Located on India’s West coast near Mumbai, the Training Ship Chanakya is a shore-based academy managed and maintained by the government of India, ministry of surface transport, through the directorate general of shipping. The cadets who successfully complete training at this institute are eligible for taking up jobs not only on board Indian ships but also on foreign vessels. The nautical training imparted in this institution is of a very high quality and in accordance with the standards and norms laid down by international bodies like the International Maritime Organisation. Hostel facilities with all necessary services are made available. Hostel facilities for women are also provided.

For admission you have to take the Joint Entrance Exam conducted by the IITs. The exam notification is published in September in the leading dailies. The application form along with the brochure can be obtained from the designated branches of banks all over India on payment of Rs 1,000 payable to the Chairman IIT-JEE of the respective IIT payable at the corresponding city. Application forms must be received by the end of December. For more details log on to www.dgshipping.com.

The application form along with information brochure can also be obtained by post from the Indian Institute of Maritime Studies, C/o Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies & Research, Hay Bunder Road, Mumbai-400033 by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope 11” x 5” size with stamps worth Rs 55 along with a DD of Rs 300 (general category) and Rs 200 (in case of SC/ST category) drawn in favour of the Indian Institute of Maritime Studies and payable at Mumbai.

Eligibility

For admission to the BSc nautical sciences course at T.S. Chanakya, you should have passed your Plus Two with physics, chemistry, maths and English. You should also be single and within 20 years of age as on October 1 of the year of entry.

Entrance exam

The entrance test is held in April. Admission is based on your performance in JEE followed by counselling and a medical examination.

Pattern of exam

The test has two question papers of threehours duration, each consisting of objective-type questions in physics, chemistry and mathematics. Incorrect answers will be awarded negative marks.

How to prepare

It is a three year degree course leading to a BSc degree in nautical sciences under the aegis of the University of Mumbai. T.S. Chanakya also holds three pre-sea courses annually, each of three months’ duration, for cadets who are sponsored directly by the shipping companies, before they join their ships for their initial sea training.

Candidates from other countries may be admitted for this degree subject to approval by the ministry of surface transport, government of India.

IIT-JEE is considered to be one of the toughest exams of its kind, and you need to work hard to clear the exam. The programme is designed to inculcate officer-like qualities and a sense of discipline. Thus, it is essential to have a clear concept and be thorough about the subject.

Some of the books you can refer to include IIT Mathematics by Tata McGraw Hill publishers, Objective Maths by R.D. Sharma and IIT Maths by M.L. Khanna.

For physics you can prepare from books like Physics by H.C. Verma, Interactive Physics series by MTG publishers and IIT Physics by Tata McGraw Hill publishers. For chemistry you can study from Chemistry by O.P. Agarwal, Ratan and Krishna.

sample test paper

A closed rectangular tank 1.8 m high, 3 m long, and 2 m wide is two thirds full of water (specific gravity = 1.0). The acceleration which may be imparted to the tank along its length so that the bottom front end of the tank is just exposed (g = 10 m/s 2).
a) 9 m/s 2
b) 7 m/s 2
c) 8 m/s 2
d) 10 m/s 2

A diatomic gas is heated at constant pressure. What fraction of heat is used to increase its internal
energy?
a) 3/5
b) 5/3
c) 5/7
d) 7/5

In acetylene molecules, the two carbon atoms are liked by:
a) one sigma bond and two pi bonds.
b) two sigma bonds and one pi bond.
c) three sigma bonds.
d) three pi bonds.

The triangle formed by the tangent to the curve f(x) = x 2+bx–b at the point (1,1) and the co-ordinate axes, lies in the first quadrant. If its area is 2 then the value of b is:
a) –1
b) 3
c) –3
d) 1