a mba march2015

Mumbai | Volume XII | Issue 8

Rs. 100/-Subscriber’s Copy

March 2015

fundingHow to get

for your MBA

Advanc’edge MBA October 2012 3

editor

Aditya Prakash IengarEditor

from the

It is a safe bet to say that as you read this, many of you will have finished with your final rounds of the selection process, and are on your way to your dream business school. To you, I offer my heartiest congratulations. To those of you who have still a round or two left, I say don’t lose focus, it might take many mistakes to trip up, but you need only one good interview to get that admission you want. Either way, you’re at the threshold of a new career and a new life, and let me assure you, it is definitely going to be an exciting one.

Another thing that is a worrisome factor for many is the fees and expenses you will incur during your MBA course. The cover story of this issue of Advanc’edge MBA is on how you can meet those expenses, either by getting a loan from a bank or applying for the many scholarships that are available.

As one of our readers had pointed out to me, it is easy to lose your long term focus during the two years at business school, owing to the piles of assignments and slew of tests that are a common feature of MBA programmes. Do try to remember this, and maintain those long term goals in your mind as you tackle the short term ones. You might as well start now, before you start your course.

Have you decided which sector you want to work in after your MBA? Of course, you have the whole of the first year to decide, but it would help a great deal if you have at least some idea about the major sectors in India that offer healthy careers. We have given you a brief overview of these sectors, as we had done earlier with unconventional fields, and we’ve even added the institutes that are known for their students getting into particular sectors.

If you liked what we at Advanc’edge MBA have offered you over the last year, and want to continue reading our magazine, do subscribe. Simply drop in a mail to [email protected] and we shall do the rest.

I won’t wish you good luck, because I’m sure you have a bright future ahead. Instead, I shall leave with you with the immortal words of singer-songwriter Garth Brooks.

Too many times we stand aside

And let the waters slip away,

Till what we put off till tomorrow

Has now become today.

So don’t you sit upon the shoreline

And say you’re satisfied

Choose to chance the rapids

And dare to dance the tide.

www.advancedge.com

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole and in part without written permission is prohibited. Printed and published by Kamlesh Sajnani, on behalf of, IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051. Printed at Uchitha Graphic Printers Pvt. Ltd., 65, Ideal Ind. Est., Mathuradas Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai - 13 and published at Mumbai.

Editor-in-ChiEf

Kamlesh Sajnani

Editor

Aditya Prakash Iengar

dEsign

Uma Shirke, Satish Yadav

AdvErtising Shahid Malek / Rajashree MurthyTel: 022-6668 0005 / 6617 0000

hEAd - PubliCAtions

Anand Sutaria

CirCulAtion / subsCriPtion

Ramesh More

AddrEss for CorrEsPondEnCE

Advanc’edge MBA, IMS Publications,

A Division of IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., E Block, 6th Floor,

NCL Bandra Premises,Bandra-Kurla Complex,

Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051.

Contributors

Dr Suresh Srinivasan

WritE to thE Editor At:[email protected]

Websites: www.advancedge.com, www.imsindia.com

www.facebook.com/advancedgeMBA

Cover Story 06 | Financing Your MBA

MBA Buzz14 | Post MBA: Top sectors in India

Countdown24 | Top ten women in business

Success Street28 | Networking: Using the alumni advantage

Corporate World31 | Budget 2015-16: Expectations

32 | India’s new GDP measure

35 | Is a SpiceJet turnaroundfinallya realpossibility?

Must Reads 38 | Playing It My Way: My Autobiography

Rich Dad Poor Dad Good Omens

Study Hour 39 | Test Q&As

42 | Word Dose: Guests at dinner

44 | Globescan

46 | SuDoKu

Disclaimer : The views expressed in the articles by contributors and others are not necessarily those of the Publishers, unless specifically stated therein. While no effort is spared in ensuring the accuracy of the information published herein, readers are advised to reconfirm the current facts before acting upon any such information. The Publishers regret their inability to accept responsibility for any inadvertent errors of commission or omission in this issue. Readers are recommended to make appropriate inquiries before incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in this publication. The publishers do not vouch for any claims made by the advertisers of any products or services. The Publisher, Printers or Editor shall not be held liable for any consequences in the event of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, in any form or means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without prior permission from the publisher.

Payment to be made by crossed Demand Draft/Cheque drawn in favor of “IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd.” For subscriptions and related enquiries write to: Advanc’edge MBA, IMS Publications, A division of IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051.For more queries e-mail: [email protected]

New Subscription RatesPeriod Issues New Rate1 Year 12 Rs. 480/-2 Years 24 Rs. 840/-3 Years 36 Rs. 1080/-

CONTENTS

MARCH 2015

FORM IVStatement about ownership and other particulars about newspaper Advanc’edge Mastering Business Acumen.1. Place of Publication : Mumbai2. Periodicity of its publication : Monthly3. Printer’s Name : Kamlesh B. Sajnani Nationality : Indian Address : E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051.4. Publisher’s Name : Kamlesh B. Sajnani Nationality : Indian Address : E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051.5. Editor’s Name : Kamlesh B. Sajnani Nationality : Indian Address : E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400 051.6. Names and addresses of individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital. Kamlesh B. Sajnani, Valhalla CHS, Nirvana, Plot No.151, Corner of 24th & 30th Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai - 400050.

Advanc’edge MBA March 2015

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The Advanc’edge Team

If you are a deserving candidate and have secured admission to a good school on the basis of merit, paying your way through B-school may not be as huge a challenge

as it is sometimes made out to be. Scholarships aside, there are several banks that offer loans to fund your MBA education.

I t is a fact that an MBA degree from a reputed management institute

provides the best returns on investment in the form of high salaries. Over the years, all the top management institutes, including the IIMs, have been raising their fees for their MBA programmes consistently and significantly, and this investment is certainly not a meagre one. Let us take a look at the economic costs of an MBA and at some of the important things that should guide your decision in this respect.

Tuition and living costsTuition costs make up a massive part of all MBA expenses. The fees are different for different universities and vary widely with courses. Once a student decides his budget and passes the necessary tests, he is free to decide the institute of his choice. Tuition fees differ as indicated; some include living costs in their fees, some include the costs of reading material; a few are inclusive of all expenses. Fees vary from `18.5 lakh at IIM

Ahmedabad for the batch of 2015-17 to `6.5 lakh at IIM Kozhikode (boarding fees extra) to XLRI’s `16 lakh. At the same time, you also have IIT Delhi’s Department of Management Studies charging approximately `4 lakh for the four semesters as tuition fees. The annual fee at FMS, University of Delhi is `10,500 approximately and is definitely the lowest in the world among truly high-quality MBA programmes.

Living expenses in India are not as high and the cost of living in college hostels is strictly dependent on the college or universities. In government run institutes the costs are nominal; it can start from as low as `6,000 per year but go up to `60,000 per year. The cost of private hostels, too, varies according to the city and the available facilities.

So, financing one’s management education is no longer a cakewalk for all. There have been serious debates in all circles on whether achieving an MBA dream will eventually be restricted to the moneyed lot. Fortunately, however, finances are

less than likely to pose a constraint for the truly meritorious, given the options of bank loans.

Bank loansThere was a time when loans for education were not something that the Indian psyche accepted very readily and the general tendency as a student was to shy away from any arrangement that would impose any financial debts. Over the years, this mindset has changed, given the rising costs of professional education, the simultaneously rising returns on an investment therein, and the emergence of a generally bolder and economically more robust generation.

Several banks have come forward to help students finance their chosen programmes in higher education in the country and abroad through education loans at really reasonable interest rates these days. An education loan will allow a student to pay for educational, living and personal expenses incurred during the course of the programme.

FinancingYour MBA



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What is an education loan?Essentially, an education loan provides financial assistance to pursue a college or vocational course in India or abroad. The loan amount will cover the tuition fee, exam fee, living expenses (hostel charges), equipment fee (laptops, study material, etc), travel expenses for passage abroad, etc. A few additional costs may be covered depending on the scheme and the bank that is sought out. Banks usually don’t have conditions such as minimum qualifying marks in the last examination, or margins and securities for loans up to `4 lakh.

Apart from freshers, there are schemes for working executives as well. There are quite a few public and private sector banks that provide loans to working executives who join a course in the middle of their career. These are called “Career Development Schemes” by a few. For instance, the Bank of Baroda has a scheme called Baroda Gyan, aimed at already employed persons who intend to pursue higher education, vocational courses, trainings, skill upgradation, diploma or degree courses, etc in India and abroad. This is certainly a leg up for future management leaders who wish to acquire higher, specialised managerial skills.

Questions to ask before you apply for a loan• What expenses and fees are

covered by the loan?• What is the maximum amount

that can be availed?• What is the rate of interest?• Is a guarantor required?• Is any collateral required? If so,

how much?• How long will it take for the loan

application to be processed?• What are the payback

procedures and terms?

Need for a guarantor and collateralMost banks have done away with collateral requirement for loans up to `4 lakh. For higher amounts, one would need to present details of collateral security, which is valued by a valuation authority approved by the government. In some cases, depending on the loan amount (usually over `4 lakh), banks also ask for a third party guarantor.

For very high loan amounts, the collateral should be in the form of immovable property or transferable securities. Having a life insurance policy can be beneficial to a student who wants to avail a loan. The bank also benefits from such security; therefore, a few banks provide an insurance cover to a student who

avails an education loan (for instance,

t h e

Union Bank of India has provisions for an insurance policy in their education loan scheme).

Tie-ups that helpMany of the leading banks have tie-ups with premier institutes like the IIMs, IITs, XLRI, etc to name a few. The State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda are a few such banks. This is helpful for many students, as they do not have to search for the best loan deal with the lowest interest from a host of banks. These tie-ups provide students easy access to loans at the best interest rates and a reduction in the loan processing time.

For instance, Allahabad Bank has drawn up a list of over 80 educational institutes whose courses it will finance, and it has special rates for IIMs/IITs/ISB etc. The bank also provides lower interest rates for girl candidates.

To summarise, female students with admission to premier institutes really have an advantage in terms of the interest rates on education loans. On a more general note, students who have secured admissions to some of the new or upcoming institutes may have to try harder to convince the bank to give an education loan.

Important things to note before you apply for a loanUsually, students opting for professional courses tend to get loans smoothly and much more easily than those choosing to pursue higher studies in the liberal arts or sciences. It is important to understand the eligibility criteria stated by each of the banks. Each bank has its own set of preferences when it comes to assessment of a loan application; some may stress on good academic record, while others may have age constraints.

For instance, it is seen that typically, education loans are available to candidates within



9

SIES College Of Management StudiesSri Chandrasekarendra Vidyapuram, Plot No-1E, Sector-V, Nerul,Navi Mumbai-400706

Tel: 91- 22- 6108 3425/ 30 / 58 / 53 / 2400 Fax: 91-22-2770 8379

Email: [email protected] / Website: www.siescoms.edu / Facebook: www.facebook/SIESCOMS

Admission Enquiries: Contact for PGDM: Prof. Pankaj Srivastava ([email protected])Contact for PGDM – Pharma Mgt & Biotech Mgt: Dr.Chitra ([email protected])

Helpline Numbers: +91 9324364263 / +91 9324892434

SIESCollege Of Management Studies

Admission Centers: Mumbai, New Delhi, Bhopal, Bengaluru & Ahmedabad

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Pharmaceutical Management)

Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Biotechnology Management)

Master of Management Studies (MMS) | Master of Computer Applications (MCA)

About Us:

Our Ranking:

Full time AICTE Approved Management Courses @ SIESCOMS :

Application Forms Available at:

Founded in 1995, under the aegis of the erstwhile and the rich tradition of one of the oldest and value-based Educational Trusts in the city of Mumbai, the South India Education Society (SIES), the SIES College of Management Studies (SIESCOMS), provides World Class Quality Management Education with Indian Ethos and Values, to all budding Management professionals.

SIESCOMS has been ranked in the top B-Schools in all the well known surveys of 2014 by Business World, Outlook, The WEEK, Business India, Times Group, Business Baron, Business Today et all.

All our Management programs are designed to inculcate excellent leadership and entrepreneurial skills in young professionals to enable them to smoothly transition from leaders to globally responsible citizens of the industry. These programs have a profound appreciation in the corporate sector too.

* SIESCOMS Admn Off * IMS Centers of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore & Pune* www.siescoms.edu

PGDM(Pharmaceutical Management)

Total Intake – 60 Seats

l

l

Graduation in Pharmacy/LifeScience/Micro-Biology/Bio-Chemistry from a recognizeduniversity with minimum of50 % mark

Must have appeared for at leastone of the Managemententrance exams like CAT, CMAT,XAT, MH-CET, MAT, ATMA.

PGDM(Flagship Program)

Total Intake – 120 Seats

l

l

Graduation in any disciplinefrom any recognized universitywith minimum 50% marks

Must have appeared for at leastone of the Managemententrance exams like CAT, CMAT,XAT, MH-CET, MAT, ATMA.

PGDM(Biotechnology Management)

Total Intake – 30 seats

l

l

Graduation in pharmacy/LifeScience/Micro-Biology/Bio-Chemistry from a recognizeduniversity with minimum of50 % marks.

Must have appeared for at leastone of the Managemententrance exams like CAT, CMAT,XAT, MH -CET, MAT, ATMA.

Eligibility Criteria for Admissions to SIESCOMS

Note: SIESCOMS is a Tamil linguistic minority institution. Hence, 51 % of seats are reserved for the Maharashtra domiciled Tamil linguistic minority candidates & remaining 49 % are for open category.

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the 15 to 35 years age bracket. HDFC Bank, for example, has an age bracket of 16-35 years for its education loan. Some banks insist on financing only certain courses or programmes from select institutes.

However, the general eligibility criteria followed by most banks in India are as follows:

The candidate seeking a loan must be an Indian national and secured admission to the programme intended for study on merit, i.e., either based on individual academic performance or the screening test scores (like CAT/XAT/GMAT/SNAP/NMAT, etc to name a few).

Banks also insist that the applicant should not have any outstanding education loans from other banks/institutes.

How to applyMost banks now have the provision for an online application for an education loan. After the research and information gathering process

is complete, the candidate can visit a representative of the nearest branch of the bank chosen.

So, to summarise, management education is booming, and recruiters are constantly on the lookout for good talent from the top B-schools.

Avenues for funding are ample and one just needs to be aware and informed. At the end of the day with funds secured, the decision should largely be guided by the rationale behind studying for an MBA and the immediate expectations from it.

Following is a list of documents generally needed while applying for the loan (this will again differ between banks):

• B-school admission letter along with details of year-wise fees and other expenses

• Scholarship letter (if any)• Attested copies of birth certificate (or any other proof of age) and

proof of residential address• Passport size photo of the applicant, co-obligants and guarantors• Copies of mark sheets / degree certificates of previous academic

qualifications• Income proof / latest income tax returns of co-obligants, guarantors

(if any)• Details of collateral security along with valuation certificate of

government approved valuer (if any)• Last six months’ bank statements of the applicant / co-obligants /

guarantors (if any)• Copy of passport/visa, cost of air tickets in case of studies abroad

Turn to page 12 for a list of banks and their interest rates.

Aditya Birla Group ScholarshipCovers part of the academic fees, hostel fees for the duration of course, commencing with the academic session of the first year. Eligibility – Applicant must have featured in the top 25% of the batch population. Also, at least 60% of the assignments must have a rating of 7 on a 9 point scale. Institutions - IIM (A, B, C, K, I, L or S), XLRIAmount – `1.75 lakh per annum.Number of scholarships – 16Dates - There is no last date for application as these are given as long as the funds last. Students have to contact their institution to apply for this scholarship. Forms are available only through the institution.

OP Jindal Engineering and Management ScholarshipThese scholarships are awarded by OP Jindal Group. The selection is based on the academic performance, an

online leadership test and a personal interview.Eligibility – Top 10 students of 2nd year (based on their academic performance). Amount – `1.5 lakh.Institutes – FMS, IIM-A, B, C, I, K, L, Ranchi, Raipur and Rohtak, Jindal Global Business School, MDI, SPJIMR, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT.Date – September

ONGC SC/ST Merit cum Means ScholarshipsInstituted by the ONGC, scholarships are awarded to the selected SC/ST candidates yearly to the eligible students.Eligibility –• The students must be in their first year of master’s

degree, not older than 30 years on October 1st of the academic session of the year of the announcement of the scholarship

• The students must have obtained 60% in graduation

SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES

The second of the two major avenues of financing your MBA programme is to apply for scholarships. There are several scholarship schemes available for needy meritorious students and for minority categories. Some of the major scholarship schemes are listed here.



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or 6.0 on a 10 point grade scale.• Gross annual income of family should not be more

than `4.5 lakh p.a. (`37,500 per month).Amount – `4,000 per month.Number of scholarships – 73Date - November

Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Loan ScholarshipThe foundation awards interest free loan scholarships to Indian students with a consistently good academic record for postgraduate studies at prestigious institutions in India and abroad. The scholarship is awarded after a screening process and personal interview.Eligibility – Indian nationals below 30 years of age Amount – up to `20 lakhRepayment will commence one year after course completion as per the following schedule: After 1 year : Nil After 2 years : 30% of the scholarship amount After 3 years : 35% of the scholarship amount After 4 years : 35% of the scholarship amountDate - January

Guru Harkrishan Educational Society ScholarshipGHES primarily focuses on giving financial assistance in the form of scholarships to the needy students especially in the field of vocational/professional education.Eligibility – • The student should have passed the previous

qualifying exam with 60%. • The total income of the student’s family should not

exceed `10,000 per month, excluding house rent and medical allowance in case of employees.

• The applicant should not be in receipt of scholarship from any other source.

Amount – The amount of scholarship is based on the tuition fee. Normally, it amounts to tuition fee plus a minimum of 25% of the fee, subject to a maximum of `600 per month.Dates – Mid-September

NDPL scholarshipThe focus of North Delhi Power of the Tata Group is to reduce the school dropout rate and encourage students hailing from the SC/ST communities to study further. NDPL aims to create an annual pool of 150 students studying in 26 government schools at pre-board levels. Eligibility –The students’ eligibility is based on a means and needs basis.Amount – `7 lakh per annum.Number of scholarships – 10

IndianOil Academic ScholarshipThe company awards educational scholarships to meritorious students across the country with special focus on girls and physically challenged. The students are selected based on their marks in the qualifying examination.Eligibility – • Students of two-year full-time postgraduate

management courses recognised by Central/state governments/Association of Indian universities and which are equivalent to MBA.

• Family should not exceed `1 lakh.• Candidate cannot be over 30 years of age.• Minimum eligibility marks – 65% (General), 60% (SC/

ST/OBC/Girls), 50% (PC)• Gross joint family income from all sources should not

exceed `1 lakhAmount – `3,000 per month.Number of scholarships – 100 Dates – October.

Sanjeevani ScholarshipThis is a scholarship programme given out by NGO Sanjeevani.Eligibility – CAT/MAT/MET score + graduation percentage.Amount – `36,000 per annum.Number of scholarships – 10Dates – Mid-August

T Thomas Scholarship: This scholarship is sponsored by Hindustan Unilever Limited as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.Eligibility – Merit-cum-means as decided by HUL.Amount – `1 lakh.Institutes – IIM-B, IFMR Chennai

India Talent ScholarshipThis is sponsored by Societe Generale under its Global Solution Centre Talent Scholarship Programme. It promotes professional education for needy individuals selected for a full-time course in an accredited university and who do not have the financial means to enroll.Eligibility – Merit-cum-means, interview processAmount – Entire course fees, plus mentoring by a member of the SG GSC team.Number of scholarships – 10Dates – Students must apply after admission to first year.

Bharti Scholarship and Mentorship ProgrammeFor academically bright youth from financially weak families. Eligibility – Merit-cum-means.

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Amount – `50,000 per annum.Number of scholarships – Currently the programme supports 232 scholars across the country.Date – November 18, 2012

Scholarships for SC/ST studentsGovernment of India-sponsored financial assistance.Eligibility – • All Indian SC/ST nationals whose family income is not

more than `2 lakh per annum.

• The applicant cannot hold any other scholarship or stipend.

Amount – `1,200 per month for hostellers, `550 per month for day scholars.Dates – To apply via institute immediately after admission.

His Holiness The Pope ScholarshipFor students with good conduct and satisfactory progress in studies. Amount – `2,130 per annum for two years. A

Bank Base rate Interest rate per annum Maximum quantum (BR) of loan (in INR lakhs)

Allahabad 10.25% BR + 1.5% to BR + 2.5% (depending upon Bank institute of admission; less 0.5% for girl child) 20

Axis Bank 10.15% Up to `4 lakh = BR + 7%, `4 to 7.5 lakh = BR + 8%, more than `7.5 lakh = BR + 6%, Girl child = less 0.5% 10

Bank of 10.25% Up to `7.5 lakh = BR + 2.5%, more than `7.5 lakh Baroda = BR + 1.75%, (less 0.5% for girl child) 1% concession for IIMs, IITs ISB, XLRI, etc for loans more than `7.5 lakh (visit website for complete list) 10

Bank of 10.20% Up to `7.5 lakh = BR + 3%, more than `7.5 lakh India = BR + 2.5%, Girl child = less 1% for loans above `50,000; less 1% for management courses 10

Bank of 10.25% Up to `4 lakh = BR + 2.5%, `4 to 7.5 lakh Maharashtra = BR + 2%, more than `7 lakh = BR + 1.25% 10

HDFC Bank 10% Not provided 15

IDBI Bank 10.25% Priority sector lending = BR + 1%, Non priority sector lending = BR + 2% 10

Indian 10.25% Current floating interest rate; up to `4 lakh Overseas = 12.25%, `4 to 7.5 lakh = 13.5%, more than Bank `7.5 lakh = 13.25% 30

Punjab 10.25% For loan tenure less than 3 years; up to `4 lakh National = BR + 3%, `4 to 7.5 lakh + BR + 4%, above `7.5 lakh Bank = BR + 2% For loan tenure of more than 3 years; up to `4 lakh = BR + 2.5% + TP, `4 to 7.5 lakh + BR + 3.5% + TP, above `7.5 lakh = BR + 2% + TP (TP = 0.5%) 10

State 10% Up to `4 lakh = BR + 3.5%, `4 to 7.5 lakh = Bank of BR + 3.75%, more than `7.5 lakh = BR + 1.75%, India Girl child = less 0.5% 10

UCO Bank 10.20% Upto `7.5 lakh = BR + 2.5%, more than `7.5 lakh = BR + 2.25% 10

Union Bank 10% Up to `7.5 lakh = BR + 2.25%, above `7.5 lakh 10 (20 for IIMs, of India = BR + 2%, 0.50% concession for female students XLRI, SPJIMR (For IIMs, XLRI, SPJIMR & MDI, interest rate = BR) MDI),

Central Bank 10.25% BR + 2%, For IIMs, XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR & 10 (20 for IIMs, XLRI, of India MDI, interest rate = BR (less 0.5% for girl child ) XIMB, SPJIMR & MDI)

ICICI Bank 10% NA, 0.5% less for girl child 10



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Indian Education Society’sManagement College and Research Centre

‘Vishwakarma’ M. D. Lotlikar Vidya Sankul, Plot No. 791,Shri Krishnachand Marg, Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai - 400 050.

Call us on - +91-22-61378329/330 (O), 9029201800 (MO)Reach to us at - [email protected]

www.ies.edu/managment

PGDM (Pharma and Healthcare Management)- 60 SeatsEligibility

} Science Graduate (e.g. Pharmacy, Medicine, Biology,Chemistry and other Life Sciences) with minimum 50% marksin aggregate or equivalent grade.

PGDM - 120 SeatsEligibility

}with minimum 50% marks in aggregate or equivalentgrade.

Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University

Tests Accepted ** GMAT/CAT(2014)/XAT(2015)/ATMA(2014-15)/MAT(2014-15)/CMAT(2014-15)/MH-CET(2015) **IIMs or any other organization has no role in selection as well as in the conduct of the program

ADMISSIONS 2015-17

INDICATIVE LIST OF RECRUITERS

HIGHLIGHTS

l

l 15-Years of Excellence in Management Education.

l Curriculum Vetted by Industry Professionals.

l 100% Placement Assistance.

l AIMA - National Best Budding Manager Awardrecipient 2012, 2013

l Average Industry Experience of Faculty: More than10 Years

l Ph.D. Study Centre for SNDT Women's University,Mumbai and Macquarie University, Australia

More than 100 Years Old Legacy in Education.

Final year students awaiting results may also apply.

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Post MBA: A look at the top sectors in India

The Advanc’edge Team

With just a couple of months left for you to start your MBA course, now is the time, if you haven’t already done it before, to decide which sector you will work in eventually. In this article, we showcase the four top sectors in India – FMCG, BFSI, IT/ITes and Consulting.

FMCG

The fast moving consumer goods, or FMCG, industry primarily deals with the

production, distribution and marketing of consumer packaged goods, i.e., those categories of products that are consumed at regular intervals, such as food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, plastic goods, paper and stationery and household products, etc. The industry is vast and offers a wide range of job opportunities in functions such as sales, supply chain, finance, marketing, operations, purchasing, human resources, product development and general management.

In India, the FMCG market growth over the past five years has been phenomenal, primarily due to consumers’ growing disposable income, which is directly linked to an increased demand for FMCG and services. At a time when the economy and other large industrial sectors such as automobiles, aviation and financial services are reeling from the global slowdown, the consumer goods sector in India has managed to defy the trend, and is currently one of the key drivers for the country’s economic development. The sector had a total market size of `1,425 billion in 2010, and is expected to expand to `1,800 billion by 2015.

What students preferA study, called Campus Track conducted by consultancy major Nielsen, shows that 36 per cent of management students from the top business schools in the country preferred the FMCG sector the most, followed by consulting (29 per cent) and IT/ITes (20 per cent). Dinesh Kapoor, Executive Director of Nielsen confirms, “With the FMCG growth in the country being driven by consumption, the sector continues to find favour with students who see it as a sector with huge growth potential.”

Major FMCG segments in India Food and beverages: This segment is by far the largest in the sector, comprising the food processing industry, health beverage industry, mineral waters, bread, biscuits, chocolate and confectionary. The major companies in this sector are HUL, ITC, Tata Tea, Godrej, Nestle and Amul. Personal care: This segment includes products like soaps and shampoos, oral care products like toothpastes and toothbrushes, cosmetics, etc. With the swelling disposable incomes and a greater number of products and brands to choose from, people are giving

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more and more importance to personal grooming, which is why the Indian skin care/cosmetics market, although currently at a more nascent stage than others, is valued at $274 million, as of 2011. The primary players in this segment are HUL, Proctor & Gamble, Dabur, and Colgate-Palmolive. Household care: This segment is growing at a rate of around 10 per cent in the last half a decade. Products in this segment include detergents, soaps, cleaners, etc. Major players include HUL, Godrej, Proctor & Gamble, Henkel and others.

Interestingly, another large segment of the FMCG sector is the tobacco industry, where the biggest player in the Indian market is ITC.

The Pros and ConsPros: Huge potential given the

expanding urban boundaries and the as yet largely untapped rural market.

The upward trending changing lifestyle of today’s consumers and the increase in their income levels mean an enormous opportunity for newer and more varied products to succeed on the market.

The government has announced various policy and fiscal measures, including FDI to the extent of 100 per cent, in the food processing segment, the largest FMCG segment. This entails a growth of at least 10 per cent by 2015, which is a huge potential.

The retailing sector is also a burgeoning one, and since it is intricately linked to the FMCG sector, it means that the relative growth potential of the latter is also very high.

There are already well known brands in the sector, both

international and domestic, which creates competition and therefore increases investment potential.

Cons: The world today largely relies

on emerging technology. However, in the FMCG sector, there is less scope for investing in this technology and achieving economies of scale.

The export potential in this sector is not high.

If import restrictions are removed, the domestic brands may face tough competition from international, more securely placed brands.

A career in the FMCG sectorTraditionally, sales and marketing jobs have always been the most preferred roles in the FMCG sector as compared to other sectors. Once you make an entry into the FMCG industry, there are thousands of advantageous opportunities, and the pay packages too tend to skyrocket. In a very short period of time, with careful planning, one can easily outmatch the pay in corresponding roles in other sectors. Moving from roles like sales to advertising or the like is quite common in this industry, which helps create a very diverse experience set for the candidate.

With an MBA from a reputed institution, the starting role for a candidate in this sector would be that of an Area Manager

or its equivalent. A thorough knowledge of the product and its pricings, related regulations and basic understanding of sales and branding are required. Usually, the area manager has to constantly keep improving cost control and services, as well as marketing and retailing initiatives. Another starting role for a candidate in this sector would be that of Brand Manager. In this case, the focus is more on branding, advertising and marketing, and on developing the perfect blend of marketing initiatives, branding communication and monitoring systems.

CompensationUsually, the size of the pay package depends on the business school the candidate has passed out from. According to Blazio Mascarenhas, a consultant with ACH Consultants, a competent student who has been recruited into the FMCG sector from any one of the top management institutes in the country can easily expect to draw upwards of `14 lakh per annum. “If the student

has had some relevant experience before his management degree, it counts for even more. In such a case, if the student is among the top 10 B-schools, he or she can easily secure a `18 lakh plus package,” Mascarenhas said, adding that while a student recruited from a middle tier institute can expect a salary of around `6-8 lakh per annum, after a few years and by making the right choices like shifting to a different role or performing exceedingly well, the salary will shoot up to `15-17 lakh per annum easily.

B-schools best known for recruitment from FMCG companiesIIM Bangalore, SIBM Pune, SPJIMR Mumbai, NMIMS Mumbai, JBIMS Mumbai

UPWARD TRENDING LIFESTYLES IMPLIES MASSIVE GROWTH

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FMCG SECTOR.

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ADMISSION NOTICE 2015 - 17

Pune - Nande/Viman Nagar/Mulshi, Kolkata, Gurgaon, Bangalore

PGDM (AICTE Approved)

PGDM • •

Media - Advertising, TV Production & Journalism Supply Chain (only for engineers)

You StudyMarketing, Finance,HR or Supply Chain

(Only for Engineers)

at ISB&M;You learn to Aspire a

Career & LifeGlobal

INDIA

USA

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ST

TH

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OR

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EU

RO

PE

Rahoul SawaniGlobal New Business Director

Dupont, Batch: 2000-02Philadelphia

Anshu RathiConsultantIBM, Batch: 2005-07

New York

Ketan RaikarDirector Partner Resource

Tata Starbucks, Batch : 2001-03

Mumbai

Pronob J ChetiaHR Head, Asia Pacific Volvo India Pvt Ltd, Banglore Batch : 2000-02

SwapnilSupply Chain Analyst

Novartis, San FranciscoBatch: 2004-06

Tushar GargPolaris Software, New Jersey

Batch: 2005-07

Anshu SinghSupply Planner

Procter & Gamble, London, UK

Shubha SridharanGlobal DirectorPhillips, Batch: 2000-02

Amsterdam

Batch : 2009-11

Amrisha SoansVice President

Morgan Stanley, ScotlandBatch 2003-05

Kunal KrishnaProject Manager

L&T Infotech, Sweden Batch 2002-04

Bindya N KapoorCredit Suisse

COO-Risk & Finance Analytics Div.Singapore

Batch: 2001-03

Vishal SrivastavaSenior Brand ManagerReckitt Beneckiser, South AfricaBatch: 2003-05

Puja JhunjhunwalaTalent ManagementTranning in chargeChrysler ShanghaiBatch: 2004-06

Ratnesh MehtaMaterials ManagerCummins, UAEBatch: 2004-06

Vikrant PariharKey Account Manager, Samsung, Batch: 2002-04

Joyti BalaAsstt. V P-Risk Management, JM Financials, Batch 2005-07

Current Batch (2013-15) PlacementStudents Name Home Town Company Placed

Aashit Prakhar Bokaro Asian Paints

Debyojyoti Dutta Kolkata American Express

Sricheta Das Delhi Bajaj Finserv

Dhawaljeet Das Guwahati Deloitte

Karan Babbar Jabalpur Iffco-Tokio

Puran Chand Varanasi ITC Infotech

Rohan kamath Mumbai Kotak Bank

Nitin Singh Udaipur Metro Cash & Carry

Abhishek kaulgud Pune Pantaloons

Namrata Mukherjee Kolkata Standard Chartered

Shraddha Hazaribag TCSGaurav Shukla Lucknow Tata TechnologiesNishu Seth Varanasi WiproShirin khan Lucknow Yes Bank

Grow under Guidance, Alumni Mentorship Program

Apply Online: form also available at campuseswww.isbm.ac.in

Pune:Kolkata : Gurgaon : Bangalore :

Pashan-Sus Road, Pune Ph.: 09766453899, 020-66754664/651, 0985040270 Ph.: 09230562569, 033-66131600/004 09810335037 09243605372

RecruitersFerrero RocherRaymondPhilips

HoneywellLG ElectronicsCEAT

UB GroupDun & BradstreetPaper Products

StarbucksTata MotorsZee Network

Bausch& Lombmany more...

Ashok LaylandMahindra AutomobileFossil

Over 80% batch 2013-15 is placed

Most companies made multiple offersCompensation Range 6-13 lacs

Campus Placement:

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The word recession has become a thing of the past for the BFSI sector,

which is now expected to grow at around 18 per cent. According to a Central survey, the BFSI sector is currently estimated to employ around 40-45 lakh people and is expected to provide job opportunities for 80-90 lakh people by 2022.

According to Dr Manoj Vaish, President & CEO – India, Dun & Bradstreet, “India, with a population of more than a billion and rising per capita income, provides an enormous opportunity for the BFSI companies to expand by introducing new products, leveraging technology, deploying innovative strategies and ramping up distribution network.”

What students preferAccording to a study by consultancy major Nielsen, around 19 per cent of all the students felt the BFSI sector shows a lot of promise. This trend is also evidenced by last year’s recruitment figures at the management institutes. CITI group actually clinched a spot among the top ten most preferred recruiters, with retail banks like ICICI Bank, HSBC Bank and Axis Bank too gaining ground significantly.

Why the BFSI sector?The fundamental reason for choosing a career in this sector remains, as always, the same, Professor Rama Seth, a professor of Finance and Control at the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, says. “At the end of the day, the banking and financial sector is an important part of development of economy.

Intermediation has always been a vital part of the development of most nations and continues to be an integral part of our country. In the past a lot of credit was attached to the Central government institutions, but now, the private sector too is playing a more and more important role, which makes a career in this industry a very exciting prospect,” Prof Seth says.

Apart from the sector being obviously vital to the economy of any country, there is also the knowledge that one gets in the course of the work. For example, one gets to deal with a market that has a wide range of corporates. Hence, while dealing with these corporates, one finds out about other sectors as well, and their financial workings. Although every business is fundamentally the same, the approach and the working are very different for every single sector, and often, even the companies in the same sector.

The Pros and the ConsOne of the biggest advantages of the BFSI sector is that it offers a variety of roles and responsibilities. Because of the wide range of products and services in

this sector, the types of customers vary

hugely, which gives an excellent mix of relationship, sales, operations, analysis and product management opportunities. Naturally, what you learn, you take to other finance, sales, marketing, asset management and software jobs.

Another huge advantage in this sector is the kind of pay package you can expect. An average professional in the BFSI sector, especially someone from one of the leading B-schools in the country can easily earn around `20 to 25 lakh per annum in a couple of years. Furthermore, the BFSI sector is one of those that has used the advantage of newer and more efficient technologies to the fullest. This means working in top-notch settings with state of the art technology is a safe given.

What a student must haveA student can enrol for some management development programmes, like ifloat and other MDPs, sometimes with a foreign collaborator. For example, IIMC runs a simulation game for the banking sector, where all the

considerations involved are used in the repeated

game. In this, the s t u d e n t s

get to

BFSI

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understand all the various parameters that go into being a bank manager. However, some kind of additional tool kit is definitely needed.

Something else that is required is a lot of hard work and analytical skills. Earlier, the perception was that a job in the BFSI sector meant a lucrative deal. After the global recession and with the current economic crises in the world, things have changed somewhat. Today, the most important attributes a student should have are to be able to work hard and handle a lot of responsibility,

apart from having the obvious set of analytical skills and risk assessment abilities.

CompensationThe annual salary for an entrant in the BFSI sector depends on the tier of the management institute from which the candidate is recruited. Therefore, at the entry level, an MBA graduate from one of the top 10 Indian B-schools can easily command an annual package of over `17-19 lakh per annum. Subsequently, with careful selection of roles and jobs, the salary can easily cross the `25 lakh per annum mark in a few years.

However, even though a candidate from a tier two B-school may not be able to garner as large a compensation package, an annual figure of around `8-to 10 lakh is quite possible. After a few years, the disparity dissolves, and any candidate with relevant experience and an MBA degree can command a salary upwards of `20 lakh in a few years.

B-schools best known for recruitment from BFSI companiesIIM Calcutta, IIM Shillong, XLRI Jamshedpur, NMIMS Mumbai, IIFT Delhi, TAPMI Manipal, LBSIM Delhi

IT/ITes

Today, all companies big and small are driven by technology; some in the

core IT field, while others use technology for their day to day transactions. In fact, in a report listing the most valued brands in the world, nine out of the top 20 companies are from the IT/ITes sector!

The Indian IT-ITes industry has transformed India’s image on the global platform and fuelled the economic growth of the country, employing almost 10 mill ion

Indians. Moreover, both Indian and international firms across sectors largely depend on the IT/ITes providers to make their business processes efficient and streamlined. For instance, the Indian manufacturing sector has the highest IT spending, followed by automotive, chemicals and consumer products industries. Furthermore, global BFSI clients account for over 40 per cent

of Indian IT

vendors’ revenues. Exports from the IT-ITes industry are forecast to grow by 13.8 per cent a year to reach $130 billion by 2016-17 from $68.7 billion in 2011-12.

The students’ point of viewPlacement reports of the top-ranked management institutes in the country show that the IT/ITes is consistently among the top three sectors most preferred by MBA graduates. In fact, in 2014, IT/ITes was actually the sector which, on an average, showed the most preference for students across business schools.

According to Dinesh Kapoor, Executive Director of Nielsen, “The IT sector seems to have found favour with students, even higher than the popular financial sector and banks. The healthy performance of the IT sector over the last few quarters seems to have had a positive impact on the students who once again are interested in the sector.”

Sector watch – what’s nextAs far as the Indian IT sector goes,

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Dr. M.P. Sebastian, professor and chair, Information Technology & Systems Area at IIM Kozhikode, feels that as far as an MBA graduate is concerned, the IT sector in India is growing and will continue to grow. “The Indian IT industry will have to necessarily move up the value chain. This is where MBAs fit in very well,” Prof. Sebastian says, and adds, “Currently, business agility is the most important criterion. One has to be agile if one’s solutions are to respond to the market situation.”

Prof. Sebastian feels that the next big thing is cloud computing. “Nowadays, nobody can survive without IT support and solutions. All the information is stored in digital form. But while companies used to build, along with all the essentials, the IT infrastructure too, now, they are more reliant on cloud solutions,” he says. Cloud solutions will be most beneficial to the small and medium scale firms, particularly the IT start-ups, as the initial investment becomes very small as opposed to having to install a physical setup. “This will help IT start-ups expand on the fly,” says Prof. Sebastian. Naturally, this will mean that the demand for managers in this sector will only keep increasing, and “in the next phase of growth in the Indian IT industry, a lot of MBA students will get absorbed in the industry in India.”

The IT/ITes sector – an inside viewThe IT/ITes sector is still one of the largest and most profitable sectors in the country, although it has had its share of troubles, like all other sectors, due to the economic downturn. “Opportunities are fewer now, as companies are more cautious than

before,” says Anirban Mukherjee, an IT consultant with one of the world’s top multinational IT companies. He adds that as opposed to earlier, when India was the biggest outsourcer of ITes, other countries like Malaysia and the Philippines are coming up in a big way, which actually means that international opportunities are in the offing.

However, Mukherjee says, “If you’re armed with an MBA, the possibilities are absolutely endless. As we grow, our ambitions too evolve. However technically sound you may be, in the long run, having an MBA degree from one of the top colleges is the best thing you can do, especially if you have a few years of work experience in the IT/ITes field.”

The Pros and ConsPros: Most-sought after in the

world, as Indians are more comfortable with English than are people in other countries like Japan, China or Germany.

Most opportunities for on-site projects, which means more global exposure than any other sector

Mostly young professionals in the industry, meaning more dynamic workforce and creative thinking

Fat, lucrative salaries

Cons: Personal life shrinks, have to

be on call most of the timeDepending on who the client

is, timing of the job might not be fixed

What you need to succeedThe first thing that’s needed in a field like the IT/ITes sector is the ability to handle pressure, given that with the constant advent of technology, the world keeps becoming smaller. But that’s far from being all there is.

“One needs to have a connect with the field of IT. That’s a given, of course,” says Prof. Sebastian. “But one also needs to be extremely agile, mentally and creatively. This is very important, as the IT industry is one of the most dynamic sectors. So, companies also set a lot of store by being

creative and innovative.” Apart from this, he says, “They must also be very comfortable with the changing dynamics, as in technology, something new is being invented almost every day!”

A background in IT will also help, certainly. However, it is not necessarily a must for an MBA graduate to possess if he wants to specialise in IT. “It all depends on the kind of teaching

and passion the candidate has,” Prof. Sebastian says.

A career in the IT/ITes sectorArmed with an MBA in IT, the best and most lucrative job one can get is as a business analyst. This is true of almost all organisations. There are also roles like system analyst, technical architect, internet marketing, computer information specialist, information systems manager, etc.

Apart from these, there are more traditional roles like engagement manager, in pre-

MENTAL AGILITY IS VITAL IN THE IT SECTOR, WHICH IS

THE MOST DYNAMIC SECTORS IN INDIA.

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sales, etc. There are also profiles that involve client handling, overall management of a project with respect to time, scope and budget.

CompensationAs with the other sectors, the pay package depends on the B-school the candidate has passed out from. According to Alex D’Souza, who works in one of the biggest consultant firms, a competent MBA

graduate from any top business school management institute in the country can easily expect to draw upwards of `12 lakh per annum. “If the student has had some relevant experience before his management degree, that counts for even more. In such a case, he or she can easily secure a `15 lakh plus package,” D’Souza said.

A candidate from a middle tier institute can expect a salary of around `6-8 lakh per

annum. “After a few years and by making the right choices, the salary will increase up to `15-17 lakh per annum easily,” D’Souza said.

B-schools best known for recruitment from BFSI companiesDepartments of Management Studies at IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Madras, NITIE Mumbai, SCMHRD Pune, ISB Hyderabad

CONSULTING

Business consulting mainly deals with helping restructure companies using

subjective and objective views of external consultants. Consultants can be engaged for their expertise in a particular industry or a sector, or as temporary staff members for a one-time project. Nowadays, consulting services are increasingly used by the government to improve efficiency. While big consultancies offer many services, smaller business consultants called “boutique” consultancies specialise in one or two domains.

The hiring of MBA graduates is pretty robust in the domain even in the time of economic slowdown. The argument here is that during

a slowdown, consultants are more in demand, since most companies need advice on how to grow in a recession period. Even information technology companies such as Infosys and Wipro are trying to get into the lucrative field of business consulting, as it commands higher billing rates and also influences key strategies of the companies.

The lucrative businessConsulting has seen growth rates of over 20 per cent in the last two decades. Global consultancy firms such as McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain and Company have been consistently recruiting graduates from the top institutes. However, it is not only the large international

consultancy firms that are looking to appoint MBAs, a number of smaller consultancy agencies across the world are optimistic that hiring will continue.

Another reason for consulting being popular with students is that it allows to work with different organisations and across various sectors. Therefore, it never gets boring and the candidate is constantly taking on different roles and responsibilities. “There are two main reasons for consultancy being a popular sector – the first being the flexibility that a consulting job allows in terms of the wide range of business facets that a potential consultant can work on – something that is of significant interest to a number of

students. The second is obviously the glamour associated with the consultant role,” says Professor Sankarshan Basu, Chairperson, Office of Career Development Services, IIM Bangalore.

Career growthFresh MBA graduates are recruited as analysts. At first they do only research, make presentations and study the market. Later, depending on

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the level of comfort they establish with the quality of work, they are increasingly given more exposure. They also carry out assessments to determine the risks involved in a particular venture and ways to minimise them. Analysts are required to develop strategies and to lead small teams with the mandate of implementing these strategies. Experienced MBAs become management consultants, involved in providing advice and expertise with the aim of maximising growth or improving the business performance of their clients. They are primarily concerned with the strategy, structure, management and operations of an organisation. They also liaison with clients on a daily basis to gather requirements and conduct interviews within the organisation to judge their current processes. This role can last up to 3-4 years.

A senior consultant becomes a manager, typically after around 5 years of service. This is basically halfway to becoming a partner. A partner is a senior consultant who has been with the company for about a decade, and is given a percentage of profits. Partnership

is given to consultants who not only can do consulting work but also bring in new business and milk the established client base for more business.

Some Pros and ConsPros:High levels of income and

perksLarge scope for development

of analytical, organizational, and communication skills

Direct involvement in functioning and the future of firms, leading to greater job satisfaction

Possibility of garnering a wide network across firms and sectors

Cons:Hours are longExtensive travelling is

required in most casesStress levels can be

high, since consultants often work on tight deadlines and schedules

Compensation The starting salary for an MBA graduate in this sector mostly depends on the business school. If a candidate has an MBA from any of the top B-schools in India then the starting salary could

be anywhere from `10 to `14 lakh. An international consultancy could offer even more.

What students needA career as a management consultant demands a high level of intellect, and offers a lucrative salary, social recognition and prestige. Therefore, certain skills and attributes are necessary for a successful career in this sector. These are:• Ability to identify client

problems.• Suggestion and

implementation of appropriate solutions.

• High-level critical businessthinking ability.

• Strong skills in spreadsheetand financial modeling.

• Ability to understandoperations and market dynamics.

B-schools best known for recruitment from Consulting companies

IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, XLRI Jamshedpur, ISB Hyderabad, IMI Delhi, IIT Kharagpur

Apart from these major sectors, there are also other fields in which the demand for quality MBA graduates is going up. These include Infrastructure, Energy, Healthcare, Hospitality, Media, Sports, etc. These have already been covered in previous Advanc’edge issues. A

THE CONSULTING SECTOR HAS GROWN

AT AROUND 20% IN THE LAST TWO DECADES.

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GITAM Schoolof International Business

MBA - International Business

MBA - International Banking and Finance

MBA - Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management

ADMISSIONS 2015-2017

Eligibility All Programmes

50% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in any Bachelor's Degree

after (10+2) from a recognized University. Those awaiting results of

Final Year Degree examinations can also apply.

Admission Process

1. Application can be submitted “on line” by visiting our websitewww.gsib.org.

2. Application along with brochures shall be made available atdesignated centers on payment of Rs.1000/- in favour of GITAMSchool of International Business, payable at Visakhapatnam.

3. Candidates can register for GET'15 in the same application bypaying on additional fee of Rs.500/-.

Prof. M. Subramanyam, Chairperson – Admissions

GITAM School of International Business,GITAM University, Visakhapatnam – 530 045

Tel:(O) 0891-2840413, Mobile No. 9490886714 | Email : [email protected]

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The Programmes are designed to cultivatethought leaders in International Business.

Students will have opportunities to participate inInternational Study Tour to broad base theirunderstanding of International Business.

Students will have opportunities to do an elective:Business Analytics offered by IBM, and SAPoffered by NTT Data.

Students will have the opportunities to study oneor two trimesters at Burgundy School of Business,Dijon, France, or at International University ofParis, at Paris or Summer Internship/ ResearchProjects at those places.

Students will have the opportunities to participatein Seminars/Conferences at various places inIndia, interact with highly distinguished peoplefrom Academia, Industry, and the Government.

Multi-cultural ambiance in the School withstunning beach-front location adds value tostudents for learning.

All programs are residential, and accommodationon the campus is arranged without additionalpayment. However, students would have to payfor their mess charges and overheads.

100% Placement

GSIB ADVANTAGE

Some of our Recruiters

CSR-GHRDC B-School Survey 2014:■

Business.th

■ 4 in “B-Schools of Excellence”.

Business India B-School Survey-2014 : A + +

NHRDN B-School Survey-2014:th

■ Ranked GSIB as 44 B-School among 50 top-rankings B-Schools in India.

nd2 best B-School specializing in Intenational

Rankings

Opportunities at GSIB

■

for the best outgoing student

■ 100% fee waiver : First Ranker at the end of Third Trimester.

■ 50% fee waiver : Second Ranker at the end of Third Trimester.

■ Presidential Gold Medal : For overall performance in the

programmes

■ Teacher's Gold Medal : For the first ranker in the programmes

■ Sliver Medal : For the second ranker in the programmes

■ Bronze Medal : For the third ranker in the programmes

■ Merit cum Means Scholarships

Dr.K Rosaiah Award of Excellence : Cash Awards of Rs.1,00,000/-

For more details visit: www.gsib.org

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TOP TEN

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

The myth that men are more successful than women in business is being

busted every day. Here, we give you a lowdown on the most powerful

women in business across the world, all of whom can give anyone a run

for their money in running a global company.

Even though IBM's revenue declined for the second consecutive year, Ginni Rometty's strategy of investing in new technologies is showing results. She has also signed strategic partnerships with companies such as Apple. Rometty has also pledged to invest $1 billion in the development and commercialisation of the cognitive computing system, another future growth area for the company.

VIRGINIA ROMETTY

Chairman, President & CEO, IBM

Industry: Technology | Revenue: US$92.79 billion

Mary Barra became the auto industry's first female CEO in January 2015, and is now facing GM's largest vehicle recall ever (29 million so far) from a faulty ignition switch

linked to at least 13 deaths since 2005. She is also tackling GM's infamous culture in her calm but steely manner. For instance, she reduced GM's existing 10-page dress code to

just two words — “dress appropriately”.

MARY BARRACEO, General Motors

Industry: Automotive | Revenue: US$155.93 billion

Nooyi's innovation push is paying off at PepsiCo, which has increased R&D spending by 25% since 2011. Products launched in the past three years now make up 9% of revenue. And of 2013's 50 bestselling new food and beverage products in the US, nine came from PepsiCo.

INDRA NOOYI

Chairman & CEO, Pepsico

Industry: FMCG | Revenue: US$66.68 billion

Hewson posted record operating profits and earnings per share in 2013, her first year as CEO of the world's largest defense contractor,

despite a 4% drop in revenue. Now she is looking to industries such as renewable energy for new customers.

MARILLYN HEWSONChairman, President & CEO, Lockheed Martin

Industry: Aerospace & Defense | Revenue: US$45.6 billion

DuPont's share price was in a 10-year slump when Kullman took over in 2009. Since then, she's moved the 212-year-old company into higher-margin areas like nutrition, advanced materials, and bioscience. She sold the auto paints unit in 2013 and will shed performance chemicals like Teflon and Freon next year. Investors seem to like the moves: DuPont's market cap has more than doubled during her tenure.

ELLEN KULLMAN

Chairman & CEO, DuPont

Industry: Chemicals, Bioscience | Revenue: US$34.71 billion

HP was not in a good state of affairs when Meg Whitman took over, but she juiced the stock 47 per cent this year while reshuffling the management team. Whitman added the chairman title at HP in July, two years into her five-year plan to turn around the

struggling tech giant. In the third quarter of 2014, HP's sales rose for the first time in over three years. She has spent the last two years trying to reinvent the company.

MEG WHITMANChairman, President & CEO, Hewlett-PackardIndustry: Technology | Revenue: US$111.48 billion

TOP TEN

WOMEN IN BUSINESS






VIRGINIA ROMETTY









INDRA NOOYI








ELLEN KULLMAN






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WOMEN IN BUSINESS






VIRGINIA ROMETTY









INDRA NOOYI








ELLEN KULLMAN






TOP TEN

WOMEN IN BUSINESS






VIRGINIA ROMETTY









INDRA NOOYI








ELLEN KULLMAN






When Kraft split into its Kraft (grocery) and Mondelez (snacks), Irene Rosenfeld went with the latter, and promised a 5 to 7 per cent revenue increase in the long term. Under

her, earnings beat expectations. The global snack company boosted sales and profits by 1% and 28%, respectively, in 2013. Part of her plan is to quickly grow her cookie,

chocolate and gum-and-candy brands in the developing BRIC markets.

IRENE ROSENFELDChairman & CEO, Mondelēz International


Abigail Johnson has a huge job at Fidelity – assets worth US$4.3 trillion are under her administration. Under her, the assets rose 19% compared to the year before. President since 2012, she has reached out to women and millennials. She joined the company in 1998 as an analyst after getting her MBA from Harvard, and currently oversees all of Fidelity's businesses.

ABIGAIL JOHNSON

President, Financial Services, Fidelity Investments

Industry: Finance | Revenue: US$13.63 billion

Facebook's No 2 Sheryl Sandberg manages sales, marketing, business development, HR, public policy and communications, and is the author of Lean In. Facebook's 2013

profits jumped an astounding 2,730%; it's also been in the news for acquiring WhatsApp for $19 billion. Sandberg remains crucial to the company's long-term

strategy, and is also the best paid woman on this list, making $38 million last year.

SHERYL SANDERGCOO, Facebook

Industry: Technology| Revenue: US$12.47 billion

Despite recent developments, investors have been happy with Marissa Mayer on the whole. After 13 years at Google, she took over at Yahoo! and overhauled Flickr, followed by redesigns and a host of acquisitions. And although the company's stocks are down, Mayer has expressed confidence in turning around Yahoo!'s fortunes, even though it would take years.

MARISSA MAYER

President & CEO, Yahoo!


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Mayur Milan

Once you get into a business school, make sure you tap into your alumni network and build relationships with them. It will help you later when you’re in a good job and representing your organisation at a meet, or even more if you have an entrepreneurial bent of mind.

ocial networking may be the buzzword in today’s world, but one on one

networking is still an important tool for any professional. In fact, it is even more so for an entrepreneur who is looking to establish his business.

Generally, the one on one networking exercise is the key for start ups that do not have large budgets to match well established organisations and their (often) sky high advertising spends. Broadly speaking, networking is the good old fashioned word of mouth promotion that you can get. Of course, it helps if you are networking with people you have known earlier, such as friends and peers from the college you graduated from and your business school.

In our experience, alumni networking is a critical element in sourcing for a new project. You get the double advantage of having an understanding audience, as well as the fact that the bond of being from the same institute always gets you the emotional edge.

One must understand that in India, the entrepreneurial culture where graduates dive into building a start-up immediately after college is still not as prevalent as in the West. So, those among the alumni — the select few — who had tried to sit out of the placement process and done something they believed was a story, would certainly go out

of their way to propagate not only their companies but also to give a leg-up to others.

First stepsLeaving all this aside, it must be pointed out that networking needs to be approached in a very professional manner. However

comfortable you might be with the person you’re talking to, you must understand that a professional approach is very important, because you are representing an organisation.

Most alumni prefer to be contacted the first time via an email. A brief about your organisation should be attached and a small note

on how the concerned alumni can assist your cause should be added. You will also be doing yourself a great favour if you do some preliminary background research on the concerned alumni and her or his business.

Build relationships, not businessAnother critical element one must understand is that networking is a relationship building exercise,

and not a business development exercise. We never go looking for business, because we believe that when it comes to alumni networking, the return on relationships is far higher than the return on business. In our experience, a lot if our alumni meetings have led to business growth not in short term planning

S

Using the alumni advantage

ALUMNI NETWORKING IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT

IN SOURCING FOR A NEW PROJECT.


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but over a longer stretch. This makes it very critical that we approach any alumni networking with an open mind. We may not walk out with a direct business opportunity every time, but over the long run, the meeting will most certainly get you some opportunity.

There is a time honoured code of conduct about networking. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If you expect your calls to be answered, your mails be replied to and that you be given a chance, do not fail to do so yourself. Always answer the calls of your alumni, and if you can’t, make sure that you leave them a message saying you’ll get back to them at the earliest, and don’t forget to do so!

To successfully network, you must be willing to take up any suggestion that the alumni may give you. You might not implement it, but you should at least give it a valid thought. Another important thing that you need to keep in mind is that if an alumnus has suggested a lead, you must follow up on that. If you fail to do so, over a period of time, the word will spread that you didn’t follow up, and the alumnus will be pushed into a difficult spot.

Be prepared, do your homeworkNow, time for a little anecdote and its moral. When we were starting our agency, Ourbit Marketing and Communications, we chose one of our city chapters in Mumbai as our launch platform. We made sure to speak to the organising committee and took prior permission about speaking about the agency at the alumni meet. We also made it a point to go to the meet prepared with a proper study of every alumnus who was attending the meeting. It helped us engage in communicating with each alumnus on a personal level. Naturally, this goes a long way in establishing you

as someone who is taking effort, and is motivated and genuine. That is a key element of any communication, internal, external or in the alumni network. You need to show up as a genuine organisation, especially when it is to your alumni. These are your professional colleagues and they know you better than anyone else in the industry. Hence, it is important that we be true to them.

The e-connectAnother important thing to do in networking is to connect digitally, and Linkedin is currently the best and biggest avenue. While you may meet and talk for few days in a year, Linkedin has enabled regular connections with people anywhere in the world at any point. We used it too: Once connected, we kept feeding them regular updates about the growth of our agency,

and sharing important alumni-led business channels that opened up. This made the entire network aware of our efforts and that we were thankful to those who had assisted us. Such small steps are important, not because they help grow your business, but much more because they cement relationships.

You must understand that when you take your alumni’s

time, you must be ready to provide them with some value addition. No one is sitting around just to attend to you. All of them have important engagements and thus when you appear in their inbox, you’d better have something important to offer them.

Talent sourceAnother key benefit of networking through alumni is that you get to know of talent that can work with you. Also, it gives you the opportunity to source people who can help you with your business by providing you their service. Both talent acquisition and partner development programme are critical to the growth of an organisation, and who better to work with than those whom you already know?

KEEP IN MIND THAT IF AN ALUMNUS HAS SUGGESTED A LEAD, YOU MUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT LEAD.

Use the informal setting post conferences to network.

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This is something that we, as a group, have been able to implement very effectively. We have been able to convince very senior alumni members to work with us because they believe in our approach and our business model. This has helped us as

they bring a great deal of experience and knowledge to the table and have graciously agreed to work with us for a far lower compensation than they would probably receive, because we provide them a chance to co-create a new model altogether.

As any marketing book will tell you, internal audience is the most critical audience you have to communicate with. Treat your alumni network as your internal audience. They are the ones who can get you to places which another start-up might struggle to be in. You’ll be able to pitch ideas to people who would otherwise never ever know about you! And the more you can pitch an idea successfully, the more the confidence the alumni gain in you. In fact, treat an alumni-referred pitch as your Mount Everest. Not only would your own reputation be on the line, but so would that of the alumni and the institute.

Another vital implementation of alumni networking and relationship building is engagement with journalists from the institute. If you work with a lot of brands for their PR requirement, journalists would be a key audience for you. It is thus very encouraging to know that there are eminent journalists who are your alumni members and you can go back to them if needed.

We are extremely lucky that our efforts with our alumni network have helped us take significant steps towards the growth that we have seen. And this is something that you must not ignore. Whether you’re planning an entrepreneurial venture after you graduate from business school, or getting a good role in a reputed company through the placement process, make sure that you don’t ignore your alumni network, and do keep building relationships to make a successful future. A

Mayur Milan is the Director and Head Contributor at Ourbit Marketing & Communications. He is an alumnus of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication.

Top 10 tips on networking1. The goal should be to help others: Networking is a two-way street.

You can’t just keep asking for favours, you’ll have to help out as well. And while you’re at it, understand the needs of the other person in your network. This will help them remember and appreciate you.

2. You have to know the right people: You don’t have to fling yourself out there for everyone. Find people who are relevant to you. It’s better to know a few people who can help you than knowing several hundreds who only know your name!

3. Don’t leave networking to chance: Figure out what you want and who is relevant. Then set about finding them. Once in a while you’ll come across someone amazing, but it’s easier to proactively make a list and contact them.

4. Provide value: The more value you create, the more its rewards you will reap in the long run. Focus on helping the people you contact – this is the number one tactic. Spread information – if you read a book or listened to a music album someone in your network might like, send it to them.

5. Don’t take “no” personally: Every once in a while, you’ll get a “no” from someone. Don’t take it to heart. Everyone is busy, and that “no” might have been a “yes” if you’d caught them on a good day.

6. Follow up: After meeting someone for the first time, make it a point to follow up with an email or a text. You can bring up something you discussed in your first conversation, and use it to speak about more relevant things. This shows you’re genuinely interested.

7. Go beyond your industry: Make sure you connect with people from various areas. This will make you invaluable to people already in your network as someone with a broad contact base. Moreover, knowing people from outside your industry widens your horizons too.

8. Develop the habit of introducing people: This can be a powerful tool to enhance your standing in your network. Try and connect like-minded people with each other, whether they like the same music, the same books, the same hobbies or work in the same industry. Also, ask if people want to be connected. Even if they’re not interested, your offer will be appreciated.

9. Nurture your current network: In all your attempts to build new relationships, don’t forget the people already in your network. You needn’t wait for new people to share information, you can do it for those already in your folds.

10. Don’t be apprehensive: Don’t feel that you’ll be laughed at or ridiculed. Networking is understood to be one of the most important skills in today’s world. It may seem daunting to approach someone totally new, but the more you practise, the better you’ll get at it.


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iscal deficit targets had clearly been laid out in the last budget; the deficit

target for 2015-16 was pegged at 3.6 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), and the 2016-17 target was laid out at 3 per cent. The question would be to see if the government has achieved this 3 per cent target? In all probabilities it should have, as global crude oil prices have been at rock bottom, at least for a large part of the fiscal year. If, for whatever reasons, it has not been achieved, it would be bad news and quite a missed opportunity!

More than any “big bang” reforms, investors may want to understand the status of the many small steps the then new Modi government had announced as a part of its Union Budget 2014-15. Key reforms were announced over the last nine months, which includes opening up of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the defence, insurance and railways sector as well as small but significant reforms to labour laws. Although these initiatives can take a longer term horizon to translate into revenue and sales in the books of accounts of corporates and the government, it is important to know the status of these reforms, how they have impacted the actual accounts for 2014-15 and what else is being allocated for the year 2015-16.

The government had started initiating cuts in subsidies, and moved particularly well on petroleum products. Food and fertilizers

subsidy had to be addressed in a more c o m p r e h e n s i v e manner. It will be important to see how these issues stack up in the current budget. This is important, as the food subsidy could adversely impact the fiscal c o n s o l i d a t i o n targets, if it is not cautiously balanced.

Implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was one of the major initiatives the government has aggressively pursued. However, there are reportedly a number of issues that required consensus between the Central and state governments before such an act can be passed. It is disappointing that this has still not yet become a reality, and it remains extremely critical that it is tied up at the earliest.

Another major impact item on the fiscal deficit is welfare programmes like National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). These are large scale programmes having massive outlays and require government machinery to reach the benefits to the intended population. There are also allegations that corruption could deter the benefits of such programmes reaching the target audience. Furthermore, these initiatives could curtail productivity

in key sectors. It will be interesting to see how the government repackages this programme for more efficient delivery.

What additional announcements will come in for the government’s “Make in India” campaign to become a reality? There needs to be an enormous push for the manufacturing sector that is required for making this initiative work. Expectations are high that more funds will be allocated to skilling, especially in the rural areas. What are we likely to see on this front will be interesting.

The banking sector reforms are pending, but at the same time are vital for a strong and robust economy, especially with signals that the non-performing assets have substantially increased. We expect to see key reforms to the banking sector in the coming budget. The challenge for the Finance Minister lies in balancing such diverse expectations and delivering a winning budget. A


Budget 2015-16: Expectations

F

Expectations are high that FM Arun Jaitley will deliver a winning budget.

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Analysts and economists in India and abroad have been taken aback at the new GDP growth figures of India, as calculated by the Indian statistical body. Under the “new and improved”

methodology, GDP growth appears to be far higher than what was earlier estimated.

T he Central Statistics Organization (CSO), part of the Ministry of Statistics

and Program implementation (MSPI), recently released India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures, calculated based on a new methodology that not only surprised agencies around the world, but also the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as well as Indian Prime Minister’s economic adviser!

According to the CSO, India’s GDP for the quarter ended December 2014 grew at 7.5 per cent, almost double that of earlier estimates. Even though international agencies have forecast that India will overtake China’s GDP growth rate by 2017, the revised GDP growth figures at 7.5 per cent show that India has already surpassed China. The GDP growth based on the new methodology for the full year 2013-14 is pegged at 6.9 per cent, as compared to the earlier estimate of 4.7 per cent.

Reactions to the new methodologyWhile the new government claimed credit for a significant “on ground” impact on the country’s

growth, the earlier Congress-led government, whose landslide loss in the 2014 elections were primarily attributed to the country’s poor economic performance, were quick to point out that the revised, higher GDP growth rates should mean that economic recovery started much earlier, during their term itself.

Many economists and analysts who were busily explaining and justifying why India’s GDP has been growing below 5 per cent have now been caught off guard by the fact that India is now claiming to be the world’s fastest growing major economy! Enormous criticism from inside the country and outside has been pouring in. Should the new GDP numbers be taken at face value

or with a pinch of salt? Has India’s CSO “lost it”, like the way India’s Planning Commission blurred the details in defining India’s Below Poverty Line (BPL) population? This needs to be demystified!

How was GDP being traditionally measured?Although various agencies like the RBI and the finance ministry forecasts India’s GDP, it is India’s CSO that is primarily responsible for all the statistical activity in the country, including collecting data and publishing various economic indicators including GDP, consumer price inflation (CPI) and index of industrial production (IIP).

India’s GDP has been traditionally calculated on the basis of input “factor costs” (that includes personal consumption, corporate sector investments, government spending and the country’s exports, net of imports) of all outputs the economy produces. Outputs from different segments like agriculture, manufacturing and the services sector are aggregated to get the country’s GDP for a particular year.

measureIndia’s new

ACCORDING TO THE CSO, INDIA’S GDP

FOR 2014 Q3 GREW AT 7.5%, ALMOST DOUBLE THAT OF

EARLIER ESTIMATES.



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New methodThe CSO’s latest GDP calculations depart from the traditional factor-based input cost to “market price” based calculations. In effect, the GDP that was being calculated on the basis of the cost of production will henceforth be calculated on the basis of what the market, or consumers, will pay for the output from the economy. GDP growth is always a comparison of the current year’s GDP with that of a base year; this time, that base was also changed from 2005 to 2012. The CSO’s revised methodology also incorporated a more comprehensive data on corporate activity and newer surveys of spending by households and informal businesses. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs database now used carries data for nearly 5 lakh firms, compared to 2,500 in the earlier Annual Survey of Industries. The former change will probably increase estimate volatility, while the latter has to make the data more reliable.

The new market price-based method takes into account the high value addition to the output that was totally being ignored in the factor cost-based method. This effectively means that for the same level of output, accounting for value addition significantly boosts the overall economic output, which is actually what the GDP measures. Therefore, the new methodology is undoubtedly a significant improvement in the quality of GDP figures.

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajanhas stated he will give his view after studying CSO’s report.

INDIA INC: AT A GLANCEITC expanding portfolio through acquisitionsThe number of acquisition transactions in the Indian corporate arena is increasing. ITC recently announced that it would expand its personal care portfolio through the acquisition of Savlon, the antiseptic soaps and hand wash business and “Shower to Shower” prickly

heat powder brands. Both these brands were originally owned by Johnson and Johnson. The purchase price is still not known, but the combined revenue of such brands is likely to be around `90 crore. This is the first time ITC is resorting to acquiring an established brand from the market, rather than developing such a brand in house through greenfield projects. The timing of such acquisitions shows that ITC is focusing on expanding its portfolio aggressively away from its cigarette business, its main business for the last 30 years. However, the last six months have seen a steep drop in its cigarette business growth, which still accounts for a major portion of its overall revenue of around `8,000 crore.

Contributing to GDP: Manufacturing VS servicesThe revised calculations also suggest the unearthing of a key point in the overall composition of India’s GDP growth. The manufacturing sector is contributing a much higher proportion, while the services sector is, in fact, not actually contributing as much as believed, to India’s overall GDP growth. A 3 to 8 per cent differential in these parameters has emerged in the new GDP calculation methodology.

In fact, this is good news, as India has been aggressively trying to increase manufacturing sector

contribution in comparison to the services sector, with more than 50 per cent to India’s GDP coming from the latter. The more vibrant the manufacturing economy, the more distributed India’s growth and prosperity is likely to be.

DiscrepanciesThe market-based GDP computations are in line with international standards, and to that extent, we are moving in the right direction. However, there seems to be a number of discrepancies, including human errors, in the calculations that have been pointed out by

Profitability of Indian firms still not looking upEven though Indian stock markets are moving up, it does not seem to be reflected in the profitability of Indian companies, which is a concern. Earnings of India’s largest companies were far lesser than expectations, adding to the concerns over a stock market build up, which is worrying since it could be a potential build up of a bubble. This is the third quarter in a row that large companies, or “bellwethers” as they are called, have disappointed, since the new government came into power nine months ago. More than half of large Indian companies underperformed against their own earnings forecasts, which includes companies like Tata Motors, L&T and Reliance. This is in spite of a steep drop in commodity prices, including global crude oil price dropping down to below $50 a barrel. On top of this, when India’s Central Statistics Organization (CSO) revises India’s GDP forecast upwards by more than 50 per cent, there is a bit of confusion in reconciliation of such numbers with the reality!

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various economists. The GDP break up by sectors particularly does not seem to add up with the overall GDP published figures! Experts believe these are understandable problems when market-based computations are adopted, and these will need to be ironed out as we move forward.

Furthermore, there has been a lot of criticism surrounding the disconnects, and the fact that one is not able to reconcile the high GDP growth figures with other key economic indicators like investments, auto production, sales number, etc. The RBI, finance ministry and economists need to evaluate the data and understand the differences between the computations and reconcile the same in the coming months.

Other improvementsThe CSO is also expected to publish inflation figures, based on GDP price deflator, which could turn out to be much lower than the 7 per cent consumer price index (CPI)

based inflation currently published. This method is being touted as far superior and more reliable than inflation indicators based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) or CPI. Costs of certain services like education and healthcare, which are key components of household expenditures but weren’t earlier accounted for in the inflation basket, are now expected to be included in the revised inflation computations.

There are enormous implications arising out of these developments. In the recent past, the RBI has not been aggressively reducing key interest rates based on the assumption that the inflation in the economy has not yet come down to comfortable levels. However, the new methodology could throw up substantially low levels of inflation, when the report is eventually published. These are some key developments that we need to watch out for, especially

with the annual economic survey and budget 2015-16 coming up.

ConclusionRBI governor Raghuram Rajan’s statement that he needs more time to understand the revised computations before taking a view is justified. Across the world, even in developed countries, there are always debates regarding the accuracy of their GDP and other vital economic indicator computations. Hence, it is appropriate to say that we are moving in the right direction, but need to get it right.

All of these are expected to bring in more clarity in the coming months, which will provide a better picture about how the country is faring in our progress towards economic development. The world is closely watching as well. After all, there will always be a number of global implications when a large emerging economy like India suddenly reports a 50 per cent jump in its economic activity! A

Crude oil prices can drop further?The current crude oil price of around $47 a barrel is at around 40 per cent of its peak value last year; this is a windfall for major

‘net’ oil consuming countries like India. The biggest questions that are being asked are: How long will such low prices last? Can prices drop still further? If so, how much? And by when? Some pointers that could answer such questions are available — lesser than expected growth of the US economy is one such pointer that indicates that the low price could remain longer than what we all see. The US growing at only slightly more than 2 per cent a year over the last five years is a key driver for global crude oil demand, its consumption and its price. Growth in China has already slowed down, the Euro zone growth is minimal and Japan is recording negative growth. Technology developed over the last five years is steeply driving down energy consumption in transportation vehicles like cars, public transports and aircraft, which may be one of the many reasons why the demand may not come up to earlier levels. In effect, the global crude oil price could drop further!

Indian auto demand on the riseAlthough the Indian corporate results are poor for the quarter, one of the key indicators that drive growth in the economy — sale of trucks and buses — is showing a rise for three straight months; this is happening for the first time in the last three years. Experts believe that this is not just a one-off instance of growth, but a sustainable increase in demand that is being driven by rural sales. Currently, with the agricultural economy still bottomed out, the potential for enhanced rural sales of automobiles, including farm equipment and motorcycles, that could possibly open up after a couple of quarters. Moreover, the initiatives of the current government to deepen investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, clubbed with excise duty cuts, could sustainably keep the auto demand growth high. However, some auto companies are struggling to keep afloat due to their individual strategic decisions; Tata Motors diverted resources from traditional Indian truck and passenger car business to international markets that cover Jaguar and Land Rover business. Other Indian players like M&M, Hero, Bajaj and Maruti Suzuki are much better off!



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Is a SpiceJet turnaround

finally a real possibility?That SpiceJet was in the doldrums is common knowledge. But with the exit of the

Marans and the return of founder Ajay Singh to the ranks, it looks as if SpiceJet could finally make a comeback. Measures are being taken that might help the ailing airline.

T he financial performance of SpiceJet had been steeply deteriorating. Losses for

the full year ended March 2014 amounted to around `1,000 crore. With the last quarter losses of over `270 crore, the airline was flying deeper into trouble with every passing day. Liabilities exceeded assets by more than `1,000 crore, and the airline was forced to ground flights briefly as suppliers refused to allow further credit. Capacity, load factor, revenue, profitability and staff strength have been steadily falling. Dues to the airport authority, fuel suppliers and aircraft lessors as well as loan levels and interest commitments have been steadily mounting. Outstanding dues reached close to `1,500 crore. SpiceJet’s share price bottomed out at close to `20 a share; over the last two years, the shares have lost more than 70 per cent in value.

Airline industry: OutlookWith so many carriers having failed in the recent past, is there a problem with the Indian airline industry as a whole? Are the long term prospects of the industry bleak? Not really!

Although airlines is a growing business in India, at the outset, it may seem to be matured. However, it is certainly throttled by infrastructure constraints, the government’s inability to develop newer airports or upgrade existing airports in smaller cities, the country’s per capita income which yet to hit the critical mass that could lead to a spurt in airline travel (India’s per capita air trips is at 0.05, being one sixth of China).

But the industry and airline business holds steam in the long run, and what is required by the players is to have deep pockets and build robust and efficient operations, and wait for the activity and penetration levels in the airline and airport industry to deepen. In fact, the Civil Aviation Ministry is expected to issue a minimum of five licences to new carriers that are waiting to enter the industry!

With the global crude oil price having significantly dropped over the last few months, and the government committed to rationalise the tax structure on aircraft turbine fuel, the industry is poised for long term optimism.

Airline players that overcome the short term challenges will set themselves apart from the rest as successful companies. Air India and Jet Airways are also facing a severe crunch; Naresh Goel has recently offloaded a substantial part of his holding to Ethihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates.

SpiceJet: A problem à la KingfisherPoor management, lack of continuity in leadership, poor strategic decisions, sub-optimal operational decisions and difficult market and industry situations have had a cumulative impact on SpiceJet’s performance. With the Kingfisher airline collapse and the damage it did to the industry, its employees, the regulators, suppliers and the travelling public, still fresh in our memories, the question is — how has SpiceJet shareholders reacted to the problem? At this time of crisis, how have they saved the airline from not going the Kingfisher way?

A number of similarities, but certain stark differences, can be identified. Both SpiceJet and Kingfisher are companies belonging

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to groups that have very successful businesses — Sun TV Network and UB Group respectively are both very well established names. While the Marans, in all, had invested close to `1,500 crore in the airline, they took the difficult call at the right time to exit the airline, fully understanding the kind of resource allocations that would be required; more than financial resources, dedicated managerial depth is needed for a turnaround. With this objective Ajay Singh, the original co-promoter of the airline, has returned at the right juncture.

The Marans could have been tempted to leverage their vast wealth, especially their prized possession in the Sun TV Network running to tens of thousands of crores of rupees into SpiceJet. However, the Marans avoided it, leaving their core media business intact and untouched. This was a

mistake the Malyas had made when they leveraged their possession in UB group to pour large funds into the failing Kingfisher Airlines, even after crossing the point of no return. This is a key takeaway and lesson for shareholders in failing corporations — understanding the limitations at the right juncture and taking the right call for the benefit of all stakeholders, even if it entails accepting and exposing their own limitations.

Government encouragementThe government has been showing positive signs to ensure that SpiceJet does not go the Kingfisher route. These signals have encouraged banks and financial institutions to help the carrier during its crisis. But the institutions are playing cautious, as they had burnt their fingers in the similar situation during the UPA regime with regard to Kingfisher.

Ajay Singh, one of the original founders of SpiceJet, recently bought out the Marans’ controlling stake of 58.46 per cent. This deal has been backed by financial institutions, who are working together with Singh to turn the airline’s fortunes around. Singh’s team, together with investment banks like JP Morgan Chase, have pledged to pump in another `1,500 crore to ensure SpiceJet is fully capitalised. The airline is already being run by the new promoters from the last month, and the head office has been moved out of Chennai to New Delhi.

Delaying foreign investment in SpiceJetAnother move the Marans could have made was to straightaway induct a foreign airline to take part ownership in SpiceJet. Any foreign airline would have been very happy to do so, given the long term

INDIA INC: AT A GLANCEInvestments high in e-commerce spaceThe Indian e-commerce space continues to be a hotbed for investment flows — Flipkart and Snapdeal are both continuing to attract large investment flows. Snapdeal, which has secured investments of more than `6,000 crore last year, including from Soft Bank of Japan which is one of the largest shareholders of Alibaba, is now looking to make several

technology acquisitions in the coming months. Advanced negotiations are already on with three technology companies, some of which could turn out to be large acquisitions. A number of areas where e-commerce companies are building capabilities that will help them scale include social media and social product discovery platforms, gifting recommendation platforms, online sports retailing expertise and online retailing expertise in the handicrafts space. Furthermore, technologies that enhance customer security over the net, big data, analytics and business intelligence are some of the capabilities that e-commerce companies constantly try to enhance, in order to be able to scale and be successful.

Spectrum auctions to begin in MarchOn the Indian government’s reform side, spectrum auction is a major development that is quickly being put into action. The government has March 4, 2015 as the date for the spectrum auctions to commence. With telecom operators depositing more than `20,000 crore as earnest money for the auction, the government is set

to garner over `1 lakh crore from sale of 2G and 3G spectra, which is already underway. All major telecom players, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications, Uninor and Aircel are in the fray. The spectrum sale is key in deepening the telecom infrastructure in the country, which will drive the business models of many industries, including that of the e-commerce sector which is highly telecom dependent.

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INDIA INC: AT A GLANCEThings looking up for European economy?Concerns about the European economy, especially Greece and Italy, have once again emerged, the impact it could potentially

have on the global economic growth is being widely speculated. However, recently released economic data from the Euro area provides some relief. With growth being fueled by Germany, the largest Euro economy, the momentum in the Euro area has picked up steam, marginally offsetting the weakness in other weak Euro economies like Greece and Italy. The GDP of the EU increased by around 0.3 per cent during the last quarter ended December 2014. This is much higher than the forecasts and a relief that the growth did not turn out to be negative. More importantly, the EU is still growing, albeit at a marginal rate, but since it did not post negative growth in two consecutive quarters, recession has not set in yet. The global economy may find things extremely difficult to handle if the EU enters another bout of recession!

Ease of doing biz in India still lowWith the new government completing nine months in office, Deepak Parikh, noted banker and professional of national repute, has stated that the ease of doing business in India is still not showing any major improvement that can be talked about. He further said that the government is extremely lucky that oil prices have remained at low levels (less than $50 a barrel). However, he expressed confidence in the current NDA government and highlighted that the industry was still optimistic, although such optimism is yet to translate into revenue at the corporate level with very little changes “on ground”. Similar views have been expressed by industry bodies like Assocham. Considering the results of large corporations of State Bank of India, which can be considered as barometers of the Indian economy, although marginal improvement in profits have been announced, SBI has stated that the economy is yet to fully pick up and flow of funds to corporates is yet to gain momentum. It could be more than three to four quarters before we can see any kind of positive impact on ground.

attractiveness of the Indian aviation market, but such an offer would have attracted a steep discount in pricing, due to the current operational and financial position of SpiceJet. Therefore, it was a very good move to bring in a highly entrepreneurial personality like Singh to set the house in order, reorganise and stabilise operations, gain back lost market share, unlock value and then offload the shareholding to an interested investor at a premium over the next couple of years or so. Hence, it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved in this deal — the Marans, Singh and the employees of the company.

Measures being takenSo, what should be the next steps? The uniqueness of the airline business is that it is a nut and bolt business that needs hands on management and the leadership cannot relax into an autopilot mode. Singh is

possibly the best thing that could have happened to SpiceJet at this juncture. He comes with an enviable academic background, as well as a proven successful entrepreneurship record, including being a director of the Delhi Transport Corporation. His close proximity to the current NDA government is also likely to benefit the turnaround of SpiceJet.

Singh has already started implementing a number of measures such as fleet rationalisation, optimising aircraft utilisation, re-negotiation of contracts and other cost control measures. The number of senior management positions in the company has ballooned over the last few years — more than 20 vice-president positions reportedly exist. These too are being rationalised.

A number of strategic issues need to be addressed. For example, aircraft commonality (a fleet of single type of B737 type of aircraft) was one of the primary objectives in

choosing the business model, along the lines of successful carriers like Southwest. However, the company chose to induct Bombardier Q400 planes for shorter haul flights. Such ad hoc strategic decisions throw the business model off balance. These are some of the decisions the new management will need to take a close look at.

It would be fair to say that the airline is recovering lost ground swiftly, and the credit squarely goes to the pro-activeness of the Marans and the return of Ajay Singh. The government is also doing its part quite well in averting another Kingfisher-like catastrophe in this industry. A

Dr Suresh Srinivasan is a Chartered Accountant, has an MBA (Bradford UK) and a Doctorate in Strategy. He is a Professor of Strategy in Great Lakes Institute of Management and a management consultant.

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must reads

This is the much-awaited official autobiography of cricket’s batting icon Sachin Tendulkar. Fans of the master-

blaster are treated to his memoirs as the batting legend discusses all aspects of his life that have not been shared previously.

Beginning with his childhood, the book is a journey through the life of Sachin from the first time he lifted the bat to his last walk back to

the pavilion. It covers his family, his first tour, his captaincy, the period that severely tested his career, about music: his second love, the highs and lows of his prolific career and the glorious World Cup triumph. While Sachin’s life has been an open book, fans will get to know him better through this autobiography.

This life changing book has been a personal finance best seller for over a decade. It has changed the lives of many people and their

perspective on money. The contents of this book tells the story of a young man, the author himself, being brought up by his natural father the conventional way - getting a job, saving every penny, working hard and climbing the corporate ladder. At the same time, he

also had a “second father” who taught him a different way to view things and how to start from scratch and build his business into an empire.

The main point of this book is to educate oneself on personal finance, which is to learn how to become financially independent by making our money work hard for

us instead of us working hard for money. It teaches us that how to turn situations and opportunities to our advantage and tells us that there is no need for us to work for another person (if we do not want to), in order to achieve our goals.

Title: : Good Omens

Author: Terry Pratchett and Neil

Gaiman Publisher: HarperTorch

Price: `457

Genre: Fiction – Satire/Comedy

Since you’re planning on doing your MBA, you need to be well read, and not just on current affairs. In this section, we offer you some choices of books that will broaden your perspective, and you will find that you will never be at a loss in a discussion!

Title: Playing It My Way: My

AutobiographyAuthor: Sachin Tendulkar,

Boria MajumdarPublisher: Hachette India

Price: `540Genre: Non-fiction/Autobiography

Title: Rich Dad Poor Dad

Author: Robert T. Kiyosaki

Publisher: Perseus Books

GroupPrice: `239Genre: Non-Fiction/Finance

Written by two of the best authors of fantasy today, Good Omens is a brilliant satirical take on Armageddon. The end of

the world is coming soon, but the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley are not quite supportive, as they have become accustomed to their lives on earth and are starting to have second thoughts about the whole Armageddon thing. Despite being mortal enemies, they decide to work together to help raise

the antichrist, hoping that at the last moment, the antichrist might just not go through with it!

In Good Omens, Pratchett and Gaiman have created a satirical story that incorporates slapstick and out of the box humour while being largely cynical as well. The result is a surprisingly accurate account

of human life across the world. A certain recommendation for book lovers, and a must read for everybody.

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Quant

Are you a Brainiac? In this section, we shall explore several different types of questions from the various areas of entrance exams like the CAT, CET, GMAT,

etc, and how to best solve them.

Q-1. If a, b and g are the roots of the equation X3 + 4X2 – 2X – 5 = 0, then what is the greatest value that can take?

1] –1 2] 3] 4] None of these

Sinceαisarootofthegivenequation,

\ a3 + 4a2 - 2a - 5 = 0

\ (a + 1) (a2 + 3a - 5) = 0

\ a = -1) or

a = or a

Greatest value of a = . Hence, [4].

Q-2. If p × A(DABC) = Area of the circle with centre O in the figure below, then find .

1] 2] 3] 1 4]

Since DABC is inscribed in a semicircle, it is right angled at C.

\A (DABC)= X BC X AC

Let the radius of circle be r units.

\ p r2 = p X BC X AC

\ 2r2 = BC X AC ...[1]

But AC2 + BC2 = 4r2

\ AC2 + BC2 – 2BC × AC = 0 ... from [1]

\ (AC – BC)2 = 0 \ AC = BC

\ = 1. Hence, [3].

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Q-3. The ratio of the incomes of A and B is 7 : 3. The ratio of their expenditures is 6 : 5. Each of them saves Rs.1750. The ratio of their total income to the total expenditure is: 1] 1 : 1 2] 100 : 121 3] 5 : 22 4] 40 : 11

Let the incomes of A and B be Rs.7x and Rs.3x respectively. Let their expenditures be Rs.6y and Rs.5y respectively.

Given, = 1

7x – 6y = 3x – 5y 4x = y

The ratio of their total income to total

expenditure = 5 : 22.

Hence, [3].

Q-4. A rabbit is 2 meters away from its hole. In each minute, it covers half of the remaining distance. How far

from the hole will it be after 5 minutes?

1] m 2] m 3] m 4] m

\ After 5 minutes, the rabbit will be m away from the hole. Hence, [1].

Altenatively,

After r minutes, the distance remaining

= = = m.

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DIRECTIONS for question 2: The following question has four sentences pertaining to a subject, and one of them is contextually/logically incorrect. Choose the option corresponding to the sentence that is incorrect or inappropriate.

VerbalDIRECTIONS for question 1: In the following question, there are sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) of sentence(s) that is/are correct in terms of grammar and usage (including spelling, punctuation and logical consistency). Then, choose the most appropriate option.

Q-1. A. For most of us, or perhaps all of us, its impossible to imagine

B. a world consisting of more than three spatial dimensions.

C. Are we correct when we intuit that such a world couldn’t exist?

D. Or is it that our brains are simply incapable to imagine additional dimensions –

E. dimensions that may turn out to be as real as other things we can’t detect?

1] A, B & D 2] A, B & E 3] C, D & E 4] B, C & E

Ans: In A, we need the contraction ‘it’s’, not the determiner ‘its’. There is a verb error in D: after ‘incapable’, the verb should be in the ‘-ing’ form not the infinitive form, and be preceded by ‘of’ – i.e. it should be ‘incapable of imagining’. The other three statements, B, C and E, are correct. Hence, [4].

DIRECTIONS for question 3: In the following question, there are sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the sentence(s) or part(s) of sentence(s) that is/are correct in terms of grammar and usage (including spelling, punctuation and logical consistency). Then, choose the most appropriate option.

Q-2. 1] An asteroid that shows no changes in brilliance either is not spinning at all or is perfectly symmetrical.

2] All known asteroids, without exception, show a slow variation in their brilliance, waxing and waning within a period of a few hours.

3] It is known that this is an inevitable result of their spin, and their irregular shape.

4] As they topple end over end along their orbits, the reflecting surfaces they present to the sun are continually changing, and their brightness varies accordingly.

Ans: According to sentence [2], all asteroids – with no exceptions – show a change in brilliance. Sentences [3] and [4] explain why. Sentence [1] makes no sense in this context, as it mentions an asteroid that shows no change in brilliance, which the next sentence says is impossible. Therefore, [1] is the odd one out. Hence, [1].

Q-3. A. Many people implicitly believe in the Hydraulic Theory of Violence;

B. that humans harbour an inner drive to aggression

C. that builds up inside us and must periodically be discharged.

D. Nothing could be farther from

E. a contemporary scientific understanding of the psychology of violence.

1] B and D 2] A, B and E 3] C and E 4] A, C and D

Ans: The semi-colon at the end of part A is incorrect – the correct punctuation mark should be a colon. The correct preposition after ‘drive’ in B should be ‘towards’ not ‘to’. ‘Farther’ refers to a physical distance; in a figurative usage such as in D, ‘further’ is used. Therefore, only C and E are correct. Hence, [3].

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Guests at dinnerW

ORD D

OSE

a. - the residence of a vicar

b. - talks on a religious or moral subject, especially those given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible

c. - a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group

d. - the quality of having or showing great knowledge or learning; scholarship

e. - the study of the nature of God and religious belief

f. - containing substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition

g. - capable of attracting and holding interest; charming

h. - continuing for a long time or longer than usual; lengthy

i. - not pleasant to taste; difficulttoputupwithoraccept

j. -insignificantdetails;trifles

k. -fineorsubtledetailsordistinctions

l. - not clear or coherent; confused

m. - an intervening period of time; an interval; a break

M AT C H T H E W O R D S W I T H T H E I R M E A N I N G S

BernardHinks,thevicarofChadfleet,wasabachelor,andanychangefromthenourishing but unpalatable meals produced by his housekeeping sister – who was never herself tempted away from the vicarage to dine – was a relief which left small room for the niceties of social intercourse. He was agentle,sweet-facedmanwholookedolderthanhisfifty-fouryearsandwhohadareputationfor

vagueness and timidity except on points of doctrine.

Theology was his main, almost his sole, intellectual interest and if his parishioners could not always understand his sermons they were happy enough to accept this as sure evidence of

their vicar’s erudition. It was, however, accepted in the village that you could get both advice and help from the vicarage and that, if the former were sometimes a little muddled,

the latter could generally be relied upon.

ToDr.CharlesEppsthedinnermeantafirst-classmeal,acoupleofcaptivating women to talk to and a restful interlude from the trivialities of a country practice. He was a widower who believed that there waslittleanydoctorcoulddotoinfluencethedecision,thattherewaswisdominknowingwhento

die with the least inconvenience to others and distress to oneself and that much medical progress only prolonged life for a few uncomfortable months to the greater glory of the patient’s doctor.

An excerpt from P.D. James’s Cover Her Face

1. Nourishing (nuhr-i-shing) (adj)

2. Unpalatable (uhn-pal-uh-tuh-buhl) (adj)

3. Vicarage (vik-er-ij) (n)

4. Niceties (nahy-si-teez) (n)

5. Doctrine (dok-trin) (n)

6. Theology (thee-ol-uh-jee) (n)

7. Sermons (sur-muhns) (n)

8. Erudition (er-yoo-dish-uhn) (n)

9. Muddled (muhd-l-d) (adj)

10. Captivating (kap-tuh-veyt-ing) (adj)

11. Interlude (in-ter-lyood) (n)

12. Trivialities (triv-ee-al-i-teez) (n)

13. Prolonged (pruh-lawngd) (adj)

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Communication Skills Builder + Quantitative Skills Builder + Enhance Your English Proficiency

Fill in the form send it along with your DD to : IMS Publications, a division of IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd., E Block, 6th Floor, NCL Bandra Premises,Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai - 400 051. Tel. No. : 022-66680005 / 66170000

Sept 2014 1 week

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To continue reading Advanc’edge, subscribe now! The Leading Magazine for MBA aspirants

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A quiz to boost your General Knowledge

1. Name the Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines (SIA) joint venture that obtained a flying licence from DGCA in December last year?

a. Aakash b. Vistara c. Meghdoot d. None of these

2. Which country recently decided to honour its most famous author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, by featuring his face on its banknotes?

a. Colombia b. USA c. Mexico d. Spain

3. Which tech giant has launched a new e-mail application named “Verse”, for businesses that integrate social media, file sharing and analytics, to learn a user’s behaviour and predict interactions with co-workers?

a. Yahoo b. Google c. Lenovo d. IBM

4. Who has been appointed as the president of Royal Enfield in January 2015?

a. Rudratej Singh b. Mayank Aggarwal c. Arun Shourya d. None of the above

5. ICICI Bank has recently launched India’s first digital bank on mobile phones, through which users can transact immediately. What has this digital bank been named?

a. I-Bank b. My ICICI c. i-Wallet d. Pocket

6. Just after the record-breaking acquisition of Whatsapp in February 2014, Facebook acquired a virtual reality company in March 2014 for US$2 billion. Name that company.

a. Oculus Rift b. Oculus VR c. Little Eye Labs d. Onavo

7. The bald headed eagle is predominantly found in ______________.

a. North America b. South America c. Asia d. Europe

8. In the recently released International Intellectual Property Index report compiled by the US’s Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC), what is India’s ranking?

a. 21 b. 35 c. 29 d. 74

9. Astronomers have recently discovered that a stellar object passed through our solar system in close proximity around 70,000 years ago, which is a miniscule period in astronomical time. What is that object?

a. A comet b. An asteroid c. A star d. Another planet 10. Which of the following has been

listed in the top 10 cities for nightlife in the world by National Geographic?

a. Kerala b. Goa c. Lakshadweep d. Andaman and Nicobar

11. The G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting was recently concluded in which of the following locations?

a. Moscow b. Johannesburg c. Washington d. Istanbul

12. India and the US have signed an agreement to develop three smart cities in India. These cities are Allahabad, Ajmer and ______________.

a. Vishakhapatnam b. Kolkata c. Bhopal d. Kochi

13. Jaswant Singh Rajput, who passed away recently, was associated with which of the following sports?

a. Hockey b. Cricket c. Kabaddi d. Wrestling

14. Which of the following countries has the highest per capita emission of carbon dioxide?

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a. China b. India c. Trinidad and Tobago d. Qatar 15. There has been a lot of

controversy and discussion around genetically modified (GM) crops over their alleged health risks. Which of the following countries has the largest area planted with GM crops?

a. India b. USA c. China d. South Korea

16. Zhelyu Zhelev, who passed away recently, was the first democratically elected president of which of the following countries?

a. Russia b. Bulgaria c. Nigera d. Qatar

17. The Sangeet Natak Akademi in January appointed a new chairman, a post that was lying vacant since its previous chairman Leela Samson resigned in October last year. Who is the new chairman?

a. Arundhati Roy b. Shekhar Suman c. Shekhar Sen d. Phani Sharma

18. According to data gathered in 2014, which of the following sectors showed the maximum traffic for travel to and from India during 2014?

a. Mumbai-Dubai b. Mumbai-Adelaide c. Bangalore-Washington d. Delhi-Dubai

19. Which among the following drugs is popularly known as “meow meow”?

a. Cocaine b. Mephedron c. Heroin d. Methamphetamine

20. Which of the following cities is popularly known as the Mile High City, because at one of the points in the city, the height is exactly a mile above sea level?

a. San Francisco b. Tokyo c. Denver d. Mumbai

21. The “three parent baby” is a controversial mitochondrial donation technique, in which a small amount of faulty DNA in a mother’s egg is replaced with healthy DNA from another female donor, so that the baby inherits genes from two mothers and one father. The technique is supposed to prevent genetic diseases being passed onto forthcoming generations. Which of the following countries became the first in the world to allow the creation of three parent babies?

a. USA b. Italy c. France d. Britain

22. At the 2015 Bafta film awards, which of the following films won the best film award?

a. Boyhood b. Birdman c. The Imitation Game d. Gone Girl

23. Listed as one of the seven wonders of nature, the Iguazu Falls is located in which of the following countries?

a. Japan b. Brazil c. Argentina d. Vietnam

24. The Barak 8 air and missile defence system is being jointly developed by India and which country?

a. USA b. Israel c. Russia d. Britain

25. Which among the following temples of India is known as Black Pagoda?

a. Jagannath Temple, Puri b. Tirumala Venkateswara

Temple, Tirupati c. Sun Temple, Konark d. Meenakshi Temple,

Madurai

26. UNICEF has collaborated recently with which of the following footballers to begin a protection fund named “7” to protect the world’s most vulnerable youngsters?

a. Lionel Messi b. Zlatan Ibrahimovic c. Zinedine Zidane d. David Beckham

27. Which of the following countries recently launched an observation satellite named Fajr (Dawn)?

a. Afghanistan b. Iran c. Israel d. UAE

28. In which of the following countries will the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 be held?

a. England b. Australia c. Sri Lanka d. South Africa

29. Operation Inherent Resolve is a military operation being conducted to combat the threat posed by ISIL. Which of the following countries is conducting the operation?

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a. Britain b. France c. USA d. Canada

30. The world’s first hotel to be completely staffed by robots is set to be opened in which of the following locations?

a. Tokyo b. South Korea c. China d. Japan

31. Who among the following is known as the Father of the Indian software industry?

a. N.R. Narayana Murthy b. Vinod Dham c. Faqir Chand Kohli d. There is no such title

32. Which of the following religions celebrates the Thaipoosam festival in India?

a. Hindu b. Sikhism c. Buddhism d. Christianity

33. Which of the following cities is the only Indian city to be listed in the latest Global Financial Centre Index?

a. Bengaluru b. Mumbai c. Hyderabad d. Noida

34. As per the most recent available data, which of the following states has witnessed the most foreign direct investment in India?

a. Maharashtra b. Gujarat c. Tamil Nadu d. Haryana

35. The world’s largest vertical maze, built in an iconic 55-storey building, was recently unveiled in which of the following countries?

How to PlayFill in the grid so that every horizontal row, every vertical column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9, without repeating the numbers in the same row, column or box. You can’t change the digits already given in the grid. Every puzzle has one solution.Hint: Don’t fill in numbers at random. While filling a particular square, write numbers 1-9 on a pad and start eliminating those numbers that already appear in the same row, column or 3x3 box.

SuDoKu

For more similar puzzles, visit:www.sudoku.com

ANSWERS

GLOBESCAN

1. b 2. a 3. d 4. a 5. d 6. b

7. a 8. c 9. c 10. b 11. d 12.a

13. a 14. d 15. b 16. b 17. c 18. a

19. b 20.c 21. d 22. a 23. c 24. b

25. c 26. d 27. b 28.a 29. c 30. d

31.c 32. d 33. b 34. a 35. b

WORD DOSE

a. Tokyo b. Dubai

c. Los Angeles d. Frankfurt

1.f 2.i 3.a 4.k 5.c 6.e

7.b 8.d 9.l 10.g 11.m 12.j

13.h

•CAT •CET •GMAT •GRE

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a mba march2015

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