Mansi Jain: Meet the NIFT topper caught between two dream colleges, NIFT Delhi or IIT‑Bombay
Speaking to ET.com, the Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate shared her preparation journey, academic background, and the unique position she now finds herself in.
'For many, fashion isn't the first career choice,' Mansi said. 'But for me, it was a natural progression. I come from a fine arts background and always knew I wanted to pursue design seriously.' She revealed that she dedicated 2–3 hours daily to sketching practice, used tools like ChatGPT for design aptitude, and focused heavily on creative problem-solving over current affairs.
Despite her clear passion for fashion, Mansi remains undecided about which institution to pick. 'I will attend the NIFT counselling session first. Then i will see which branch i am getting then i will decide'. Mansi's strategy involved leveraging her strengths. 'I didn't spend too much time on GK. My focus was on developing my creative thinking through my blog and by observing other artists' work,' she said.
When asked what kept her going through the intense preparation phase, she credited her art background. 'Studying fine arts meant I was constantly sketching. It never felt like an extra burden,' she said.Her message to future aspirants is simple but powerful: 'Stay confident and don't lose your potential. Your mindset matters as much as your preparation.'With 19 departments and highly sought-after campuses like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, NIFT presents an attractive proposition. But so does IIT Bombay, widely regarded as India's top design school.As Mansi weighs her options, the design world watches closely to see where the country's top fashion mind will head next.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
14-07-2025
- Economic Times
Reddit post on quitting Bengaluru after 3 months over high living costs goes viral, sparks debate on city life
A Reddit user's decision to leave Bengaluru due to high living costs has sparked widespread online discussion. The user cited exorbitant rent, food, and transport expenses, coupled with long commutes and limited transport options, as reasons for relocating to Kolkata or Hyderabad. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The soaring cost of living in major Indian cities has become a hot topic online, with a Reddit post recently going viral. One user shared their decision to leave Bengaluru just three months after moving there, resonating with many who are facing similar struggles. The post sheds light on the growing challenge working professionals face in managing everyday expenses and commuting in the to Reddit user @shank_Tip, life in Bengaluru turned out to be much costlier than anticipated. In their post titled 'Leaving Bengaluru', they shared that their salary barely covered basic expenses such as rent, food, and transport. They also pointed out the city's limited transport options and long commuting hours as reasons behind their decision to post'I am leaving Bengaluru after 3 months. Very, very expensive – I hardly have any money left after paying rent, food, and transport every month. Shifting to Kolkata or Hyderabad– getting a higher salary for a similar job, with very, very low monthly rent and good public transport. Here, no Rapido bike, no metro, damn. Daily travel is 4 hours for work. Thank you– only the weather is amazing,' the user post received a wave of responses from users who could relate to the situation. Many applauded the decision and shared similar concerns about Bengaluru's high cost of living.'Good decision, buddy. I wish you luck… It's high time Bengaluru realises that living here is harder than working here. I support you,' commented one echoed the sentiment, saying, 'Good luck. I want more folks to realise this and leave Bengaluru. The city can't handle this many people.'One user questioned the widely accepted discomfort of city life, stating,'I never understood this stance… 'I have to suffer because everyone else is suffering' – what kind of an argument is this?'While @shank_Tip mentioned plans to move to Kolkata or Hyderabad, some users debated the cost-effectiveness of those cities. One user noted, 'Hyderabad is more expensive as compared to Bengaluru.' Despite differing opinions, others appreciated the decision and offered support.'Good luck to you, man. Living here, especially alone, is so difficult and expensive,' one user post continues to spark conversation online, underscoring the broader concerns around urban living costs and quality of life in India's tech This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of . Reader discretion is advised.[With TOI inputs]
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Time of India
Reddit post on quitting Bengaluru after 3 months over high living costs goes viral, sparks debate on city life
The soaring cost of living in major Indian cities has become a hot topic online, with a Reddit post recently going viral. One user shared their decision to leave Bengaluru just three months after moving there, resonating with many who are facing similar struggles. The post sheds light on the growing challenge working professionals face in managing everyday expenses and commuting in the city. According to Reddit user @shank_Tip, life in Bengaluru turned out to be much costlier than anticipated. In their post titled 'Leaving Bengaluru', they shared that their salary barely covered basic expenses such as rent, food, and transport. They also pointed out the city's limited transport options and long commuting hours as reasons behind their decision to relocate. Reddit post by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beba esto antes de dormir y vea cómo se reduce su vientre por la mañana Lulutox Undo 'I am leaving Bengaluru after 3 months. Very, very expensive – I hardly have any money left after paying rent, food, and transport every month. Shifting to Kolkata or Hyderabad– getting a higher salary for a similar job, with very, very low monthly rent and good public transport. Here, no Rapido bike, no metro, damn. Daily travel is 4 hours for work. Thank you– only the weather is amazing,' the user wrote. Live Events The post received a wave of responses from users who could relate to the situation. Many applauded the decision and shared similar concerns about Bengaluru's high cost of living. 'Good decision, buddy. I wish you luck… It's high time Bengaluru realises that living here is harder than working here. I support you,' commented one user. Another echoed the sentiment, saying, 'Good luck. I want more folks to realise this and leave Bengaluru. The city can't handle this many people.' One user questioned the widely accepted discomfort of city life, stating, 'I never understood this stance… 'I have to suffer because everyone else is suffering' – what kind of an argument is this?' While @shank_Tip mentioned plans to move to Kolkata or Hyderabad, some users debated the cost-effectiveness of those cities. One user noted, 'Hyderabad is more expensive as compared to Bengaluru.' Despite differing opinions, others appreciated the decision and offered support. 'Good luck to you, man. Living here, especially alone, is so difficult and expensive,' one user wrote. The post continues to spark conversation online, underscoring the broader concerns around urban living costs and quality of life in India's tech hubs. has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of . Reader discretion is advised. [With TOI inputs]
NDTV
06-07-2025
- NDTV
Who Leaves It All Behind? These 8 IITians Did
Graduating from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) is widely seen as a stepping stone to high-paying careers and global opportunities. Students go through years of rigorous preparation to crack one of the world's toughest entrance exams, followed by an intensive academic journey, and often secure prestigious jobs in top multinational companies. However, many of the IIT graduates have taken a different path-one that diverges sharply from material success. After excelling in academics and beginning promising careers, these individuals chose to renounce mainstream life and pursue spirituality. Their decisions reflect diverse motivations ranging from personal fulfillment to a search for deeper meaning. Here's a look at eight such IIT alumni who chose monkhood and spiritual service over conventional professional lives: 1. Gauranga Das (IIT Bombay, in Metallurgical Engineering, 1989-1993) Gauranga Das is a leadership consultant and spiritual mentor associated with ISKCON. He has been involved in social and environmental initiatives, including the Govardhan Ecovillage. He also teaches leadership at IIM Nagpur. 2. Radheshyam Das (IIT, 1990-1993) Radheshyam Das has been associated with ISKCON for over 25 years and currently serves as the President of ISKCON NVCC in Pune. He founded VOICE (Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education), which works with students and professionals to integrate values and spiritual inquiry. 3. Acharya Prashant (IIT Delhi, 1995-1999; IIM Ahmedabad, PGDM, 2001-2003) Prashant Tripathi, known as Acharya Prashant, is a contemporary spiritual teacher and author. He founded the PrashantAdvait Foundation and delivers talks on Vedanta and non-duality (Advaita philosophy). Before his spiritual transition, he held roles in the corporate sector. 4. Swami Mukundananda (IIT Delhi, IIM Calcutta, PGDM) Swami Mukundananda is a spiritual teacher who combines ancient Indian wisdom with contemporary life applications. He began his career in the corporate world but later turned toward spiritual study and teaching, eventually founding JKYog, an organization promoting yoga and wellness. 5. Mahan Maharaj (IIT Kanpur, in Mathematics, 1992) Also known as Mahan Mj or Swami Vidyanathananda, he is a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission and a professor of mathematics. His academic work, especially in hyperbolic geometry and geometric group theory, has received international recognition. 6. Acharya Jaishankar Narayanan (IIT-BHU, 1992) After graduating from IIT-BHU and briefly working at Tata Steel and in the US, Jaishankar Narayanan embraced the teachings of Swami Dayananda Saraswati and transitioned into monkhood. He now teaches Vedanta and Sanskrit. 7. Madhu Pandit Dasa (IIT Bombay) Madhu Pandit Dasa is known for founding The Akshaya Patra Foundation in 2000, a major NGO that provides mid-day meals to schoolchildren across India. A devotee of ISKCON, he has been active in organizational leadership and social service. 8. Abhay Singh (IIT Bombay, Aerospace Engineering) Now known as 'IIT Baba,' Abhay Singh left his engineering career to lead a spiritual life. A native of Haryana, he has been seen participating in large spiritual gatherings like the Kumbh Mela, where he draws public attention for his unusual journey from IIT to renunciation.
