My Science School

Do you have excellent communication, negotiation and analytical skills?

Do you like working in a fast-paced and challenging financial environment?

Advising and counseling clients on appropriate investments and working as a stockbroker may be the career for you.

What’s this career about?

Stockbrokers deal with a variety of investments, including stocks, bonds and mutual funds. They invest in the stock market for individuals or corporations. Only members of the stock exchange can conduct transactions, so whenever individuals or corporations want to buy or sell stocks they must go through a brokerage house.

Brokers explain the workings of the stock exchange to their clients and gather information from them about their needs and financial ability, and then determine the best investments for them. The broker then sends the order out the floor of the securities exchange by computer or by phone. When the transaction has been made, the broker supplies the client with the price. The buyer pays for the stocks and the broker transfers the title of the stock to the client and performs clearing and settlement procedures.

In order to provide the best advice to their customers, stockbrokers continuously research publicly traded companies, their products and finances. They also stay abreast of market trends and know which stocks offer good long-term and short-term investments.

Apart from work, stockbrokers always remain in touch with their clients in order to understand their needs. They constantly update them about the fluctuations in the market and advice them when to buy and sell and at what rates. At the same time, stockbrokers also ensure that their stock trading company also makes maximum profit in the long run. Initially, brokers spend many hours on the phone building up a client base.

Stockbrokers may specialize in either private client or institutional client work; in dealing or in advising; or in certain types of securities. The work is, mainly, sales-oriented and is conducted on the telephone. Since the industry is performance-driven, one has to be on their toes all the time to keep pace with the market movement.

All the operations today are computerized, with highly –trained and qualified specialists keeping a close watch on the market. One can survive in the stock broking career only if they have a knack of thinking on their feet and be adaptable in an ever-changing environment.

How do I get there?

Minimum requirement is graduation in any discipline preferably Commerce. Since stockbrokers must be well-informed about economic conditions and trends, courses in business administration, Finance & Control and Economics are helpful especially in the larger securities firms.

Some big broking firms prefer MBAs with specialization in Finance or Charted Accountants. PG programmes in capital market studies, and in stocks and securities are also available in selected universities and institutes.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the authorized Body which regulates the operations of stock exchanges, banks and other financial institutions. All stockbrokers need to be registered under SEBI and are governed under the rules, laws and regulations of this authority.

Besides registering with the SEBI, stockbrokers must become members of one or more stock exchanges such as the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). To attain membership of the stock exchange, one has to go through training under a broking firm for a period of minimum 6 months. The training aims to impart knowledge of subjects like accountancy, law-related subjects, capital markets, securities and portfolio analysis, etc. most employers provide on-the-job training to help stockbrokers meet the requirements for membership.

Their application forms are closely evaluated by the exchanges before granting membership. Most major exchanges require stockbrokers to pay a security deposit and a membership fee, which usually involves a considerable expense.

NSE India has created the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) to educate stock brokers, sub-brokers and investors about the stock market. In some cases, having the certification of the NISM is mandatory by some broking firms.

What key skills do I need?

• Assertive, quick and decisive regarding other people’s money.


• An aptitude for numbers.


• Able to work in a stressful and competitive working environment.


• Excellent sales skills.


• Energetic and willing to work hard.


• IT competence.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Institutes

• National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), Mumbai (nism.ac.in)


• National Stock exchange, Mumbai (nsindia.com)


• Mumbai Stock Exchange Training Institute, Mumbai (bseindia.com)


• Institute of Charted Financial Analysts of India, Hyderabad (icfai.org)


• Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi (icsi.edu)


• Indian Institute of Capital Markets, Navi Mumbai (utiicm.com)


• The Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai (nmims.edu)


• BSE Institute Limited at various places (bsebti.com)

Pay package

Stock broking is a lucrative job. Most brokering firms pay performance based commissions along with a salary. Earnings from commission vary and are likely to be high when there is much buying and selling and low when there is a slump in market activity. They can start with 5-8 lakh rupees per annum; those with MBAs and post-graduates with a qualification in stock broking earn more. Some receive a bonus, if they meet certain established goals.

Employment profile

Stock broking work in the stock exchanges, business houses, financial institutions, or investments banks. They can also start their own consultancies.

The easing of regulation of the banking industry, and the many new stock options made available are rapidly creating new employment opportunities. Though the use of the internet for online trading can hamper the growth, still many investors rely on stockbrokers to assist them in selecting the proper stocks, mutual funds, and other financial products.

The demand for securities sales representatives fluctuates, as the economy expands and contracts.

 

Credit : Dr. Vibha Gupta (Teenager Today)

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Direction, editing cinematography, production, are some of the avenues in film making.

Finding work in the film industry has become relatively easier today with several universities offering specialisations in Filmmaking and Mass Media and familiarising them with the basic filmmaking process. An aspirant who has a great idea and is passionate about converting it into a motion picture can become a filmmaker. And a bachelor's degree in Art and Drama can give you an edge.

How it works?

Making a film is not as simple as it looks. From pre-production to post-production, there are many variables at play. A director has to be involved in each and every process from scripting and dialogue writing to editing. The director translates a script creatively, decides the cast costumes, the venue of shoot and chooses assistants and producers to help the director manage the entire production by looking into the operational aspects such as hiring technicians, managing locations, arranging camera rentals and so on.

What are the prospects?

India is the largest producer of films. Bollywood alone is valued at more than $2.28 billion. Other than Bollywood, the South Indian Film Industry as well as the Punjab Film Industry, not to forget television channels and ad films, employ a great number of directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, etc. Major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, New Delhi and Bengaluru have opportunities for talented workforce in films, television, and even theatre.

Where to study?

• Film and Television Institute of India, Pune: Postgraduate diploma course in Direction and Screenplay Writing - Three years.


• Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata: PG Programme in Cinema.


• Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai: Diploma in Film, Television and Digital Video Production - 10 months, full-time.


• M.G.R. Government Film and Television Institute, Chennai: Bachelor of Visual Arts and Diploma in Film Technology and Television Production: Cinematography: Diploma in Direction and Screenplay writing and Television Production; Diploma in Film Editing and Television Production.

Required skills

• A knack for films: Knowledge about films across regions and genres.


• Keen observational skills: An eye for detail and find a story in everyday life.


• Knowledge of all the aspects of filmmaking


• Good communication and planning skills: Conveying thoughts and ideas clearly to the entire crew and getting work done on time.


• One should be able to make last minute changes and at the same time stick to the budget

 

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Varunastra is a heavy weight, electrically-propelled anti-submarine torpedo capable of targeting quiet and stealth submarines, both in deep and shallow waters in an intense countermeasure environment. Developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory of the DRDO, the Varunastra torpedo was formally inducted into the Indian Navy in 2016. Varunastra can be fired from all anti-submarine warfare ships.

According to news reports, the Indian Navy will receive a second tranch of the Varunastra in April 2019 — exclusively for use on the Scorpene-class, the INS Sindhughosh (Kilo-class) and the Arihant-class submarines.

Developing the Varunastra took massive leaps forward in key areas of technology. The battery that powers the electric motor, for example, is almost two and a half times more powerful than ones used in current Indian Navy torpedos.

Another huge first is the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for target homing in case the torpedo is aimed against a submarine using torpedo decoys. The DRDO believes that Varunastra is the first torpedo in the world to use GPS-based targeting.

 

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Netra is an Airbome Early Waming and Control (AEWC) aircraft fitted with indigenously developed electronics and hardware. It is useful for surveillance, tracking, identification and classification of airbome and sea surface targets. It is also useful in detecting incoming ballistic missile threats. It played a key role during the Balakot airstrike, carried out by the IAF in February 2019. It provided surveillance and radar coverage to the five Mirage jets that bombed terror launch pads in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. It was designed and developed by scientists of the DRDO, with assistance from the Bengaluru based Centre for Airborne Systems.

China is equipped with better capabilities. As TOI reported earlier, China has over 20 AWACS, including the new KJ-500 ones that can track over 60 aircraft at ranges up to 470km, while Pakistan, on the other hand has four Swedish Saab-2000 AeW&C aircraft and four Chinese-origin ZDK-03 (KJ-200) AWACS.

Keeping this in mind, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in March 2016 cleared building of two Awacs, which will involve mounting indigenous 360-degree coverage AESA (active electronically scanned array) radars on Airbus A-330 wide-body jets.

 

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India launched its first anti-satellite weapon (ASAT), as part of its Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, in 2019. The interceptor successfully shot down an out-of service Indian satellite in a low Earth orbit. The test dubbed Mission Shakti, was a joint programme of the DRDO and the Indian Space Research Organisation. With the successful completion of the test, India became only the fourth country after the U.S., Russia and China to have this space weapon technology. Anti-satellite weapons, called ASAT systems, are capable of attacking enemy satellites in space by jamming communications or destroying them. ASAT missiles also act as a space deterrent in dissuading rivals from targeting the country's satellite network. Satellites are important for a country's infrastructure as a large number of crucial applications such as navigation and communication networks, banking, stock markets and weather forecasting, are now satellite-based. Destroying satellites could cripple these services. An ASAT system can even target a ground station and stop transmission of information from the satellite attached to it. The system can also direct a manoeuvrable satellite to smash into another satellite!

India has a long standing and rapidly growing space programme. It has expanded rapidly in the last five years. The Mangalyaan Mission to Mars was successfully launched. Thereafter, the government sanctioned the Gaganyaan Mission which will take Indians to outer space.



India has also undertaken 102 spacecraft missions consisting of communication satellites, earth observation satellites, experimental satellites, navigation satellites, apart from satellites meant for scientific research and exploration, academic studies and other small satellites. India’s space programme is a critical backbone of India’s security, economic and social infrastructure.



The test was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets.

 

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Astra is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) class of Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) system designed to be mounted on fighter jets. With a 15-kg high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead, Astra has a range of over 70 km and can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 km/hr. It has an all weather day-and-night capability. The missile is being developed in multiple variants to meet specific requirements.

The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), along with almost 50 other public and private organisations, which were involved in multiple variants to meet specific requirements.

For the IAF trials, the Astra Mk-I Weapon system integrated with SU-30 Mk-I aircraft was carried out by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

 

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Arjun Mk-1A dubbed Hunter Killer, is an all-weather 68-tonne battle tank featuring a 120mm main gun. An improved version of the indigenously developed Arjun main battle tank (MBT). Arjun Mk-1A has successfully completed necessary trials. The Mk 1-A sports a sophisticated gunners main sight integrated with automatic target tracking. This would enable the tank crew to track moving targets automatically. The gun is controlled by a computerised fire control system, giving the tank higher kill capability.

The battle tank will have a crew of four -- commander, gunner, loader and driver. Keeping them out of harm's way is paramount. For this, Arjun Mk-1A comes with a slew of new features.

Balamurugan said Track Width Mine Plough (TWMP) is a significant addition which provides capability for the battle tank to cross minefields with ease as the plough mounted to the front of the vehicle creates a mine-free path by ploughing through mines and throwing them to the sides of the tank.

Another key feature added is a Containerised Ammunition Bin with Individual Shutter (CABIS) that gives crew enhanced protection from inadvertent burning of ammunition stored in the ready round bin.

The hot gases generated due to ammunition burning is vented out by blow-off panels from the roof of the turret, thus saving the crew.

 

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The New Generation Anti Radiation Missile (NGRAM), also called RudraM-1, was test-fired from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force earlier this month. With a speed of Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound). The missile is capable of bringing down a wide range of enemy radar systems, communication networks and air defence systems within a range of up to 250 km. The missile has been designed to be launched from various fighter aircraft Currently in the inventory of the IAF. It is also equipped with state of the art radiation tracking and guidance system.

Conducting yet another test of a indigenously developed weapons system, the Defence Research and Development Organisation on Friday conducted a successful test of the New Generation Anti Radiation Missile (NGRAM) also called the Rudram-1 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore.

The missile has been designed to be launched from various fighter aircraft currently in the inventory of the Indian Air Force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, “The New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (Rudram-1) which is India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile developed by DRDO for Indian Air Force was tested successfully today at ITR, Balasore. Congratulations to DRDO & other stakeholders for this remarkable achievement.”

DRDO scientists said that the missile has been designed to further enhance the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) capability of the IAF. Anti Radiation Missiles are primarily designed to track and neutralise the radar and communication assets of the adversary. Officials said that the development of the anti radiation missiles of this type was started by the DRDO around eight years ago and has been a collaborative effort of various DRDO facilities in India.

 

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I am a student of Class XII and my life is in mess. I used to be an above-average student, but now my standard is much lower than before. When I passed Class X, I took up science, but when I realised that I could not handle the pressure, it was already too late. As a result, I failed miserably. That whole year I suffered from depression. I could not talk to anybody, not even my parents. Whenever I tried talking to them, they were like “you are such a young boy, how could you have depression?” Mental health is taboo to the. Moreover, I was molested when I was a child, and somehow, I used to have these terrible guilt pangs that it was all my fault (which obviously didn’t help in improving the situation). But I was able to drag myself out of it and move ahead. But the Covid situation has ruined it once again. Please help.

Stigma over mental health is something we need to work on. Don’t blame yourself or feel guilty about things you cannot control. The fact that you helped yourself before demonstrates your resilience. Reflecting on how you helped yourself the last time would be very useful. This will help you understand what worked last time and use those lessons once again. I would also suggest that you contact a mental health helpline for further guidelines.

 

Credit : The Times of India

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I am a college student who is very disturbed these days. My friends are busy with work. I am left with nobody. I used to message this one friend every day, but I stopped as that irritated her. I have nothing to do. I can’t even go for a trip because of this pandemic. Earlier my life was far more happening. I didn’t care about anyone. But now everything is affecting me. I have started losing my temper too. I wasn’t like this before. Please help.

I would recommend that you start with basic exercises and also pick up a hobby. It would be useful to get in touch with old friends or relatives. There are many opportunities to learn new skills online these days. Meditation would also help manage your anger. If all this fails, seek professional help.

 

Credit : The Times of India

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I am a 19-year-old student studying outside my state, but due to this pandemic I am stuck at home and attending online classes. I do not get mental peace here – it was also one of the reasons for me to study outside. I used to suffer from depression after my sister’s suicide, but then I was okay after counselling, however, I still feel depressed and experience severe mental trauma. I do not have many friends. I want to talk to the friends that I have, but I do not feel like talking. I feel I do not matter in their lives. Please help.

This pandemic has displaced many of us. I can understand how difficult it must have been to lose someone close to you to suicide. You sought help and felt better, but the current situation is making you distressed. It would be better to seek help from your previous counsellor. I would also suggest contacting some of your close friends and trying to speak to them even if it feels difficult initially.

 

Credit : The Times Of India

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I am going through a huge financial crisis. My savings are almost nil. Since the lockdown, business is down so I have no income and expenses keep piling up. I had invested my mother’s money in a company that’s unreachable now. This is affecting my mind and body. Recently, I have developed trust issues with the people I consider close. I got married this year, and with the increased responsibility, I feel I am not living up to expectations. If I speak about this to my mom or wife, then they would also be stressed. Please hemp me come out of this.

This has been an extremely difficult time for all. Let me reassure you that you are not the only one going through such troubles. Sharing your worries with your wife and/or mother will help find solutions. If your stress is severe enough to make you feel constantly low and causing sleep or appetite disturbance, it would be useful to contact a mental health professional.

 

Credit : The Times Of India

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I’m in love with my brother’s best friend; I’m just crazy about him. But he considers me as his sister. What should I do? Should I tell him that I love him?

Looks like you have very strong feelings for your brother’s best friend and are in a rush to tell your crush that you are crazy about him.

If he considers you as his sister – it is either because he doesn’t have feelings for you or because of his friendship with your brother. If it is the former, then those feelings can’t miraculously appear.

On your part, how well do you know this boy? Are you friends, too? Or it is just a ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ relationship? What makes you sure he considers you as his sister? If you don’t yet know him well enough, then being friends with him is the first step to take. As regards your brother, have you spoken to him about your feelings? What are his views? Will he be upset?

If you want to respect your brother’s friendship and yet find out whether he will change his mind, then focus on friendship. If he still sees you as a sister, then you can move on without embarrassment and spoilt relationships. If he begins to see you in a different light, and the relationship works out, more joy to you.

 

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In recent days my father and mother are in depression due to financial problems and frequently fight with each other. My brother and I get worried and blame each other for the troubles. How can I stop these fights and bring my family together?

You are understandably worried about your parents – their frequent fights due to financial problems make you quite tense. It is unclear why you and your brother ‘blame each other for the troubles’, but instead of playing the blame game, help your family to take positive steps to find solutions to the problem.

Empathize with your parents and appreciate them – tell them that you know that it must be a difficult time for them and that they are worried about how to manage, especially to provide a good life for you both. Then suggest that you can have a discussion and agree to the different ways in which the family can reduce expenses. Also encourage your parents to think of different ways in which they can generate more income. As youngsters, you too may have new ideas to share.

Det aside family time: Pray together, eat together and share simply joys despite hardships. Most of all, as a family build hope and express gratitude for what you have received and are still to receive.

If you still think that they are depressed and unable to help themselves, encourage them to seek help from a professional counsellor: now, there are several helplines available.

 

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I am a student of Class 12. I have a problem in my study. Earlier when I used to get bad marks in exams it really affected me and gave me the will to study harder. But no matter how much time I put into studying I was still not improving which eventually turned me into a person who is hardly affected by marks and is not taking my studies seriously. While trying to improve myself in studies my whole life I never really indulged in other activities much, so I don’t have other talents. I want to change myself, but how?

You sound so very discouraged and have almost given up on yourself. But I am glad you said, ‘I want to change myself’. However, you don’t need to change yourself; instead you need to change how you learn.

By ‘studying hard’ I assume everyone means to cram for many hours to try to remember stuff. How about doing it differently? Study smart instead.

Effective study involves being able to actively recall what you have learned. So, a) Clarify all doubts and understand the topic, b) Transfer information from one form to another form which suits you, e.g., listen to a lecture and take notes or draw visuals/diagrams; Audio record key points and play it back later. Make studies fun: You can make a comic strip, study memes and more!, c) Actively recall by writing, reciting (you can do this even while dancing, tossing a ball, etc.), drawing, and most importantly doing a mock test – and what you don’t know, revise it again.

Also, study according to your brain’s needs: Study with focus for 25-minutes at a stretch, followed by a ‘reward break’ where you do something relaxing and creative. If you do this daily, then 2-3 hours a day is sufficient. Revise topics that you have already learned at regular intervals, instead of studying them just once. The rest of the time, develop a hobby/talent and also relax – it is equally important. Good luck!

 

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