I did not secure a high rank in the ICAR PG examination this year. Due to this, my family is advising me to avoid taking a drop year and instead take admission at SHUATS, as admission there would be easier. However, SHUATS is now a non-ICAR institution, and I am uncertain whether pursuing my M.Sc. from a non- IICAR university would be worthwhile in term of academics value and future oppurtunitie

If you didn’t secure a good rank in ICAR PG and are considering SHUATS, note that since it’s now non-ICAR, your degree may not be valid for ICAR fellowships, JRF, or some government research jobs. However, it’s still recognized by UGC, so you can pursue private or state-level opportunities and even PhD later. If you aim for research or government roles, dropping a year to improve your ICAR rank is better. Otherwise, SHUATS can be a decent option to continue your studies without a gap.