It was in 2000 when spectacular developments were taking place in the IT (Information Technology) and ITES (Information Technology Enabled Services) sectors. This surged demand for Indian techies all over the globe especially in countries like the USA, the UK, and Canada [Images]. As a result, more and more people started opting for courses leading to a career in the IT sector. The Master's degree in Computer Applications (MCA) was perceived as one of the major options for student eyeing this huge career opportunity. But with the sudden (though highly expected) down fall of the IT industry coupled with the recession, the demand for MCA lessened.

The scenario has, however, changed since then. Starting with the promising BPO (business process outsourcing) and KPO (knowledge process outsourcing) sectors, the industry has reached new heights with the introduction of PPO (People to people Outsourcing). IT industry is back on track and growing.

Stats say it all
Young Indian IT professionals in India earn more than 200 per cent the average salary any other profession earns. This, together with salaries rising about 20 per cent a year on average, they are most likely to see their salaries jump above any other professional in the country right now.

In the last few years, people have left their jobs in other engineering streams and joined the software bandwagon. Even then, India faces a huge scarcity of software professionals as per the recent NASSCOM survey. In fact, by 2010, the demand and supply gap is going to be as wide as half a million jobs. US Bureau of Labour statistics has predicted a 68 per cent increase in output growth rate of the IT industry between 2002 and 2012.

McKinsey conducted a study that revealed a substantial growth in IT businesses in India. It further predicted for 2008 that India's IT business revenue will cross US $85 billion. More than 2 million new jobs will be created out of this and Indian companies will observe their market capitalisation to reach a magical figure of US$ 225 billion. The proliferating impact of the future scenario can be inferred from the fact that one job in IT creates five more jobs in the businesses that rely on IT software and hardware.

Masters in computer applications (MCA) -- The key
For entry into the IT industry, companies looked for graduates in engineering or post graduates in computer science. Graduates in other streams who wanted to hop on to the IT bandwagon but could not do engineering also had a chance to become software professionals by joining a 3-year post graduate MCA (Master of Computer Applications) programme, after completing graduation in any discipline with Mathematics as a subject at Class XII level.

The MCA is a 3-year full-time degree course consisting of six semesters. It covers various aspects of computing, accounting, finance, programming, design and managing networks and databases.

Most MCA institutes require certain educational backgrounds like say Mathematics as a subject in class XI and XII and minimum of 50 per cent in graduation. Admissions are given on the basis of written entrance tests. The most reputed universities and colleges offering the high-profile placement-centred MCA degree in India are:

• Delhi University
• Pune University
• Jawahar Lal Nehru university, New Delhi
• IIT Roorkee
• NIT Trichy
• VJTI, Mumbai
• Banaras Hindu University
• MNNIT Allahabad
• ICSE Indore
• Thapar University

Other colleges offering MCA are NITs, Vellore Institute, PSG Coimbatore, Hyderabad Central University, BITS Mesra, Jalgaon University, and Panjab University etc. 

Some institutes also provide post graduate diploma programmes in computer applications (1 or 2 years) which are considered equivalent to an MCA and offer good placement opportunities as well.

The eligibility conditions for admission to various MCA programmes across the nation vary a lot. Mostly, these are (1) Graduation in any discipline for the aspirants who had studied Mathematics as one of the major subjects in Senior Secondary School classes (XI & XII) (2) A first class graduation in Mathematics. However, JNU, New Delhi, having one of the most reputed MCA programme, does not require Mathematics even up to XII level.

Admission criteria
Admission to various MCA programmes is through entrance tests, which are conducted either separately by the universities or combined by the institutes of some states. Some renowned names viz. Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Pune University, Roorkee University, Panjab University, Thapar institute etc. conduct entrance tests for their own.

On the other hand, there are combined tests for admission to the certain institutions. You may find various online, original and sample MCA entrance tests on TCYonline.com.

The combined MCA entrance tests held in India are:

Generally, the written test is on the pattern of Objective Type questions. Although, most of the colleges in India shortlist the candidates for admission through only the written test, for some, for instance -- Delhi University, the shortlisted aspirants (on the basis of a written test) will have to appear in an interview before they are finally selected.

The tests are generally of 2-3 hours in duration. Marking scheme (negative marking and its amount) is subjective to the individual test pattern. The language in most tests is only English. The areas that are covered in the written test mainly include Mathematics (predominantly), Reasoning & Analytical decision-making, general awareness and basic knowledge of computers.

General syllabus

A.   MATHEMATICS:

B.   COMPUTER AWARENESS:

Eligibility requirements

TCYonline.com has compiled a list of all the major universities and their eligibility criteria in the following table:

Universities/ Institutes in Punjab

S.No	University	Eligibility	Conditional Math Requirement	Tentative Month	Total Seats
1.	Punjab Admission to MCA Common Aptitude Test (PAM-CAT-2007)	Graduation	Maths at 10+2 level Or have passed BCA course	June	1886
2.	Punjabi University, Patiala	50% in Graduation	10+2 or higher degree exam with Maths/ Statistics/ Business Maths/ Business Statistics/ Quantitative Techniques or equivalent as compulsory/ optional/ additional subject or paper	June	446
3.	Punjab University, Chandigarh	50 % inGraduation	Mathematics at 10+2 level or Graduation	June	30+2*+10 (NRI)
4.	Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar [Images]	50% in Graduation	Mathematics/ Statistics/  Computer Application as one of the subjects at graduation level	June	90
5.	Thapar Institute of Technology	50 % in Graduation	Maths at 10+2 or Graduation level	June	60

 

Universities/ Institutes in NCR

Other Universities/Institutes 

S.No	University	Eligibility	Conditional Math Requirement	Tentative Month	Total Seats
1.	NIT (Under Nimcet)	60% in Graduation	Mathematics as one of the subjects both in graduation and at 10+2 level	May	480
2.	Symbiosis Institute for CS & Research (SICSR)	50% in Graduation	-	December	90
3.	Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune	45% in Graduation (40% for SC/ST)	Maths And/Or Statistics At 10+2 or Graduation level	Feb	60
4.	Pune University, Pune	50% (Passing marks for reserved) in Graduation	Maths at 10+2 level and graduation in Science or Engineering	March	30
5.	Banaras Hindu University	50% in Graduation	Maths at 10+2 level Or Graduation level	May	30
6.	Vellore Engineering College	50% in Graduation	Mathematics / Statistics at the graduation level OR Mathematics at 10+2 level.	May	60
7.	VJTI	55% in Graduation	Mathematics / Statistics at the graduation level OR Mathematics at 10+2 level.	January	60
8.	B.I.T.S. Ranchi	60% in Graduation & 50% for SC/ST	Maths at 10+2 / Intermediate level & graduation level, or BCA	May	340
9.	Banasthali Vidyapith	60% in Graduation (Pass / Honours)	Maths at 10+2 level Or Graduation level	June	30
10.	Hyderabad Central, University	60% in Graduation	Maths at 10+2 level	June	45
11.	CDAC, Mumbai (Thru CST)	A Degree in any subject or engg. diploma as recognize by a state or central govt.	Maths at 10+2 And/Or Graduation level	January	150
12.	Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar	Graduation	Maths at 10+2 level Or Maths/ Statistics at Graduation level as compulsory subject	June	40

Top Careers & You has been preparing national and international candidates for high-end tests viz. MBA, MCA, GRE, GMAT and SAT since 1998.

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