Dealing by way of Peer Pressure

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March 18, 2019

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”
― Bruce Lee

The pressure, both positive and negative, felt from our peer group is known as Peer Pressure. Be it in sports or studies.

“Hey! Come on! We all are bunking our Math class. Who wants to go for a boring quiz session? Rather, let’s go for a stroll and grub a grub, instead.” Says the smartest kid in the class. Then, what does one do? Will he move along with him, or remain seated in the class?

As one grows older, they are forced to take over certain challenging decisions, while not having a clear idea, whether they are right or wrong. Like, for young boys, whether one should play Hockey or Cricket. Other decisions have a serious moral question hidden in it – whether to bunk classes or smoke or else lie blatantly to parents.

Taking decisions on our own is a difficult one, but when coaxed or influenced by other people around, it can turn out to be even more difficult. The ones of our age group or school/college mates are known to be ‘peers’. And when they try to influence in what manner we should lead our lives or take decisions, it is known as Peer Pressure. It is one thing which is dealt with not only the youth around us but the adults also.

Outlining ‘Peer Pressure’

Peers influence our life, irrespective of the fact whether we are aware of it or not. Just by spending ‘quality’ time with them, we tend to get influence. It is human psychology and no one can deny this fact. They can have both positive and negative influence on each other. It may so happen, that one of our friends taught us how to solve a difficult math question or get over successfully with a Science experiment. And we start admiring that individual and try to follow his footsteps. Or it may so happen that a few ones try to influence us to bunk classes or cheat during the exam time. Some of us WILL get influenced and start following their traits blindly.

Peer pressure leads to the situation where an individual or a group tries to encourage others (usually of their age) to do certain things that they would not do or try to change their mindset, behavior or attitude towards certain things.

It plays a major role behind manipulating the minds of the teenagers into smoking, doing drugs and alcohol. If one tries to evade from these ill habits, then they are considered to be an ‘outcast’ or ‘not-so-cool’ by the contemporaries.

One’s wish to get into the grid. Leads them to consume alcohol or do drugs. Peer pressure can simply make someone sad, guilt-conscious, disappointed or anxious. The best method to get over this situation is to diplomatically handle the individual, by not hurting their emotions.

There is always a flip-side of a coin. And it is applicable to the concept of ‘Peer Pressure’ also. It is not always that this particular concept is having only negative aspects. Peers or friends do also have a positive influence on an individual. This rather helps in the improvement of health and social life. One should always take time out while comprehending the effects of Peer Pressure. And it can turn an individual into a better human being!

Peer Pressure’s influence – reasons

The notion “everybody is doing it!” leads to many in the grip of Peer Pressure. Curiosity and always trying to be in the limelight makes the individual getting carried away with the flow. Some kids give into the Peer Pressure, simply because they desire to be preferred in the group. Or they are constantly worried about the fact that their friends might boycott him! And others are seen to be shrugging their shoulders with the concept of Peer Pressure and giving it a leeway.

Shrugging shoulders from Peer Pressure

Replying with a ‘No’ stands out to be really tough, sometimes. But, if one is determined, they can do it. Paying attention to their individual feelings, beliefs, and notions of what is correct or incorrect, helps one deciphering the right path. Self-confidence and inner-strength rather aid one to stand firm and walk away, while resisting themselves from bowing their head towards the negative influence.

It is really commendable of having friends who can reply with a ‘NO’, to others and also having in them the similar values of life. It can be of real help to have at least one such peer or friend.

Everyone has gone through the phase where the teachers or parents advised while saying, “Choose your friends in a wise manner.” Peer Pressure is ONE of the main reason of them saying so. If an individual chooses friends who do not do drugs, bunk classes or smoke or lie to their parents, then they probably will not be doing those things either. Rather, one should try helping out an individual from falling into trouble due to Peer Pressure. It means a lot, when an individual joins hands with them and together replies by simply saying, “I am standing by your side. Do not worry.”

If it becomes difficult dealing with the Peer Pressure, one should seek confidence upon someone, he or she has faith in. guilt-consciousness should not be there always. Confessing parents, teachers or counselors and discussing these matters, can help them in a positive manner.

Convincing, Confident Peer Pressure

Peer Pressure can be used in compelling the intimidators into acting in a better manner towards other kids. They are then compelled to do the correct thing at the correct time.

The ‘Profit – Loss’ factors of Peer Pressure

Imagine walking down the aisle and one witness something that is quite disturbing. But then the friend of his advises him to be quiet and move on. That individual carries on, in spite of knowing that what he is doing is not correct. Hence adopting somebody’s (peers) personality or attitude towards life directly can lead to either a positive or negative effect. It then depends on that individual of whom to follow as the role-model. Reasons are various for following blindly the Peer Pressure.

Pretention is very deceptive in nature. And there are people present who does the same with much confidence and the certain individual does get affected. Nobody prefers being mocked in front of others, and hence pretends to be strong and acts like those with whom they are moving around.

In recent times, competition and comparison are present together. Many parents can be seen comparing their kids with others. And this takes a toll on the kid, with whom the others are being compared. It sometimes leads them to follow the negative way, while being obligated to their parents.

People having low confidence level have the tendency to follow the lead.

“Curiosity is the mother of invention”. But in this case, the invention is not always done positively. Mostly observed amongst the teenagers, the adolescent years can be very deceptive, while having an attitude of, “Everybody is doing the same, why not me!”

Falling prey to Peer Pressure is a human tendency. And there is no denial in that fact. Nearly most of the individuals succumb to the pressure, in either a positive or negative manner. It is somewhat like installing an application in the smartphone, for the reason that everybody has it or as big as taking a decision of shoplifting with the associates. They tend to fall prey in all these various situations. And the one thing one requires to handle the Peer Pressure is BRAVADO or BOLDNESS.

Tips for handling Peer Pressure

It is a known and seen fact that if an individual participates in any school event or competition, and those peers who do not fit into the bill, try to demotivate and discourage the person concerned. It results in failure or non-participation in the event. When an individual is trying to concentrate on the syllabus during examinations, there are peers present who try to distract them. This results in getting poor grades in the examination.

Peers are those, who belong to the similar age-group, standards or work together in any organization. It is rather difficult to shun their presence in life. Their behaviour does a great impact on the individual, on their mind, body, and soul. Thus it is necessary to have a good ‘Peer group’, who has the real guts in them. Those who detours one by challenging their capabilities must be ignored. But, it does not denote this meaning of not having friends. The role of friends is very important in one’s life. If an individual has no one to share their feelings, then slowly might go into depression.

One should always plan out methodically or diplomatically to handle any sort of situation.
They should always listen to their instincts. They are very powerful.
They should simply reply with a ‘NO’ if they do not want to be a part.
One can always utilize the importance of parents or mentors present in their life.
Hesitation should never be there in seeking help from their next to kin.
One should always try making friendship with those who both appreciates and encourages.
It is always quality over quantity. One should try to develop self-confidence. They are then less susceptible to any sort of situation.
One should always try to be happy, contented and firm on their decisions.

Leadership quality can help an individual to gain confidence in self and others as well. One should always try to be a leader and guide towards the right path. This is because they know their potentials of creating a huge difference. The society is bound to follow them if they have the potentials in them. Whatever may be the situation, ultimately it is the surrounding, in which they grow up, creates the difference.

Conclusion

“Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality.”
― Shannon L. Alder

While concluding, one can think of Peer Pressure as a grey thing at times and also an awful thing to deal with. If one starts to worry or pressurized into doing those things which they do not want to, they should stand up to them. If they are scared of doing so, they should confront their parents or mentors.

From all the findings, it can be said that 55% of teenaged kids, who start doing drugs, are pressured to do so. 70% of the teenaged kids, who smokes, are pressurized to do so. Peer Pressure can be either good or bad, depending upon the situation. Almost all kids and teenagers go through the phase of Peer Pressure, at least at one stage. It is really very disappointing when someone gets notified of the fact that an individual has been influenced negatively out of Peer Pressure. It is great to carry out their own individuality and uniqueness. This is the reason for them being who they are.

Peer Pressure is a serious and grave topic to discuss and can be very deceptive and unpredicted at the same time. Drinking, smoking or doing drugs can be a ‘cool factor’ amongst today’s generation. But it takes a toll.

The exact definition of Peer Pressure can never be found, as it is a shifting one. It can have many inner meanings, likea set of populaces/associates convincing other peer/peers to do some act, for the reason that if they do not do the same, they will not be called ‘cool’ or be in their associates’ company anymore.

A new connotation could be, a peer who gets overstretched to behave in the manner in what others are behaving, thus they can be called ‘cool’.

Peer Pressure is deceptive. Being alert is always recommended and therefore should always follow one’s gut or instinct. An individual will hence climb the ladder of success!

5 ‘Must Visit’ Historical Places in Delhi

By

Simran Bhola

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March 17, 2019

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The capital of the city has been one of the cities that witnesses tourist attraction throughout the year. Delhi has been dynamic in its history that spans over a millennium as it has seen in the sense that Delhi has witnessed numerous dynasties over a period of time. With a history that spans over a millennium, Delhi now speaks volumes about the ancient Indian period. All the historic places of Delhi are major tourists’ sightseeing spots and witness gatherings all through the year. The sight seeing tour of Delhi is called as ‘Delhi Darshan‘.

If you are a Delhi resident/tourist, following are the places you must visit to have a look at the jaw dropping infrastructure that different rulers got constructed in their reigns.

1. MEHRAULI

5 'Must Visit' Historical Places in Delhi

The history of Mehrauli can be dated back to the 1190s. Post defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in 1191, Mohammad Ghori left his slave Qutubuddin Aibak as his viceroy. This marked the beginning of the slave dynasty. Aibak captured Delhi, which was still in the hands of the Chauhans, in 1193. After the death of Ghori in 1206, Aibak took the throne of Delhi for himself and established the first Mughal rule over Delhi. Qutubuddin Aibak began building Islamic structures that were later incorporated in his city – Mehrauli. This was the second city of Delhi.

The major attractions of the city of Mehrauli include the Mehrauli Archaeological Park and the Qutab Archaeological Area.

If you plan to tour around Mehrauli, these are the places one must visit: Minar of Qutubuddin Aibak (Qutub Minar), Iron Pillar, unfinished minar, Tomb of Iltutmish, Tomb of Imam Zamin, Alai-Darwaza, and a mosque.

2. HAUZ KHAS

Hauz Khas is considered as one of the most visited and ‘cool’ places in Delhi. It has been named after the Royal Water Tank built during the reign of Allauddin Khilji. Back then, it was known as Siri and was one of the seven cities of Delhi. It is always filled with tourists and hence, is an area that holds immense importance for history lovers.

Do visit the following monuments if you plan to go to Hauz Khas: Tomb of Feroz Shah Tughlaq, Bag-i-AlamGumbad, Kali Gumti, and Tefe Wala Gumbad

3. KOTLA

Muhammad bin Tughlaq ruled in a really unorganized and disastrous manner. Post his reign, his son Firoz Shah set out to bring some stability to the empire. He established another city in Delhi – Firozabad or Firoz Shah Kotla. High walls, contained palaces, pillared halls, mosques, a pigeon tower and a water tank are the major compositions of the city. An Ashokan pillar was erected on the top of Firoz’s palace.

If you plan to visit Kotla, do visit the following: Ashoka’s Pillar, Firoz Shah Kotla, Khuni Darwaza (Lal Darwaza), Inchla Wali Gunti, Kala Gumbad, Tomb of Mubarak Shah, Tomb of Barhe Khan, Tomb of Chhote Khan, Tomb of Darya Khan, Tomb of Kale Khan, and the Tomb of Khwaja Sara Basti Khan.

4. JANTAR MANTAR

Jantar Mantar is one of the most unique monuments and hence, becomes a major tourist attraction. Located in the present-day city of New Delhi, it is one of the 5 observatories built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in 1724. The observatory consists of thirteen instruments and three major individual structures. The three individual structures are Samrat Yantra, Jayaprakash Yantra and Misra Yantra.
All the Yantras hold immense importance as they represent unique things.

5. HUMAYUN’S TOMB

Humayun’s Tomb is the burial place of the great Mughal emperor, Humayun. It was built in the year 1570. It has been inspired by the seven wonders in the world and its construction changed the structure of Mughal architectures in India. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Can Too Much Water Kill You?

By

Shubhi Srivastava

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March 13, 2019

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So recently, my roommate told me, “I just read that one should not drink more than 2 liters of water a day, so I will only store that much for drinking”. Now, I kind of got triggered, because I’m a big fan of hydration. Believe me not, I’m a huge fan of water– cold, warm, flavored, unflavoured, still, sparkling. There was a time when I would hardly drink a liter of water a day. But ever since I upped my water intake, I’ve seen so many positive changes in my body that I can’t drink a lot of water. My average water intake is over 3 liters a day now, which MAY be a lot for me according to popular belief since I’m a petite female. So when she said that, I felt a little offended.

Water is an amazing thing. It is literally the elixir of life and the reason why life even exists on our planet. Our body too is 70% water by composition. So naturally, we need to keep ourselves hydrated to prevent all that water in our body from drying out. But too much of a good thing is also a bad thing. So too much water should also be bad for you, right? And so, I was forced to think, “how much water is too much water?”

The side-effects of too much water

For people who don’t know, water poisoning DOES exist. Water dilutes everything, and there are a lot of fluids in our body carrying all kinds of electrolytes necessary for its normal functioning. Electrolytes like calcium, sodium, and potassium ions are present in the bloodstream, governing different functions in the body. If we drink too much water, blood dilution decreases the concentration of these electrolytes. Low concentration of sodium and potassium in the blood causes a condition called hyponatremia, also called “water poisoning”. Its symptoms include headache, nausea, and dizziness.

Hyponatremia can be extremely dangerous as it can cause swelling in the brain, which in turn can result in stroke, hemorrhage, and even death. Apart from this, too much water also causes muscle cramps and adrenal fatigue. Excess water in the system means that your kidneys have to work that much harder to flush it out. This overworking of kidneys can cause muscle cramps due to fatigue. Too much stress on your kidneys can result in their abnormal functioning and injury.

But how much water is too much water?

The question here actually is wrong. There is something like too much water, but the quantity matters more when you consider the timeframe you drink it in. If you drink a total of 2 liters of water spaced throughout the day, nothing may happen to you. But if you drink that amount of water within 2 hours, it’s definitely going to cause you some discomfort. The human body can eliminate around 20-28 liters of water every day, but it cannot eliminate more than a liter of water per hour. So it doesn’t matter how much water you drink throughout the day as much as the amount of time you drink it in.

Basically, an average human can safely consume 20 liters of water a day, provided they aren’t drinking more than a liter an hour. Hyponatremia symptoms start showing if you consume around 1-1.5 liters of water within an hour and grow more serious as this amount of water in that hour increases. Most of the cases of death or stroke by hyponatremia occurred when the individuals consumed around 2 liters of water within an hour (on an average).

So how much water should you ideally drink?

Do yourself a favor, and let your body decide that for you. The human body is intelligent; it knows what it needs and when. So if your body is dehydrated, it will tell your brain to send thirst signals. All you have to do is listen to these signals, and replenish the water in your system. Now, of course, your ideal daily water intake is highly subjective to climatic conditions, your physical activity, and your weight. It also depends on any health issues that you may have. A person with a sedentary office job needs a lot less water than an athlete. Similarly, a pregnant or diabetic woman needs a lot more water than a normal woman. People living in tropical regions need more water than ones living in colder climates because they sweat more.

The medically approved baseline of your average water intake is around 3.5-4 liters for men, and 2.5-3 liters for women. If you are healthy and engage in minimal physical activity, this much water is sufficient for you. However, if you are suffering from a medical condition or engage in strenuous physical activity on a daily basis, increase your water intake by 0.5-1 liters.

Undoubtedly, water is the ultimate elixir of life. But nothing in this world is 100% good. Everything has a side-effect. So listen to your body, and learn to identify its needs. If you learn how to do so, your body will never give you any reason to complain. Happy hydrating!

Humans Are 99% Chimp: The Truth Behind Our Genes

By

Shubhi Srivastava

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March 13, 2019

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Genetics has always been a highly intriguing branch of biology, one that curious humans connect with the most. The study of genetics provides invaluable insight into why our body functions in the ways it does. If only we could decode the trillions of protein codes in just human DNA, we’d probably know everything there is about evolution on our planet.

Scientists all across the world have long been intrigued by the genetic composition of human beings. A recently developing interest in genetics is the comparison of human genetic composition with that of other living beings. Scientists of today get a certain kick out of discovering genetic similarities between humans and other living beings. And believe it or not, but according to these obsessed geneticists, we are 50% the same as bananas and 80% dogs. Now, it is universally known that humans are relatives of monkeys and apes, all having descended from the Great Apes. So if we are genetically so similar to things like a banana, how similar are we to these monkeys and chimps?

Humans are genetically 97% orangutan and 99% chimpanzee!

Humans Are 99% Chimp: The Truth Behind Our Genes

Yes, you read that right. According to the geneticists of our world, we are actually closer to our tree climbing relatives than we could’ve anticipated. And come to think about it, we are actually quite similar to chimpanzees. They are the only apes that can walk on their own two feet. Chimps are also pretty intelligent and know how to communicate with facial expressions. They are social animals, know how to make tools (like the early humans), and have commendable cognitive abilities.

And if you sit a chimp down and try to teach him the English alphabet or the numbers 0-9, you will be surprised at how fast they learn. The average intelligence of a chimpanzee is similar to that of a 2-3-year-old human toddler. If you have been to large scale circuses or watched reality TV shows like Pankun, you’ll know what I’m talking about. But even so, doesn’t 99% seem to be too big a number? Are we really that similar to a chimpanzee?

What are genes, and what exactly is genetics?

Genetics is not just one of the most intriguing, but also one of the most complex branches of biology. Hence it is no surprise that out of some 20 million doctors in the world, only around a hundred thousand are certified geneticists. Genetics is the study of genes, those proteins that contain information about our body. These genes are similar to a computer program, they collectively form the program code of our body aesthetics and functionality.

Genes are actually made of protein base-pair sequences. Each base pair is made of two protein molecules held together by a hydrogen bond. A definite sequence of these base pairs is called a gene, and many such sequences form a genome. This doesn’t sound very intimidating when explained in this way, but each genome can contain more than 3 billion base pairs. Decoding so many base pairs and sequences is a tough task, to say the least.

Now, DNA is also of two types- coding and non-coding. The coding DNA is what takes part in protein synthesis, and every such DNA has a specific purpose in the body. On the other hand, non-coding DNA simply acts as a database for the body’s composition. Some non-coding DNA alsho act as switches for turning on/off the functioning of certain coding DNA.

The above paragraph is of importance because 98% of the DNA present in the human body is of the non-coding type. Because of the active involvement of coding DNA in protein synthesis, it is relatively easier to decode them and study them. But the non-coding DNA is equivalent to a black box- you don’t know what’s going on in it.

Back to the question, are we really 99% chimp?

The answer is, no we are not. I mean, just think about it. If we were 99% chimp, then why aren’t we munching on termites and bananas in African jungles alongside them? And if we were 99% chimp, this blog wouldn’t exist. Buddymantra, the Internet, your laptop, and the DNA testing equipment that attested to us being 99% chimp wouldn’t exist either.

Then what makes the geneticists say so?

The answer to this question is, a genome comparison experiment done in 2005. In this test, some protein sequences from both chimpanzees and humans were compared side by side. On comparing them, once the segments completely different from each other were removed, the similar segments were compared, to find that they were 99% similar. Also, this test was conducted on the protein-coding DNA of both humans and chimpanzees.

And as I said above, this protein coded DNA only makes up 2% of the total DNA present in our body. The other 98% was unaccounted for in this particular experiment. But once the results came out, the actual truth behind this experiment was completely disregarded by scientists and media alike. Over the years, new research experiments have taken place, but the sentence “Humans are 99% chimp” is just attractive. Also, the fact that chimpanzees are closely related to humans by virtue of having a common ancestor, scientists who claim this may be called biased.

A more recently done research in 2012 revealed that even in the genes present in both chimps and humans, there are some differences. Every living being has a set of genes called “transcription factors”. These are the non-coding DNA that act as switches for protein-coding DNA. According to this research, only 2/3rd of the transcription factors corresponding to these similar genes found in humans are present in chimps. The other 1/3rd are exclusively found in humans. And because of this, those similar genes function very differently in chimps as compared to humans, or they don’t function at all.

The final verdict?

We are NOT 99% chimp, or 97% orangutan, or 90% cat, 80% dog, or 50% banana. What we are, is 100% human, aka Homo sapien. Genetics is just like the English language. Every living being has the same proteins that make up their genes. It’s just the way they are arranged in base pairs and genomes is what makes every living being unique.

If you were to pick up a Charles Dickens book and a Political History book, there would be quite a few sentences and phrases you may find are similar in both books. But that doesn’t make Charles Dickens and Political History similar. The context, and in the case of genetics, the function of these genes is what matters. And although genetic comparison of living beings is a highly intriguing field of research, we shouldn’t take it too seriously.

We should be proud of who we are, and what we can do. Humans are one of the most advanced creatures on this planet, with the best cognitive and analytical abilities, and the brightest brains. We may be similar to a lot of other living beings because everyone evolved from the same source. But that doesn’t make us any less unique, and that is all that matters!

Top 10 International Exams

By

Anchal

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March 12, 2019

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According to the RBI, spending on tuition and hostel fees by Indian students studying abroad has shot up 44% in the past three years. For example, the count of Indian students studying in the US was 186,267 in 2016-17, of which approximately 15% are for undergraduate studies. While the Indian government is trying to keep up with educational facilities, Indian families these days have a lot of disposable income and don’t shy away from spending their hard-earned money as an investment to their children’s future.

With the recent story of the daughter of an Indian billionaire who was studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, was being set up by her dad in a mansion staffed by 12 servants rather than staying in regular student accommodation, it might seem that Indians with a lot of disposable income are only opting for studies overseas, but it isn’t only these heirs of opulent families of the “Crazy Rich Asians”, but the middle class too, relying on the increasing availability of student loans , part-time jobs and scholarships to finance their education.

So without wasting more time, let’s take a look at the top 10 exams popular among Indian students:

GRE( Graduate Record Exam)

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) revised General Test is taken by individuals applying to various graduate and business school programs in United States and other countries. Administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), it is available at about 700 centers in over 160 countries.

The computer-based GRE can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous period of 12 months. This includes test attempts in which the score was cancelled by the candidate.

Eligibility

There is no specific eligibility criterion for GRE. However, various universities that accept GRE scores have their own criteria of admission.

Exam Format

GRE is conducted in two formats: computer-based and paper-based. In India, only the computer-based format is available.

Important Dates

The computer-based GRE can be taken once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous period of 12 months. This includes test attempts in which the score was canceled by the candidate.

IELTS(International English Language Testing System)

IELTS is an English language certification exam that is required to be taken by international candidates of countries whose native language is not English considering studying or working in a country where English is the main language of communication. The full form of IELTS is International English Language Testing System. Most popular countries where IELTS is accepted for university admissions are UK, Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada. A lot of European countries like the Nordic countries, Germany etc. ask for the IELTS too. The exam mainly measures the ability of test-takers to communicate in the four basic language skills – listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

There are two types of IELTS : Academic and General. The Academic IELTS is specially tailored for the people who wish to study in an English language institution.

Often international students are confused between choosing IELTS or TOEFL, as universities abroad ask for either exam scores. It is up to you as a test taker to decide which of the two exams to take, but remember that IELTS is more preferred in UK, Australia, and New Zealand, while TOEFL is popular among applicants to universities in US and Canada. So knowing the required average scores for US universities and average scores for Canadian universities is an important start.

IELTS isn’t compulsory in all university admissions. Many universities do not even require IELTS scores for admission purposes. But if someone don’t give the IELTS, his/her chances of getting the student visa might suffer as the visa officers may not be convinced about your English proficiency without IELTS scores. So it is safer to appear for IELTS and aim to score at least 6 bands overall.

You can take the IELTS exam with the British Council or IDP up to once a week (four times a month). The British Council and IDP global schedule for test dates is 48 days per year.

TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language)

Its an Internet-based or paper-based standardized test conducted by the ETS(Educational Testing Service), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports, sent independently to institutions, for two years following the test.[6]

It measures and tests reading, listening, speaking and writing of the English language of non-native English speakers.

It was started in 1964, 54 years ago.

It can be taken only once in any 12-day period. The TOEFL has 4,500 test centers in 165 countries.

The test is accepted by many English-speaking academic and professional institutions. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.

SAT

The SAT is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors for admission to undergraduate courses.The SAT measures literacy, numeracy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in college, assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college. However, the test is administered under a tight time limit (speeded) to help produce a range of scores.

The College Board also states that use of the SAT in combination with high school grade point average (GPA) provides a better indicator of success in college than high school grades alone, as measured by college freshman GPA. A good performance in SAT is also said to increase the chances of getting admission to a highly ranked college and scholarships.

GMAT(Graduate Management Admission Test)

The Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer based test intended to assess certain analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in written English for use in admission to a graduate management program, such as an MBA. It requires knowledge of certain specific grammar and knowledge of certain specific algebra, geometry, and arithmetic.

According to the test owning company, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, while also addressing data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that it believes to be vital to real-world business and management success. It can be taken up to five times a year. Attempts must be at least 16 days apart.

The GMAT exam is a computer adaptive test and not a computer-based test, which means that the candidate will get one question at a time and depending on the accuracy of the previous answer, the difficulty level of the next question will be ascertained. The average scores required for universities abroad varies; top-tier universities require at least 710, while middle-tier universities accept 600.

GMAT is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council. More than 7,000 programs at approximately 2,300 graduate business schools around the world accept the GMAT as part of the selection criteria for their programs. Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of Finance programs and others. The GMAT is administered in standardized test centers in 114 countries around the world. The GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants despite the increasing acceptability of GRE scores and the exam predicts success in business school programs.

ACT

The ACT, just like the SAT measures the skills of the students willing to get admission into undergraduate courses. It has may types, including English (tests your understanding of English, production of writing and knowledge of language skills), Math (tests the mathematical skills you have typically acquired in courses up to the beginning of grade 12), Reading (tests Reading comprehension commonly encountered in first-year college curricula), Science (measures: the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving skills required in biology, chemistry, Earth/space sciences and physics).

PTE Academic( Pearson Test of English Academic)

PTE Academic, just like the IELTS, TOEFL and TOEIC is a multi-level test, and tests

English language proficiency .To complete a PTE Academic test, the test taker need to attend a secure Pearson test center and use a computer and headset to listen to, read and respond to questions.During the three-hour test session there will be three main parts to the test: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice through to essay writing and interpreting information.

PTE Academic assesses real-life, academic English, so you will hear excerpts from lectures and view graphs and charts. The test taker hears a range of accents in the test, from British and American to non-native speakers, so he will be exposed to the type of accents he will encounter in everyday life.

USMLE(United States Medical Licensing Examination)

The USMLE assesses a physician’s ability to apply knowledge, concepts, and principles, and to demonstrate fundamental patient-centered skills, that are important in health and disease and that constitute the basis of safe and effective patient care.

The examination offers medical license in US and is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) – two important regulatory bodies in the USA. Both FSMB and NBME are not-for-profit organization representing the 70 state medical and osteopathic boards of the Country and its territories. Each state in the USA has its own medical licensing authority which sets rules and regulations as well as requires passing an examination for license for that state. Theses state medical and osteopathic boards use the common evaluation system conducted by the USMLE for applicants for initial medical license.

According to some researches, approximately 50-60% Indian applicants are able to crack it , with the number increasing every year. Important thing here is just cracking USMLE doesn’t give you a residency . You need to clear all the USMLE exams , ace your interview and then bag you might have a good shot at residency.

LSAT(Law School Admission Test)

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test administered 6 times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. Administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for prospective law school candidates, the LSAT is designed to assess reading comprehension, logical, and verbal reasoning proficiency. The test is an integral part of the law school admission process in the United States, Canada , UK , Australia, and a growing number of other countries.

Many Universities are associated with LSAT India too, so a good score is often one of the admission criteria of some of the top universities students opt for.

The test started in 1948, when it was created to give law schools a standardized way to assess applicants aside from GPA.The current form of the exam has existed since 1991. The exam has six total sections: four scored multiple choice sections, an unscored experimental section, and an unscored writing section. Raw scores are converted to a scaled score with a high of 180, a low of 120, and a median score around 150. The LSAT is notoriously challenging, which is why LSAT prep courses are extremely popular undertakings amongst students looking to become lawyers.

MCAT(Medical College Admission Test)

It’s a Computer-based standardized test, administrated by the American Association of Medical Colleges(AMAC). It tests the test takers knowledge in the fields of Physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning.

It is often required for admissions to medical colleges (principally in the United States and Canada, and 15 other countries).

It can be taken a maximum of 3 times in a one year period; 4 times in a two year period; and 7 times for life.

There is no specific eligibility criteria of MCAT for aspirants planning to apply to health professional institutes like Allopathic, Osteopathic, Podiatric, Veterinary Medicine.

Also, if an aspirant holds an MBBS degree already or is in an MBBS program he/she might register for the MCAT exam without seeking special permission.

Top 5 beautiful songs by Hozier

By

Salini

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March 11, 2019

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Andrew Hozier-Byrne is one of those fascinating musicians in the world who has the power to enchant you unknowingly. In this era, unnecessary fancy props, unwanted bass drops and auto tune rules the world. But, this Irish musician belong to those artists who still follows the magical way of storytelling through his music. He is known for beautifully playing with different genres and turning them into magic. I would say “ Hozier is magic himself ”.

Here are his top 5 beautiful songs that you should hear now, if you haven’t already:

Take Me to Church by Hozier

“Take Me to Church” is Hozier’s first big single from his debut album. This is one of the dangerously beautiful music video ever made. The deeply emotional song talks about the oppression, indoctrination and discrimination done by Church in the name of religion. “Homophobia is one just aspect of this bigger concept”. Inspired from this piece ,there is also a beautiful ballet performance by Sergei Polunin.

Movement

“Movement” features the legendary Ballet dancer Sergei Polunin. His incredible skills took up the song to a whole new level. This inspiring song is about passion and love governed by positive and negative emotions of one’s ownself. I feel after Take me to Church, this is one of the most beautiful song of Hozier.

Work Song

“Work Song” is a powerful love song. It portrays the inevitable love of two people whom even death can’t defeat. The humming and the rhythmic beats make it more irresistible. One can say it’s more of a spiritual love song.

Arsonist’s Lullaby

The two contrasting words in “Arsonist’s lullaby” itself gives us a very queer feeling. So does the song. According to me, he is talking about fighting with our inner demons (emotions or feelings). To maintain peace in our life we should neither embrace our demon nor set them free, always keep them on leash.

Cherry Wine

The song “Cherry wine” feels like what it is literally; sweet intoxication. The song seems very sweet and melodious in the beginning. However, as you move forward, it will led you to a sudden tragedy. Also, the deep emotional lyrics are like a cherry on the top. The most significant thing that I like about this song and the music video is that it doesn’t discriminate the gender. The lyrics talk about the miserable man while the video shows the miserable woman.

The more you listen to Hozier’s songs, more it will feel like poetry. They are beautiful pieces of art. Some of his other songs you can tune into are: Wasteland, Baby! , Jackie and Wilson , From Eden, Like Real People Do and To be Alone.

The Best Calisthenics Programme For A Beginner

By

Shubhi Srivastava

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March 8, 2019

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So you one of the many people that want to get fit, leaner and build muscle, but at the same time cannot join a gym due to time restrictions, and you decide to start calisthenics, and workout with your bodyweight as resistance. You’re all set, but there is one problem; how do you start? Here, I’ll give you your complete guide to calisthenics.

What is calisthenics and why is it good for you?

Calisthenics, or body weight training is a great and convenient way to get fit. It requires little to no equipment and can be performed anytime and anywhere. Calisthenics will not only help you get a better physique, build more strength and improve your reflexes, but will also make you more confident. Since it requires no equipment, you will have lesser excuses; Can’t make it to the gym? The floor is your gym! Get working.

Types of exercises

Before we go deeper into the world of bodyweight training, you first need to know the basics. Every movement, in the gym or in calisthenics, has a purpose behind them. Overlooking this can lead to imbalances and injuries. Exercises are mainly of two types; namely, push exercises and pull exercises.

Push exercises

The Best Calisthenics Programme For A Beginner

As the name suggests, they work the pushing muscles; mainly the chest, triceps and the anterior deltoids (the front part of the shoulder). Basic pushing exercises mainly include variations of pushups and squats.

Pull exercises

Pull exercises work the pulling muscles; mainly the back, biceps and the posterior deltoid, he back part of the shoulder. Basic pulling exercises include variations of chin ups and pull ups.

It is important to give equal importance to both types of exercises to prevent imbalances. There is another type, known as isometric exercises, which includes planks and wall sits. It involves keeping certain muscles under tension for a certain amount of time.

Calisthenics movements are mostly compound movements, meaning they engage more than one muscle group. In the push-up, for example, your front deltoids along with your triceps work with your chest to push your body from the ground, while your core works to stabilize the movement. Compound exercises have a huge advantage over isolation exercises (a dumbbell curl for example, which works only the biceps, and the forearms to some extent). Compound exercises not only burn more calories but since they recruit more muscle groups, they allow you to complete a full body workout in a lesser amount of time. Not only this but since they mimic real-world movements, they offer a decreased risk of injury

A Typical Full-Body Calisthenic Workout

Now that you know the purpose behind the movements, the next thing you need to consider is your workout split or the “body part days”. For beginners, a full body workout thrice a week is enough for results, provided you are intense in your workouts and are consistent.

A full body workout should include 4-6 exercises, with adequate sets and reps, performed with ideal form. Let me clear these terms for you-

Reps- Short for repetitions; they are the number of times you do a particular movement. Like 10 pushups, 12 squats and so on.
Sets- A number of repetitions when performed consecutively makes one set. The rep range can vary anywhere from 1 to your max, depending on your goals and fitness level.
Rest- The amount of time between two sets.

A good full body workout gets the job done in a short period of time, without ignoring any muscles. Full body workouts don’t let certain muscles get more dominant than others and cause imbalances. Once you successfully continue this routine every alternate day for 60-90 days, you can switch to other splits. Before that, it is important you get comfortable with the form, remember to stretch and do your warm-ups.

What is a warm-up?

Many people overlook warm-ups. They are one of the most important parts of your workout. Warm-ups get the blood flowing in the body and prepare it for the workout. Working out without a proper warm-up leads to injury, no matter what your fitness level is. Seriously, do not start your workout without a proper warm up.

Importance of sleep and nutrition

Another thing people overlook is the proper sleep and nutrition. You need to know, your body doesn’t grow when you workout, it grows when you sleep. When you train, the fibers that make up your muscles tear due to the workout. When you go to sleep, the brain senses the damage and sends satellite cells to the damaged muscles. The muscles recover, get strong, and as well as an increase in size.

Nutrition plays an important role as well; for food or drink is your fuel, and if you give your car fuel of poor quality, it won’t be ideal, will it? Your diet should be balanced, consisting of all food groups. Protein, as you might know, is the most important nutrient for building muscles. Many people think that you get fat by consuming too many carbohydrates or fats. No. you get fat by consuming excessive calories.

Remember, consistency is the key. Fitness is not a hobby, but a lifestyle. You can’t excel in it if you don’t give it a hundred percent of your effort. Sure, you can throw in the occasional cheat meal, but make sure you keep it ‘occasional’.

Best Calisthenics Exercises list

I’ll list down some bodyweight exercises below, which will help you design a custom workout based on your split:

Pushups

Target area- Chest, triceps, and front deltoids.

Squats

Target area- Quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings

Planks

Target area- Abdominals and core

Dips

Target area- Chest, triceps

Wall Sits

Target area- Hamstrings, glutes, and quadriceps.

Sit ups \ crunches

Target area- Abdominals, core

Calf raises

Target area- Calves

Pull-ups

Target area- Back (and biceps to some extent)

Chin Ups

Target area- Back and biceps.

Example of a full body routine (beginner)

Warm up, stretching
Plain pushups, 4 sets x 12 reps
Bench dips, 4 sets x 12 reps
Pull-ups, 4 sets x 6 reps
Chin-ups, 4 sets x 6 reps
Squats, 4 sets x 20 reps
Wall sits, 3 sets x 45 seconds
Planks, 4 sets x 30 seconds
Sit-ups, 4 sets x 12 reps
Stretching

Now that you know the types of movements, and the purpose behind each of them, you can design your own workout. The number of sets you do should depend on the number of reps in each. More reps per set = less amount of sets. Rests between sets can be up to 45 seconds each.

Calisthenics offers an infinite amount of exercises. Each exercise has multiple variations. Your pushups can be explosive, like clap pushups and even superman pushups. The same goes with your pull-ups, like the archer pull ups or explosive pull-ups. Even with squats, there are multiple variations like pistol squats and jump squats. Stick to your regime, and your efforts will pay off!

7 Proven Tips To Manage Stress As A Student

By

Shubhi Srivastava

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March 8, 2019

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Stress means the feeling of being tense. This tension, or stress, can come from any event that you dread, want to avoid, or are nervous about. Everyone feels stressed. It’s natural, but it certainly degrades the quality of life. While stress, in a way can prove useful for you, such as to provide motivation for a deadline, nobody likes the feeling. In today’s fast-paced world, where everything has a fast-approaching deadline, stress is bound to control our lives. Be it a student or a teacher, an executive or a parent; everyone has his or her fair share of stress.

However, with the practice of correct relaxation techniques and practices, stress levels can be greatly reduced in no time. It is important to manage stress, otherwise, it can hamper with your life in no time. Stress and its management are different for different people, but dangerous to all.

For students

7 Proven Tips To Manage Stress As A Student

Students become one of the most common targets of stress. They feel the need to prove their worth to their parents, family as well as society. On top of that, they are required to study for numerous hours a day, meet deadlines for assignments, meet and manage their expenses, as well as deal with social pressure and what not. Stress in students, when accumulates over time can be dangerous. If you are a student dealing with stress, here are some tips that can help you curb your stress.

Time management

Managing your time is perhaps the best thing you can do. Time is something that should be spent wisely. Having a schedule for your day will provide you with adequate time for all activities, and allow you to take breaks every now and then to relax your mind. This will let you divide your time efficiently, and you will be able to give time to work, rest, study and your family as well.

Avoid negative thoughts

Having a positive mindset helps one in all stages of his life. Mental stress always follows negative thoughts. Not only negative thoughts but over thinking about things tends to stress you out as well. Instead of worrying, try to be positive and not think about the past or the future. You are living in the present, think about the present, and think positive.

Give time to your family and friends.

Talking to people you are close to will reduce your stress and relieve your mind. Try to spend at least thirty minutes with your friends or members of your family a day. Not only will it help you reduce your stress and distract your mind, but also prevent you from feeling lonely.

Exercise

Exercising, while great in itself, is a brilliant way to reduce stress. Exercising not only lowers cortisol, the stress hormone but also encourages the production of endorphins, which make you feel better. You do not need to go to the gym, even a walk will be enough. Go out, get some fresh air and distract yourself.

Take a small nap

Sleep deprivation is bad for concentration and tends to increase your stress. Taking a short nap, or a power nap will help you catch up on sleep as well as refresh you. However, make sure you do not sleep for too long; otherwise, your mood will worsen once you wake up, and you might even get a headache.

Breathe

Manage Stress — A tired fitness girl takes a breath and enjoys a break before a new series of exercises.

Focus on your breathing. When under stress, you often lose your ability to think clearly. Focusing on your breathing is a great way to calm yourself down, and helps relieve stress in a short amount of time.

Get to work, and remove distractions

It’s easy to lose track of what you’re doing and start procrastinating. Everyone does it, and it wastes a lot of valuable time. However, this can be avoided. The best way to avoid procrastinating and get to work is to remove distractions from sight. When you are studying in a room that is messy, or on an overly crowded table, you are more likely to procrastinate. Study in a clean, organized environment and your focus levels will drastically raise.

Another thing you can do is to study the difficult topics first. Once you get the difficult portion out of the way, you will breeze through the rest, and reduce the chances of you procrastinating.

Stress levels in students tend to skyrocket during exam times. All you need to do is prepare well and believe in yourself. Stressing will not be fruitful in any manner. All the best!

Samsung Galaxy S10 Series Pre-book Review: All You Need To Know About the Next Generation Smartphone

By

Anjum Baba

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March 7, 2019

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Imagine a smartphone, designed for the future that delivers in more ways than you can imagine. The all-new Galaxy S10 series is not only bigger and smarter, but it also lasts for an impressively long time.

Our gadget geek got to review the new flagship from Samsung and the experience has been quite amazing. The premium members pre-booked this new offering from Samsung and they were highly excited about the highlighted features. This lineup promised a lot of things and it surely has delivered in every aspect.

A New Beginning for Samsung

Smartphones are becoming more and more innovative every year and Samsung is stealing the spotlight in the tech world. Earlier in 2019, the company launched its very first phone with a foldable screen and it became the buzz of the town. Now with the arrival of Galaxy S10 series, a whole array of features are being teased, be it the new hole-punch camera and ultrasonic in-display fingerprint reader.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Series: Price and specifications

The S10 lineup will have a starting price of INR 55,900 for the Galaxy S10E 128GB variant. This model can be expanded up to 512GB using a microSD card. The Galaxy S10 variant will start from INR 66,900 for the 128GB variant with the 512GB variant priced at INR 84,900. The later variant is available in white, while the former has blue, white and black color options. The top-of-the-line model namely Galaxy S10+ has mammoth storage of 1Tb and comes at a price of INR 1,17,900. It features a beautiful ceramic built with white and black color options. Galaxy S10+ has a 512GB storage variant featuring a ceramic finish, costing INR 91,900, while the 128GB variant costs INR 73,900. The later is available in blue, white and black colors.

A Galaxy of New Features

From a highly powerful processor to a beautiful all-screen design, Samsung has packed the very best features in this one. The one that steals the limelight is the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor followed by the head-turner that is the wireless charging with power sharing. And above all, the jack didn’t die in this one, which is a great plus. The UI didn’t lag at all and more security updates are coming soon.

Three Cities, Thousand of Loyal Customers and One Great Journey We started our journey from Jamshedpur, getting the feedback from customers, then moved on to Ranchi and finally reached Dhanbad. The questions captured the mood of the buyers and helped get us an insight about the hype around this new addition to the Samsung family. Here are some highlights of our tech blogger’s conversation with the customers.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Series Pre-book Review: All You Need To Know About the Next Generation Smartphone

Q1. Do you have any idea about the Samsung Galaxy S10?

Rajneesh (Buyer): “We saw the features on YouTube, but want to know more. This demo will give us the required information and I am very excited. I have been using Samsung’s premium smartphones for quite a long time and the Galaxy S10 series will surely live up to the expectations.”

Q2. Do you know why has this event been organized for you?

Aryan (Customer): Yes. Samsung is always known for its fabulous customer service and we, the premium customers, have got all the necessary information about the event. It feels good to be here; looking forward to check all the models.

Q3. Did you pre-book the Samsung Galaxy S10?

Ritwik (Potential Buyer): Yes, I did and the wait is just unbearable. This showroom experience is magnificent and I am in love with the S10+. Samsung has included some real innovation in this one, this might be a new chapter in their dominance in the smartphone segment.

Q4. Which features were you expecting in the Samsung Galaxy S10?

Suman (Premium Member): I was definitely expecting a better camera, though I had no such fascination about the display. Apart from that, a better Battery always makes us happy.

Q5. Are you satisfied with the features that the Samsung Galaxy S10 has to offer?

Simran (Buyer): Very satisfied, but the cost is a bit on the higher side.

Q6. Are you satisfied with the highlighted features?

Avirup (Buyer): Yes, very much. From device to device charging with powerless share and the AMOLED Cinematic Display – this one is surely built for the future.

Q7. Which model of S10 did you book?

Pooja (Customer): Samsung Galaxy S10+

The Bottom Line: Which one to buy?

Every model has its own special points, so it all comes down to the features you are looking for and your budget. However, the Galaxy S10E is the most preferred choice according to us. It is comfortable to hold, the flat screen is pretty good and the storage is more than enough. Compare the specs, look for the ones which suit your need the most and pick a phone which not only scores on the style aspect, but also is high on performance. Whatever might be your choice, Samsung has surely set the bar very high in 2019.

TOP 10 K-dramas of 2018

By

Salini

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March 5, 2019

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Hallyu wave has been dominating Indian youth for a long time now. As it is well known for, it has been knocking and capturing the hearts of people smoothly. Unknowingly, not only the teenagers and people in their 20s, but also middle aged people are getting love shot by the Korean wave. Through Kdrama and Kpop the vibrant culture of South Korea are attracting people across the country. Moreover, the limited episodes along with the fresh storylines are cherry on the top, isn’t it?

So, my beloved Kdrama lovers, here is my list for the top 10 Kdramas of 2018:

My Mister

My Mister is about a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s who helped each other to confront the burden in their life through various experiences. These experiences portray the most realistic human relationships through a heart wrenching amazing plot. It’s quite difficult to remember any such drama or TV series that can portray the individuality and existence of a human being in such a beautiful way. Don’t watch it for love or happiness, watch it for finding yourself.

Prison Playbook

Prison Playbook is about a famous baseball player who is convicted of assault while saving his sister from sexual harassment. Through his prison life, it will capture the lives of convicts, police officers and their families aptly. This drama has perfect proportionate elements of happiness, sadness, laughter and humour to hook you up for a long ride.

Still 17

Still 17 is about a woman who wakes up from coma with a mental age of a 17 year old girl and a man who cannot move on from a 13 year old trauma. It starts off with light comedy and budding romance, however, soon their lives get entangled by a hidden past. This drama is one of those which will let you almost know everything soon but, will still make you addicted enough to click the next episode!

Mother

Mother is an unexpected, heart wrenching and helpless journey of a teacher and her abused student whom she kidnapped to protect at all cost. This is a perfect emotional roller coaster ride of a mother and a daughter that will successfully keep you on the edge at the end of every episode.

Children of Nobody

Children of nobody is a story about a child counsellor and a detective who fight together against child abuse and find justice for these innocent, traumatised children. Apart from the gripping practically emotional plot, the crime show has enough twist and turns to blow your mind away.

Welcome to Waikiki

Welcome to Waikiki tells the story of three hopeless men whose life gets complicated after the arrival of an unknown baby and a single mother. The plot may sound similar or common. However, this romcom has all the elements to keep you glued while literally making you roll on the floor and laughing unknowingly. On top of that, this drama has many references to our very own Bollywood movie, “3 Idiots”. So, what are you waiting for?

The Guest

The Guest is a story of a psychic, detective and a Catholic priest who fight together against the evil spirit who destroyed their families. If you are up for a rollercoaster of horror, terror, suspense, thriller and exorcism without any unnecessary clichéd romantic plot, then this ride is for you!

Live

Live explores the lives of the police officers and their sacrifices who protect justice through thick and thin. If you loved Prison playbook, then you will definitely love this drama. The well developed story lines and characters will make you binge watch it at one go.

Lawless Lawyer

As the title goes, this tells us a story about a “gangster lawyer” who breaks all the laws to fight for justice against corruption along with a suspended lawyer. If you are up for a cup of action packed legal drama along with talented actors and amazing plot, then this your tea!

100 Days My Prince

100 Days My Prince is the story of a prince Lee Yul who lose memory after an attempted assassination and meet Hong shim, the head of a detective agency. This shows the beautiful budding romance between them while he live with her undertaking a new identity for 100 days. Though the drama seems to be boring towards the last few episodes, but the amazing acting and chemistry can easily overpower it. Go for it if you are up for a refreshing historical romcom.

Well, don’t you all feel that 10 dramas are not enough? The more, the better, right? So, here are some special mentions: Beauty Inside (2018), Miracle that we met, The Smile that has left your eyes, Misty, Come here and hug me, Something in the rain and last but not the least Life of Mars.