# Dataset: Future Career School editorial after-12th career-route planning bands
# Editorially reviewed: October 2026
# Provenance: Editorial planning bands, not official classifications, survey data or employment statistics.
"route","who","entrance","duration","money","practical_note","stream_pcm","stream_pcb","stream_pcmb","stream_commerce","stream_arts","maths","biology","entrance_exams","years_min","years_max","cost_band_min","cost_band_max","portfolio","employment_band","freelance_band","government_band","overseas_band","ai_exposure","work_from_home","official_sources","editorially_reviewed_on"
"BCA, BSc Computer Science or data science","Most colleges want Maths or Computer Science in 12th; check each one","CUET UG or a college test","3 years (4 in many four-year honours programmes)","Data analyst fresher pay averages about ₹4.1 lakh","Cheaper than B.Tech, but the degree carries less brand weight, so proof of work matters more.","yes","check","yes","check","check","helps","no","CUET UG or college tests | State counselling and university tests","3","4","0","2","helps","2","2","1","2","2","2","","October 2026"
"Design: B.Des, fashion, interior, UX","Any stream","UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT entrance and college tests","4 years","Graphic designer fresher pay averages about ₹2.4 lakh; a strong portfolio moves it up","Admission tests reward drawing and thinking speed. Prepare a portfolio early.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","Design tests (UCEED, NID, NIFT)","4","4","1","3","required","2","2","1","1","2","2","","October 2026"
"Skill-first: diploma, certificate and work","Anyone after 10th or 12th","No national entrance test","Months to three years","Depends entirely on the proof you build","Works for digital, trade and creative fields. It does not replace a licence where one is legally required.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","No national entrance test","0.5","3","0","1","required","1","2","1","1","1","2","","October 2026"
"B.Tech / BE in computer, data or electronics","PCM (Maths is compulsory)","JEE Main, JEE Advanced, state and private tests","4 years","Software fresher pay averages about ₹5.4 lakh but ranges widely by college and skill","A branch or college label alone does not get hired. A visible project does.","yes","no","yes","no","no","required","no","JEE Main, JEE Advanced and engineering tests | State counselling and university tests","4","4","1","3","helps","2","1","2","2","2","1","","October 2026"
"B.Com or BA Economics with CA, CS or CMA","Any stream can register for CA Foundation","CA Foundation twice a year; CS and CMA have their own entry exams","CA usually takes several years with articleship","Accountant fresher pay averages about ₹2.3 lakh; a qualified CA earns far more","Many students spend years on repeat attempts. Keep a parallel skill running.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","CUET UG or college tests | State counselling and university tests","3","7","0","2","helps","2","1","2","1","2","1","","October 2026"
"Teacher education, including four-year ITEP","Any stream, depending on subject","NCET (conducted by NTA) for ITEP","4 years","Stable, moderate pay; coaching and content routes can grow it","Pay ceiling is fixed unless you add a scalable layer such as online teaching.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","State counselling and university tests","4","4","0","1","no","2","2","2","0","1","1","","October 2026"
"Architecture (B.Arch)","PCM, with Maths required","JEE Main Paper 2 or NATA","5 years","Pay starts modest and rises with a licence and a portfolio","Registration with the Council of Architecture is needed to practise. Drawing and model-making are tested, so start a sketch portfolio early.","yes","no","yes","no","no","required","no","Other national or institute tests (NATA, NCHM JEE, IMU CET, DGCA)","5","5","1","3","required","1","2","1","1","2","1","","October 2026"
"Psychology and counselling (BA or BSc, then a master's)","Any stream in most colleges","CUET UG or a college test","3 years, then 2 years for a master's","Entry pay is low; it grows with a master's, supervised practice and a clear niche","Clinical practice needs a master's and a licence. A bachelor's alone opens few counselling roles.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","CUET UG or college tests | State counselling and university tests","3","5","0","2","no","1","2","1","1","1","1","","October 2026"
"Media, journalism and mass communication","Any stream","CUET UG or a college test","3 years","Entry pay is modest and depends on the work you can show","Pay follows your body of work. Three finished pieces beat a certificate list.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","CUET UG or college tests | State counselling and university tests","3","3","0","2","required","2","2","1","1","2","2","","October 2026"
"Agriculture, veterinary and food science","PCB or PCM for most programmes; check each college","CUET UG for ICAR seats, state tests; NEET UG for veterinary","4 years","Government and company roles pay steadily; farming and agri-business pay varies","Seats are limited in good government colleges. Fieldwork is part of the job.","yes","yes","yes","check","check","no","helps","CUET UG or college tests | NEET UG (medical) | State counselling and university tests","4","5.5","0","2","no","2","1","2","1","1","0","","October 2026"
"BBA, BMS or integrated MBA","Any stream","CUET UG, IPMAT, JIPMAT or a college test","3 to 5 years","Wide range. Entry-level digital marketing managers average about ₹3.1 lakh in PayScale profiles and it rises with results","A general management degree without one domain skill produces a generalist gap.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","helps","no","CUET UG or college tests | State counselling and university tests","3","5","1","3","no","2","1","1","1","2","1","","October 2026"
"BSc Nursing, B.Pharm, physiotherapy","PCB for nursing and physiotherapy; PCB or PCM for B.Pharm","State counselling, university tests and college tests","4 years","Nurse fresher pay averages about ₹2.6 lakh; pharmacist about ₹2.5 lakh","Licence and registration rules apply. Pay rises through specialisation, not time alone.","check","yes","yes","no","no","no","required","State counselling and university tests","4","4","0","2","no","2","0","2","1","0","0","","October 2026"
"Hotel management and hospitality","Any stream","NCHM JEE or a college test","3 to 4 years","Starts modest in India; grows with promotions or overseas postings","Hours are long and shift-based. Check that the college is approved and offers real placements.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","Other national or institute tests (NATA, NCHM JEE, IMU CET, DGCA)","3","4","1","2","no","2","0","1","2","0","0","","October 2026"
"Integrated law (BA LLB, BBA LLB)","Any stream","CLAT (roughly 3,600 to 3,700 undergraduate seats across the participating NLUs), AILET, CUET and university tests","5 years","Litigation starts slowly; corporate and compliance roles pay more","Competition happens twice: first the entrance, then the climb to a strong practice or firm.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","CLAT, AILET and law tests | CUET UG or college tests","5","5","1","3","no","1","1","2","0","1","1","","October 2026"
"MBBS, BDS and allied health","PCB with English","NEET UG (over 22 lakh registered for 2026)","MBBS about 5.5 years including internship; postgraduate study adds more","Income grows late, after specialisation","Two hard gates: NEET, then postgraduate seats. Fees at private colleges can be very high.","no","yes","yes","no","no","no","required","NEET UG (medical)","4","5.5","1","3","no","2","0","2","1","1","0","","October 2026"
"Defence: NDA","Army: any stream. Navy and Air Force: Physics and Maths","UPSC NDA exam, then SSB interview and medical tests","Academy training, then service","Paid training and stable service pay","NDA II 2026 had only 394 vacancies. Medical and height standards are strict.","yes","check","yes","check","check","required","no","UPSC NDA with SSB and medical","","","0","0","no","2","0","2","0","0","0","","October 2026"
"BSc, BS or integrated MSc in pure science and research","Science stream; the subjects you studied decide the options","CUET UG, IISER Aptitude Test, NEST or a college test","3 to 5 years (more with a master's)","Fresher pay is modest; research and teaching careers need a master's or PhD","Most science jobs need a further degree or a strong applied skill. Decide early whether you want research, teaching or industry.","yes","yes","yes","check","no","helps","helps","Science research entrance (IISER IAT, NEST) | CUET UG or college tests","3","5","0","2","no","1","1","1","2","1","1","","October 2026"
"Government jobs: SSC, railways, banks and police","Class 12 pass for many entry-level posts; a degree for others","SSC, railway, bank and state recruitment exams","Depends on the exam cycle","Stable pay and benefits once selected","Many students spend years on repeat attempts. Keep a parallel skill running and confirm each notice on the official site.","yes","yes","yes","yes","yes","no","no","Government recruitment exams (SSC, railways, banks, police)","","","0","1","no","1","0","2","0","1","0","","October 2026"
"Aviation: commercial pilot and aircraft maintenance","Pilot: Physics and Maths in 12th. Maintenance: diploma or degree routes","DGCA medical, flying school entrance, AME entrance","Pilot about 2 to 3 years of training; maintenance 2 to 4 years","Training is costly; pay rises with flying hours and experience","Training is very expensive and needs a medical fitness pass first. Check approved schools only.","yes","check","yes","check","check","required","no","Other national or institute tests (NATA, NCHM JEE, IMU CET, DGCA)","2","4","2","3","no","2","0","1","2","0","0","","October 2026"
"Merchant navy and maritime","PCM for most deck and engine programmes","IMU CET or a company sponsorship test","3 to 4 years, then sea service","Pay at sea is good, but you spend long periods away from home","Long absences, strict medicals and approved-institute rules apply. Avoid unapproved training.","yes","check","yes","no","no","required","no","Other national or institute tests (NATA, NCHM JEE, IMU CET, DGCA)","3","4","1","2","no","2","0","1","2","0","0","","October 2026"