Ask a bunch of 27 students from Mumbai’s R N Poddar School that why are India’s stock markets witnessing an unprecedented bull run and they will promptly explain the underlying dynamics of the bourses. Already talking like experts, these students are among those who have opted for the new Financial Market Management (FMM) programme introduced by the Central Board of School Education (CSBE) for Standard XI this year in collaboration with the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

Offered by 50 CBSE schools in the first year, including two from Mumbai and one each from Pune and Satara, FMM is a professional competency course, registration for which closed on September 30.

Most of the 27 students from R N Podar School who have opted for the course would have chosen commerce at the plus-two level if FMM was not introduced. The class unanimously gives a thumbs-up to the new course and feels that it caters more to the needs of the time.

“I was inclined towards commerce but taking into consideration the global scenario and the buoyancy of the Indian markets, my parents advised me that I should capitalise on this opportunity,” said Kapil Talwar, a Standard XI student from R N Poddar.

While Mrudul Sharma believes that such an exposure at the school level will open more job avenues for him in the financial sector, Anita Srinivasan’s “fascination” for the markets and the desire to follow in the footsteps of her father, a trader in shares, made her choose FMM over the commerce stream. Said school principal Avnita Bir: “It’s a more hands-on practical interface and is closer to real life as compared to the regular commerce stream at the plus-two level.”

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