Sectors and sectoral indices in NSE

 

Sectors are typically considered to be a broad classification. Within each sector, numerous sub-sectors and industries can also be further delineated. The Global Industry Classification Standard also known as GICS is the primary financial industry standard for defining sector classifications.

 

The Global Industry Classification Standard was developed by index providers MSCI and Standard and Poor’s. Its hierarchy begins with 11 sectors which can be further delineated to 24 industry groups, 68 industries, and 157 sub-industries. It follows a coding system which assigns a code from each grouping to every company publicly traded in the market. The GICS coding system is integrated throughout the industry allowing for detailed reporting and stock screening through financial technology.

 

The 11 broad GICS sectors commonly used for sector breakdown reporting include the following:

 

Energy

Materials

Industrials

Consumer Discretionary

Consumer Staples

Health Care

Financials

Information Technology

Telecommunication Services

Utilities

Real Estate

 

Following are the sectoral indices in NSE.  

Nifty Auto Index

Nifty Bank Index

Nifty Consumer Durables Index

Nifty Financial Services Index

Nifty Financial Services 25/50 Index

Nifty FMCG Index

Nifty IT Index

Nifty Media Index

Nifty Metal Index

Nifty Oil & Gas Index

Nifty Pharma Index

Nifty Private Bank Index

Nifty PSU Bank Index

Nifty Realty Index

 

All sectors are linked with economy but there are few sectors which are coupled to the economy while few which also perform well in bad economy. If the financial condition of the country is weakened, then Banking and Finance sector is affected e.g. The financial crises of 2008. In times of economic downtime, Auto sector is affected and does not perform as sales of auto is impacted during downturn of economy e.g. The COVID-19 situation of 2020. Consumer durable sector performs when economy is healthy and looking for growth prospects. In a healthy economy all sectors perform but when there is a recession or lag in economic growth, few sectors do not perform depending on the situation. The pharma sector is performing currently with the down turn of economy. PSU banks sector is in bad shape since a long time as the banking reforms in this sector has not pleased the investors. Oil and Gas sector performs when Global economy is in peak and demand of oil is high and prices are rising. Media sector depends on the performance of the media and is usually dependent on the growth of the media house. Metal is usually a gloomy sector and performs with difficulty. In times of bad economy, it is in bad shape and when economy is stable it generates results on investment but investment results are usually moderate. IT sector has turn out to be an evergreen sector with its performance in COVID-19 times. FMCG is usually a stable sector and depends on the demand in the economy which usually does not go below or above a certain point.

 

https://www1.nseindia.com/products/content/equities/indices/sectoral_indices.htm

https://www.zeebiz.com/market/sectors-nse

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sector-breakdown.asp

How to pick a stock?

Here are the things an investor should consider when picking stocks:

1.       Earnings growth

2.       Stability

3.       Relative strength in industry

4.       Debt-equity ratio

5.       Price-earnings ratio

6.       Management

7.       Dividends

Here are the essential steps (or checklist) that you need to follow for picking winning stocks to invest in Indian stock market:

1.       Does the company have good fundamentals?

a.       Earnings Per Share (EPS) – Increasing for last 5 years

b.       Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) – Low compared to companies in the same industry

c.       Price to Book Ratio (P/B) – Low compared companies in the same industry

d.       Debt to Equity Ratio – Should be less than 1 (Preferably debt<0.5 or Zero-Debt)

e.       Return on Equity (ROE) – Should be greater than 20%

f.        Price to Sales Ratio (P/S) – Smaller value is preferred

g.       Current Ratio – Should be greater than 1

h.       Dividend – Increasing for the last 5 years

2.       Do you understand the products or services offered by the company?

3.       Will people still be using this product or service in 15-20 years from now?

4.       Does the company have a low-cost durable competitive advantage?

For example, Colgate! It has become such a common name in Indian homes that Colgate is considered as a synonym to toothpaste. Another example is Cadbury– the chocolate producing company. This company is dominating its industry and the people are even ready to pay a lot more to buy its products. Similarly, Tata Motors has got a moat in ‘truck’ sector. Tata Trucks has been in dominating in the Indian automobile sector for the last 5 decades.

5.       What is the company doing that its competitors are not?

To understand better, let us analyze the Indian automobile sector. There are a number of automobile companies in India. However, when we consider the passenger vehicles (Cars and SUVs), Maruti Suzuki is the leading company in India. There are a number of competitors against Maruti in this sector like Tata Motors, Hyundai, Honda, Ford etc.

Nevertheless, Maruti Suzuki is dominating because of the easily available service centers that it provides. Maruti’s service center can be found on every corner of the streets. It’s really simple and easy to get a Maruti car serviced even in small cities. On the other hand, try to get your ‘FORD’ car serviced. You will rarely find any authentic ford service center around you. That’s why people prefer buying Maruti cars in India.  And hence, Maruti Suzuki is able to increase its sales consistently and give good returns to its shareholders.

6.       Does the company have a big debt?

7.       Is the company’s management efficient and qualified?

8.       Is the company constantly in the news and overly popular?

 

https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-smarter-mutual-fund-investor/slideshows/how-to-pick-stocks-7-things-you-should-know?slide=9

 

https://tradebrains.in/how-to-select-a-stock-to-invest-in-indian-stock-market/

Why are pharma Stocks rising in FY21?

Before we start explaining  the reasons as to “why the pharma stocks are rising in FY21?”, lets first briefly understand the pharma sector of India so that we get an idea of what and how much we are talking about in terms of business or money.

India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50% of global demand for various vaccines, 40%of generic demand in the US and 25 % of all medicines in the UK.

 The world has seen an impact of the COVID-19 on the stock markets globally. While many indexes and stocks fell, the pharma sector outperformed and also rose during this period. This unusual rise is not short lived and is showing a rise since 4-5 months from March 2020 to July 2020. This run is still continuing. The question that comes to our mind is why are pharma stocks rising?

The first reason is global trends. The pharma stocks are rising globally. Not only in India, the US pharma Indexes showed growth since march 2020.  The Pharma sector has been seen as a good option for growth during the COVID-19 times and this trend is prevailing globally.

The next reason is stability in the sector. Unlike Auto and other related sectors where profits of the company depend on the economy, the pharma sector has been in stable outlook during all conditions of the economy. This is because medicines are required in all situations and there is a stable demand for it. This has led to demand in the sector even in difficult times of the economies.

Third reason is that India is the main source of medicines globally. And this has made Indian pharma companies show growth and demand in their stock value from all investors. Further during COVID-19 times the pharma industry has been the prime sector for growth due to demand in various drugs even though no vaccine has been fully successful. Not to forget that we are in the process of making the covid vaccine. If successful, the demand will be huge and so will be the growth in the pharma sector.

Last but not the least people are looking for stable options to invest money in and the pharma sector is the most stable sector in the current situation.

The pharma sector looks good for growth in the long term. Good results of many pharma companies have been an indicator of its robustness in economic value and thus has been considered valuable stock entities in the current scenario. The rise should continue for some more time till the market has peaked in the pharma industry. With very few options to invest in this difficult time of economic condition the pharma sector is an attractive investment segment.

Medicine spending in India is projected to grow 9-12 per cent over the next five years, leading India to become one of the top 10 countries in terms of medicine spending.

Going forward, better growth in domestic sales would also depend on the ability of companies to align their product portfolio towards chronic therapies for diseases such as such as cardiovascular, anti-diabetes, anti-depressants and anti-cancers, which are on the rise.

The Indian Government has taken many steps to reduce costs and bring down healthcare expenses. Speedy introduction of generic drugs into the market has remained in focus and is expected to benefit the Indian pharmaceutical companies. In addition, the thrust on rural health programmes, lifesaving drugs and preventive vaccines also augurs well for the pharmaceutical companies.

 

https://www.angelbroking.com/blog/pharma-stocks-shine-amid-rising-coronavirus-cases-in-india#:~:text=The%20COVID%2D19%20outbreak%20has,ever%20since%20the%20coronavirus%20outbreak.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/expert-view/why-are-pharma-stocks-rallying-surajit-pal-explains/articleshow/76321219.cms

Reference: https://www.ibef.org/industry/pharmaceutical-india.aspx

Price of land

Recently India and China were involved in border conflict. Why were they in conflict? Ofcourse age old reason land. China occupied a piece of land in Indian territory and indian soldiers retaliated. In the process both sides lost lives. All this raises one question what is the 'price of land'. Is life meaningless without land. Soldiers should die for land. The piece of land which comes in remotest of area under very bad weather condition and will not be populated in the next 50 years. So is land so important that 20 lives of indian soldiers should be lost over this conflict. Are their no other ways of resolving a conflict or a land that has been lost. Will that land be of use except for map drawings. So how should that land be priced? Over life or over self respect and self esteem.

Where are markets headed ?

The markets in recent times have been rising unconditionally and are in conflict with the real economy. The gap between the real economy and the stock market remains unusually wide. This is the case everywhere, including India. With India’s GDP print for Q4 of FY20 coming in at 3.1% and forecasts for FY21 pegged at -5% (by some prominent brokerages/rating agencies), the recent stocks rally is baffling many.

With grim growth outlook and badly affected economies the world over, the markets are in bad shape. The markets are always correlated positively to the economy be it national or global. But recent times has shown divergence to the correlation. While economies are suffering from the ongoing pandemic, market which initially shed much are recovering. Take for example the indian nse / bse markets. These markets shed and fell by 20-30% in march end. The outlook was bad and market remained at this position for next two months. But just couple of weeks before the revival of economic activities in the country in june, the markets began to revive. Negative rating by credit agency of the country and its companies could not prevent the rise of the market. The were also growth forecast which showed that the economies were in bad shape. But still market recovered. So why did this divergence to the real economy happen in the market ?

There are few worthy reasons for this. The market at its low provided investment opportunity plus nations declared packages to revive economy. The countries showed that while there was a slack in demand, the future held revival of demand and established players benefitting from it. All these reasons along with surplus of cash with investors which they couldn't plan to divert in other investment avenues led to the revival of the market. Investors invested their surplus in established companies whose operational profits were affected by the pandemic but which promised to revive growth in coming years. There also investment in companies which showed solidarity to difficult times. All this became the reason for gap in real economy and markets.

So where are markets headed. My assumption is that markets will rise to a level and fluctuate. The volatility will give opportunity to invest in good stocks but there will be unpredictability. Companies which come out strong and unaffected in this crisis will give returns to its investor while there may be cases where companies will lapse. Thus investors will have to be very smart and careful while reading the market and investment opportunities in companies. One advice would be to look into companies with good management and promising future.  

The war is within

This is again one of the absurd post after a session of absurd afterthought.

Why do we perceive distinction in humans or an allied group psychology ? Grouping or group psychology or crowd behavior is found in animal nature. But there is grouping within a class of being. Probably because of our sense of perception. But does that create divisions or distinctions ? Not always. The distinction may appear due to instincts like survival, domination or recognition.
As a human one can perceive relative changes to other human. Every individual sub consciously or consciously have a protective nature. So this is where we arrive at grouping and acceptability of an outsider. The classic case of black or white. There is another one rich or poor. Such cases have had grouping psychology evolved in them primarily due to creation of a weaker segment of society relative to a stronger one. But as civilization has evolved grouping mentality has percolated into many folds within groups. The question is whether such psychology is good or not. In my opinion, the answer remain in the very existence of nature or our world in present form. 

beyond normalcy or way out of normal thoughts

every individuals life
every individuals strive
every individuals right
every individuals might
evoluation and growth
satisfaction and faith

will i accept the same for me
or will i act with reason jealousy, unknown goodwill or voidness
will I bring anger in the name of protection
or will I disturb in the name of love
will I warn to motivate
or will I corner to demotivate
will I make
or will I break

thinking is wastage
something in shortage
whatif its averted
what could be prevented
conflicts and confrontation
glorification or humliation

not true
or not honest
part of it
or a chancy fit
virtual challenge, an unworthy crime ?
or actual creation, worthy time
proove of our stance
or better live's chance

life is a concern
reflection, action and occupation of other's action
create signs that are symbolic
foretold observant to be an altruistic
instead of human flaws or character flaws indictment
deemed paths or goodwill preachment 

बेतुके@विचार

अगर  प्यार  लगे  अत्याचार
प्रशंसा  हो  जाये  धिक्कार
तर्क  बने  शर्त
स्वतंत्रता  बने  व्रत

and then there is a little less appreciation :)

for those who were there..

for those who weren't...

for those who left...

for those whom you left....

there is a little less appreciation :) ...

if everyone was around..

what could not be controlled..

what cannot be breached ?

something is there..

senseless..drives..

inhumanity behind humanity..

what point did anyone prove ?

what happiness did ? 

The wakeful anguish of the soul

That's how Keats describes melancholy.

Some terrific songs to go along:

1. Around the Bend - Pearl Jam

2. In Spite of me - Morphine

3. God only Knows - The Beach Boys

4. Shipbuilding - Elvis Costello

5. Lush Life - John Coltrane

6. Moonlight Mile - Rolling Stones

Credits: Here

Its been months since I updated this blog...and thanx to Vijit for reminding me that......and also why I started writing this blog....the cutest and sweetest guy of our wing Vijit Jain...we had a short telephonic conversation...it is his birthday i.e. today...and I decided to post something and dedicate to him :)

as I donot have much to write...I decided to quote few lines that I like from various songs of various bands I hear....here we go

“cause life is a lesson

you learn it when your through” -Take A Look Around by Limp Bizkit

“Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies

Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away

Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah

Oh, whispering hands, gently lead him away

Him away, him away...” - Even Flow by Pearl Jam

“Here I am - on the road again

There I am - up on the stage

Here I go - playing star again

There I go - turn the page” - Turn the page by Metallica

“While you were hanging yourself on someone elses words

Dying to believe in what you heard” - Coming back to life by Pink Floyd

“Sometimes I sleep, sometimes its not for days

And the people I meet always go their separate ways

Sometimes you tell the day

By the bottle that you drink

And times when youre all alone all you do is think” - Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi

“Cause I want nothing more than to sit

Outside Heaven's door and listen to you breathing

Is where I want to be” – Breathing by Lifehouse

“Many dreams come true

And some have silver linings

I live for my dream

And a pocketful of gold.” - Over The Hills & Far Away by Led Zeppelin

“Hold me now

I'm 6 feet from the edge

And I'm thinkin

Maybe 6 feet ain't so far down” - One last breathe by Creed

“Oooh, everyone wants to be loved

Oooh, loved in their own way” -Dandy Life by Collective Soul

“My dream is to fly

Over the rainbow so high” - Rise Up by Yves LaRock

Tempostand

Chirping of birds, rustling of dry leaves, splashing of water, waves,breezes,volcanoes are sounds and are expressions of their own form. Music as said has evolved from these natural sounds and beings. A form of expression, entertainment, energy and many more, music has evolved in various genres and forms to enrich its existence. Culture, traditions, geographies, time period even technologies played their role to give shape to various genres of music. Lyrics, instruments and language combined to give memorable compositions. Great musicians, artists have contributed to this wealth. We in the 21st century posses this vast music domain spanning in various regions, traditions, instruments etc. Infact the span of music is so large that today every individual can find music/artists/compositions of his/her choice. Gone are the days when people looked up to a particular artist or composer to endow them with the music of his/her skills. The practices of finding artists and "music of my choice" have begun. Talented regional artists lacking proper platform to reach out their crowd have been in great demand lately. People in today's world have grown their understanding of music. They are now mature enough to evaluate a composer by his particular musical composition. In this changing scenario, many technologies have evolved to take artist to their crowd. One such effort is by Tempostand.com. It is bringing composers, artists, musicians who are talented and working hard to enrich the diversity of music to its real appreciator. People who love music and who appreciate the genuineness of its composition have praised the team of tempostand.com time and again on their efforts. This article is only a treatise to reflect on "what music is" and "what the team of tempostand is doing to evolve its concept ".

A Walk to Remember

A brief intorduction of the characters
Danish: 6 foot 4 inches tall....often mistaken as being a foreigner due to his skin and hair colour....many people of our batch still believe that he is DASA entry and not a JEE qualifier from Udaipur, Rajisthan...infact this general perception has led him to belive that India is not meant for him...you see it is quite difficult to breathe the oxygen of the upper layers of the atmosphere and look at people from so high above....
Sumit and Pushkal : 5 foot 5-6 inches..these dwarf had a constant habbit of exploiting the rare species of Danish's breed...they are found to be testing his patience, distracting and irritating him through there verbal comments and long walks...

7 pm evening time; three people at 18/1-Kalabagan Lane, Tollygunj, Kolkata
Danish: Chalna Movie dekhne chalte hai
Pushkal : Kya karega jakar, aram se ghar par rehte hai
Sumit : Arrey chalte hai pass mein to hai
Pushkal: Chalo
Danish was already ready. Sumit and Pushkal slipped into something that was more presentable to go outstide. The trio walked through the Kalabagan Lane to reach Prince Anwar Shah road. About 40-50 m walk and they reached the Naveena hall. Shit, they had already seen the movie. What now ? A quick discussion. They were targeting the tickets of 9 pm show. Closest halls were Menuka and Malancha. However, both were in opposite directions from Naveena. We were not considering a hall displaying Bengali and Bojpuri movies somewhere in between. The bright beautiful minds of Pushkal and Sumit concluded that as we had a lot of time we would go by walking. Danish was new to this walking and exploring agenda. So the three missionaries set off. However, Sumit was even smarter. Why go to main road, travel along it and then travel back in the same direction where we are. Pushkal aptly chose the lane to walk into. They took a lane going in the direction of Menuka. Why not, Pushkal and Sumit had been exploring places like that only. Taking unknown lanes and reaching the destination. It’s another story that they once reached a place at midnight in a water filled road where someone warned them not to go right otherwise there was a possibility of their being robbed of their belongings. Anyway, they set out to reach Menuka through a non-conventional way and to find a shorter way compared to the conventional one. They had time in their hand. Pushkal led the way. They went left and right, from one lane to another. However, with every turn things looked more puzzled than before. Half an hour walk and Danish was boiling. He wanted to get some of these two dwarfs. Nature has its own way dealing with things. As Danish was gearing up to scold Pushkal and Sumit, a group of boys from the basti they were crossing said “Is he a foreigner”. This seemed to calm down Danish a bit. Pushkal replied, “He is from Rajasthan”. Anyways the three gems of TMILL were following the leads provided by people they met at regular distance. An hour passed and they were still nowhere. They found themselves crossing a railway siding. Confused, the logical adaptations to their walk given by Pushkal were making things worse. Nevertheless, there were people who were somehow consoling them that Menuka was not far away. After one and a half hour of walk, they finally reached the main road leading to Menuka. The three warriors were tired. These three musketeers had walked from all kind of road and even crossed bridges, railway siding, kacha, pakka roads, seen from the best of houses to slumps and finally they were near their destination. They reached Menuka hall. Danish had taken out some money from a nearby ATM for the purpose. Well this was a hard journey to see a movie. To their disappointment, it was not the same movie mentioned in the site. It was now showing “Aaja Nachle”. Who is going to see a dance program of Madhuri Dixit for 2 hrs or more. Probably now the they took the most judgemental decision “Take a taxi and back home”

Johnny

My first pet dog Johnny. I was in class ninth. The month was January 1998. My uncle had come to our home. He had earlier shown indication of giving up his dog to us. My mother had never denied but she was also never ready to have it as a pet. I was fascinated by the idea though I had not seen the dog. I just knew it was a cross bread dog of Doberman and Indian desi dogs (donot know the name). Anyways even though my mother looked boiled up at my suggestion to bring it, I went with my uncle to bring the dog. There it was tied with rope to a tree. Jumping and standing on its two legs raising the other two, trying to reach me. “Yeh kateta hai kya” (Does it bite)..”Nahi Nahi..bhokta hai..ussi se kafi log darr jaate hai”(No…it just barks..enough to scare outsiders..….”Thik hai mein isse le lunga” (I will take it)….then it was in my home..my pet…my new buddy…thin bony…untidy…as it had not been washed long time back…6 months old…with the colors of a Doberman and figure of a Desi dog……extremely agile and quick….My mother’s new headache… initially she never accepted the dog…for her it was a new trouble brought in by her younger son….. though she was the one taking care of its food….and ordering me to feed it and take it out for stroll….whoever came to our house (relative, friends) had an odd remark about it….initially we kept it tied, for the fear of it trying to run back to our uncle’s home…which was in 5km range of our house…..We had no dog chains..so we tied it with a rope..it use to cry and cry the whole the day, till either my brother or me use to return from school and untie him….(kept it tied to prevent it from digging the gardens)…..One afternoon when I came back a….from my neighborhood..from Mr Colonels home a bhaiya came to talk to me….he said your dog is crying all day..he had a german shepherd bitch ‘Cindy’ and had trained it…he came and asked me to untie it as the rope was hurting it…..I said it will run away..he said it wont, just keep some biscuit or something it likes in your hand….I let him untie it….and then like a free bird..Johnny started dashing here and there…like exalted and energized to full strength…after some dashing it came back to the home….then started Johnny’s journey in our family….during the first few months..My brother and I use to play with it…just to keep it active as told to me by our neighbor…go out and run with it…even while driving a scooter I use make it run along….it had some stamina and speed….would even momentarily run with the scooter running at 30-40 km/hr…And as my mother had not come completely on terms with the dog…I was to take care of its bathing, ticks and medical visits…I use to take advice from my neighborhood bhaiya about feeding and training of my dog…and use to implement these things without any ROI to my parents…anyways….the dog became smarter in looks and gained health…became one of the most dreaded dogs in the neighborhood…and even our known and unknown people who use to come visit our house complimented the dog….My mother had also started liking the dog...though the dog kept nagging our family when it use to run away for hours and come back after midnight…dirty and making us wash it….if it was not a winter night..otherwise we had to arrange special clothing for the king…..Anyways I did enjoy a lot with it…taking it to walk….handling its fights…enjoy he much the people around were scared of it…neighborhood kids telling me how threatening it looks…even beat it when it made mistakes..though later I realized less severe tricks to teach it so called discipline….the dog kept it cool when my mother brought a Pomeranian…..actually it maintained its cool throughout while this younger dog use to bother it…climbing on it and bugging it as I would say a elated and curious child goes on to approach someone…..After joining my college though I never spend much time with it….And it was the starting of my fifth year….2006….my mother had been telling me that the dog had lost a lot of weight and that it was under constant medical treatment…it had left eating food…my mother had to forcefully open it mouth to feed it…for 2 months it was like this….I came home on my summer break…it was the same..not moving…still and calm..it did open had its eye to show indication of life..but never responded..the agility and speed was gone..it was lying at one place waiting…After I had come..the next to next night it passed away….In the morning we found it was dead…not moving..still and calm..no hearbeat…no flow of blood..body stiffening…….I had carried it many times…sometimes to prevent it to get involved in a fight..some times out of love….sometimes to take it to bath….but this time I carried it to bury it…this was its last time….it was dead..maybe it was waiting for me to come back to meet me one last time….may be not….but it did left me with a lot of memories to cherish…My first pet dog Johnny….

My first Numerical Ability test

I was in class 4th as I remember...the class teacher came in and told us about some test being conducted..in which we could win prizes...she read out something and also told how the answer were to be marked...what I got from my partially distracted observation was that if we mark a wrong answer and want to correct it we should completely darken the worng answer and mark a tick right in the option we think is right..and that we have to do working on question paper....At home I informed my parents about the test and was given a clearance to undertake the test...form was bought and everything was set....i did not felt it necessary to read the instruction in the form as I felt the teacher had explained everything clearly..working on the question paper..if I mark a wrong answer I had to completely darken the box and tick mark in the answer I thought was correct...I had to go to MKP college and give the test...I had reached my seat without delay or problem and was ready to take the test....everything was set and right....I did give the test..the question paper was distributed..they also gave me an sheet with boxes..probably for marking if I go wrong....the whole time I did mark the right answers in the question paper...but there were only two to three answers that I marked wrongly in the question paper..so I darken those options in the sheet provided and marked the right answer...the time up...the teacher started collecting...what the hell..she was collecting only the sheet..not the question paper...a sudden realisation struck...it was the answer sheet.....panic ran into me..I begged the teacher to allow me to mark in the answer sheet...the invigilator teacher did not realise the problem...and thought I was asking for more time to mark more answer not even looking at the two answer marked sheet that she took from me....snatch and she was gone....I was thunderstruck...failing was a threat when I was a kid...blood ran out of me....When I was coming out to the MKP college gate and saw my mother coming...tears started to flow down...I cried and cried like a baby...telling my mother what had happened...at first she was not amused...but then she asked me not think about it...she did not wanted me to say that it was just a test..probably for the fear of my taking my exams easily and she also did not wanted to scold me...her dilemma was to decide whether to let me get away with this and later on take all the exams I faced for granted or not....so she just told me that I should have read the instructions and listen when Papa was trying to explain or when the teacher in the school told me....anyways the results came...My class teacher also my maths teacher was struck by a lightning bolt as she was distributing and saw my result..she hesitated to call out the marks...and as I was in the front seat she handed it over to me...well till then she considered me good in mathmatics.....anyways I had got a zero or 4 marks in that Numerical Ability test....

Run by Collective Soul

Are these times contagious
I have never been this bored before
Is this the prize I have waited for
Now with the hours passing
There’s nothing left here to insure
I long to find a messenger

Have I got a long way to run
Have I got a long way to run
Yeah, I run

Is there a cure among us
From this processed sanity
I weaken with each voice that sings
Now, in this world of purchase
I am going to buy back memories
To awaken some old qualities

Have I got a long way to run
Have I got a long way to run
Yeah, I run
Yeah, I run

Have I got a long way
Have I got a long way
Have I got a long way to run
Have I got a long way to run

Yeah, I run (have I got a long way to run)
Yeah, I run (have I got a long way to run)
Yeah, I run (have I got a long way to run)
Yeah, I run (have I got a long way to run)

the brute of tegbahadur road...

I have a pet dog; pomeranian...white coloured...well this is not about the dog nor is it about its licking and butter as Frosty a friend of mine will put it..this is not about my intimate moments with my dogs as Navjot another friend of mine will put it...this is also not about my mother feeding me in my dogs bowl as my friend Rahul will put it....I went home in December...it was a cold winter noon..there was a cold breeze blowing...there was no sign of any other human being...I was taking my dog for a walk...walk/stroll is quite a relevant word, usually used for the business that my dog goes on to do outside...anyways we have a 50m lane in which my house is on one side..this lane starts with two “leechi ke bagh” on either side...I took my dog to this part of the lane..so that it gets done with its business in the bagh...from the turn to our lane a girl was coming....she was holding some book or something....my dog was moving about carelessly in the bagh near the edge of the road....as she came closer she stopped...holding her book tighter and closer to herself.... she was holding on to her book in way as if someone was taking off her dupata....she looked to me and said...”App isse pakad lo” gesturing towards my dog....I said “Chale jayo, kuch nahi karega”.....the girl as if someone was draining her out said..”nahi aap use pakad lo”.....being a good citizen I approached my dog to get hold of it...my dog turned around to look at the girl...and took a position....the position is the one that dog’s take to let out their excreta...and then it began...the procedure...while the girl held on to her book and dupata...I looked on as a silent observer..not intending ot interfere with the nature's call..not once disturbing my dog....for the thought of having to bring it back again outside for a stroll...when my dog was done..it was like it was saying to the girl “Take this.....”.... we went back into our house and hopefully the girl reached her destination.....I do not think anyone else would have felt more victorious then my dog...being a pomeranian...it scared the shit out of a miserable girl....and I being its master stood there watching dumbfound helplessly....

Forest Gump...

The other day I was watching the movie “Forest Gump”. And I was thinking what this movie is about? Is it about an individual with low IQ and how he faces his life? Is it about his journey to marry the girl he loved all life long and ultimately become a responsible father? I believe there are many schools of thought in it. I have not read its reviews so I cannot tell, what the experts thing was the purpose of the movie. Just that it touched my heart and it does touch many people’s heart. I first came to know about it through a very close school friend of mine, Vijay. I remember we were in Mussouri (A group of school going boys, hanging out for a day in a distant place from home). I also remember that while walking the entire time Vijay kept talking about it to me and I was just registering the facts of the movie (not reflecting on the incidents he told me). He is a fan of Tom Hanks. He told me about the movie in such minute details, I felt like I have seen the movie. I never saw the movie on television or computer or anyone’s room just because of that feeling until now. I do not really appreciate a lot of things is quite reflective of this. There was lingering feeling or assumption in my mind that the movie is made to show the struggles of a person. I saw the movie and I said to myself they are not showing that. They are not interested in empathizing how this person who is not very smart leads his life. And what did I infer? From the movie the hero does what he wants to and everything with sincerity and hard work. He believes in something and follows it blindly putting everything to it. And the onlookers are puzzled. He runs because he wants to. He knows what is right and wrong to him and has no doubt about it. So what is the movie about? Well to me it is about knowing what you want to do, believing in it and knowing why you are doing it. That is the objective of one’s life. You may not materially gain from it but you will have the satisfaction that you did it. Everything else will follow. I would conclude that the movie was not about a successful person rather it was about a successful life.

IIM I Interview Form

Interview Form
for
Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP)
(2008-10 Batch)
Commencing July 2008

IIM INDORE

Ø Scholastic Achievements
i. Attained All India Rank of 1388 at IIT-JEE in 2002
ii. School Topper in Mathematics in Class 10th ICSE Board Exams
iii. School Topper in Mathematics in Class 12th ISC Board Exams
iv. Attained 2nd Position in Intra School Level and Participant at the District Level in National Geo Map Quiz in 1998


Ø Please describe your strengths and weaknesses that you have identified in yourself as a student.
Strengths
i. Good at defining and achieving goals that I set
ii. Excel in areas of Interest
iii. Feel easy to work in a group/team
Weaknesses
i. Getting upset when my role in some organisation/event is not up to my expectations
ii. Tendency to do work at last moment


Ø In your present/ last job, briefly describe your job profile responsibilities, achievements and failures.
i. Presently doing a study on “Privatisation of container rails in India” as a member of Strategy department
ii. Taken initiative to revamp the company’s website and upgrade the email services
iii. As a member of break bulk chartering team of TMILL, I managed the operations of a vessel’s voyage. This included voyage analysis, bunker planning, maintaining cash flow and SOA and coordinating with various agents to ensure that the vessel’s voyage make profit.
My achievements
i. Got promoted from a management trainee to Assistant Manager within 6 months of joining.
ii. Played key role in supporting the senior managers, colleagues and juniors to get more out of the present software applications used in the company
Failures
i. Did not attend TBEM classes and 7 habits programme organised by the company


Ø If the work experience and academic/ professional qualification do not account for the entire period from the time you completed the 10th standard till date, please specify the time gaps, with full explanation.
June 2001- June 2002: I had just completed my schooling and wanted to give more time to learn the subjects required to qualify in the best engineering colleges of the country

Ø Why do you wish to go in for a management career?As a student during my graduation, I had set my focus to go for a management career. I believe a management career will add value to me over a period of time and will also give me exposure to the business management at a substantial level. A management career will broaden my perspective and hone my skills to become a business leader in the future.

Ø Besides management education, which area/field would interest you most for a career and/or for further education?
I would like to continue in my current job at TMILL, as it gives me wide exposure to various types of work in the business. My learning in the company is giving me more opportunity to grow within the company as well as an individual. Though later on in my life I would like to become a team leader and undertake a prospective project.

Ø Indicate your extracurricular interests
I. I enjoy playing hockey and football
II. I like to play strategy games like Age of Empires, Capitalism plus and Railroad Tycoon
III. I also like to sketch

Ø Please give details about your accomplishments, awards received and position held (a) in sports, games, and hobbies, (b) in associations and voluntary organisations (please show original certificates to the interview panel members.)
I. Captain of Nehru Hall Hockey team in 2005-06
II. Secretary, Cricket and Badminton, Nehru Hall, 2003-04
III. Awarded Honourable mention for outstanding performance in the game of Hockey by IIT Kharagpur
IV. Awarded Hall blue in Football and Hockey for outstanding contribution by Nehru hall\
V. Won gold and bronze in Hockey at Inter IIT level
VI. Won Silver and Bronze in Football at Inter hall level


Ø Identify a significant incident or situation from your own life. Briefly explain its nature, its importance to you and the manner you handled it.
I was the captain of Nehru Hall of residence Hockey team in IIT Kharagpur for the session 2005-06. I had two major challenges. Firstly from the previous year team 6 senior players of the starting line up had graduated. None of the new players in the team had played hockey before. Secondly 5 of the present team players were of my batch. As they were equal to me in seniority it usually made it difficult to bring them to practice. They also had academic/ placement related priorities being in fourth/final year.
To improve the standard of my team and make it competitive, I brought innovation in practices. I started position specific practice sessions for the players after identifying players for various position through their physical strength, weaknesses and skill as well as aptitude in the game. I did rolling substitution of all the prospective 10 players during the open IIT six a side tournament to give exposure to all the players. Using my contacts I also fixed regular practice matches with various hall teams. I also took all junior players to Inter IIT team selection practice to let them understand the game better. The team performed and and made it to the last four.
This situation was important to me as I wanted to ensure that I had put in the best effort to try and win. It was important to me as a captain, as a player and as a person. From this I learnt that hard work, positive outlook and faith in oneself and one’s team with strong bonding in players are essential for a team’s success.

IIM I Group Discussion and Interview...9 am...27th Feb 2008....

GD

Mr. Suman and his friend X use to do combined study. They use to prepare for the exams together. X suffers from a disease and resorts to using unfair means in the 6th semester in his MBA College. He uses calculators to write complex formula in it. Mr. Suman is caught in a dilemma. Should he report to the authorities as his friend X was breaching the honour code of the college or should he respect the trust his friend holds in him. The problem worsens as many more students resort to the same means. After the examination results come in and Mr. Suman gets A grade and all the students who used calculator get a bad grade. What should he do now? If he informs the authorities there is a possibility of re examination. There is also a possibility of punishment against these guys. A re exam would mean that Mr. Suman may not get the same grade and which may affect his institute rank. What should Suman do?


People start with identifying the problem then identifying what is the root cause. They discuss his dilemma and also possible outcomes of his reporting. There are suggestions that he should inform the authorities to check the problem on a long term scope. There are questions raised on the selfish nature of Suman. May be he is self focused that is why he is not doing anything about the problem. I suggested that he should talk to his friend and fellow students and tell them that because of their unethical practices their performance is going down as well as the honour code of the college is being breached. There was a lengthy discussion again with people suggesting that medical help should be given to X and a long term solution to the problem should be reached.
I just spoke 3-4 times in the GD. Spoke very little. I did a blunder in the end when we were asked to write the summary of the discussion. One of the persons said “Stop writing”. I was in the middle of a sentence and continued to write. He said to me “I said stop writing. Why are you writing? “. I said “Sir I was in the middle of a sentence”. “But I said stop writing”. “Sorry Sir”

PI
I was the last one to be called for the PI.
Out of the two interviewers only one asked the questions.
Me: Sir Please may I come in
1st Interviewer: Yes you may
2nd Interviewer: You may take the seat
Me: Thank you sir
2nd Interviewer: Pushkal, I see you have a very good rank in IIT JEE, (Going through the pages) 1388. You also had a good department Mechanical Engineering. But your performance in the academics is not that good. Can you tell me why?
Me: Sir I was involved in a lot of extracurricular activities
2nd Interviewer: I do not see any extracurricular activity here (again looking at the page)
Me: Sir it’s on the other side of the page
2nd Interviewer: hmm, Hockey
Me: Football also
2nd Interviewer: Ok Pushkal. I am giving you a metal strip of this*this * this dimension. Tell me the chronology of test you will carry out on this strip to deduce the properties of this material.
Me: Aa...Sir Strength test, then Hardness then Corrosives test on the surface
2nd Interviewer: Hardness followed by strength followed by corrosiveness. Are you sure this is the right chronology?
Me: No sir Strength followed by Hardness.
2nd Interviewer: How?
Me: Sir we will perform the strength test. In this we apply pressure on the ends to determine the breaking stress and the material will divide into two.
2nd Interviewer: This is a destructive test. This should be performed at last. Why do you want to perform it in the beginning?
Me: Sir to conduct a test we do not need the entire material. We just need a sample of the material. We will still have them after this test.
2nd Interviewer: You have a car component. You have to develop a suitable component that can take up the required pressure and strain. How will you do?
Me: Aa...a...
2nd Interviewer: You have three types of methods. Casting, Forging and machining to make the suitable part. Which method will you use to make any car component?
Me: Sir I can use casting followed by machining to make Gears in a car.
2nd Interviewer: No...Then he said something...Something...and came to forging....can you use forging to make a component?
Me: Yes sir.....
2nd Interviewer: What type of method you will use to make a component with specific properties?
Me: I can use Machining to give specific surface property to the material. I can also use casting using property specific material followed by forging.
2nd Interviewer: Can you use Forging after Casting?
Me: Sir I do not know
2nd Interviewer: Do you want to change your answer?
Me: No sir
2nd Interviewer: Give me an example
Me: Sir I am not sure about it
2nd Interviewer: You cannot use forging followed by casting.
Me: noded
2nd Interviewer: Tell me Pushkal, you have tolerances in materials..plus minus... How do you determine tolerance?
Me: We use tolerances when we have to fix one part to another. Company’s when they order a part they give dimensional tolerance to the part they order someone. Plus minus according to their requirement
2nd Interviewer: No tell me in mechanical engineering terms how do you determine tolerance?
Me: Sir I give certain plus minus dimensional limit to the particular part.
2nd Interviewer: Leave the part. Do not join any part. You know thermal coefficient. Coefficient of thermal expansion.... I am looking something related to that
Me: Sir certain materials may be used at high temperature. There dimension can change. Keeping that in mind and the temperature range in which they have to work I calculate the tolerance for the part.
The 1st Interviewer was going through my file during the first 5 minutes of the interview. And had kept it back closed after going through it.
2nd Interviewer: Looks at the other interviewer...in a way to ask him if he wanted to ask any question...the 1st interviewer makes a gesture using his head in a way to suggest nothing...
2nd Interviewer: You may go.
Me: Thank you