Psychology

Both psychologists and psychiatrists deal with mental health issues, but their approaches are different. The difference is:The psychiatrist studies for a medical degree to become a doctor of medicine (M. D. in Psychiatry). They have to appear in the NEET UG exam to attain MBBS and are called doctors. On the other hand, a psychologist studies for an M.Sc or MA in clinical psychology. He or she may also study further to attain a PhD. They will also be required to take the RCI exam to gain the RCI license to practice.Psychiatrists have the authority to diagnose and treat patients with medication. whereas psychologists usually have to enlist the help of therapy. Psychiatrists are mostly employed at hospitals as doctors. Whereas psychologists work as counsellors. Psychiatrists are usually consulted when a person is experiencing severe mental issues. However, a psychologist can be consulted whenever the need arises for counselling. For example, in the case of phobia, you can go to a psychologist.

Psychology is a growing field that is getting wide recognition in today's world. Every field of psychology is good, but here are the most in-demand fields:
1. Counselling psychology: Counselling psychologists are in high demand due to rising awareness about mental health. You just need to pursue a master's in counseling psychology to enter this field. The post of school counselor is also gaining popularity among graduates.
2. Clinical Psychology: Clinical psychologists conduct assessments and provide treatment to people who are suffering from psychological problems. The government is increasing vacancies, and recently NHM published a notification for the requirement. You can also work in hospitals and NGOs.
3. Organizational psychology: Recently, companies have also started requiring organizational psychologists for their employees. You can work as a corporate trainer for reputed companies.
4. Rehabilitation psychologist: Rehabilitation psychologists are employed by many non-governmental organizations and government agencies to assist people with their rehabilitation. An RCI-issued Certificate can get you a job starting at Rs. 45,000/month. There are other fields that are also emerging and gaining popularity, such as sports psychology, military psychology, and forensic psychology. Therefore, it depends on your interest in which field you want to make a career.

The GATE psychology (XH-C5) exam pattern is as follows:
The questions are divided into three sections: (1) General Aptitude (GA): There are 10 questions totaling 15 marks in this section. The marking pattern is that 5 questions carry 1 mark each and 5 questions carry 2 marks each. (2) Section B1: This section consists of 15 questions from Reasoning and Comprehension. This section carries a total of 25 marks; 5 questions carry 1 mark each, and 10 questions carry 2 marks each. (3) Section C5: This section contains 40 questions based on core psychology topics. The section carries a total of 60 marks. 20 questions carry a mark each, and 20 questions carry two marks each. The total time limit for this 100-mark paper is 180 minutes.

Psychology students can get the following opportunities after scoring well in the GATE exam:
1. Obtain a master's degree from a prestigious university: Students can gain admission to master's programs by using their GATE score. From IITs as well as foreign universities, students can pursue a master's degree in psychology. After earning an MA degree, you can work as a junior psychologist, occupational psychologist, or counselor. You can also apply for an assistant professor post after clearing the UGC NET for assistant professors. Depending on the nature of the job, you could earn up to Rs. 50,000 per month with an MA in psychology.
2. Research: Top universities in India require a GATE score for admission to the Ph.D. program in psychology. However, you also need to have completed your master's degree. If you have qualified for the NET for JRF, you may be eligible for a stipend of Rs. 31,000 per month to pursue a PhD in psychology.
3. Scholarships: GATE-qualified students are also eligible to get an educational scholarship or a fellowship based on their scores.
4. Government employment: Government organizations like DRDO require the GATE score for candidates applying for Scientist Grade B positions. For DRDO Scientist B, the pay scale ranges from Rs. 56100 to Rs. 177500. After a certain number of years of service, you can advance to grade H and even become a Distinguished Scientist (DS) in the organization.
5. Teaching: Some colleges allow GATE-qualified students to teach as assistant professors. You can get a salary of Rs. 25,000 a month as a psychology teacher.

The eligibility criteria to apply for GATE for the Psychology subject is as follows:
1. The candidate needs to have a Master's degree in Psychology.
2. The master's degree could be in any related specialisation, such as applied psychology.
3. Those who have already completed their degree are eligible to apply.
4. The candidate should either be in the first year or higher if they have not completed their degree.
5. Candidates who are in their final year of an undergraduate degree programme can also apply.
6. There is no upper age limit for taking GATE Psychology. The application fee is Rs. 1700 for general candidates and Rs. 850 for women, SC, and ST candidates. You can pursue a Master's as well as do a Ph.D. after qualifying GATE.