Thanks for the response. I obviously do not intend to breach someone's privacy. And I do not intend to record without permission....ONLY if my advisor is happy with it. I actually would like to know if it wrong to even ask for permission. I only wish to record research discussions and nothing else.

I won't be insisting in anyway. I would be only doing anything the advisor's permission only. I like good coordination. If the advisor is not okay with it, it is all fine for me. I will take definitely take notes though.

Thanks for the response !....One thing I got to know recently is that you can have retrospective referrals or something like that from the long-term insurance company (the one university will provide me). Is that really possible in case of emergency ?

I will get stipend in the PhD program so my financial situation is not that bad. I will get my first paycheck as well when the academic sessions starts. But the thing is that I want to take the least amount of money from my parents as I do not want to burden them. It is only a matter of first 20 days. I think if the insurance will cost me more than $100 then I do not think I will buy it. The whole admission process has been very costly anyway with all the exams, etc.