A. Being a pilot is not a cakewalk. Rather, it's a big bazaar out there now, and only the best are picked up. There's been a huge influx of young CPL hopefuls coming out of flying schools in India and overseas in the wake of the earlier aviation boom. However, barely 20 per cent of them get selected. The airlines are getting picky about who they take, unlike a couple of years back when walk-in interviews were common and jobs aplenty.

Even the percentage of marks is now a criterion. Whereas earlier 65 per cent was a good enough cut-off percentage for being selected, the bar has now gone up to 75 per cent.

There is another hitch for the CPL holders as some airlines have now started their own cadet training programmes. Spice Jet introduced its Cadet Programme three years back. Fresh students are sent abroad for CPL training every quarter.

Yes, the salaries offered have also taken a dip. However, some say this is a temporary aberration, more of a correction after the drastic rise of over 30 per cent in the previous two years. While this correction may continue for a year or so, you should expect the pay or perks of pilots to stay within the range, with a starting monthly salary of over Rs 1 lakh, rising further over the next decade (Rs 2-3 lakh).

As per government estimates, the Indian aviation sector will require 5,000 additional pilots by 2012. And according to a recent study, the number of pilots will swell from about 4,000 currently to more than 15,000 by 2025.

So, unless the career as a pilot becomes as commonplace as that of a doctor or an engineer in India, your future as a pilot is reasonably bright. One of the reasons it hasn't become very popular is the steep training cost. The training can put your family back by Rs 20-35 lakh.

Although a little more expensive, doing your course from abroad takes a shorter time.

If you are looking at joining an Indian flying school, do ensure that it is recognised by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). For details, log on to: www.dgca.nic.in

A. Well, you can have your cake and eat it too. While continuing with your MA in English, you can join a reputed local music school that imparts training in the various gharanas of music. Some of these schools even prepare you for giving the requisite qualifying exams - from the Bachelor's level (Visharad) and Master's level (Nipurn /Praveen / Alankar) of reputed music institutions such as Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, Lucknow or Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai or Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), School of Performing & Visual Arts has introduced a one-year Master of Performing Arts (Hindustani Classical Vocal). Details: www.ignou.ac.in

Of course, if you can afford the luxury, there's nothing like training privately under a good teacher. Many established performers run their own schools of music or take on private students.

As far as classical music is concerned, the time-tested guru-shishya parampara is irreplaceable. It is the guru who helps the student internalise all the formal rules and nuances of the raga so that they become flawlessly integrated into your performance.

Each gharana (school) embodies the historic and cultural vitality of a region with its subtle and yet distinctive characteristics that simply can't be taught in the classroom through a formal academic syllabus.

A. Sure you can appear for IAS exam even though your background is engineering. The IAS is open to all graduates regardless of whether they are from arts and humanities, commerce, science, medicine or engineering.

But yes, your choice of the optional papers may differ. Refer to the Civil Service syllabus and be careful while filling the application form. Also, the format of the exam is different from that of IES Exam. So appearing for IAS will give idea you an idea of the pattern of questions. As the IAS exams commence prior to IES, you can actually test yourself how well prepared you are.

For further details: www.upsc.gov.in/general/civil.htm.

A.  Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004 (Punj), (www.pau.edu)

College of Veterinary Science, Ludhiana

CCS Haryana Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Sciences, Hisar

Hisar 125 004 (Har), (www.hau.nic.in)

Haryana will soon have an independent University of Vet Science for under graduate and post graduate courses in Vet Science and Animal Husbandary, Animal Biotech, & Fishery Science.

CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur 176 062 (HP), (www.hillagric.ernet.in)

College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Palampur

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology of Jammu, Jammu 180 012 (J&K), (www.skuast.org)

Fac/o Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R.S. Pura, Jammu

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science & Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar 191121 (J&K), (www.skuastkashmir.ac.in)

Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama, Srinagar

Course: BVSc & AH (5 Years), Eligibility: Class XII (PCB & Eng, 50%), Selection: BPEE

The Veterinary Council of India conducts a Common Entrance Exam in May for admission to 1st year of B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree course (51/2 year) to fill 15 per cent of the seats to be filled on Merit in Veterinary Colleges in India (except Jammu & Kashmir).

Eligibility: Plus II (PCB & English, 50 per cent) / BSc (Physics / Chemistry / Biology (Botany / Zoology) + passed Plus II (PCB & English).

Details: www.vci-india.in

A. A.  Only a handful of universities offer a specific MSc in toxicology i.e. Jamia Hamdard, Delhi (Deemed University), Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra, and University of Madras, Chennai.

However, toxicology is covered in all MSc Forensic Science and PG Diploma in Forensic Science courses, which are offered at several universities such as: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, Delhi, Amity University, Amity Institute of Behavioural Health & Applied Sciences, Noida, Allahabad Agriculture Institute (Deemed University), Allahabad, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Saga (MP), Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Panjab University, D/o Anthropology, Chandigarh, Punjabi University, Patiala, University of Lucknow (UP)

Shooting, seems to be bang on target ever since Maj Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore's triumph at the Olympics in Athens followed by Abhinav Bindra bagging India's very first Olympics Gold at Beijing.

While a few elite schools and colleges offer shooting facilities, aspiring marksmen like you can begin practicing at local sports clubs and ranges in several major cities. You will need to check if there is a local shooting range in your city where you can get started.

A number of government schemes are offered for training marksmen and cash incentives are offered to medal winners.

Some training centres in North India:

* The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is the central administrative body for promoting shooting sport in India. Affiliated to the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF), the apex body of shooting sport,

NRAI has a network of 46 State Rifle Associations/Units all over India, and holds national level competitions in Rifle and Air Pistol events.

• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar is the only Indian university to have an international standard indoor shooting range (22 shooters can shoot at a time)

• Encouraged by Bindra's golden feat the NIS, Patiala has drawn up plans for a full-fledged shooting range, both indoor and outdoor.

• Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Tughlakabad (near Delhi) offers excellent infrastructure for this sport in readiness for the Commonwealth Games later this year.

• Siri Fort Sports Complex 2 shooting ranges international standards (For Members. Also Pay and Play facilities)

• Baghpat Shooting Range, (Dr Rajpal's).

A.The Indian Navy has kept pace with advanced technologies and operates and maintains highly sophisticated ships, submarines and aircraft. The propulsion machinery, weapons, sensors and equipment on board these weapon platforms are operated and maintained by sailors, who are trained on an ongoing basis.

Sailors are recruited twice a year under five categories: (a) Artificer Apprentice, (b)  Direct Entry Diploma Holders, (c)  Matric Recruit, (d) Musician, (e) Non-Matric Recruit.

The Initial basic training is followed by further training at various naval establishments across the country.

Selected sailors are also sent abroad for training in specific disciplines. Prior to release from service, sailors are also given pre-release courses to enable them to settle down in civil life. As a Sailor in the Indian Navy you must be prepared to serve anywhere in India, on board ships and submarines or even abroad.

Source: The Tribune Is The Post Of A Sailor In The Indian Navy That Of An Officer Rank? How Are They Recruited?

A. While sociology is a subject that deals predominantly with social issues, unfortunately, the way this discipline is practiced in India, does not allow a sociologist to have much of a career beyond academics. In the West, sociologists tend to use several quantitative techniques associated with all kinds of social surveys, including market research. Furthermore, both sociologists and economists are encroaching upon each other's domains, so you can study economic issues as a sociologist and sociological issues as an economist. On the other hand, in India, sociologists learn few quantitative skills, which are traditionally considered to be the preserve of economists.

Hence, it will be better if you opt for BA (Hons) in economics with sociology as one of the optional subjects. Afterwards, if you choose to go for higher studies, especially research, you will get enough opportunity to study social issues, even as an economist.

You can also opt for a Bachelor's in Social Work if you are very sure you wish to concentrate on social uplift, although you could pursue a Master's in social work, development studies or perhaps even in gender studies after graduating in any discipline.

Alternative options in related healthcare areas are hospital or healthcare management.

There is a growing demand for this specialisation. You can also consider working with medical business process outsourcing (BPO) organisations. Four outsourcing companies: TCS, Wipro, Cognizant and HCL are hiring doctors, dentists, nurses and paramedics for BPO work. Another new field is clinical research, which is growing worldwide.

Source: Hindustan Times What After BDS?

A. Notaries draft, verify, and attest various deeds and documents both judicial and non judicial such as conveyances and power of attorney concerning real estate, factories etc. They often bear witness to and certifying signatures on legal documents and of course you will be called upon to prepare a person's last will and testament that we so often see hotly contested on TV soap operas. Sometimes the courts direct notaries to exercise the function of pro tem judge (temporary), magistrate, commissioner or arbitrator.

Appointment of a notary is a statutory appointment, which is done under the Notaries Act and the Rules.

To answer your first question, the eligibility for becoming a public notary is as follows: advocates (civil/criminal/taxation/revenue) who have been practicing for the last 10 years and enrolled with the Bar Council of India and with a no-objection certificate from the concerned Bar Council are invited by the judicial branch of the state government.

However, you are in luck -- applicants belonging either to SC, ST, OBC and women candidates need only seven years of legal practice.