Ask & Answer: India's Largest Education Community

In India, Ph.Ds operate in a three-tiered system, commencing with an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, followed by postgraduate Master's and Ph.D degrees. In some cases, candidates can do Ph.D without doing post graduation too, but they will usually be required to complete a larger coursework component when enrolling for a PhD. So, you can choose what you want to do.
Good news for CSs: There are some universities in India which have recognised the Company Secretaryship qualification as equivalent to postgraduate degree for pursuing Ph.D. Sardar Patel Universit-Gujarat, South Gujarat University-Surat, Maharishi Dayanand University-Haryana, Guru Nanak Dev University-Punjab, Punjab University-Chandigarh, Nagpur University-Maharashtra, etc., are a few names of who have recognized CS course as PG so you can go there to do Ph.D.
If I talk about benefits then you can get yourself an opportunity to go into academics and research part abroad. Even in India, if you get a good opportunity, you can enter into academics as it is also a highly rewarding career. As far as any other job is concerned, the only thing is you get the highest respect of being a Ph.D. As the financial rewards grow only with your experience.
I hope this would suffice.

MAH-CET is a state-level management entrance exam. The exam is conducted by the Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra, for admission to various management courses such as MMS, PGDBM, and PGDM in various institutes in the state of Maharashtra. There are many institutes in Maharashtra which accepts only CET score.
Check the below link for the list of colleges –
https://www.shiksha.com/mba/ranking/top-mba-colleges-in-india-accepting-mhcet/2-2-0-0-9247
Similarly, you will find other state common entrance tests. Colleges in respective state accepting those scores -
https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/20-mba-entrance-exams-you-can-take-this-year-blogId-11473
Karnataka PGCET - https://www.shiksha.com/mba/exams/karnataka-pgcet
Kerala - KMAT - https://www.shiksha.com/mba/exams/kmat-kerala
MPMET - https://www.shiksha.com/mba/exams/mpmet

It would be difficult if you are pursuing this course due to peer pressure or any other pressure.
It is all within you. No course is easy or difficult, it is just the mindset. I was an above average student when I entered the course. My father was totally against my decision of doing this course. It was the last day of filing the entrance form and we were standing on the window to deposit the same. Before handing over the form to the CS official, my father confirmed from me for a last time that do I really want to do it. I nodded yes and trust me I never regretted that nod. I had failures, I was told by my father that I opted for a very difficult course and I will never succeed but today I am having my own share of success.
The crux of the story is going for it if you really want to. It is a more theory based course, having lots of laws, few boring papers but the beauty of this course is that you will always be updated about latest amendments.

The best coaching institutes for XAT are:
IMS
Established in 1977 in Mumbai, IMS is one of oldest higher education entrance exam training institutes of the country. The institute, which has over 75 centres in 44 cities, believes in acting as a mentor, motivator and guide to students. IMS learning resources offer coaching and training for MBA entrance tests. Students are mentored for entrance tests like CAT, GMAT, CMAT, NMAT by GMAC, etc.
TIME
Established in 1992, Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd. (T.I.M.E.) is considered to be one of India's leading test-preparation institutes. Headquartered at Hyderabad, TIME is led by a team of more than 40 IIT/IIM graduates. It has an all India presence with 236 offices in 112 towns and cities. TIME has constantly produced various CAT and other MBA entrance exam toppers.

ICAI is an organization that has been created by an act of Parliament. The association, since its inception, has been continuously updating and upgrading itself to provide the best accounting standards to the world. It is therefore one of the most respectable association in the world. Indian Chartered Accountants are of great demand not only in India but also abroad. This is because the manner in which they are trained is the best and quite competitive and challenging. One may find doctors in every corner of the street but not CA's. The passing percentage of Chartered Accountants is also quite low as the course is really tough. It is among toughest courses of the world. They are taught the best accounting methods that are implemented after a lot of research and debate among the world community. I personally believe it is one of the best course.
I hope this would suffice.

Tips to crack CS in 1 year:
1.Create a plan which can be successfully executed. Give more time to topics which you find difficult and keep a buffer so that you can complete some pending tasks.
2.Focus on your strengths and sailing through the weaknesses is the best exam strategy you can bet on
3.Having too many books would lead to confusion during the time of revision and most of your doubts would remain unresolved without a good book.
4.Examiners try to trap students by playing around with the question and options. So read the question carefully to understand what is required and see the options with great concentration in case of MCQ based questions.
5.Planning the way you attempt various questions is quite crucial to crack the CS exam. You do not have to approach the question paper the way it is intended to be.

Here are few tips to crack the examination provided limited numbers of days/months:
Set your plan agile and keep buffer time for revision and solving mock test papers.
Start with your verbal and quantitative practice in parallel. One year can make or change the game, time management is very important at every single point of time till the final day.
Keep positive! Maintain a good balance between your accuracy and solving time.
Be focused and calm. For the last month keep all the formulas and tricks handy and revise on a daily basis.
Remember not to be emotional while solving or appearing for exam. Manage your time wisely.
In short:
- Make daily/weekly targets and pen down each
- Revise the syllabus as per study plan
- Solve previous year questions as per time frame guidelines of actual exam. This will give you a look and feel of actual exam
- Manage your time well
- Keep calm and stay cool

Yes, your marks and your attempt get counted everywhere you apply. If you are looking for a job in an MNC then you must have scored good marks and have less number of attempts. If you take many attempts then only it's on company's hand. They can give you the job if only they find some real quality compared to others.
Also, if you can explain why you needed those extra attempts, you still have a chance to shine in the Interview and get that coveted articleship.
Generally, this is used as a distinguished between the quality of a student who has the same scores or experiences. Although this may not be an ideal way, the fact that one student could clear the same exam in the first go deserves some amount of preference.
This consideration is only done in the 1st or 2nd job but as you move up the ladder for the work experience, there will be many other skills that you will acquire which will boost your overall profile.

I think that is not a parameter based on which you should select a college. If you use this parameter you will miss some of the best colleges. For example if you use the same parameter for MBA colleges you will eliminate IIM, Ahmadabad as it is extremely hectic but it won't be the right thing to do. Having a hectic college will prepare you for your future life. So consider every college and don't eliminate anyone just because it may be hectic.
Some of the top commerce colleges are –
Shri Ram College of Commerce| Delhi/NCR
Christ University| Bangalore
Lady Shri Ram College for Women| Delhi/NCR
Loyola College (LC, Chennai)| Chennai
Hans Raj College| Delhi/NCRSt. Joseph's College of Commerce (SJCC)| Bangalore
Hindu College| Delhi/NCR
Ramjas College| Delhi/NCR
Kristu Jayanti College (KJC)| Bangalore
For detailed list go to - https://www.shiksha.com/accounting-commerce/ranking/top-commerce-colleges-in-india/97-2-0-0-0

Tips and hacks to crack IRMA:
A- Be clear of the examination pattern:
The total duration of the exam is 1 hour and 20 minutes. In Issues of Social Concern test, a total of 40 questions is asked. Only objective type questions are asked in the exam. Every question has five options and the candidates must select the right one. Marking: 1, -0.25.
B- Current affairs: Candidates must regularly read newspapers, magazines to stay updated.
C- Focus more on National events and news.
D- Inculcate reading habit.
E- Solve previous year questions as per time frame guidelines of actual exam. This will give you a look and feel of actual exam.
F- Study plan: Give more time to the topics which a candidate feels is difficult provided the preparation time of one year.

Just after the results are out, it would be the best days of your life because that happiness of clearing the toughest exams in India and across the world is superb.
But after that, things will definitely get tough because then the confusion comes, you don't know what to do, Which type of profile to go for? To go in the industry or to go for practice?
Right from preparing for the exam to your preparing of CV to sending and applying for the right companies, if you are lucky, you might get your desired job. But, if you are, it can get very frustrating - giving interviews, following up, finding contacts, facing rejections, etc.
You are going to spend at least one-third of your time at work so no matter what, you have to try and make it a good time. That is why sometimes it's actually the decision before getting the job which becomes very important.

Opt for higher studies or pursue a job after completing CA.
Courses that supplement CA degree-These are the courses which are more or less similar to the CA syllabi and with which a normal CA student may be familiar with. CWA and CS, you can earn these qualifications by availing the benefit of exemption granted by these institutes for qualified CAs. CA+CWA can help you in manufacturing industries while CA+CS can help you in the service industry. For more details check the websites of these institutes.
Dip IFRS: It is a certification course offered by the ACCA Institute, London and is an accounting certification. It is a short-term course and can help you if you are in audit/ accounting role in a company.
CISA/DISA courses offered by CIMA and ICAI respectively. It mostly helps you if you are in auditing service line.
CIMA/CMA: CIMA degree is offered by CIMA, London while CMA is offered by IMA, USA. These degrees will help you if you are working in controlling function. Also, these qualifications will be more useful if you are working in an MNC and in a business role.
Post qualification courses by ICAI: ICAI offers many post qualification courses which are useful for professionals in their respective service areas. Check more on this at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.