Natural Ways to Tackle Stress and Anxiety

These are hard times. People are experiencing record stress levels. They are finding it hard to cope with a variety of anxiety-inducing issues.

 But many people are getting inclined towards natural remedies to overcome these problems. Instead of resorting to prescription drugs and popping pills, they have begun to seek natural alternatives for controlling stress and anxiety.

The popularity if relaxing therapies like yoga, massage and Reiki have seen an upsurge during the past few years as people struggle to cope with a range of stresses and mental (and physical as well) burdens. Not only have people benefitted from them for treating stress but they have also helped in the overall improvement of health.

Massage therapy, which was primarily used by women, has found a good number of male patrons. Regular massage can do wonders to your body. It can help improve blood circulation, lessen chronic anxiety, promote natural healing processes, relieve muscle tension and lower blood pressure. By regular massage we mean a massage session once or twice a month.

Originating in the ancient India, Yoga refers to a set of traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. It is an excellent stress-relieving practice that tones the body and bestows great fitness benefits. It is particularly helpful in managing stress and its good results can be observed even long after the sessions as it helps master deep breathing. If you are able to control you respiration during stressful times, the impact of anxiety on the heart and other body functions is eased. Yoga has also been found to be extremely beneficial in lowering of blood pressure, mood upliftment, boosting immunity and gastrointestinal health.

Exercise, in general, is an excellent antidote to anxiety. Multiple studies have pointed out that regular aerobic exercise can reduce levels of cortisol, the notorious stress hormone which is circulated in the blood stream. While exercises reduce the levels of bad hormones, they help in escalating the levels of feel-good hormones such as serotonin. During anxiety, the levels of serotonin drop down significantly. Exercises can come to our rescue in such cases. Increasing the circulation of such natural chemicals in the body greatly enhances our capacity to deal with situations of distress. The simple act of aerobic activity can be a good way to vent your frustration.

Reiki is another natural practice which has acquired popularity in the last few years. It originated in Japan and is a healing and relaxing therapy in which the practitioner transfers his healing power to the patient through light touch on affected body parts. Reiki is mainly used for treating physical ailments  but is often used a relaxation and meditation therapy.

Azhagiyapokkisham: Kaadhal

Azhagiyapokkisham: Kaadhal: "kaadhal endra thalaipil kavithaigal varaverka padukinradhu...idhu ungalukkaga.. KAADHAL... Kaadhalikka paduvathum kaadhalippathum podhuv..."

Here are the top tips to avoid snoring

he British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association has provided tips to cure snoring problems. It recommends working out whether snoring comes from the nose or throat, reports the Daily Express.

If you can make a snoring noise with your mouth open and closed, try this: stick your tongue out as far as it will go and grip it between your teeth.

Try to make a snoring noise. If it is reduced, you are probably a "tongue-base snorer", meaning your tongue is vibrating and causing the problem. If you are a "nose snorer" you snore with a closed mouth, it says.

The Association lists their solutions as follows:

1. Sleep on your side

The theory is that when we lie on our backs the tongue and muscles in the throat collapse, constricting the airway and causing snoring.

2. Higher pillows

This aims to keep the airways open by supporting the neck so the throat is less constricted. It works fairly well until you fall asleep and slump down in the bed.

3. Breathe Right Nasal Strips

These are supposed to open your nostrils from the outside and they certainly do seem to do this. They can also provide temporary relief from nasal congestion and stuffiness caused by colds and allergies.

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4. Snoreeze Oral Strips

These dissolving mint-flavoured strips target the main cause of snoring and are ideal if you tend to snore more when lying on your back. They contain a time-release formula, which coats the back of the throat throughout the night and reduces the vibrations of the soft tissues, helping to stop snoring.

5. Snoreeze Throat Spray

This lubricates and tones the soft tissues at the back of the throat that vibrate and make you snore.

7. Nozovent

This is a piece of flexible plastic which you push into your nostrils to make them wider and allow easier breathing. It looks like something from the Spanish Inquisition but users report good results.

8. SomnoGuard

This is a bit like the gumshield worn by a rugby player, but it is reported to produce good results. The idea is to bring your lower jaw and tongue forward, making more space for breathing. The drawback is that it takes sometime to get used to and is costly.

9. Rhynil Herbal Spray

The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association says its herbal nasal spray shrinks the lining of the nostril, creating more space to breathe. It also tightens the tissue of the roof of the mouth, making it less likely to vibrate. It smells pleasant and a friend who tried it said it reduced snoring significantly.

10. Abstinence

You should cut down on cigarettes or, better still, give up completely. Also, try to have your last alcoholic drink at least four hours before you go to bed. 

Top 10 Foods to Reduce Belly Fat

Obese people find it the hardest to deal with the fat stored in and around the abdomen and the waist.

Not only does belly fat make your abdomen bulge out, it also poses grave risk to of diseases like hypertension, diabetes and stroke. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), men who have a waist more than 40 inches have heightened risk of heart diseases and diabetes.

The most common reasons for the accumulation of fat in the tummy are hormonal imbalance, excessive eating, intake of large quantities of alcohol, sweets and chocolates and lack of exercise. Stress is also one of the prominent reasons for the storage of fat in the belly. Stress triggers the secretion of a hormone called cortisol. Excess of cortisol stimulates the storage of fat around the waist. Then there's another factor of improper digestion. Due to malfunctioned digestion gastro problems arise and this leads to a persistently puffy belly. As we add years, our efficiency of burning calories goes down, so sluggish metabolism also sets off the buildup of fat around the midsection.

If belly fat is one of your problems and you still thrive on a typical diet full of oily, starchy foods and carbs, it's time for you to treat this article as a wake-up call. You would need to change your diet drastically. First of all, you should avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime to control the belly fat. At the same time, incorporate foods which can help you overcome the problem.

Here's some information on foods which you should consume if you have a bloated belly.

Eggs: They provide good quality protein which in turn helps overcome hunger pangs.

Beans: Beans like black gram (chana), green gram (chana), chick peas and green moong bustle with fibre and proteins. They help you shed pounds and improve muscle tone.

Oat Meal: Befriend the good ol' oats if you're battling belly fat. Start your day with oats cooked in water or consume them with milk. They're high in soluble fibre and low in fat.

Vegetables: Green vegetables are rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Consuming vegetables for dinner without chapatis and/or rice is helpful in shrinking the waist size. What's more, most green veggies have only 30-60 calories per 100 grams.

Barley: Barley has a considerably low glycemic index and contains lots of soluble fibre. This helps in diminishing the circumference of the waist. Regular consumption cuts down the risk of cardiac diseases and type II diabetes.

Green Tea: Polyphenols present in the tea help boost metabolism. Green tea is less processed and contains higher levels of anti-oxidants. It greatly suppresses the appetite.

Milk: When we say milk, we're not recommending full-cream milk. In fact, make sure you stay away from that. Go for non-fat milk which has the same amount of calcium and protein as full-cream milk but contains less sodium and helps prevent water retention. This reduces bloating.

Yogurt: It's oozing with calcium and protein and has very less calories (80 calories in a cup of low-fat yogurt).The beneficial bacteria present in yogurt boost immunity and aid bowel movement.

Tomatoes: The luscious red tomatoes contain only 20 caloriesper hundred gram. They are rich in fibres, lycopene and potassium. They avert water retention, thereby also preventing bloating of the belly.

Olive Oil: People realise that veggies are good for health but many find their taste boring. Add a small quantity of olive oil. This will improve the flavour of vegetables and make them tastier. But its real benefit is that it can help you lose the hateful flab around your belly.

MEN are all the same - No matter what Species

Best way to lose weight

The combination of dieting and exercise can make you shed 11 percent of your weight -- way more than what you would lose by following either of the strategy individually, says a new study.

'We were surprised at how successful the women were,' said Anne McTiernan, director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre (FHCRC), reports the journal Obesity.

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The year-long intervention involved 439 overweight-to-obese, sedentary, post-menopausal, aged 50-75, who were randomly assigned to one of four groups: exercise only, diet only, exercise and diet and no intervention.

Researchers found that the women in the exercise-only group lost, on average, 2.4 percent of their starting weight as compared to an average weight loss of 8.5 percent among women in the diet-only group.

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The greatest weight loss was achieved by women who both changed their diet and exercised regularly; these women shed an average of 10.8 percent of their starting weight (with a mean weight loss of 19.8 pounds).

Two-thirds of the women in this group achieved the study goal of losing at least 10 percent of their starting weight.

'Even though this degree of weight loss may not bring an obese individual to a normal weight, losing even this modest amount of weight can bring health benefits such as a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer,' added Mc Tiernan, who led the study, according to a FHCRC statement.

Win his heart without trying too hard

If you are constantly being dumped by men, try her techniques:

Love your product: You can never hard sell if you don’t believe in your product; in this case it is you. Poor self image can be the first pitfall. Groom yourself, be confident, believe in yourself and you will rock.

The See factor: Just as you cannot wait forever for the customer to come to you. Jess recommends the SEE factor — smile, eye contact and energy. As hard it is to believe, guys are actually afraid of rejection and it’s hard for them to chat you up — give him the SEE and watch him do the hard work.

Too much attention: According to Jess, the irreversible mistake that women make is not acting indifferent enough in the first stages of dating. “If they are interested, they act TOO interested and give off TOO many signs that they want a relationship, even if they don’t know the guy very well yet. For example, if a guy calls, you are too eager to talk. If he doesn’t you call him up thinking that one call won’t hurt. Stay away from the phone if you want to take this relationship forward.

Recognise buying signs: It is important to recognize the buying signs or you will end up chasing the wrong guy. The primary buying sign is interest. If he is interested in you, he will do anything to be with you.

Time Management: It is very important to end the meeting or date at the right time and even Cindrella knew that. This strategy is called Ending at a Height of Impulse when you leave him wanting for more.

Quoting the price: Just as you won’t quote a price before selling your product, don’t talk about marriage, kids on your first date. It is definitely a put-off.

Limited stock: What motivates a guy to marry? Fear of Loss. If he gets the feeling that you will be around no matter what, why will commit to you? Make him insecure so that he knows that good things come with a price.

Finally, the willpower: All these pointers won’t work if you don’t have the required will power to pull it off. Look at the long term goals.

These couples were unsuccessful in love the first time. But they were lucky enough to find true love the second time around. Read their stories:

• Dreams are made of these
• Those were the best days of my life
• Life comes full circle
• It was meant to be
• My happy ending

The Do's and Don'ts of the Home Gym

People dream of having chiseled bodies like Brad Pitt or Salman Khan. Some of them join the swankiest gyms in the town but are unable to adhere to the schedule dictated by the instructor.

Some may have a frenzied schedule, others others may have a problem with the gym instructor himself while some may find the gym over-crowded.

A good solution to all this is to create a workout space of your own at home - something like a small 'Home Gym'.

Here are a few Do's and Don'ts for the home gym.

Do discuss with a trainer and/or equipment expert your individual needs and goals, as well as the space you have available. If you only have a small room in the basement you have to be realistic about what you can fit into your home gym. You want your space to be inviting and comfortable, not cramped.

Don't buy super low-priced treadmills from discount stores. Remember, something like a treadmill has to take a pounding every single day -- it pays to buy quality.

Do take the time to try out various types of equipment so you find what you enjoy using. If it's not fun, you won't use it for very long. Take advantage of trial periods at your local gyms. Go in for a day or two and use all the equipment. Be sure to take notes on the pieces of equipment that appeal to you.

Do hire a personal trainer to train you, at least in the beginning, and to set up a workout plan you know you can stick with. A pro will help you map out what works for you. Once they lay the foundation, the rest is up to you. This will also be your opportunity to pick their brain in terms of what equipment you should add to your personal gym.

Don't buy used equipment without thoroughly checking it out. If it dies shortly after you get it, you're stuck with an unwieldy and useless machine taking up valuable space. When you go to check out equipment bring along a friend who knows his way around a gym. Also, take advantage of consumer review sites to make sure you're getting the best quality equipment possible.

Do make sure you use what you have bought. It is easy to take the equipment sitting at home for granted. Imagine that you have a conveniently located gym, schedule your workout and stick to the timetable. Once you start, try not to overdo it--you don't need to get value for money in the first month alone.

India's top family-friendly hotels revealed

TripAdvisor, the world's largest and most popular travel site, with more than 40 million monthly visitors, today announced the top 10 family friendly hotels in India.

Park Hyatt Resort and Spa in Goa takes top honours' for being family-friendly.

The Top Family Friendly Hotels are as follows:

1 Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa Cansaulim, Goa

2 The Leela Kempinski Goa Cavelossim Goa

3 Coconut Lagoon Kumarakom Kerala

4 Jai Mahal Palace Jaipur Rajasthan

5 Vivanta by Taj - Hari Mahal, Jodhpur Jodhpur Rajasthan

6 Ramada Resort Cochin Kochi Kerala

7 Taj Green Cove Resort Kovalam Kerala

8 Vivanta by Taj - Holiday Village, Goa Sinquerim Goa

9 The Zuri Kumarakom Kumarakom Kerala

10 Old Harbour Hotel Kochi Kerala

The TripAdvisor rankings unlike any other hotel honour in the world are based on the experience of millions of travellers from India and around the world.

"With this selection of the top ten family friendly hotels, travellers can pick the right hotels in India for family fun and ensure that everyone gets the best out of a well deserved family break," said Sharat Dhall, Managing Director, TripAdvisor India.

Top 12 MBA entrance tests!

AIMA-MAT (MANAGEMENT APTITUDE TEST)

ManagCar (in February, May, September & December) by the Centre for Management Services (CMS) division of All India Management Association (AIMA). It is as a credible, comprehensive and single window test for admissions to different postgraduate management programmes. The application form for MAT is available for Rs. 1050.

Eligibility: Graduate in any discipline from a recognized university. Final year degree course students can also apply.

Test Pattern & Selection: MAT has two formats: Offline test or Computer based test both of 2 ½ hours. Candidates can opt for either one of these based on their convenience. There are five papers in MAT: Paper 1: Language Comprehension, Paper 2: Mathematical Skills, Paper 3: Data Analysis, Paper 4: Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Paper 5: Indian & Global Environment Section, each comprising of 40 questions for a total of 200 Questions.

The MAT score tells you the relative position of the candidate with respect to the other candidates (percentile), there is no final percentile in MAT, instead a final composite score is given. Candidates can use this score to apply to various management institutes which accept MAT scores.

Website:

www.aima-ind.org

ATMA - AIMS TEST FOR MANAGEMENT ADMISSIONS

ATMA has been approved by the Ministry of HRD of the Government of India for admission on All India basis to the MBA/PGDM and other postgraduate programmes like MCA. Around 140 MBA institutes accept ATMA scores for admission to various management programs. The application form for ATMA is available for Rs. 950

Eligibility: Candidate must have completed their graduation from a recognized and authorized university.

Test Pattern & Selection: ATMA 2011 test contains 170 Questions spread over six sections comprising Analytical, Verbal and Logical Reasoning. Each section is timed separately. Total time of the test is 3 hours. A candidate has to undergo the selection process of the institute to qualify for the admission to the PG programmes of the institute after declaration of the result of ATMA.

Website: www.atma-aims.org

CAT (COMMON ADMISSION TEST)

Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular MBA entrance test and is held annually for admission to postgraduate management courses in all the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and various other management institutes. IIMs offer around 2700 seats in various management programmes & other than the IIMs, 165-odd institutes admit students based on CAT scores. Every year more than two lakh students appear for CAT. The application form and information bulletin is available for Rs. 1400.

Eligibility: A candidate should have atleast 50% or equivalent CGPA in Graduation.

Test Pattern & Selection: Since 2009 CAT is a computer based test of 2 ½ hours. CAT has multiple choice questions from the following sections: Data Interpretation and logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Comprehension. Candidates are expected to perform well in all the three sections as there are separate cut-offs for individual sections as well. Each correct answer will be awarded 1 or 2 marks & for each wrong answer, 1/3rd mark will be deducted.

CAT website will list the names of the candidates shortlisted for interviews by IIMs for PGP. Each IIM will send interview letters to the candidates it has shortlisted. The criteria for shortlisting vary from IIM to IIM. Other management colleges have different cutoffs for various courses. Candidates can apply to the colleges individually with the CAT score and then convert the call by going through a rigorous round of group discussion and personal interview.

Website: www.catiim.in

IBSAT (IBS APTITUDE TEST) IBSAT is an aptitude test conducted by the Federation of Universities (FedUni), for students seeking admission into the management programmes. The application form is available for Rs. 1200 and the test is held all across India in about 100 centres in various cities.

Eligibility: Graduates (any discipline) in English medium with 50% and above aggregate marks.

Test Pattern & Selection: IBSAT is for 2 hours duration and is aimed to test the applicants’ ability in quantitative techniques, data interpretation, data adequacy, vocabulary, analytical reasoning and reading comprehension. The results of the IBSAT are hosted online on www.ibsat.org. The details of the score (in terms of percentiles) obtained in the test is intimated to all applicants.

Website: www.ibsat.org

ICET (INTEGRATED COMMON ENTRANCE TEST)

The Integrated Common Entrance Test (ICET) is the common entrance examination for admissions to Master of Computer Application (MCA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) by Universities in Andhra Pradesh. ICET is conducted by any one University in Andhra Pradesh. ICET 2010 was conducted by Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. The application form is available for Rs. 250.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree Examination of not less than 3 years duration in any discipline with Mathematics at 10+2 level.

Test Pattern & Selection: The test is of 2 ½ hours duration and consists of 200 questions of 1 mark each in the following topics: Analytical, Mathematical & Communication Ability. The qualifying percentage of marks in the Entrance Test is 25% (i.e. 50 marks out of total 200 marks)

Website: www.icet2010.net

FMS (FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES)

FMS is one of the premier management institutions in India which conducts its own Entrance Test. The application form is available for Rs. 750.

Eligibility: 3-year Bachelor’s programme with an aggregate of minimum 50%.

Test Pattern & Selection: There is no prescribed syllabus or format for this multiple-choice test which has 200 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes. So the most important factor in FMS entrance is speed & accuracy. The tests usually comprise the ollowing basic areas: Quantitative, Verbal, Analytical & Logical Reasoning. Students will receive both total percentile rank and sectional percentile rank scores in FMS. To be shortlisted students should have atleast 50th percentile rank score in each section of the test in FMS results.

Website: www.fms.edu

IIFT (INDIAN INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN TRADE)

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was set up in 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous organisation to help professionalize the country’s foreign trade management. Today it is one of India’s most prestigious business schools. Last year approximately 63,000 candidates applied for just 180 seats. The cost of the application form is Rs. 1500.

Eligibility: Recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years duration in any discipline.

Test Pattern & Selection: The entrance examination is of 2 hours having objective questions from the following sections: 1. English Comprehension, 2. Logical Reasoning, 3. Quantitative Analysis, 4. General Knowledge & Awareness. The candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of their scores in the entrance examination. The shortlisted candidates will be called for Group Discussion, Interview and Essay Writing for final selection.

Website: www.iift.edu

JOINT MANAGEMENT ENTRANCE TEST [JMET]

Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) is the first step in the process of admission to the 2 year full-time PG degree programmes in Management offered by the IITs. Currently IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Roorkee offer programmes in Management. The application form is available for Rs. 750.

Eligibility: Candidates with Bachelor’s degree in any discipline of Engineering/Technology or a Master’s degree with first class or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized Institute/University with at least 60% marks

Test Pattern & Selection: The test is of 3 hours duration and consists of 120 questions (objective/multiple choice type) in the following sections: Verbal Communication, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation. The results of JMET provide a basis to each participating institute to shortlist potential candidates for conducting its own selection processes like, Group Discussion/Interview etc for the final admission.

Website: www.web.iitd.ac.in/~gate/jmet

MAH - MBA/MMS CET (MAHARASHTRA MBA COMMON ENTRANCE TEST) Maharashtra – MBA/ MMS - Common Entrance Test (MAH MBA/MMS CET) is conducted by DTE, Maharashtra for admission to postgraduation management degree MBA/MMS and PGDBM/PGDM courses in Government, University Managed and Unaided institutes of Maharashtra. The application form is available for Rs. 1150.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree of minimum three years duration with minimum of 50% marks.

Test Pattern & Selection: The Entrance exam will be of 150 minutes duration consisting of 200 objective type questions. Questions will be from the following topics: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical/Abstract Reasoning. There is no negative marking in the examination. The cut-off mark in MAH-MBA/MMS-CET 2011 is 30 marks out of 200. In case of All India CET the cut-off in the percentile in these CET is equivalent to percentile corresponding to 30 marks in MAH-MBA/MMS-CET 2011. Successful candidates are shortlisted for group discussion and personal interview.

Website: www.dte.org.in/mba

NMAT (NARSEE MONJEE MAT)

NMIMS was established in 1981 by Narsee Monjee Educational Trust. It was awarded ‘deemed to be university’ status by the UGC in 2003. NMAT is conducted by Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai for admission to various specialised courses in MBA. The application form is available for Rs. 1650.

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (10+2+3) in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum 50% marks.

Test Pattern & Selection: The NMAT is a computer based test of 2 hours duration consisting of multiple-choice questions where the candidate needs to select one of the correct answers. The sections in the NMAT-2011 are Language Skills; Quantitative Skills, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency; and Logical Reasoning. The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of the NMAT Score, Written Test marks (as applicable), Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Presentation (as applicable) and work experience. The selection will be based on merit.

Website: www.nmims.edu

SNAP (SYMBIOSIS NATIONAL APTITUDE TEST)

Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test is a common written test for the admission to all the Post-Graduate Institutes of Symbiosis International University. Written test is mandatory for admission into any Postgraduate programme offered by the constituent institute of Symbiosis International University. The application form is available for Rs. 1550. Candidates will need to apply to the individual one or more Symbiosis colleges separately.

Eligibility: To apply for SNAP a candidate should be a gradudate with atleast 50% marks in graduation.

Test Pattern & Selection: SNAP Test is of 2 hours duration and is an objective test with each question having 4 responses. Candidate should choose an appropriate response. Each wrong answer attracts 25% negative marks. The four sections are: General English, Quantative Aptitude, General Awareness, Logical & Analytical Reasoning. Candidates from the first stage will be shortlisted on the basis of SNAP score for Group Discussions and thereafter they will appear if shortlisted for Personal Interviews.

Website: www.snaptest.org

XAT (XLRI)

For more than 60 years XLRI has been conducting admission test on all India level to select the most appropriate students for management education. There are more than 70 plus Management Institutes which use XAT scores for selecting students. There are 33 cities in which XAT exam is conducted. The information bulletion and application form is available for Rs. 900. Other prominent institutes which accept XAT are : S P Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Mumbai, Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar and Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai

Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (10+2+3)in any discipline from a recognized University

Test Pattern & Selection: XAT has three sections – 'Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VA)’, 'Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA)’ and 'Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making Ability (AR)’. The time given to attempt these three sections is 120 minutes. In addition, one is evaluated on an essay which one is supposed to write in the next 20 minutes after finishing these three sections. A common merit list is declared and a candidate may apply for a maximum of three programmes. Those who apply for multiple programmes may be called for multiple interviews and/or group discussions. And selection criterion and cut offs vary across different programmes.