Agricultural and industrial by-products such as biomass ash remain underutilized due to their complex physico-chemical characteristics.

The main outcome expected from this study by IIT Madras researchers in association with MIT of USA is achieving a paradigm shift in material selection criteria for exploiting the usefulness of agricultural and industrial by-products.

These novel building materials will be attractive due to lower cost and environmental impact than existing materials.

This project is being led by Dr. Piyush Chaunsali and Professor Ravindra Gettu, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras with Dr. Elsa A. Olivetti, Atlantic Richfield Associate Professor of Energy Studies at MIT of USA.

This research project was taken up under SPARC Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Dr. Piyush Chaunsali said unique aspect of this research project is while there has been limited utilization of waste and by-products in structural materials such as concrete, this project taken up by MIT of USA and IIT Madras aims at developing a novel framework for high-volume utilization of industrial by-products in alternative cementitious binders.

The problem being addressed by the researchers at IIT Madras and MIT of USA is that by-products such as biomass ash, coal ash, red mud, and copper slag, among others, which are generated in large volumes and remain mostly underutilized due to their complex physico-chemical characteristics.

This project aims to address growing challenge regarding the beneficial utilization of voluminous industrial by-products generated in India.

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Infrastructure construction offers potential sinks for these source materials due to the enormous volume usages, in applications such as roads, buildings and bridges, among others.

Dr. Elsa A. Olivetti from MIT of USA said this SPARC project being taken up researchers at IIT Madras and MIT of USA is about developing new, more sustainable cements and cement binders.

Cement concretes are some of the most widely used materials on the planet and so, they have a big environmental impact because we need so much of them and the processes that we use to make them have significant environmental impact, she said.

Dr. Elsa from MIT of USA further said in particular, we are trying to use industrial waste materials to make new cement binders so that we could have more sustainable materials.

‘We want to think about various regions of India and what waste materials are available and how might they be used to make new cements that would have lower environmental footprint than the current building materials that are being used.’

Her expertise will provide a different dimension in order to perform sustainability assessment of the processes involving valorization of industrial by-products.

Professor Elsa Olivetti from MIT of USA visited IIT Madras during January 2020 and Professor Ravindra Gettu from IIT Madras visited MIT of USA in February 2020.

During the visits, research results and plans for further work were discussed. The collaboration involves faculty and student exchange between IIT Madras and MIT of USA.

Moreover, development of a new course on ‘Environmental and Economic Sustainability of Materials’ has also been proposed.

This research project taken by IIT Madras in association with MIT of USA combines the principles of materials chemistry, structural engineering, and life-cycle analysis to develop load bearing, durable, sustainable, and economically viable cementitious binders based on industrial by-products in India.

Objective of this project by IIT Madras and MIT of USA are performance mapping and characterization of industrial by-products in India for assessing their availability and reactivity.

Another objective of this project by IIT Madras and MIT of USA is to explore low-energy pathways for high volume utilization of industrial by-products in cementitious binders.

Evaluating environmental sustainability of novel cementitious binders using life-cycle assessment is also one of the objective of this work by MIT of USA and IIT Madras.

Also the project aims to develop a broad framework based on materials chemistry for high volume (>50%) application of industrial by-products in infrastructure materials.

SPARC (or) Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between Indian institutions and the best institutions in the world from 28 selected nations to jointly solve problems of national or international relevance.

The IoE initiative is part of a focused effort undertaken by the Government of India to improve the quality of higher educational institutions and make them world class.

One of the highlights of the IoE initiative is that public institutions selected as ‘Institution of Eminence’ will be provided a financial assistance of up to Rs.1000 crore, over a period of five years to emerge as world class institutions.

In addition, they will begin admitting foreign students and in recruiting foreign faculty.

Often it is seen that students come forward with great enthusiasm to step into the realms of higher education, but confusion as to what course to study often puts a students in a fix.

The story will deal with similarities, differences, eligibility and career prospects and so on in connection with MBA and MCom.

Those desiring to know more about MBA or MCom can browse various sources in online and offline fronts for in-depth information. Details are mentioned below for the sake of the students:

MBA or MCom in 2025? Similarities and Differences

While both courses share some similarities, they have distinct differences in terms of their focus, curriculum, and career prospects.

Similarities

1. Postgraduate degrees: Both MBA and MCom are postgraduate degrees that require a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite.

2. Duration: Both courses typically have a duration of two years.

3. Theoretical and practical learning: Both courses offer a mix of theoretical and practical learning, with a focus on developing analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Differences

1. Focus: MBA focuses on business management and administration, covering topics like finance, marketing, human resources, and operations. MCom, on the other hand, focuses on commerce and trade, covering topics like accounting, taxation, and financial management.

2. Curriculum: The curriculum for MBA and MCom differs significantly. MBA courses include subjects like organizational behavior, business strategy, and entrepreneurship, while MCom courses include subjects like advanced accounting, taxation laws, and financial management.

3. Career prospects: MBA graduates can pursue careers in management, consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship, among others. MCom graduates can pursue careers in accounting, taxation, financial management, and research, among others.

4. Entrance exams: The entrance exams for MBA and MCom also differ. MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, and GMAT are highly competitive, while MCom entrance exams like DUET, BHU PET, and JNU CEE are relatively less competitive.

5. Specializations: MBA courses offer a range of specializations like finance, marketing, human resources, and operations, while MCom courses offer specializations like accounting, taxation, and financial management.

MBA or MCom in 2025? Consider these factors

When choosing between MBA and MCom, consider the following factors:

1. Career goals: What are your career aspirations? If you want to pursue a career in business management, MBA might be the better choice. If you want to pursue a career in commerce and trade, MCom might be the better choice.

2. Interests: What are your interests? If you’re interested in business and management, MBA might be the better choice. If you’re interested in commerce and trade, MCom might be the better choice.

3. Skills: What are your skills? If you have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, MBA might be the better choice. If you have strong numerical and accounting skills, MCom might be the better choice.

Ultimately, the choice between MBA and MCom depends on one’s individual goals, interests, and skills.

Eligibility

There is more to it than meets the eye as far as MBA or MCom in 2025 is concerned. One of them is the eligibility criteria. Who can choose what course, MBA or MCom in 2025? The answers are below:

MCom

Those deciding for go for MCom in MBA or MCom in 2025 must fulfill the eligibility mentioned below:

1. Bachelor’s degree: You must have a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce or a related field (like BCom, BBA, or BBM) from a recognized university.

2. Minimum percentage: You must have secured a minimum percentage (usually 50% to 60%) in your Bachelor’s degree.

3. Entrance exams: Some universities require you to pass entrance exams like DUET, BHU PET, or JNU CEE.

MBA

Those who want to go for MBA, in MBA or MCom in 2025 have to have the criteria specified below:

1. Bachelor’s degree: You must have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline (like BA, BSc, BCom, BTech, etc.) from a recognized university.

2. Minimum percentage: You must have secured a minimum percentage (usually 50% to 60%) in your Bachelor’s degree.

3. Entrance exams: Most MBA programs require you to pass entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, or MAT.

4. Work experience: Some MBA programs require or prefer candidates with work experience (usually 1-2 years).

Additional Requirements

1. Language proficiency: Some universities may require you to demonstrate language proficiency in English, especially if you’re an international student.

2. Other certifications: Some MBA programs may require or prefer candidates with additional certifications like CA, CS, or CFA.

As far as the information above in connection with MBA or MCom in 2025 is concerned, the above mentioned skills can be of use in both MBA and MCom, these skills will be of added advantage for students of both the courses.

Colleges for MBA or MCom in 2025

MBA or MCom in 2025 is the topic of discussion and then question that comes into one’s mind is that what are the some of the well-known colleges for studying MBA or MCom. The answer is mentioned below:

– Mumbai University, Mumbai: Offers a comprehensive MCom program with specializations in Accounting, Finance, and Management.

– University of Madras, Chennai: One of the oldest and most prestigious universities in India, offering a well-structured MCom program.

– University of Calcutta, Kolkata: A highly respected institution with a long history of academic excellence, offering a comprehensive MCom program.

– Osmania University, Hyderabad: A renowned institution in southern India, offering a well-structured MCom program with various specializations.

Other notable colleges offering MCom programs include:

– Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi

– Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh

– Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

– Panjab University, Chandigarh

– University of Pune, Pune

These colleges offer a range of specializations, including Accounting, Finance, Management, and more.

It’s essential to research each college’s program, faculty, and placement opportunities to find the best fit for your academic and career goals.

MBA

IIMs

– IIM Ahmedabad

– IIM Bangalore

– IIM Calcutta

– IIM Lucknow

– IIM Indore

Non-IIMs

– Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi

– XLRI Jamshedpur

– SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai

– Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon

– Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad

Other notable colleges

– Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai

– Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), IIT Bombay

– Department of Management Studies (DMS), IIT Delhi

– Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur

Fees

What else is required when it is about MBA or MCom in 2025? The fees, it is about the money one has to pay to study the course. The fees for both the courses are mentioned below for the sake of the students:

MCom

– Government Colleges: ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per year

– Private Colleges: ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per year

– Distance Education: ₹8,100 to ₹16,200 for the entire 2-year program

Some specific examples of MCom fees in top colleges in India are:

– Shri Ram College of Commerce: ₹50,000

– Hindu College: ₹25,800

– Hansraj College: ₹26,074

– Loyola College: ₹14,830

– Madras Christian College: ₹27,257

MBA

– IIMs: ₹17 lakh to ₹27 lakh

– Top Private Colleges: ₹10 lakh to ₹30 lakh

– Government Colleges: ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh

– Distance Education: ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh

Some specific examples of MBA fees in top colleges in India are:

– IIM Ahmedabad: ₹26.5 lakh

– IIM Bangalore: ₹26 lakh

– IIM Calcutta: ₹27 lakh

– XLRI Jamshedpur: ₹11.31 lakh

– FMS Delhi: ₹2.32 lakh

Keep in mind that these fees are subject to change and do not include additional expenses such as hostel fees, study materials, and other living expenses.

The fees are subject to change due to various reasons, students can visit the official websites of the institutions or can visit the institutions in person to know more about the fees.

Conclusion

MBA or MCom in 2025 are both courses with their own set of unique features, students can decided depending on their interest and career focus. A career in commerce can gets a boost on study of MCom, a career in corporate world or management world can be boosted through an MBA.

Choice between MBA or MCom in 2025 can be done considered the experience from professionals who have already proved their mettle in commerce or management sectors. Candidates also have to remember to have the required financial viability to study the courses.

Some of the institutions may be offering scholarships, candidates aiming for MBA or MCom in 2025 can also apply for these scholarships. The information can also be obtained from various online or offline sources with regards to MBA or MCom in 2025.

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