Sushil Khanna Professor, economics and strategic management, IIM, Calcutta

Q: I am a Class XII student and want to make a future in the corporate world. But I am worried that my subject combination (commerce, accounts, economics and business study) will prove a hindrance. Further, I do not have maths in Plus Two. Will that make it difficult for me to pursue a human resource course at the graduation level? Can you please suggest some institutions in Calcutta where such a course is offered? If I want to pursue company secretaryship after Plus Two, which institution should I opt for?

Rubaid Khan

A: There is a great demand for students trained in business and commerce, as long as they focus on learning rather than merely getting a degree. If you want to get a good executive position, it is essential that you have a postgraduate degree.

A masters level course in human resource management is offered by the Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (ISWBM) in Calcutta.

For the company secretaryship course, you have to enroll with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. That is the only institute of repute. For details on eligibility and how to apply, check out the website (www.icsi.edu).

Rajkumar Roychoudhury Emeritus Scientist (CSIR), ISI, Calcutta

Q: I am studying in Class XII and have taken up science without mathematics. Earlier, I was interested in pursuing a career in biology but now I’m thinking about entering the aviation sector. I want to become a pilot, but to qualify for it I need to have mathematics as a subject. Is mathematics really important for this field? Is there any way I can become a pilot?

Rumi Ghosh

A: There are many careers in the aviation sector, like the ones in hospitality, which don’t insist on mathematics at the Plus Two level. However, if you want to do a technical course, you must have mathematics in Plus Two. Whether mathematics is needed to learn a particular subject is a different issue, to get admission, you have to satisfy the eligibility criterion. The Union cabinet is mulling a law that will allow arts students to become pilots. Since that is at the drawing board stage, I think it would be preferable that you do a BSc in biology since you are interested in the subject, before going for a specialisation.