/* ============================================
   VEC Brand Refresh — Oct 2026
   Palette matched to official logo:
   Navy #12233A · Sky blue #64B0E4 · White
   Loaded AFTER main.css — overrides only.
   ============================================ */

:root {
    --vec-navy: #12233A;
    --vec-navy-2: #1B3352;
    --vec-blue: #64B0E4;
    --vec-blue-deep: #3E8FC9;
    --primary-blue: #3E8FC9;      /* retarget existing vars */
    --accent-blue: #12233A;
    --bg-gradient: linear-gradient(135deg, #12233A 0%, #1B3352 55%, #2A5480 100%);
}

body {
    font-family: 'Poppins', 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
    -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;
    text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;
}

h1, h2, h3, h4 { letter-spacing: -0.015em; }

/* ---------- Header ---------- */
.top-bar {
    background: var(--vec-navy);
    font-size: 0.8rem;
}
.news-ticker {
    background: var(--vec-navy-2);
}
.logo-img { height: 52px; }

/* ---------- Hero ---------- */
.hero-section {
    background:
        radial-gradient(900px 480px at 85% -10%, rgba(100,176,228,0.28), transparent 60%),
        radial-gradient(700px 420px at -10% 110%, rgba(100,176,228,0.16), transparent 55%),
        var(--bg-gradient);
    padding: 84px 0;
}
.hero-section::before { display: none; }   /* remove dotted template texture */

.hero-text h1 {
    font-size: 2.7rem;
    font-weight: 800;
    line-height: 1.18;
    max-width: 21ch;
    animation: fadeInUp 0.8s ease;
}
.hero-text h1 em {
    font-style: normal;
    color: var(--vec-blue);
}
.hero-text > p,
.hero-text .hero-sub {
    font-size: 1.08rem;
    max-width: 52ch;
    color: rgba(255,255,255,0.88);
}
.hero-eyebrow {
    display: inline-flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 8px;
    background: rgba(100,176,228,0.14);
    border: 1px solid rgba(100,176,228,0.45);
    color: var(--vec-blue);
    font-family: var(--font-accent);
    font-size: 0.8rem;
    font-weight: 600;
    letter-spacing: 0.06em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    padding: 6px 14px;
    border-radius: 999px;
    margin-bottom: 18px;
    animation: fadeInUp 0.8s ease;
}
.hero-eyebrow::before {
    content: '';
    width: 7px; height: 7px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    background: var(--vec-blue);
    box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px rgba(100,176,228,0.25);
}

.trust-indicators {
    margin-top: 32px;
    padding-top: 22px;
    border-top: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.15);
    display: flex;
    gap: 40px;
}
.trust-number {
    font-family: var(--font-heading);
    font-size: 1.7rem;
    font-weight: 800;
    color: var(--vec-blue);
}
.trust-label {
    font-size: 0.8rem;
    letter-spacing: 0.03em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    color: rgba(255,255,255,0.75);
}

/* ---------- Lead form card ---------- */
.lead-form {
    padding: 28px;
    border-radius: 16px;
    border-top: 4px solid var(--vec-blue);
}
.lead-form h3 {
    font-size: 1.25rem;
    font-weight: 700;
}
.lead-form .form-note {
    font-size: 0.82rem;
    color: var(--text-light);
    margin: -12px 0 16px;
}
.form-control {
    padding: 12px 14px;
    border: 1.5px solid #dfe5ec;
    border-radius: 10px;
    background: #fbfcfe;
    font-family: inherit;
    color: var(--text-dark);
    appearance: none;
}
.form-control::placeholder { color: #9aa7b5; }
.form-control:focus {
    border-color: var(--vec-blue-deep);
    box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(100,176,228,0.22);
    background: #fff;
}
select.form-control {
    background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=UTF-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' width='14' height='14' viewBox='0 0 24 24' fill='%233E8FC9'%3E%3Cpath d='M7 10l5 5 5-5z'/%3E%3C/svg%3E");
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-position: right 12px center;
    padding-right: 38px;
}
textarea.form-control { font-family: inherit; }

/* ---------- Buttons ---------- */
.btn {
    font-weight: 600;
    letter-spacing: 0.01em;
}
.btn-primary {
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--vec-blue-deep), var(--vec-blue));
}
.btn-primary:hover {
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #2F7BB3, #55A0D8);
    transform: translateY(-2px);
}
.btn-secondary { border-color: var(--vec-blue-deep); color: var(--vec-blue-deep); }
.btn-secondary:hover { background: var(--vec-blue-deep); border-color: var(--vec-blue-deep); }

/* ---------- Section headers ---------- */
.section-header { text-align: center; margin-bottom: 2.2rem; }
.section-header h2 {
    position: relative;
    display: inline-block;
    padding-bottom: 12px;
}
.section-header h2::after {
    content: '';
    position: absolute;
    left: 50%;
    transform: translateX(-50%);
    bottom: 0;
    width: 56px;
    height: 3px;
    border-radius: 2px;
    background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--vec-blue-deep), var(--vec-blue));
}
.section-header p { color: var(--text-light); max-width: 62ch; margin: 0.4rem auto 0; }

/* ---------- Category & stat cards ---------- */
.category-card, .course-card, .stat-card {
    border-radius: 14px;
    border: 1px solid #e8edf3;
    transition: transform .25s ease, box-shadow .25s ease, border-color .25s ease;
}
.category-card:hover, .course-card:hover, .stat-card:hover {
    border-color: rgba(100,176,228,0.55);
    box-shadow: 0 12px 28px rgba(18,35,58,0.10);
}
.category-icon {
    width: 56px; height: 56px;
    display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
    font-size: 1.6rem;
    border-radius: 14px;
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(100,176,228,0.16), rgba(100,176,228,0.30));
    margin-bottom: 12px;
}

/* ---------- Process timeline ---------- */
.process-step__number {
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--vec-blue-deep), var(--vec-blue));
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(62,143,201,0.35);
}

/* ---------- Footer ---------- */
.site-footer, footer.main-footer { background: var(--vec-navy); }
.footer-logo-img { height: 56px; }

/* ---------- Enquiry modal ---------- */
.enquiry-modal__header {
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--vec-navy), var(--vec-blue-deep));
}
.enquiry-modal__box { border-radius: 16px; overflow: hidden; }
.enquiry-modal__box {
    max-height: min(92vh, 860px);
    overflow-y: auto;
    scrollbar-width: thin;
}
.enquiry-modal__box textarea.form-control { resize: none; }
.enquiry-modal__trust { gap: 20px; }
.enquiry-modal__trust span {
    white-space: nowrap;
    font-size: 0.78rem;
    color: var(--text-light);
}

/* ---------- WhatsApp float stays brand-consistent ---------- */
.whatsapp-float { bottom: 24px; }

/* ============================================
   Oct 2026 — Journey + Featured Colleges redesign
   ============================================ */

/* ---------- Admission Journey: 4 clean steps ---------- */
.process-section { padding: 64px 0; }
.process-timeline {
    grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
    gap: 24px;
    margin-top: 24px;
    counter-reset: step;
}
.process-timeline::before {
    top: 33px;
    left: 12%;
    right: 12%;
    height: 2px;
    background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(62,143,201,0.35), rgba(100,176,228,0.85), rgba(62,143,201,0.35));
    z-index: 0;
}
.process-step {
    background: white;
    border: 1px solid #e8edf3;
    border-radius: 14px;
    padding: 26px 20px 22px;
    text-align: left;
    position: relative;
    z-index: 1;
    transition: transform .25s ease, box-shadow .25s ease, border-color .25s ease;
}
.process-step:hover {
    transform: translateY(-4px);
    border-color: rgba(100,176,228,0.55);
    box-shadow: 0 12px 28px rgba(18,35,58,0.10);
}
.process-step__number {
    width: 46px;
    height: 46px;
    font-size: 1.25rem;
    margin: 0 0 14px;
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--vec-blue-deep), var(--vec-blue));
    box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(62,143,201,0.30);
}
.process-step:hover .process-step__number { transform: none; }
.process-step__icon { display: none; }   /* retired emoji icons */
.process-step__title {
    font-size: 1.02rem;
    margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.process-step__desc {
    font-size: 0.86rem;
    line-height: 1.55;
    color: var(--text-light);
}
.process-section .text-center { margin-top: 28px; }

@media (max-width: 992px) {
    .process-timeline { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
    .process-timeline::before { display: none; }
}
@media (max-width: 560px) {
    .process-timeline { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
    .process-step { padding: 22px 18px; }
}

/* ---------- Featured Colleges: clean rows ---------- */
.featured-colleges {
    display: grid;
    grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
    gap: 16px;
    max-width: 980px;
    margin: 0 auto 28px;
}
.featured-college {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 16px;
    background: white;
    border: 1px solid #e8edf3;
    border-radius: 14px;
    padding: 16px 18px;
    transition: transform .2s ease, box-shadow .2s ease, border-color .2s ease;
}
.featured-college:hover {
    transform: translateY(-3px);
    border-color: rgba(100,176,228,0.6);
    box-shadow: 0 10px 24px rgba(18,35,58,0.10);
}
.featured-college__logo {
    flex: 0 0 56px;
    width: 56px;
    height: 56px;
    border-radius: 12px;
    object-fit: cover;
}
.featured-college__logo--initial {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    justify-content: center;
    background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--vec-navy), var(--vec-blue-deep));
    color: white;
    font-family: var(--font-heading);
    font-size: 1.5rem;
    font-weight: 800;
}
.featured-college__body { flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
.featured-college__head {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 10px;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    margin-bottom: 4px;
}
.featured-college__name {
    font-size: 1rem;
    margin: 0;
    color: var(--text-dark);
}
.featured-college__type {
    flex-shrink: 0;
    font-size: 0.68rem;
    font-weight: 700;
    letter-spacing: 0.05em;
    text-transform: uppercase;
    color: var(--vec-blue-deep);
    background: rgba(100,176,228,0.14);
    border-radius: 999px;
    padding: 3px 10px;
}
.featured-college__meta {
    display: flex;
    align-items: center;
    gap: 5px;
    margin: 0;
    font-size: 0.83rem;
    color: var(--text-light);
}
.featured-college__arrow {
    flex-shrink: 0;
    color: var(--vec-blue-deep);
    opacity: 0;
    transform: translateX(-6px);
    transition: opacity .2s ease, transform .2s ease;
}
.featured-college:hover .featured-college__arrow { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(0); }

@media (max-width: 768px) {
    .featured-colleges { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
}

/* ---------- CTA banner phone pills ---------- */
.cta-phone-pills {
    display: flex;
    gap: 16px;
    justify-content: center;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    margin-bottom: 28px;
}
.cta-phone-pills .btn { min-width: 220px; }