The world is a dynamic place and changes keep taking place all over and everywhere. The career scenario has also changed. There is more variety in career choices, more people are ready to change their jobs, if not happy with the present one. Earlier it was not like this. It was quite common to see people spending their entire work life with in a single job or with the same employer.

Young people should be in readiness to make best of the available opportunities, though challenges would always be there. A career which is aligned with your liking, passion and interest will be more satisfying for you. Employers look for people who enjoy their work and carry it out with passion. There may be different criterion to choose a course and career. One is to relate it with your deeper interest. When we say deeper interest, it is to differentiate with casual interest. We come across situations when we get interested in certain things for a while, and forget that after sometime. What we're truly interested in, remains with us. We want to learn more and more about it and are happy in learning and doing this.

You should see, if there is a course related to your real interest and whether it may lead to a meaningful career. The process may appear to be difficult, but the efforts you make for this exploration, may be worthwhile. This article is intended to help you in the process.
Human thinking knows no boundaries, so human interests can also be varied and pervading and there may not be courses and career related to every particular interest. In that case you may look at the closest option. You'll also be required to relate your interest with your aptitude and mindset.

Those who like to explore and understand why things happen, how these have evolved, and have a questing attitude may do well in science. Again, science is a very vast subject with large number of branches, so you will be required to check which branch interests you more. We'll know about physics, chemistry, zoology and botany. But these are further divided into subjects like geophysics, biochemistry, quantum physics etc. which may offer you further choices. You may, after your 10+2, go for a B.Sc. course followed by M.Sc. in the chosen branch. A science degree may be pursued at a nearby college or university. For postgraduate and higher studies you've the option of joining Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and other prestigious institutions.

Medical science is also a dimension of science and an extensive one. If you find interest in human physiology, bodily processes and treating human disorders etc. then you may consider MBBS which is an undergraduate qualification in medicine and surgery. At postgraduate level you may decide to choose from MD and MS which relate to medicine and surgery respectively. BDS and MDS are other options. Superspeciality (like in Neurology) is also possible to develop expertise in a particular branch. If you want you may go for qualifications like BAMS {Ayurved), BHMS (Homeopathy) etc. If you love animals and care for them, your interest may take you to qualifications like B.V.Sc. and M.V.Sc. Courses in physiotherapy, pharmaceutical science and ophthalmology are among other options.

Now a days, a large number of students rush to engineering courses, but not all of them prove to be successful engineers. Engineering is good for those who like to work with diagrams,charts,shapes and sizes. It requires experimentation and curiosity about technology. Engineering and technology have many branches like mechanical, electrical, civil, electronics, automobile etc. Though most of the students prefer to join an undergraduate course in engineering, with a duration of four years, after their 10+2; another route is to join a three years diploma course after SSC, also exists. After completing this diploma, direct admission to 2nd year of undergraduate course is possible. Diploma courses are usually offered at polytechnics while engineering can be studied at IITs, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Regional Colleges of Engineering, government and private engineering colleges and specialized institutions like Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai; Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, Aurangabad etc.

If you're more into computers, consider Information technology for your study and career, The subject is divided into hardware, software with further diversification in programming, networking, software development, software testing, gaming, animation, database management, virus protection etc. Relevant courses are Bachelor/ Master of Computer Application (BCA/MCA), B.Sc. /M.Sc. in computer science and engineering degree /diploma in electronics/communication/ software engineering etc.

Some of you may be keen to understand human actions, thinking and behaviour then Psychology can prove to be a fit subject. At undergraduate level you may choose a psychology major and after that, may enroll for a Master's degree. A number of specializations are available which include clinical psychology, industrial psychology, developmental psychology with few others. Masters in industrial psychology is also available as an exclusive course.

For those who are outgoing, highly extrovert and like to meet and talk to people there are different options to choose from. These include sales and marketing, public relations and journalism. The disciplines are not interrelated. For a good career in marketing management, Master of Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in this subject is appropriate qualification which can be undertaken after graduation in any discipline. However at undergraduate level you may go for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Undergraduate and postgraduate courses in journalism, mass communication and public relations. Such courses are parts of curriculum at different universities. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi is the most prestigious institution to study these subjects.
Economics has been a mainstream subject under humanities. Those who are inclined towards understanding of social, economic and developmental issues and things like supply and demand, will do well to study economics and explore work opportunities in it. Economics has two broad divisions-micro and macro economics. At higher level you may enter into a particular branch of economics-rural, labour, international, behavioral, econometrics etc. Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, Mumbai, Delhi School of Economics, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune are well-known institutes for study of economics. International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai may also be considered for higher studies.

If you like to investigate, subjects to be considered for study are forensics and criminology. Study of these subjects may begin at undergraduate level, however a postgraduate qualification will be of better use. These are not among common subjects and hence related courses may not be widely available. This doesn't mean getting into these is difficult. Auditing is also a form of investigation. To enter into the area of auditing, courses like chartered accountancy, cost accountancy, chartered management accountancy may be considered. A police officers job also involves investigation. One may try for this under Civil Services Examination which encompasses Indian Police Service. The good thing is all graduates are eligible to appear in this Civil Services Examination.

Civil Services are also for those who have a love for power and authority. However one should remember that officers belonging to these services have to follow many rules, be under discipline and exercise their power with caution. It is not an absolute power. Success in Civil Services Examination requires comprehensive study of general topics and intense preparation in 'main' subjects which a candidate has to choose. State governments have their own civil/administrative services. Simultaneous preparation can be made for both central and state services.

To a certain extent law is also a subject in which investigation is involved. However interest in law may arise for other reasons as well. If you've an eye for detail, like to explore incidents and may prove yourself good in communication, study of law can match your interest. Till integrated courses came, one had to wait till graduation to enroll for a degree in law. Now straight after your 10+2, you are eligible to join a five year course which comes in many combinations viz. BA, LLB; B.Com, LLB and BBA, LLB. If you're not able to decide at HSC level, you may always choose a law degree after your graduation in any discipline. There are 22 National Law Universities in the country which offer different courses in law. Many universities and law colleges also run such courses. A graduate degree in law is adequate to start a career. However a postgraduate qualification as LLM, may create advantage for you. Also you may remain a generalist of law or chose to specialize in any of its branches such as business law, labour law, constitutional law, cyber law, intellectual property rights etc.

Those finding interest in business activities have the option to go for Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business Administration followed by M.Com or MBA, in case you want to go for postgraduation. MBA or Postgraduate Diploma in Management makes your entry easier to corporate world (both public and private sector). Also with such a course you become more confident to start your own business. Commerce is considered suitable also for those who like to deal with numbers, accounts etc. Students of Commerce also find work in business and other organizations.

Statistics and Mathematics both are number and figure based subjects. Every student is exposed to mathematics since early classes, so it is easier to find out if you've a strong liking for the subject. Statistics and Mathematics can be taken as full-fledged subjects at undergraduate level. There are specialized institutes offering quality education in these subjects viz. Indian Statistical Institute (Bengaluru/Kolkata), Chennai Mathematical Institute, Institute of Mathematics and Applications, Bhubaneswar. Most of the universities in country also have courses in these subjects.

Data Science has arrived in a formed. Moreover, all the business units having investment of foreign firms are barred from workers' strike within the first three years of operations.
Vietnam also announced a new labour policy which provides greater say to employers in setting wage scales and salary structures. The policy envisages permissions from the state-run Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to operate independent trade unions from any business unit. A UN report published earlier this year confirmed the increase in availability of jobs in Bangladesh supported the government schemes that in turn pulled out around 19 million people from poverty between 2014 and 2019. It also improved the health and educational status of Bangladeshis.

In the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Indian government has introduced new conditions for carrying out strikes in factories such as no one can, in all the industrial establishments, go on strike without a 60-day notice and during the pendency of proceedings before a Tribunal or a National Industrial Tribunal and sixty days after the conclusion of such proceedings. Besides, the code also allows companies having 300 workers to make decisions regarding retrenchment, closure or lay-off without informing the government. Government claims that increasing the threshold level will create more jobs as a similar trend was witnessed in Rajasthan due to flexibility to the employers in hiring without additional burden on finance of the company which arises due to mandatory compliance with state laws. Though opposition parties in India claimed that these changes will allow firms to exploit the workers with arbitrary service conditions, it is worth mentioning that as many as 16 states have already hiked the threshold to 300 workers from existing 100 wherein an industrial unit can go for retrenchment, closure without government permission.

While the government ought to keep a tab on the exploitation claim in future but the latest data released by the Labour Bureau reveal that India lost 11.73 lakh man days to strikes in 2017 which was higher by 44% in comparison to 2016. Government data also suggest that around 600 textile mills were permanently closed down in the country due to financial problems created by strikes/labour problems, lockouts, etc.

Flexibility Leads to New Job Creation
The Economic Survey 2019- 20 provides an interesting comparison of states with flexible labour laws and the states which did not make changes in past few years. The Economic Survey classified states like West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Kerala and Bihar as inflexible labour laws while Punjab, Gujarat, and Rajasthan made remarkable changes in their labour laws. Survey points out that the number of firms established in the states having flexible labour laws outnumbered the states with inflexible laws in any given year. Study by economists at different times proves that entrepreneurial activity (establishing of new firms) has a significant positive impact on gross domestic product. A 10 per cent increase in registration of new firms per district-year yields a 1.8 per cent increase in GDP of any district of the country; economic survey 2019-20 pointed out after examining data of new firms and economic growth of 500 districts across 22 states of the country.

New Labour Code and Gender Equality
Now, women will be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work and after taking consent from them, the employer can deploy women in night shift as well. The code makes it mandatory for industrial establishments to provide washrooms, bathing places and locker rooms for male, female and transgender employees. The importance of providing equal opportunities to women workforce in the economy can be gauged from a report by McKinsey Global Institute which claims that if women participated in the Indian economy at the level men do, annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could be increased by 60 per cent above its projected GDP by 2025.

The flexibility to work in shifts and in any industry is expected to boost the female labour force participation rate -share of women who are employed or are seeking work as a proportion of the working age female population - in the Indian economy which is dismally low at 23.4 per cent (2019) as per the World Bank. In comparison to India, Bhutan's 58.3 per cent, Nepal's 81.6 per cent, China's 60.63 per cent, and Bangladesh's 36.14 per cent women participate in productive works of the economy.

- Vijay Prakash Srivastava
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