A Complete Guide for MBA Admissions in Indian Business Schools

October 15, 2022

Masters in Business administration is a full-time post-graduate course of two academic years in India. Students from any academic background (B.com, B.A, B.E, etc) can pursue an MBA. It’s like switching for something good, if a candidate after pursuing his/her undergraduate course becomes interested in management and business study can enroll for the MBA.

Apply for online MBA

In India mostly colleges are recognized by AICTE and UGC offering management courses even MHRD also plays a role here, and degrees from these deemed institutions are globally recognized. Distant learning, Integrated MBA courses, post-graduate diploma courses (PGDM), post-graduate program certificate (PGP), an evening MBA, many such programs are available.

Whereas in foreign countries it is mandatory to have minimal experience before enrolling in MBA, India has distinctive features offering courses to freshers. The program includes professional learning with industry training for the students. Some MBA specializations are listed below:

•Digital Marketing

•Marketing

•Finance

•Human Resource

•Business management

•Rural Management

•Event Management

•Information Technology

•Operations Management

•Logistics Management

•Healthcare Management

Entrance Test for MBA

•GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

•CAT(Common Admission Test by Indian Institute Of Management)

•IRMA (Institute of Rural Management)

•MAT (All India Management Association)

•SNAP (Symbiosis International University)

•IBSAT (by ICFAI)

•TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)

•ATMA (Association of Indian Management Studies)

Others are CMAT, XAT, etc.

The syllabus for all these exams is almost the same. Topic includes:

•Quantitative Ability

•Data Interpretation

•Logical Reasoning

•Verbal Ability

•Grammar

•Vocabulary

•Verbal Reasoning

•Current Affairs and some Static GK related to economics

The most common entrance exam, in which maximum students appear, is CAT. Indian Institution of Management conducts this exam for the post-graduate course of MBA and PGDM. The test is conducted by the IIM policy of rotation every year. This is CBT based exam, it consists of three sections-

•VARC (Virtual Ability and Reading Comprehension)

•QA (Quantitative Ability)

•DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

As per the previous year, it has been observed that the exam duration is reduced by 20 minutes. Earlier it was conducted in 3 hours, but last year's duration was 2 hours 40 minutes by IIM Indore.

Eligibility

•A candidate must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% from a recognized University or institution or equivalent. (45% for ST,SC, PwDs)

•A candidate pursuing graduation in his final year and one who has completed and awaited their respective degrees, are also allowed to appear in the exam with the condition at the time of joining they must have degrees in their hand.

•There is no age limit criteria for the applicants appearing in CAT.

In an approximation, the distribution of question in three sections would be:

•Reading section – 34 questions

•Verbal Ability- 10 questions

•DILR- 32 questions

•QA- 34 questions

For each correct question, 3 marks will be awarded and for incorrect, 1 mark will be deducted.

Pattern

•Duration- 2 hours 40 minutes (as per last year record, earlier it was 3 hours)

•Language- English

•Exam Mode- CBT

•Exam format-combination of MCQs(multiple choice questions) and TITA (type in the answer)

•Tentative date of Exam- November 2021

•Result Declaration- January 2022 (tentative)

•Exam form fee- Rs2200 for unreserved category and Rs.1100 for ST/SC/PWD candidates. (non-refundable)

Application procedure

Visit the official site of CAT, register yourself, and provide an authentic mobile number and email address.OTP will be sent to your email and mobile, use that OTP to login and start filling your form by providing your personal, educational details. Now select a city for the exam and upload your image and signature.

Correction in form is also an option when the portal will be open for the correction, one can change or correct the above-provided details. Candidates can download and keep a copy to themselves for future references. (Required documents- Aadhar card/ or some valid photo id proof, passport size photo, caste certificate if necessary, details of previous pursued Degree)

Counseling

The result will be declared on a merit basis, and cut-off will be the criteria for shortlisting of students. Now the next round will be WAT (written ability test), group discussion, followed by personal interviews. Each IIM will prepare the final merit list of the students on the basis of all the tests. These are the steps followed by most of the B-schools.

Final marks of CAT scorecard will includes

•Raw CAT score- 25%

•WAT- 10%

•PI- 30%

•10th board-10%

•12th board- 5%

•Graduation 10%

•Experience 10% (experience is not mandatory)

Reservation of seats category-wise distribution

•SC-15%

•ST-7.55

•OBC-27%

•PWD-5%

•EWS- up to 10%

After the declaration of CAT scores, Candidates are required to register themselves in IIMs or non-IIMs institutes for the further process of counseling and the official sites will be responsible for the declaration of scores and allotment, after the allotment candidates can visit intuition for further procedures with their original self-attested documents submitted in the application form.

By Mithila Rathod

Also Read: