they offer. For example, XLRI and TISS are well known for Human Resources, MICA for Advertising, IIFT for Foreign Trade, IRMA for Rural Management, IIFM for Forest Management, NITIE for Industrial Management, etc. One needs to choose the course according to one’s own inclinations.

Placements:
B-school placements are looked at with awe and expectation by the aspiring students year after year. It includes the number of companies that visited the campus, average salary packages offered by them, quality of the companies, the average number of jobs offered by the companies, and the number of overseas placements. Yet despite this being a significant factor, it is itself dependent on the interplay of a host of other parameters at work and should not be viewed in isolation. Secondly, one should do a careful analysis of at least past two to three years of placements to get a realistic picture.

Infrastructure:
The presence of adequate and state-of-the-art infrastructure is an important determinant to judge whether the school offers qualitative environment conducive to learning. The infrastructure includes not just the lecture theatres, auditoriums, or other such entities, but also the availability of adequate resources for effective and quick learning to take place.
Research Excellence Vs Academic Excellence:
Teaching and research are important to all business schools and a B-school should be able to make a judicious balance between the two. The pointers can be: -
   . What percentage of faculty is involved in research ?
   · How much time does the faculty devote to research ? 
   . Is research output academic and theoretical, or applicable and relevant to business ?

SECONDARY PARAMETERS

Degree Vs Diploma:
Even though the most prestigious B-schools like IIMs give you a diploma, yet a student has a tendency to opt for B-schools which offer a degree rather than a diploma. The institutes that are affiliated to a university or have a deemed university status offer you a degree. It is generally believed that a degree holder has far higher chances to apply for a doctoral programme in the Best B-schools abroad.

Boarding Vs Day-school Programme:
A good B-school day would consist of at least 4-5 hours of class room training followed by at least 6-7 hours of working in groups outside of the class. As a result, a major part of value addition happens during learning outside classroom. This not only assists in the development of personality of the individual but also forges teamwork as the way to succeed, using experience and knowledge of one’s peers. So, the B-schools with compulsory boarding programme get a higher rating than the ones with a day programme.

GStudent and faculty exchange programmes are the norm but schools like IIMs and FMS are looking at getting foreign students through GMAT to give an international feel to the programme. Besides, some B-schools are tying-up with other foreign universities to try and offer a joint or dual MBA. Lastly, some B-schools like IIM-L are trying to get European and American accreditations to highlight the quality of their course and give it an international outlook. All this helps define the idea of quality of a B-school for the student.

Fee Structure:
While selecting a B-school, fee can take a back seat, because these days all the banks are providing educational loans at an affordable rate. If you are getting an admission in a good B-school like IIMs, MDI, S. P. Jain, etc., the banks would happily provide the loans to cover the expenditure for the two-year period. Additionally, the terms are pretty comfortable. The important fact unstated is once you graduate from a premier B-school, the placements can take care of the loan amount easily.

Timing of Entrance Examination:
Exams like CET Maharashtra (for institutes like JBIMS, Sydenham, etc.) and admission procedure by institutes like Tata Institute of Social Sciences are conducted in June, by which time most of the schools have come out with their final lists and have even asked to pay part fee in some cases. Even though the programmes, say by TISS, are excellent, a student may not be motivated enough to go through the process again. So the time is important.

Location:
This may turn out to be an important factor in case of a new school. An HR manger would think twice before devoting two-days to visit a B-school in a not-so-well-connected place. On the other hand, new B-schools may get a look in if they are located in metros or industry-centric areas. This factor becomes redundant with time as the school builds up its reputation. Hence, even a seemingly simple decision to select a B-school requires a lot of research to come to the final conclusion. This would give you valuable insights not only on the distinctive fabric of a B-school but also would help you find the best place

Topics for Group Discussion

April 25, 2008

1.    Euthanasia should be legalized.

2.    The role of press advertising has diminished with the advent of TV.

3.    India does not need OKE but cheaper rice.

4.    The opportunities and challenges facing India in a unipolar world.

5.    India needs a benevolent dictator for the next five years.

6.    There should be compulsory sterilization after the first child.

7.    India should review its nuclear option in the light of the recent utterances of Benazir Bhutto.

8.    Nelson Mandela – Fighting a bigger battle.

9.    Film Censorship should be abolished.

10. Voting age for Indians should not be lowered to 18 years.

11. Students must take active interest in politics.

12. In order to check AIDS sex with foreigners and NRIs should be banned.

13. The government should nationalize foreign banks

14. Prohibition should be enforced throughout the country

15. Capital punishment should be abolished.

16. Art cinema is India lacks entertainment value.

17. Cricket is a waste of national resource.

18. Yesterdays man was a finance man, toadies is a marketing man, tomorrow’s will be an HRD man.

19. Communism is irrelevant in today’s world.

20. Use of drugs in sports is justified.

21. India cannot afford a sporting extravaganza like Olympics.

22. In order to check brain drain, IIT graduates should be made to sign a bond to serve for five years in the country.

23. Religion based political parties should be banned.

24. India should cut her defence expenditure.

25. Reservations for SC/STs is necessary for their upliftment.

26. Our education system has drove ineffective.

27. India should follow a two-party system like the U.S.

28. The world is a sager place today as compared to two years ago.

29. India should review its politics towards Israel.

30. The Indian Army should reoccupy POK.

31. With the lowest industry growth rate since Independence, India’s liberalization policy has been proved ineffective.

32. One man’s terrorist is another’s martyr.

33. What India needs most is a presidential form of government?

34. Corruption is a necessary evil for success is any sphere.

35. Modern English education has alienated the Indian youth from the mainstream of the country’s life.

36. Work experience must be a pre-requisite for management education.

37. Modern management education is a perfect example of old wine in new bottles.

38. Public sector in India is a while elephant.

39. Unity in India is a myth.

40. Communism is for the poor, capitalism is for the rich.

41. There is life after death.

42. Women’s liberation is nothing but bra-burning.

43. Use of guinea pigs for medical research must be banned.

44. Politics is the last refuge of the uneducated scoundrel.

45. Art is a four lettered word.

46. The Islamic bomb will lead to world peace.

47. Advertising is a wasteful expenditure.

48. Exploitation of the female anatomy should be banned in advertising.

49. Love marriage is the best form of marriage.

50. There must be some controls for the Indian press today.

51. Doordarshan must be made autonomous.

52. There should be compulsory army enlisting for every male citizen of the country.

53. A wise man is he who prepares his wife for widowhood.

54. Capitalism and communism are in the process of merging together to form a new politico economic order.

55. Sex education should be made compulsory from high school onwards.

56. Ragging is a necessary evil.

57. The biggest problem-confronting mankind today is….

58. Destruction of this planet earlier than expected would be due to a faulty basic premise in economic called “growth”.

59. Professional sportsmen/athletics should be allowed to participate in the Olympics.

60. Burgeoning growth of metros like Bombay can be stopped only be removing the slums.

61. Value based political has no place in Indian politics.

62. Drug peddlers should be sentenced to death.

63. Doordarshan and Air should be privatized.

64. Indian capital markets have come a long way.

65. Yesterday’s was a joint family, today’s a nuclear family, and tomorrow’s will be a ‘no family’.

66. Religion is the root cause of all evils in India.

67. Indian film industry is on its death bed.

68. Screening of cigarette and liquor ads should be allowed on TV.

69. Income tax should be banned to avoid tax evasion.

70. India should align with the U.S. to accelerate industrial growth.

71. Democracy in India is nothing but civilized monarchy.

72. Increasing automation is the only key to industrial growth in India.

73. Only God can save India.

74. Cow slaughter must be banned in India.

75. Sale of gold to the public must be stopped to prevent wastage of national resources.

76. Art is a four letter word.

77. Lip, Lip & Away.

78. When Red sees Red he turns Red.

79. Women Reservation.

80. Conversion: Necessary Evil.

81. Visit of Clinton: Myth of reality.

82. How to check Hijacking.

83. Budget 99-2000 (Myth or reality).

84. Future of Coalition Govts.

85. Match fixing: We are responsible.

86. Only cons is change.

87. Which is best branch of Mgmt.

88. Solution is Pakistan.

89. Democracy or Democracy in India.

90. Legalise Corruption.

 

 

List of all Management Entrance Exams

April 14, 2008
A career in management is a hot pursuit in today’s world. In the changing economic scenario all over the globe -the pay and the prestige has soared to unimaginable heights and accordingly the race for getting into the top Management Schools in India and abroad is becoming tougher every day. To guarantee one’s seat in one of the top management schools, it is imperative to put lots of effort into quality preparation in the right direction as well as timely and comprehensive knowledge of the different entrance examinations. 

 

 

NNE brings you the details of various Management Entrance Examinations held in India -

- List of Management Entrance Exams –

National Level -

 

State Level -

 

Exams conducted by other Important Institutes -

IIM’s Hub

April 14, 2008

 

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) 

Ask any MBA aspirant to name an institute from where he would like to gain management education and pat comes the reply-from one of the Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs), where else? Yes, this is the reputation and recognition that Seven IIMs have earned for themselves across the globe for imparting quality education since their inception. Every student aspiring to go for MBA has IIMs on his/her priority. Only in the case of not being able to make in these institutes that a student start exploring other options.

 

IIMs, which carry the crown of autonomous management institutions, were established four decades back. Out of the Seven IIMs functioning at present, IIM-Calcutta established in the year 1961, was the first one to commence teaching. It collaborated with MIT Solan School of Management for teaching and training activities. Later on other IIMs came into existence. The Seven different IIMs are located in

ì Ahmedabad (Gujarat),

ì Bangalore (Karnataka),

ì Kozhikode(Kerala),

ì Calcutta (West Bengal),

ì Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh)

ì Indore(Madhya Pradesh) and in

ì Shillong (Meghalaya).

But all the Seven IIMs enjoy the similar status in the world academic platform irrespective of their age.

The Seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have also made their position in the elite group of institutions like the IITs, NITs, and Research Institutions like ISRO, CSIR, ICAR etc.

To tap the best talent in the country and to train them to be excellent, IIMs take the route of Common Admission Test (CAT). The test takes place annually across the country in which lakhs of aspirants try their skills. The students shortlisted by them are given such sort of training that wherever they go they leave an impact. The manpower mended in IIMs deliver excellent leadership to the society.

The rigorous training imparted by IIMs to their students through out the whole working session bear fruit too. At the end of the session, companies from across the globe come to their campus and offer hefty pay-packets. This is not all. Universities and Institutes of different countries are always keen to have a tie-up or academic collaboration with IIMs. Big industry giants too take pride in collaborating with them for providing training programmes to cater to the industry needs.

The National Network of Education (NNE) provides a unique platform for all the seven IIMs under its IIM Hub. It also provides all the information related to entrance examination conducted by IIMs. The full-blossomed IIMs are idol of inspiration for millions of students and educational community not only in India but also abroad.

The National Network of Education (NNE) provides a unique platform for all the seven IIMs under its IIM Hub. It also provides all the information related to entrance examination conducted by IIMs. The full-blossomed IIMs are idol of inspiration for millions of students and educational community not only in India but also abroad. The National Network of Education (NNE) is soon going to provide a dedicated BUSINESS BUZZ section which will regularly furnish the developments and achievements of IIMs and will bring a round up of campus buzz. This will be an interesting feature for career aspirants, academicians and others.

 

Top B-Schools

April 14, 2008

Top 10 B-Schools Top 10 Infrastructure Top Private B-Schools
Top 10 Recruiters Top 10 Global Linkages Top Govt.-Aided B-Schools
Top 10 MBA Students Top 10 Functional Heads Faculty Salaries in B-Schools
Top 10 Wannabe MBAs Top 10 Industry Interface Placement ( Indian Jobs / Foreign Jobs)
Top 10 Young Executives Top 10 Placement Performance

 

The Top 10 Business Schools
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 2 2  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 3 4 3  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
4 4 8 5  Symbiosis, Pune
5 5 6 7  Indian Institute of management, Lucknow
6 7 9 8  JBIMS, Mumbai
6 8 17 -  Indian Institute of Management, Indore
8 6 5 4  XLRI, Jamshedpur
9 13 - -  ICFAI, Hyderabad
10 17 - -  NMIMS, Mumbai

 

The Recruiter’s Top 10
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 3 8 6  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
4 4 5 4  Symbiosis, Pune
5 10 - -  Prin. L.N. WIM, Mumbai
6 10 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Indore
7 6 3 12  Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
8 8 - -  JBIMS, Mumbai
9 7 - -  ICFAI, Hyderabad
10 16 - -  SPJIMR, Mumbai

The Wannabe MBA’s Top 10
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 2 2  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 3 6 3  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
4 4 - -  Symbiosis, Pune
5 5 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
6 7 - -  XLRI, Jamshedpur
7 6 - -  JBIMS, Mumbai
8 13 - -  ICFAI, Hyderabad
9 10 4 11  Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi
10 8 3 4  Faculty of Management studies, Delhi

MBA Students’ Top 10
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 2 2  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 3 3 3  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
4 7 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
5 4 7 10  Symbiosis, Pune
6 11 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
7 8 - -  XLRI, Jamshedpur
8 5 - -  Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi
8 12 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Kanpur
10 9 6 15  JBIMS, Mumbai

Young Executives’ Top 10
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 2 2  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 3 - -  Simsree, Mumbai
3 10 - -  Prin. L.N. WIM, Mumbai
5 3 4 4  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
6 8 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Indore
7 14 - -  SPJIMR, Mumbai
8 11 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Kanpur
9 17 - -  NMIMS, Mumbai
10 9 7 7  Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi

Functional Heads’ Top 10
2007
Rank
       
  2006
Rank
   
    2005
Rank
 
      2004
Rank
1 1 1 1  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2 2 5 2  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3 28 - -  Prin. L.N. WIM, Mumbai
4 3 3 4  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
5 5 - -  Simsree, Mumbai
6 15 - -  SPJIMR, Mumbai
7 22 - -  ABS, Noida
8 4 7 15  Symbiosis, Pune
9 11 - -  Indian Institute of Management, Kanpur
10 6 NR NR  Indian Institute of Management, Indore
Source : Business Today, September 2007

Top Government-Aided B-Schools in India
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad
2 IIM Bangalore Bangalore
3 IIM Calcutta Calcutta
4 IIM Lucknow Lucknow
5 IIFT Delhi
6 NITIE, Mumbai Mumbai
7 IIM Indore Indore
8 SJSom, IIT Bombay Mumbai
9 IIM Kozhikode Kozhikode
10 Bharathidasan Inst. of Mgmt. Tiruchirappalli
11 Institute of Public Enterprise Hyderabad
12 IISWBM Calcutta

Top Private B-Schools in India
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 MDI, Gurgaon Gurgaon
2 XLRI Jamshedpur
3 S.P. Jain Inst. of Mgmt. Mumbai
4 ICFAI Business School Hyderabad
5 IMT, Ghaziabad Ghaziabad
6 Narsee Monjee Inst. of Mgmt. Mumbai
7 IMI, Delhi Delhi
8 XIM, Bhubaneshwar Bhubaneshwar
9 Alliance Business Academy Bangalore
10 L.N. Welingkar Inst. of Mgmt. Mumbai
11 T. A. Pai Management Institute Manipal
12 Birla Institute of Mgmt. Greater Noida
13 Nirma Inst. of Management Ahmedabad
14 IFMR, Chennai Chennai
15 IIMM Pune
16 LBS Inst. of Mgmt. Delhi
17 K.J. Somaiya Institute of Mgmt. Mumbai
18 Goa Institute of Management Goa
19 Loyola Inst. of Business Admin. Chennai
20 SIES College of Mgmt. Studies Navi Mumbai
21 Amrita School of Business Coimbatore
22 Christ College Inst. of Mgmt. Bangalore
23 PSG Institute of Management Coimbatore
24 NIILM Center for Mgmt. Studies Delhi
25 ITM, Navi Mumbai Mumbai
26 JIMS, Delhi Delhi
27 XIME, Bangalore Bangalore
28 IMS, Ghaziabad Ghaziabad
29 ICFAI Business School Mumbai
30 IFIM Bangalore
31 ICFAI Business School Gurgaon
32 Jaipuria Inst. of Management Lucknow
33 ICFAI Business School Calcutta
34 SCMS Communication Kochi
35 Prestige Inst. of Mgmt. Indore
36 PCTE Ludhiana
37 Rajagiri School of Management Kochi
38 LBS Inst. of Mgmt.& Technology Bareilly
39 MET League of Colleges Mumbai
40 N.L. Dalmia Inst. of Mgmt. Studies Mumbai
41 RCM Bhubaneshwar
42 SDM Inst. of Mgmt. Development Mysore
43 ITM, Chennai Chennai
44 IBAT School of Management Bhubaneshwar
45 BLS Institute Ghaziabad
46 RIMS, Rourkela Rourkela
47 Xavier Vignana Jyothi Secunderabad
48 MIT School of Management Pune
49 Army Institute of Management Calcutta
50 Apeejay School of Management New Delhi

Top10: Industry Interface in India
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad
2 MDI, Gurgaon Gurgaon
3 IIM Bangalore Bangalore
4 IIM Calcutta Calcutta
5 IIM Lucknow Lucknow
6 S.P. Jain Institute Mumbai
7 NITIE, Mumbai Mumbai
8 IIFT New Delhi
9 XLRI Jamshedpur
10 NMIMS Mumbai

Top10: Infrastructure in India
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 IIM Lucknow Lucknow
2 IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad
3 IIM Bangalore Bangalore
4 IIM Calcutta Calcutta
5 IIM Indore Indore
6 MDI, Gurgaon Gurgaon
7 ICFAI Hyderabad
8 IIM Kozhikode Kozhikode
9 NITIE, Mumbai Mumbai
10 XIM Bhubaneshwar

Top10: Global Linkage
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 MDI, Gurgaon Gurgaon
2 IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad
3 IIM Bangalore Bangalore
4 IIM Calcutta Calcutta
5 L.N. Wellingkar Inst. of Mgmt. Mumbai
6 IIFT New Delhi
7 IMT, Ghaziabad Ghaziabad
8 S.P. Jain Institute Mumbai
9 XLRI Jamshedpur
10 IIM Lucknow Lucknow

Top10: Placement Performance
2006
Rank
Name of the Institute City
1 IIM Ahmedabad Ahmedabad
2 IIM Calcutta Calcutta
3 IIM Bangalore Bangalore
4 XLRI Jamshedpur
5 IIM Indore Indore
6 IIM Lucknow Lucknow
7 NITIE, Mumbai Mumbai
8 MDI, Gurgaon Gurgaon
9 S.P. Jain Institute Mumbai
10 IIFT New Delhi

Placement

Name of the Institutes

Indian Jobs

Foreign Jobs

Average Salary P.A.

Max. Salary P.A.

Min. Salary P.A.

Full Course Fees

% Placed

Max Salary ($)

IIM-A 9.70 34.20 7.20 3.50 27.2 1,85,000
ISB 11.77 30.33 6.00 15.00 15.0 2,33,800
IIM-C 9.81 23.00 5.94 3.50 26.0 1,52,000
IIM-K 9.02 16.67 4.50 3.15 - -
IIM-B 9.80 16.00 6.00 3.50 30.0 1,93,000
IIM-L 8.74 16.00 5.00 3.50 10.0 75,000
S.P. Jain Inst. 8.50 15.50 6.00 2.95 - -
XLRI 8.40 13.00 6.80 3.34 - -
Narsee Monjee 7.47 13.00 5.00 2.64 - -
NITIE 8.20 12.50 5.00 2.36 - -
IIM-I 8.50 12.50 5.50 3.70 - -
MDI 9.10 12.35 5.38 5.04 7 65,000
SJMSoM 7.83 11.00 5.50 1.85 - -
IIFT 6.90 10.55 4.75 3.20 - -
IMT 7.35 9.25 4.00 3.77 - -
ICFAI 5.10 9.00 3.25 4.20 - -
XIM 6.59 9.00 3.60 3.96 - -
Alliance Business 7.05 8.93 5.70 2.40 - -
IMI 6.30 8.10 3.00 4.10 - -
Welingkar Inst. 5.00 7.50 3.50 3.50 - -

Faculty Salary
S. No Name of the Institute Maximum Salary Minimum Salary
1 IIMs 5.73 3.00
2 MDI 11.00 6.50
3 XLRI 5.38 3.06
4 IIFT 6.22 5.13
5 NITIE 6.70 5.10
6 S.P. Jain Inst. 13.67 3.08
7 ICFAI 9.00 4.00
8 IMI 13.48 3.87
9 IFMR 20.40 6.00
10 IMT 12.83 5.06
11 Birla Inst. 8.40 1.89
12 Narsee Monjee 6.50 1.80
13 XIM 5.99 3.76
14 T.A. Pai Inst. 5.08 3.10

 

Management Entrance Exams

April 14, 2008
List of Important Business Management Examinations

How to choose your overseas MBA programme

April 14, 2008

Sandeep Shah has decided to pursue his MBA at the University of Chicago. “Teamwork, leadership and analytical abilities are what I will gain from the university,” he says. “With 35 per cent international students, my education at UC will be invaluable.”  

Like many other students, Sandeep is now in the process of deciding which school to attend. Your two or four-year tuition investment and time are at stake, which is why it is in your best interests to carefully go through various criteria before finalising your school. 

How your MBA will help you

One of the most important things you can do is self-analysis. After determining what skills you want to develop, ask yourself the following:

  • Is the length and programme structure right for me?
  • Is the course content (area of specialisation) what I am looking for?
  • Will this programme help me achieve my career objectives?
  • Will I get a good job?
  • Is this programme ranked and accredited?

Many MBA programmes are geared towards general management, while others offer specialisations in finance, accounting, international business, and so on. Skills and knowledge of the business world are constantly changing, which is why it is better to opt for a programme that regularly updates its courses and curriculum.

Teaching methods

The teaching method adopted by the school is also an important factor to consider. Know the difference between the ‘case-study’ approach and the ‘theoretical’ approach. Some MBA programmes have intensive tests, while others do not have tests at all. Many students would prefer torture to weekly tests. According to the web site of Dartmouth College’s business school, “At Tuck, our approach is innovative, yet practical. The curriculum is as flexible as it is focused. Our faculty of respected scholars is accessible, involved, and dedicated to teaching. Our students are bright, accomplished, diverse, and down-to-earth.” 

Even MBA programme directors expect students to be focused in their career goals and know what they want from the MBA programme. “We are looking for students who know what their career goals are,” says Stephen Chambers, Dean of Admissions at Oxford University.

A word about rankingsThesis or work experience? 

Many MBA programmes require a major paper, called a thesis. This paper ascertains that you have an accepted level of mastery of your field. Some programmes offer the option of an internship and thesis. Check to see if your MBA programme has a thesis or internship requirement and whether the programme allows you the flexibility to choose between the two. If you have less work experience, you may just want an MBA programme that allows and requires an internship.

“I am looking for a part-time MBA because I don’t want to quit my job in this economy,” says Mohit Bhatia, an engineer at Honeywell International, Arizona. “I need a weekend programme or a programme that allows maximum flexibility in terms of time commitment. Hence, Arizona State University is my best bet.”

Narrow down your career choices and be sure you know which industry you would like to work in. Be practical and ask yourself if you can realistically afford the two-year investment. Also remember that you will be losing your earnings for the two years you are studying at a B-school.

Eventually, there is no right or wrong answer to the question: ‘How do I choose my MBA programme?’ There are many factors to consider in selecting an MBA programme, but your primary consideration should be how well the programme fits with your needs and aspirations. Don’t just be intrigued by the three mystical letters — M, B and A. Know why you want to pursue an MBA, what your career goals are and whether a particular programme will help you achieve your career goals or not.

You are about to embark on a path that will change your life. Choose it wisely.

Are you currently pursuing your MBA abroad? Why did you opt for this programme? Post your tips and experiences

– The author Karan Gupta, founder of Karan Gupta Consulting, has been working as a professional counsellor since 1999. He studied at Ithaca College and The University of Texas at Austin in America. While pursuing his education he worked in the Office of Admissions, Financial Aid office and the International Office. Karan is currently the honorary study abroad counsellor at Jai Hind College, Mumbai and is also the founder and editor of ReportED, a study abroad education magazine. 

There are several rankings such as the US News, ReportED rankings, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and so on. While students can consult these while deciding on their MBA programmes, it is worthwhile to note that rankings should be used as a subjective criterion, not as an ultimate measure of whether or not to attend a business school.

To find more information on the programme, go straight to the horse’s mouth. Ask alumni and students currently at your prospective university about the programme you are interested in.

CAT strategy for individual sections

April 14, 2008

The Common Admission Test, scheduled for November 19, needs not just a lot of preparation but also a lot of smart thinking. Strategy — a set of choices you make in terms of your approach — plays a key role here, because CAT is heavily dependent on time; you need to maximise your overall score, while clearing the cutoffs or qualifying scores in each section.

 

Although your overall strategy should be unique and custom-made for you, there are some general principles that need to be applied. Keep these in mind.

 

General tips

 

You get the question paper at least 10 minutes before the start time of 10.30 am. Use this time to check the paper structure, number of sections and sub-sections, questions in each section/sub-section and any other possible surprises. Now, let’s create a strategy assuming the paper is a three-section paper with two sub-sections (1 and 2 marks), which is the most probable pattern.

 

Divide the available time among all sections. I suggest 45 minutes per section or a combination of 45 minutes for two sections and 50 for one. In both cases, you are keeping some time in reserve — a buffer time. This buffer is necessary for three reasons.

 

For one, students invariably have a tendency to overshoot time limits. A buffer ensures that the last section does not suffer. In case of a poor performance in any one section, the buffer allows you to recover some ground and hopefully cross the cut-off. In case all sections are okay and you have some buffer time remaining, you can allocate it to the section that lets you maximise your score. This can be done best at the end since, by then, you have already seen all sections and know where you may get some quick marks.

 

Start with a section you are good at. A bad start lowers morale and, eventually, sections where you are good also suffer. You may experiment a little with various combinations before deciding what works best for you.

 

Quantitative Ability

 

The cutoffs in QA for the last four to five CAT papers may never have exceeded 11-12. It is a low scoring section. Accuracy is generally high in QA as there is no ambiguity (unless you are guessing a lot). This implies that questions worth 15-18 marks well attempted will put you clearly above the cutoff. The key is to pick which questions to attempt.

 

Going by the CAT 2005 pattern (10 X 1 and 20 X 2 marks), spend a good amount of time, say 20 minutes, on the one-mark area and see if you can pick up 6-8 marks. You then have about 25 minutes to attempt a selected five odd questions from the 20 two-markers available. Do understand that searching for the right question to attempt will take time, but it is well worth the effort. There are some common errors students make, that affect their scores:

 

1. Not looking at some questions: What you haven’t looked at will invariably contain some sitters. So spend a little time to look at all questions.

 

2. Not giving up a question when you can’t solve it: Please do not spend too much time breaking your head over one question. After a minute or so, if it appears that no progress is being made, quit and go for another one.

 

3. Not using the answer choices: CAT is a paper with four answer choices per question. Use them. According to my friend ARKS Srinivas, TIME director, Mumbai, every CAT paper that he has seen has at least three questions that can be solved by intelligent substitution of the answer choices back into the question. Similarly, substitution of carefully chosen numbers can help you solve a number of questions.

 

Data Interpretation/Logical Ability

 

This, again, is a low scoring area, with past cutoffs ranging from 9-12. So, again, it is about choosing questions carefully. The difference, of course, is that DI questions come in sets. Carefully select the sets that appear possible. About two sets in the 1-mark category and one set in the two-mark category can give you the cutoff. Start with the 1-mark questions and get some marks on the scoreboard before you attempt the two-markers. In case things do not work out well in the 2-markers, you can still scrape past the cutoff with six to seven one-mark questions and two to three 2-markers.

 

However, given the trend of logical DI, these easier sets are not obvious. You may need to spend two minutes carefully reading the problem before deciding whether you should attempt it. You also need to have an exit policy for difficult problem sets. After about five minutes, take stock of the situation. If you find yourself making progress, continue; or else, quit. Do not throw away good time. Also, never make any question an ego issue. Go after other questions in the paper.  

 

Reading Comprehension/Verbal Ability

 

RC-VA is traditionally an area in which you can score, primarily due to the fact that VA questions take less time. However, over the last couple of years, this section has been toughened up and cutoff scores have decreased.

 

The key to this section is to remember that, in VA, you need to make a high number of attempts with a good speed. Time is wasted mainly when you try and choose between two close-answer choices; do understand that spending additional time (beyond, say, 1 minute) does not improve your chances of getting the question right. So, mark any one choice and move forward. With 1/3 negative marking, probability is on your side.

 

So, attempt a maximum number of VA questions in about 20 minutes and you will still have 25-30 minutes for RC. You could attempt two RC passages. If you wish to be conservative, attempt one 1-mark RC and one 2-mark RC.

 

Accuracy levels in RC/VA will generally be lower. It is very difficult to consistently maintain high accuracy rates like 85-90 per cent. So, compensate with a higher number of attempts. 30 marks attempted at an accuracy of 70 per cent is still a net score of 18, which is pretty good.

 

In RC, try and gauge your success levels and accuracy rate (past Mock-CAT performance) based on different subjects like economics, art, philosophy, etc. This will help you understand what passages you can best attempt.

 

The last word: Know your limitations as well as your strengths, plan well and reap the rewards. All the best!

Business Quiz 2

April 14, 2008

 

1. What was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Park?

1. Nagarhole

 

2. She was the first woman president of the INC and the first woman Governor of India. Who?

2. Sarojini Naidu

 

3. He was the first Indian to be the member of the British Parliament and President of INC thrice. Who?

3. Dadabhai Naoroji

 

4. Her real name was Agnes Gonha Bojaxhiu. She won a Nobel Prize in 1979 and died in 1997 and before her death said ‘Love others as I have loved you’.Who?

4. Mother Teresa

 

5. The foremost Maratha patriot, his real name was Ramachandra Pandurang. He got his nickname from the fact that he was in charge of the firing of cannons. Who?

5. Tantya Tope

 

6. This place gets its name because it was here that Lakshmana cut of the nose of Shurpanakha. Which place?

6. Nasik

 

7. When Ravana set fire to Hanuman’s tail, he set fire to entire Lanka. How was the fire put out?

7. Ravana played the Amruthavarshini raga on his Veena and brought forth rain

 

8. What was the principle of peace and friendship enunciated by Nehru called?

8. Panchsheel

 

9. Two famous Indian cricketers starred in a movie called ‘Kabhi Ajnabi The’. Who?

9. Syed Kirmani and Sandeep Patil

 

10. According to Hindu myth who was the first mortal to die?

10. Yama

 

11. In the Mahabharatha other than the Kauravas who else had a 100 brothers?

11. Shakuni

 

12. Whose residence is called ‘Matushri’?

12. Bal Thackeray

 

13. What does the M.F. in M.F.Hussain’s name stand for?

13. Maqbool Fida

 

14. What well known verse is actually part of an over all poem titled ‘Bharat Vidhatha’?

14. Jana Gana Mana

 

15. Who sang the theme song of France’98?

15. Ricky MArtin

 

16. Whose last words were ‘Don’t worry, relax’?

16. Rajiv Gandhi

 

17. Who is the only Indian to win a Grand Slam title?

17. Mahesh Bhupati

 

18. Which place would be the Indian equivalent of the Pakistani Chagai Hills?

18. Pokhran

 

19. What is common to Clinic All Clear, Pepsi, Nippo, Reebok?

19. Rahul Dravid endorses all of them

 

20. Who made the popular T.V. serial Malgudi Days?

20. Shankar Nag

 

21. Who owns a little known software company in Bangalore called D’n’A Systems?

21. Anil Kumble

 

22. He calls his dog Chewbacca Khan. He won the Sword of Honour in the 12th std. At St. Columbus, Delhi. He made his debut on television as a soldier. Who?

22. Shahrukh Khan

 

23. In restaurants today, the computerised bill is heavily in use. The items are often abbreviated. If you found MS Dos written on your bill what would you have eaten?

23. Masala Dosa

 

24. Created by Tnoshiro Honda and Eiji Tsukusuya it was named after a workman at Toho studios in Tokyo. Radioactive and 164 foot high, it breathes fire and made its way to the cover of TIME and Newsweek in the 60s. What?

24. Godzilla

 

25. If you went to Ooty and asked for a “Filmi Chakkar” what would you get?

25. A tour of the locations where movies are shot in Ooty

 

26. This man’s first direct contribution to the test field was a leg-break over where he gave nine runs. The place was Port of Spain in 1971. Who?

26. Sunil Gavaskar

 

27. Which vehicle has the registration no. NCC 1701?

27. Star Trek Enterprise

 

28. It is called the Hoysala in Bangalore. What is it in Mysore?

28. Garuda

 

29. What is the duck that appears on Channel 9’s cricket scorecards called?

29. Waddles

 

30. What would you find at 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue?

30. The White House

 

31. Who is the daughter of Fred and Wilma Flintstone?

31. Pebbbles

 

32. It made its first appearance in the New York Times supplement in 1913. What?

32. The Crossword

 

33. He is the son of accomplished choreographer Sundaram Master. He made his first on screen appearanceas an extra in a song in the movie ‘Agni Nakshatram’. Who?

33. Prabhudeva

 

34. What does the 31 in Baskin Robbins 31 signify?

34. That it is available in 31 favours

 

35. His residence is called “Neverland Ranch’. His autobiography is titled Moonwalk. Who?

35. Michael JAckson

 

36. What is common to Rajnikanth, Johnny Walker, John Major?

36. All were bus conductors at some point of time

 

37. In the Bofors case who was nicknamed ‘Lotus’?

37. Rajiv Gandhi

 

38. His heir apparent Baby was killed a year ago. His brother Arjunan and his two associates Ayyandorai and Karanangalur Ramaswamy committed suicide. Who?

38. Veerappan

 

39. Which brand’s new adline is ‘I Can’?

39. Nike

 

40. Which cricketer is nicknamed ‘Jammy’ because his father used to work in Kissan?

40. Rahul Dravid

 

41. His middle name is Fauntleroy. His father’s name is Quackmore. Who?

41. Donald Duck

 

42. He made his debut as a stunt double for Bruce Lee because Lee refused to jump from 30 feet for a sequence. Who?

42. Jackie Chan

 

43. Who is the only real life character to appear in Tintin comics?

43. Al Capone

 

44. Who was the target of the Jackal in the ‘Day of the Jackal’?

44. Charles De GAulle

 

45. One of the two main components of the dowry given by Catherine Braganza to Charles I was the Moroccan city of Tangiers. What was the other?

45. Bombay

 

46. Abandoned in front of a cathedral, he was brought up by a priest. His name in Latin means ‘half formed’. He became the church bell ringer by the age of 14 and lost his hearing as a result. He was dubbed the’Pope of Fools’. Who?

46. Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame

 

47. Which animal gets its name, from Tamil, because it supposedly has the strength to kill an elephant?

47. Anaconda

 

48. What does the NE in the Premier 118 NE stand for?

48. Nissan Engine

 

49. Under what category does the Guinness Book of Records enter itself?

49. As the most stolen book from Libraries

 

50. This linguist knows 13 languages. He recently released a semi-autobiography titled ‘The Insider’. Who?

50. P.V. Narasimha Rao

 

51. The video of which recent chartbuster is based on Indiana Jones?

51. Aqua’s Dr. Jones

 

52. Who represents the constituency of Gurdaspur in the current Lok Sabha?

52. Vinod Khanna

 

53. His father was the dreaded dacoit Bhairav Singh. He is the founder chief of the Citizens Security Force. Who?

53. Bahadur

 

54. Who would you find with Raveena Tandon on the cover of the latest issue(Aug 98) of Filmfare?

54. Ricky MArtin

 

55. Which popular comic character made his first appearance in Pep Comics No. 22 in Dec 1941?

55. Archie

 

56. What did the Romanian Govt. ban in 1935 saying that it frightened children?

56. Mickey Mouse

 

57. Who wrote romantic novels under the pen name Mary Clarissa Westmacott?

57. Agatha Christie

 

58. What was the football world cup trophy called before it was renamed the FIFA trophy?

58. Jules Rimet Cup

 

59. If you were ‘oscitating’ what would you be doing?

59. Walking backwards

 

60. Who, at a Nobel awards banquet, wished that the dinner could have been packed and carried to the more needy back home?

60. Mother TEresa

 

61. India is developing an ICBM called Surya and also an underwater missile. What is it called?

61. Sagarika

 

62. Who is the host of a new Star Plus chat show called “Not a nice man to know” which is also the title ofhis autobiography?

62. Kushwant Singh

 

63. In Hindu myth it is referred to as the Pralaya, in Christianity as Armageddon. What is it referred to as in Islam?

63. Qayamat

 
64. A famous lexicographer upon being approached by a lady thanking him for omitting 4-letter words from his dictionary, is said to have replied with consternation “ So you have been looking for them madam”. Who?

64. Noah Webster

 

65. What is the German word for ‘store’ or ‘storehouse’?

65. Lager, therefore Lager beer

 

66. If your IQ is below 20, you are an ‘idiot’, if it is between 20 and 49 you are an ‘imbecile’. What are you if it is between 50 and 69?

66. Moron

 

67. What is a ‘Mexican breakfast’?

67. A glass of water with a cigarette

 

68. In the world of Indian fiction, who won the ‘All India Rifle Competition’ in 1975?

68. Feluda

 

69. “We contemplate the ultimate reality which is in the earth, the sky, the heaven,
Let us bring our minds to meditate in the glory of the divine earth. May truth inspire our reflection“. This is the last prayer of a cult. Which one?

69. Heaven’s Gate

 

70. Which sportsman’s name is a corruption of the title ‘Ayo Dele’ which means ‘Joy in the house’ and was bestowed upon him by his Nigerian father while it got corrupted due to a mispronunciation by his Scottish mother?

70. Daley Thompson


71. In Greek myth when Theseus offered to kill the Minotaur, Ariadne, Daughter of the King of Crete gave him a thread to help him find his way back from the Minotaur’s dwelling. What word came into English language from this?

71. Clue

 

72. What commodity was originally called a ‘delirious drug’ in France and ‘a product that causes the shrivelled look of the orient’ in Germany?

72. Tea

 

73. Where in the world would you find the only digital Rolex clock?

73. Wimbledon Centre Court

 

74. She works 10-12 hours a day. She smokes 5 packets of cigarettes a day while working. She is the daughter of the renowned poet, Manish Ghatak and niece of director Ritwik Ghatak. She runs a tribal welfare organisation called ‘Paschim Bangla Keriya Sabar Kalyan Samiti’. Who?

74. Mahashweta Devi

 

75. ‘RUPTUREWORT’ is the largest word that can be made from the letters on the first row of a typewriter. What is the second largest?

75. Typewriter

 

76. What is the female equivalent of a ‘runway’?

76. Catwalk

 

77. The fusion of the Chinese ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’ is the symbol of which organisation in India?

77. Doordarshan

 

78. Who is the first Indian to be appointed the Master of the Trinity College at Oxford?

78. Amartya Sen, now Nobel laureate

 

79. What did Winston Churchill describe as ‘an ineffectual attempt to direct an uncontrollable object into an inaccessible hole with instruments ill-adapted for the purpose’?

79. Golf

 

80. In Table Tennis a ball is so spun on the table that the opponent does not reach it. This inspired a person named Bosanquet to invent something. What?

80. The Googly in cricket

 

81. He was recently in India to inaugurate the India Internet World exhibition in Delhi. Originally from Bangalore, he was the co-founder of the popular Hotmail free e-mail service which he sold to Microsoft for $400 million last year. Who?

81. Sabeer Bahtia

 

82. It’s official name is ‘The Albert Victor Conservatory’ and is spread over an area of 2180 sq.m. What are we talking about?

82. The Glass House at lalbagh, Bangalore

 

83. This person originally had the surname ‘Little’. Influenced by Elijah Mohd., he joined the Nation of Islam. After a pilgrimage to Mecca, he returned under the name G Haj Malik el Shahbazz, a Sunni Muslim. Who?

83. Malcolm X

 

84. In a fit of madness this person killed his wife Megara and their children. In order to atone for his sins he did something. Who and what?

84. Hercules and he performed the 12 tasks

 

85. He was named so because he was born in the same year as that his father first tasted success, in the movie ‘Choti Behan’. He cleaned carpets, worked on an oil rig and on a horse farm. He is now settled as a farmer in New Zealand. Who?

85. Lucky Ali

 

86. Its predecessor was codenamed ‘Chicago’. Its codename was ‘Memphis’. It was released about two months ago after a delay of nearly a year. What are we talking about?

86. Windows 98

 

87. A 2 word answer: The first word is the common name for a South American shrub whose dried leaves are chewed as a stimulant. The second word is a West African tree whose seed is used as a condiment and tonic.

87. Coca Cola

 

88. ‘The god of wind brought about the winds of change in India’. What was once advertised thus?

88. Maruti

 

89. Which literary personality’s last work was ‘The Phoenix and the Turtle’?

89. William Shakespeare

 

90. In Phantom comics what are the names of the Phantom’s two pet dolphins?

90. Solomon and Nefertiti

 

91. Who recently won the “Businessperson of the Year” Award for 1998 instituted by The Economic Times newspaper?

91. N. Chandrababu NAidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

 

92. About which music group did the legendary Phil Spector remark “ The only difference between a pornographic movie and them is that the pornographic movie has better music”

92. The Spice Girls

 

93. In the film Mr. And Mrs. 55 Guru Dutt was a cartoonist. Who actually drew the cartoons?

93. Bal Thackeray

 

94. His wife said of him “he is frightened of the titles and degrees on peoples visiting cards” and his card reads ‘ senior shoe salesman’. Who?

94. Thomas J. Bata

95. It is called ‘deuce’ in English, ‘egalite’ in French. What is it in German?

95. Einstein

 

96. So sure were the distributors of the success of this film , that they split up the film into 20 minute segments for a kids morning show. Which film?

96. Star Wars

 

97. If you were engaged in an altercation with a friend and he gave you a ‘circum orbital Hemotopo’ what would you have?

97. A black eye.

 

98. What is referred to as ‘blue sky research’?

98. Spending enormous amounts of money on futile projects like finding out why the sky is blue etc.

 

99. What do psychologists define as ‘a disorder in which strongly felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longing often of a perverse nature’?

99. Love

 

100. Locals affectionately refer to it as ‘bobby’. It is 90 ft long, has a sinuous body, tail, snake like head and a long neck. What?

100. The Loch Ness Monster.

 

101. According to legend Allah has 1001 names. To be good men, men need know only 1000 names. Who is the only one to know all 1001 names?

101. The Camel

 

102. What contribution did a vague movie by name ‘Rooplekha’ make to Indian cinema?

102. First movie with a flashback sequence.

 

103. The word ‘stadium’ comes from ‘stade’ a unit of distance. What was the unit?

103. The distance that Hercules could walk holding his breath.

 

104. In Asterix comic Unhygienix buys a plot of land from Obelix. How do we supposedly know this land today?

104. As Stonehenge.

 

105. Which day to day medical term is derived from the Latin for Cow?

105. Vaccination.

 

106. Based on Hamlet, it was the first English movie to be dubbed into Zulu and was also the first English movie not to feature a single human. Which movie?

106. The Lion King

 

107. It was believed that the devil was present at all important occasions during the medieval period. What practice arose from this?

107. The practice of clinking glasses to toast. They believed that the sound made was similar to church bells which scared the Devil away.

 

108. When King George first met him he asked him ‘Tell me , how did you pee’? Who are we talking about?

108. Sir Charles Lindbergh

 

109. She is a graduate of the National School of Drama . She replaced Mita Vashist in her most celebrated role to date. She is also starring in Kamal Hassan’s under-production film ‘Ladies Only’. Who

109. Seema Biswas.

 

110. What is common to hearty, Patiala, silent, cocktail, open heart, dancing and round?

110. All are types of laughter.

 

111. If you were playing with the Devil’s Book what would you be doing?

111. Playing cards.

 

112. In medieval times, in Europe, 1/3 of taxes went to the King, 1/3 to the nobility and 1/3 to the common man. How is this immortalised?

112. Through the nursery rhyme ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’

 

113. Born with the body of a mastiff, looks of a lamb, teeth of a bunny rabbit and is one of those mutations that happen when God plays dice. Who or What are we talking about?

113. Ronaldo

 

114. Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, there were many debates in Parliament regarding what to be done with the disputed land. One of the most popular suggestions came from a first time M.P. from Uttar Pradesh who suggested that a sweet shop be built there. What was his logic?

114. Rama + Babri = Rabri which was a sweetmeat.

 

115. This bird has the unique distinction of being called by the names of two different countries in different parts of the world. Give both names.

115. Turkey and Peru in Latin America.

 

116. “There was neither non-exist nor exist. There was neither the realm of space nor the sky beyond”. Opening lines of what?

116. The Rig Veda.

 

117. In February 1935, the superpolyamide formed from hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid was made by Du Pont. How do we know this compound better?

117. As Nylon

 

118. This person wrote about himself thus :”Principal virtues : keeps his nails clean. Principal faults : that he has no family, is bad tempered and has a poor digestion. One and only wish : Not to be buried alive. Greatest sin : that he does not worship Mammon. Important events in his life : None”. Who?

118. Alfred Nobel

 

119. There’s a story that, around 1600, two children were playing with lenses in a shop in Middleburg. What resulted, according to the story, from the game?

119. The telescope. They were playing in Hans Lippershey’s shop. Lippershey is considered to be the probable inventor of the telescope. By holding together the two lenses, the children found, they could magnify the objects kept in the shop. This led Lippershey to construct the telescope.

 

120. What was patented by Hippolyte Mege Mouries in 1869, after he was commissioned by the Victualing Department of the French Navy to find an alternative for butter at a time of acute butter shortage?

120. Margarine

 

121. They began to appear in quantities in the 1860s. “I hate those redbreasts”, cried “Punch” in 1869. In 1877 “The Times” magazine declared them a great social evil, and it was following difficulties with them in 1879 that the London Post Office in 1880 cried out “Post Early”. What are we talking about?

121. Christmas Cards

122. His first voyage, in 1607, was intended to find a quick way to China by way of the North Pole, but resulted instead in the establishment of the Spitzbergen whale fisheries. In 1608, in the service of the Dutch East India Company, he sailed 150 miles past the site of New York, but returned back. In 1610, he explored the site that is now known by his name and was frozen in it. Who?

122. Henry Hudson, of Hudson Bay

 

123. A man by name Friedrich Froebel, walking with two of his disciples over the Steiger Pass on the way to the village of Blankenburg, scratched his head for the right name to give the institution, and then suddenly shouted out “Eureka ! I have it ! It shall be called _______________!”. Fill in the blank.

123. Kindergarten. Froebel, the German educational reformer was the inventor of the Kindergarden system of education.

 

124. Back in 1890, Johnson & Johnson put together the first of its kind in response to a plea from railroad workers who needed treatment on the scene as they toiled to lay tracks across America. What?

124. First Aid kits

 

125. To the Hopi Indians, who feared it and filled it with frightening myths, it was the trail made by the God Ta-Vwoats when he took a mourning chief to find his wife in the other world; the river associated with it, according to them was an addition to hold back the unworthy. What?

125. The Grand Canyon and the River Colorado.

 

126. An author, as a sign of gratitude to the nurse who had cared for his firstborn child, gave a script and asked her to sell it when she was in need of money. Years later, when the nurse was really in want of money, she sold it and lived in comfort for the rest of her life. The manuscript was the first part of a famous work of this author Name the book and author?

126. Rudyard Kipling and the Jungle Book

 

127. Though Magellan is regarded as the first person to circumnavigate the world, technically he was not, and it was a person by name Juan Sebastian del Cano, who is technically the first circumnavigator. Why?

127. Magellan, while on the expedition, was killed in a squabble with the natives in the Philippines, and it was Cano who assumed command of the expedition and sailed the expedition through the rest of its journey

 

128. In the United States, currently a small stock of this exists at only one location – at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Some additional stocks are available in Great Britain, Russia and China. Stocks of what?

128. The Small pox virus

 

129. Masaru Ibuka, after graduating in engineering, failed the entry examination for lifetime employment at Toshiba, and decided to start his own small business. He was fortunate to find a partner who had a flair for finance and salesmanship. Who was this partner?

129. Akio Morita. They together started the company that later became Sony.

 

130. US banned her entry calling her ‘a communist good’. She was kept in On her journey to the USA from China she got into trouble when the London for time’s sake and became a major attraction there. Who?

130. Chi-Chi the Panda, who became the mascot of the WWF

 

131. The comic character Yogi Bear lives in a national park that takes its name from the world’s first national park. Name both.

131. Jellystone and Yellowstone

 

132. The byline of which company, rather ironically went ‘What we do will touch your lives in some way everyday’?

132. Union Carbide Limited (Bhopal Gas Tragedy)

 

133. Cubatao, in Brazil has certain epithet because it is the world’s most polluted place. What epithet?

133. The Valley of Death

 

134. Which popular brand takes its name from a particular species of deer native to South Africa?

134. Reebok

 

135. Which metal was responsible for the fatal brain disease that affected people eating fish caught from the Minamata Bay off the Japanese island of Kyushu?

135. Mercury

 

136. What is the claim to fame of a body called the Dasohli Gram Swarajya Mandali?

136. Pioneered the Chipko movement

 

137. A certain kind of bird called Storm Petrels are named after St. Peter. Why?

137. Because they can walk on water

 

138. The largest flower in the world is named after the person who forced Lord Minto to occupy Java and was at one time the keeper of the London Zoo. We know him best for a city that he founded. Name him and the flower?

138. Sir Stamford Thomas Raffles and the Rafflesia arnoldi

 

139. In which book would you find the lines ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal’.

139. George Orwell’s ‘Animal farm’

 

140. The Indian television series ‘Living on the edge’ was the first in Asia to win the prestigious Panda Award. By what popular name is this award known?

140. The Green Oscar

 

141. Which animal is mentioned as the teacher of Yudhishthira in the Mahabharatha?

141. The Mongoose

 

142. Which comic character cannot stand trees being cut down?

142. Dogmatix of Asterix

 

143. Which Banking and Finance corporate major recently tied up with the WWF to issue special WWF branded credit cards wherein the company would donate a certain amount of money on the customer’s behalf to WWF everytime he used the card?

143. Citibank

 

144. A few years ago a certain insect called the Mexican Beetle was imported into Bangalore in large numbers. Why?

144. To eradicate the weed Parthenium

 

145. India’s premier environmental magazine is edited by activist Bittu Sahgal. Name it.

145. Sanctuary

 

146. Who said ‘A nation’s wealth, its real wealth can be gauged by its tree cover ‘?

146. Richard St. Barbe Baker, ‘The Man of Trees’

 

147. Who is the patron saint of ecology?

147. St. Francis

 

148. Of which media powerhouse is the Discovery Channel a division?

148. Disney

 

149. Who authored a bestseller ‘Overload’ which is concerned with a fight between environmentalists and an engineer over the building of a thermal power station?

149. Arthur Hailey

 

150. This American industrialist donated about 1/5th of his property to WWF in return for which the WWF gives an annual Wildlife Conservation Prize to individuals and organisations for distinguished service to the cause of conservation, in his name. Who?

150. J. Paul Getty

General Knowledge Tests- MISC 1

April 14, 2008

 

1. The first automated teller machine (ATM) appeared in India in

a)1980 b) 1985 c) 1990 d) 1995

2. The type of mirror used in rear viewing in a car is

 a)concave b) convex c) plane d) parabolic

3.The bank commonly known as ‘world bank’ is

a)IBRD b) IMF c) IDA d) IFC

4.The first census in India was completed in the year

a) 1873 b) 1872 c) 1852 d) 1842

5. To an astronaut the sky appears to be

a) white b) dark c) blue d) red

6. ‘Love Story’ was written by

a) Khuswant Singh b) Anita Desai c) William Golding d) Erich Segal

7. Hydroponics is

 a) growth of plants under laboratory conditions b) soil conservation c) grafting of      plants     d)       growth of plants in liquid media without soil

8. Palm oil is extracted from

a) Coconut palm b) palmyra palm c) oil palm d) toddy palm

9. Kilohertz ia a unit of

a) wavelength b) energy c) electric field intensity d) frequency

10. Lead pencils contain

a) white lead b) graphite c) red lead d) coke

11. Cooking gas is a mixture of

  a) ethane and ethylene b) propane and ethylene c) butane and propane d) butane and ethane

12. Vitamin B2 is also known as

a) Thiamine b)riboflavin c)ascorbic acid d) Folic acid

13. The much dreaded KGB is/was the secret police organisation of

a) U.K b) U.S.A. c) the (erstwhile ) USSR d) poland

14.  Of the landmarks in medical history given below, which one was the first to happen

a) Bypass surgery b) plastic surgery c) organ transplant d) test tube baby

15. The three countries that recognized the Taliban regime

a) Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia b) Pakistan, Iraq, Iran c) Iraq, Iran, Kuwait    d)Pakistan,Iran,Jordan

16. Islets of Langerhans are associated with

a) pancreas b) liver c) kidney d) spleen

17. The first international cricket test match was played between ________ at _________.

a) Australia vs England ,Lords b) West Indies vs England,Lords c) West Indies vs   Australia,Barbados d) Australia vs England , MCG.

18.First Indian Artificial Satellite launched in 1975 was

a) Rohini b) Bhaskara c) Aryabhatta d) None of the above

19. The first country to enfranchise women

a)U.K b) U.S.A. c)Australia d) Newzealand

20. The pride of Australia ,Don Bradman, hails from the city of

a) Brisbane b) Queensland c) Canberra d) Sydney

21. The Secretariat of WTO is based in

a) paris b) London c) Switzerland d) Geneva

22. In how many countries Euro bank notes was introduced as a legal tender?

a) 10  b)11 c) 12 d) 14

23. ‘Truth, Love and little Malice’ is authored by

a) Indira Goswami b) khushwant Singh c) Amitabh Ghosh d) Anita Desai

24. The word “disinvestments” was coined by

a) Lord Keynes b)Karl Marx c) Adam Smith d) Alfred Marshall

25. T-90C is the most advanced battle tank of

a) UK  b) USSR c) France d) Russia

26. Who shaped the title music of the film “Mughal-e-Azam”?

a)Khayyam b) O.P.Nayyar c) Naushad d) S.D.Burman

27. The first Indian feature film to be insured in India was

a) Bandit Queen b)Fire c) Taal d)Roja

28. The author of ‘A Brief History of Time’ is

a) H.G.Wells b) Dr.Stephen Hawking c) J.B.S.Haldane d) Prof.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

29. Which among the following is not a product of plants?

a)Morphine b)Lac c) Cocaine d) Quinine

30. The term “puck” is connected with

a) Table Tennis b) Lawn Tennis c) Ice Hockey d) Water polo

31. Common household sugar is

a) Glucose b) fructose c) sucrose d) Lactose

32. How many stars and stripes does the USA National Flag have?

a) 13 and 50 respectively b) 14 and 40resp. c) 15 and 45resp. d)16 and 36resp.

33. When was theReserve bank of India established?

a) 1955 b) 1950 c) 1940 d) 1935

34. The Life Insurance Corporation was established in

a) 1973 b) 1956 c) 1969 d) 1955

35. Entomology is a science that deals with the study of

a) Tissues b) Reptiles c) Fishes d) Insects

36. The largest gland in the body is the

a)Liver b) Pituitary c) Thyroid d) Thymus

37. EEG is related to the

a) Heart b) Brain c) Stomach d) Gall Bladder

38.Hepatitis is a disease related to the

a) Kidney b) Muscles c) Liver d) Brain

39. Humidity in air is measured by

a) Hydrometer b) Hygrometer c) Barometer d) Ammeter

40. Baking Soda is also called

a) Sodium carbonate b) Sodium bicarbonate c) Sodium sulphate d) Sodium chloride

41. Which one of the following is  the unit of  Force?

a) Joule b) Newton c) Volts d) Grams

42. Which was the first purely Indian Bank?

a) State Bank of India b)Punjab National Bank c) Union Bank of India d)RBI

43. How many major banks were nationalized in India in 1969?

a) 12 b) 14 c) 16 d) 18

44.”Blue Revolution “ is associated with the increase in  production  of

a) Computer chips b) Mineral Water c) Fish d) Oil

45. Who is the Chairman of the Planning Commission?

a) Prime Minister b) Vice-President c) Lok Sabha Speaker d)Rajya Sabha chairman

46. When was the first Five Year Plan started?

a)1950-51 b) 1951-52 c) 1947-48 d) 1948-49

47.Battle of Waterloo was fought between

a)Germany and Britain b) Britain and France c)Germany& France d) Poland &Britain

48. When did All India Radio change  its name to Akashvani?

a)1947 b)1950 c)1957 d) 1964

49.Teesta Water is being shared between

a)India and Srilanka b)India and Nepal c) India and Bangladesh d) India and Bhutan

50.The instrument used for recording tremors of Earth, is known as

a) Crescograph b) Lactometer c) Seismograph d) Hydrometer

51.Who was the designer of Victoria Memorial?

a)G.Witet b)William Emerson c)Geronimo Veroneo d)  Edward Leyutens

52.Over which monument in India is it forbidden to fly?

a)Taj Mahal b)Victoria Memorial c)Lotus Temple d)Jama Masjid

53.Who made his film debut in ‘Saat Hindustani’?

a)Amitabh Bachchan b)Jeetendra c)Mithun Chakraborty d)Rajendra Kumar

54.What physical handicap did Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri have in the film ‘Koshish’?

a)They were dumb b)They were deaf c)They were blind d)They were lame

55.In which Hindi film did Amitabh Bachchan first  sing in his own voice?

a)Laawaris b)Mr.Natwarlal c)Silsila d)Don

56.One more over is the autobiography of which famous Indian cricketer?

a)Gaekwad b)Bishan Singh Bedi c)E.A.S.Prasanna d) Chetan Sharma

57.Javed Miandad hit a six off the last ball to _____ for Pakistan to lift the 1985 Sharjah Cup.

a)KapilDev b)Roger Binny c)Madan Lal d)Chetan Sharma

58. Who was Sir Kapil Dev’s 432nd victim to break Sir Richard Hadlee’s record?

a)Tilakratne b)Miandad c)Ranatunga d)Izaz Ahmed

59.Which Hindu God has a vahan named Nandi?

a)Vishnu b)Shiva c)Balaram d)Indra

60.Whose ashes were kept in the main branch of the StateBank of India in Cuttack since1950?

a)Dr.S.Radhakrishnan b)Sarojini Naidu c)K.L.Saigal d)Mahatma Gandhi

61.Who was known as Punch Baba by his ayah?

a)Rudyard Kipling b)Sachin Tendulkar c)Satya Sai Baba d)Mike Tyson

62.Name the Hindi Film Actress who had one missing finger.

a)Nargis dutt b)Madhubala c)Wahida Rahman d)Meena Kumari

63.Who said “man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”?

a)Tolstoy b)Lenin c)Rousseau d)Mark Twain

64.Who wrote the novel ‘Anna Karenina’?

a)Wordsworth b)Mark Twain c)Leo Tolstoy d)T.S.Eliot

65.Which is the national emblem of Denmark?

a)Mountain b)Beach c)Sickle d)Eagle