How to learn financial modeling in India using Excel

I thought a specific post of this nature is relevant to many Indian readers, given that even many top Bschools do not specifically teach this in their post graduate programs -XLRI being a notable exception which has a financial modelling elective, and even ISB where the Finance club arranges financial modelling sessions at a nominal price for those interested. While Bschools do have a MDP(Management Development Program, the question is how qualified are the faculty to teach this subject being a blend of art(spreadsheet design) and science(finance, Excel). Those who have done financial modelling themselves on the job and/or taught it to new joinees, are imho, the best ones to teach this subject. If you are lucky enough to have experienced an analyst training program in an investment bank/PE etc, then you would have got in person training and don't need this post, but most people are not that lucky. From my survey online, even distance learning/fully online financial modelling programs start around Rs 12,000, with classroom coaching going upto Rs 20,000-25,000. It is ironic that we may shell out upto Rs 10lakhs for a Tier II Bschool, but hesitate to pay 1%-1.5% of that for top class training material. Anyways, I suggest the following steps

1. For those who want an idea what this is all about, free introductions to the subject are available at http://www.everythingaboutinvestment.com/2012/03/learn-financial-modelling-for-free-in.html and www.edupristine.com/ca/free-30-day-course/ to get a flavour of the subject. A series of blogposts(thoda marketing material here too) at http://chandoo.org/wp/2010/07/21/financial-modeling-introduction/ will also give a good flavour of the same. 
2. If you are doing this just from interest/learning purpose, then the above links should give you enough insight on what to Google for. If you have a basic knowledge of Excel and advanced finance awareness, then self study should be enough. Otherwise check in your local bookstore for financial modelling Books like http://www.flipkart.com/mastering-financial-modelling-microsoft-excel-2nd/p/itmdytsuehfdcpbx are an option, or else check on Amazon for the top rated books. 
3. If you still want training, then the options include Edu-Pristine, IMS Pro School etc
4. Interestingly, Indian institutions like Educorporate Bridge offer limited online access for just 90days to their courses online, but on MMOC sites like www.udemy.com, they offer lifetime access with 30 days money back guarantee. Just compare https://www.udemy.com/financial-modeling-using-excel/ and https://www.educorporatebridge.com/online-training/project-finance#tabs-2  Maybe they trust foreign users more or are just forced to do so, but it is strange.
5. Once you feel you have rockstart financial modelling skills, then consider entering the global championship http://www.modeloff.com

Some useful excel features for fundamental valuation

The old school investing story(Graham/Buffet) would be to take up a balance sheet, calculate the breakup/minimum value at large margin of safety, and then buy the shares if trading below that price. While academically found reliable, the DCF valuation used to be too computationally cumbersome. So for those well versed at mental number crunching(I still know a few of the oldschool CAs who could whip any newbie at this) or with an army of assistants, DCF was possible. Otherwise for those with limited resources and time, this was not possible. But now, with a spreadsheet on every computer, DCF is no longer that difficult, if you know the right features/methods to configure. Below are some tips for the same

1. Assumptions in separate cell/worksheet:-This ensures that one can change them en-masse, and the linked cells(and therefore valuations will be updated)
2. Currencies/Rounding:-For different investors or purposes, one may desire to vary the currency/rounding(crores or millions). That is possible at a click
3. Conditional formatting:-This allows to highlight, colour or format cells which are meeting the criteria. For example, if one needs to highlight the years with negative cash flow, conditional formatting does that for you at a click. 
4. Extend the formula across cells:-This is probably the most time saving tool. Just use relative/fixed referencing properly, and a single formula often be dragged to fill the time periods. It is then easy to change the time period/formula without much ado.
5. Data Table for Sensitivity Analysis:-Excel's feature data table allows one to present a sensitivity analysis without much computational burden. 
6. Writing macros for data mining:-Often, large data sets('bhav copy' etc) are freely downloadable in Excel. One can write macros to automate the daily stock screens for price, trading volume, F&O liquidity etc. Of course, brokerage houses often do this better, so this is for those investors without access to those good brokerages.
7. Goal Seek/Solver:-For those wishing to find out a breakeven projection(via goal seek!) or to fill the cash flow statement consistently(via Solver), these tools remove the requirement for endless iterations. Personally, I've found this most useful to calculate implied fundamental values for market prices, and to fill the cash flow statement after income statement and balance sheet are readied.
8. Cross referencing and automatic recalculations:-This ensures that cascading effect of changes are applied consistently in the calculation
9. Facility for external data feed to update:-For those with CIQ feeds etc, this allows dynamic updation of valuations