As far as Indian psyche is concerned (as much as I've come across in my short life)...
If in India or Middle East:
1. IIT
2. IIT
3. IIT
4. IIM
5. MIT
6. MIT
7. MIT
8. Some Med School
If in the US:
1. MIT
2. MIT
3. MIT
4. Johns Hopkins
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Johns Hopkins
General things on an Indians mind or most common topics of discussion:
1. Guines book of word records.
2. Cricket stats
3. Doctor
4. Engineer
5. Rocket this Missile that.... or anything or anyone to do with NASA, specially if he/she is an Indian working there......
6. Anything with the word 'Nuclear'
7. Zaat paat, which basically translates to Brahmin or not (no disrespect here, it's just what I've come across)
8. From North or South.
9. Meat eater or vegetarian
10. Published or not
11. Places visited locally or across the globe
12. Where to marry his/her daughter and if the groom is an Engineer / Doctor or NOT.
13. Bitching about how religion has become a commodity (no disrespect again)
14. PAKISTAN BASHING (Indian Muslims / Hindus all have this trait in common!
)
Just my observations........