IIM A

The selection procedure consisted of two stages

Stage 1 : Case Study
Stage 2 : Personal interview
Case Study : Case study consisted of 8 people and there were 3 moderators.
The case study along with a blank sheet was provided to note down anything
if required. Students were not supposed to write down their names on the
sheets and these sheets were taken away after the discussion. Students were
given 5 minutes to think and then 20 minutes to discuss. Here are some of the
case studies that were discussed :
Case 1 : Mr. X started a company to manufacture pump set and after few
years he also opened its subsidiary for smooth operations. He also appointed
one factory manager Mr. Y to look after the company. Later on Mr. X converted
the subsidiary unit into a manufacturing unit. He used to visit this factory once
in three months. After a couple of years he investigated the various operations
and accounts, he was shocked as he found some manipulation. Actually the
Factory manager sold out entire scrap and distributed the fund raised among
the workers. When the Director noticed such happenings, he called on Mr. Y
and asked him the reason for giving the workers heavy financial benefits. Mr.
Y said that he had done this just to keep the workers happy and the unit
working and that he had not taken a single penny himself. Mr. Y was also the
only dealer of the pumps in two states and owed Mr. X 25 Lakhs. Mr. X decided
not to sack Mr. Y but asked his brother Mr. Z to thoroughly review the working
of the factory for a year.

Power Packed !

This happened during the interview rounds

of IIM (A) for the class of 2004........
Interviewer said I shall either ask you ten
easy questions or one really difficult
question. Think well before you make up
your mind! A boy thought for a while and
said, my choice is one really difficult
question. Well, good luck to you, you
have made your own choice! Now tell me
this. What comes first, Day or Night? The
boy was jolted into reality as his admission
depends on the correctness of his answer,
but he thought for a while and said, Its
the DAY sir! How the interviewer asked.
Sorry sir, you promised me that you will
not ask me a SECOND difficult question!
He was selected for IIM! Technical Skill is
the mastery of complexity, while Creativity
is the master of simplicity.....

After a year Mr. Z decided to sack Mr. Y. On hearing this the workers asked for
a raise in their pay. On getting a refusal the workers went on a strike. They
also started making threatening phone calls to Mr. Zs family. Mr. Zs wife asked
Mr. Z to take back Mr. Y so that the workers could be pacified.

Q.

What should be the strategy of Mr. Z?

Case 2 : A handloom company is running heavy losses and its sales have gone down. You are the head of the team and have to
discuss various reasons for the same. Major points of consideration
O

High wages of the workers

Less efficient labour were used

Market was low

Product price was low

Q.

What are the possible solutions that you would provide to the above problems?

Stage : 2
Personal Interview : Interviews continued for 25 30 minutes in general and a panel of 3 members was seated. Generally no
stress interviews were taken and more emphasize was on academics and general knowledge.
Sample PI questions
O

What would you have done had you arrived 15 min. late today?

Questions were asked on accounts- Stock and Flow concept, depreciation, Cash Flow and Income Statement etc

What are the various schools of thought in Macroeconomics?

What are GDP and PPP and where do we use them?

How are interest rates determined?

In music and dramatics, where all have you participated? What role, position etc.

If you do not do MBA this year, would you go back and join McKinsey (since I was working with them earlier)

Final year of project and many cross Questions.

How will you organize Hasya Kavi Sammelan?

Why MBA?

What is success and how would you define failure.

How will you make India a developed country?

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IIM A [ABM]
The personality assessment process consists of a case study followed by an interview.
Case Study : The numbers of candidates in the case discussion are 8-10 and the numbers of moderators were 4. The seating
arrangement was oval shaped and the moderators were in all directions. The panel gives 5 minutes to think followed by 15 minutes
to discuss. Papers to jot down the points are given beforehand. Instructions are also given from time to time.
Case : The Maha Pradesh Seed Development Corporation has developed a hybrid variety seed for the growing conditions of Maha
Pradesh. The seeds in terms of appearance are similar to farm-saved seeds. Initially, corporation had problem in making farmers
understand that the hybrid variety is beneficial. So they decided to dye this hybrid seeds in blue colour, so that they looked different
from farm-saved seeds.
Also the farm-saved seeds are free-of charge or available at marginal price. But this hybrid variety is comparatively expensive.
Some unscrupulous traders brought similar seeds from Devanagari & dyed them blue. These were not according to Maha Pradesh
requirements therefore farmers who bought these wrong seeds land up damaging their crop. This destroyed the image of corporation.
Now corporation is wondering how to regain farmers confidence. Suggest them what could be done.
Interview : The interview lasts for 15-20 mins. The panel asked a lot of questions related to agriculture and the practical applications
of business management to agriculture. Also many questions from the form itself were asked and candidates should go through the
form carefully. The numbers of panel members were 3-4. Also the interviews were in general not a stress interview.
Questions
O

Questions related to cold storage

Cold chain?

What if temperature is kept below, answer as a businessman.

Temperature of different commodities at our cold storage.

Varieties in potato crop?

Period of potato crop.

Which cold storage lies on the way to new IIM-I campus?

Charges for keeping stock.

The season for keeping potato.

Questions related to mechanics

Why ABM?

Why mechanical engineering?

Questions on extracurricular activities

How potato produce could be increased?

Questions on past academic performance

Kind of cereals, spices, kept at a cold storage, there temperature, charges, etc.

IIM B
The process consists of three stages
Stage 1 : Group Discussion
Stage 2 : Descriptive type questions
Stage 3 : PI
Group Discussion : A predefined group of 10 students was made to sit for the Group Discussion that lasted for about 15-20
minutes. Most of the topics given were either on Current Affairs or were slightly abstract. Thus students must be ready with the
latest issues in the news. A lot of scope was present in topics for the candidates to utilize their creativity. The number of moderators
in all the GDs was 2. Five minutes were provided to students to think on the topic and then they were asked to start the discussion.
The sitting pattern was - semi-circular or circular. In some cases the candidates were asked to write a summary of their GD. So only
those students who had listened carefully to others points were able to write a succinct summary.
Personal Questions : At the end of the GD, each participant was asked to write a summary of the GD and answer 3 personal
questions. These questions were :
O

Who has influenced you the most in your life?

What makes you suitable for MBA?

What are your career goals? How does MBA from IIM-B fit in your career plan?

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Sample GD Topics
O

In India, after graduation students should serve in the army for two years.

There is little that binds India as a nation.

Should GD/PI be a part of selection process in management schools?

Medical research on animals should be banned.

Drugs and alcohol consumption should be legalized in India.

Highly subsidized higher education does not make a student responsible.

Interview Feedback : The number of panelists was 2 and the PIs generally lasted 30 minutes. In some cases the same panel
conducted the GD as well as the PI. In general not a lot of stress was created in most of the interviews. The questions covered almost
all the aspects about a candidature. The students were grilled on their academics, work experience and extra curricular activities.
Sample PI questions
O

Tell us your career plans. What is your objective?

Your objectives and your current experience dont quite fit together-theyre very inconsistent. Why?

Who has the largest spinning capacity in central India?

What do you understand by a kernel?

What all o/s have you used?

Have you ever installed Linux? Detail the steps involved in it.

Do you think there is any relation between the BIOS and the installer?

You have worked largely on WIN98, as you say. So tell us about some of its Unique features.

In case you are not able to make it to any of the IIMs, what would you do?

What was your CAT percentile?

What books have you read? Which was last one? Are you sure of the title? Who was the author?

In the end, is there anything that you would like to ask us?

Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line?

The HRD ministrys decision regarding IIMs fee cut is going to effect students positively. Comment.

What do read in your spare time?

Why should we select you?

What is your favorite subject? (questions on the same)

Why should we take you?

What is the Negative Thing in India Shining Campaign?

What is the importance of HR manager? in and why?

What is cost? Explain Variable Cost and Fixed cost with an example?

If you want to open a toyshop, where will you open it and why?

What is revenue Deficit?

IIM-C
The selection procedure consisted of two stages
Stage 1 : Group Discussion
Stage 2 : Personal interview
Group Discussion : The numbers of candidates in the group discussion are 8-10 and the numbers of moderators were 2-3. The
seating arrangement was U shaped.
GD Topics
O

In democracy, autonomy is a myth

Double digit growth has led to the decline in the living standards of the poor.

Interview : The interview lasts for 15-20 mins. The panel was asking a mix of questions to all the candidates. To some candidates
a lot of stress was laid on extracurricular activities and questions were asked on the points raised in the GD also. Some candidates
were grilled on academics specially those who had applied for PGDCA. The panelists were the same as in the GD. The candidates
having work experience were questioned on their present job profile etc.

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Questions
O

Why MBA?

Difference between integration and differentiation and their application?

What do you think about the fee cut?

What is a normal distribution curve and how is it useful?

Project in the final year of engineering and questions based on the project.

Process of calculation of percentile and the implication of percentile.

What would be your rank (with respect to you percentile) assuming that total number of participants were 1.5 lacs?

Explain the concept of overdrive in Automobile engineering?

What is principle of Air conditioner?

What type of books do you like to read and later questions on those books and on the author?

How many calls do you have?

How much do you know about Finance/Marketing/H.R/Systems?

IIM-L
The selection procedure consisted of two stages
Stage 1 : Group Discussion
Stage 2 : Personal interview
Group Discussion : The number of candidates for group discussion were 8-10
and there were 2 moderators. The candidates were given 2 minutes to think
followed by 12 minutes to discuss the topic. The seating arrangement was semicircular.
GD Topics
O

Proactive judiciary is a threat to democracy in India.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

O
The impact of economic reforms has been that rich people have become
richer and poor people poorer.
O

Ethical Values do more damage than good.

Regionalisation of Indian politics.

Interview : The interview panel was the same as in the GD. The interview lasted for 10-18 minutes. The panel asked general
questions like why MBA, role models, introduction etc but the questions were not dealt with in detail. Also there were questions on
fundamentals in academics. The candidates having work experience were grilled on work experience also. The panel had a tendency
to make sarcastic remarks on the interviewee and tried to put the candidate under stress.
Questions
O

Why MBA? And in which specialization?

Introduce yourself.

Why a gap in studies?

Role model and why?

What is your career plan?

What are your hobbies? What type of books do you like to read and questions on the book and authors?

What is your project in Final year followed by questions on the project?

What is your career vision and how do you plan to achieve them?

How many states have women chief minister and name those states?

Headlines of the newspapers.

Any question you want to ask the panel.

Which institutes have you applied to?

What would be your preference in case you get calls from the other IIMs too?

Questions on work-ex & job profile, reason for leaving , reason for not joining other Companies like WIPRO etc.

What is your opinion on the fee deduction that is taking place?

What is the greenhouse effect?

What else are you good at besides academics? Other interests?

What do you think about the India-Bangladesh pipeline?

Where all have you applied to?

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What is the six-sigma?

Microeconomics questions

Discussion on Socialism

What is the Sindhu? (River) where does it flow?

What do you know about the BCG matrix?

Selling a pencil & marketing a pencil. What is the difference?

IIM-K
The selection procedure consisted of two stages
Stage 1 : Group Discussion
Stage 2 : Personal interview
Group Discussion : Topic was given written on a sheet of paper, in some cases it would start with some quotes or examples. The
topics were very general in nature and rather easy. The number of moderators in the GDs was 2. 2 to 5 minutes were provided to
students to think on the topic and then they were asked to start the discussion. 10 to 15 minutes were given for the discussion. The
moderator would interrupt in between and pinpoint if any student(s) tries to create a fish-market. In some cases, at the end every
student was asked to summarise or conclude the GD. The sitting pattern was U shaped or a rectangular U. Number of students was 7.
GD Topics
O

Capitalization and Greed?

The customer comes second.

In a world of oranges, its the apples that sells!

Every enterprise views society as its enemy.

Interview Feedback : For most of students the same panel conducted both GD and PI. Number of panelists was 2. The PIs
generally lasted 8 10 min. Most of the students were questioned on academics, work experience and general knowledge.
Sample PI questions
O

What is Maclaren theorem and series?

What is fourier series?

What is a republic? Are China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan republic?

What is your academic background?

Stock Market and its shortcomings

What do you know about IIM-K?

Describe two qualities that make you a natural leader.

We dont think these qualities are enough for you selections, what else can you give us?

Name the seven north-eastern states.

What is the difference between efficiency and efficacy?

IIM-I
The selection procedure consisted of two stages
Stage 1 : Case Study
Stage 2 : Personal interview
Case Study : The students were divided into groups of 8. There were 3 moderators present for evaluation. About 5 minutes were
provided to students to read and analyze the case and then they were asked to start the discussion. The sitting pattern was C
shaped. Time allotted for discussion was 10-15 minutes. After the discussion, the group was given around 5-6 minutes to summarize
the discussion in writing.
Sample Case Study asked at IIM Indore
Case Study 1 : Satya is a marketing trainee, who is working with company ABC. His immediate bosses - Area Sales Manager and
Senior Marketing Executive - are engaged in unethical practices. Later on, both Satya and the Area Sales Manager are sacked, when
the top management finds out about the unethical practices. Satya is in dilemma - whether he should leave the company or fight
against the decision.

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Case Study 2 : In a company ABC, Sunita is facing problems as she takes frequent leaves and is quite insincere in her work. She is
not able to meet her deadlines or deliver quality work. The reason is that she is the only working member in her family. Her husband
is an alcoholic and is presently unemployed. He does not support her in any manner. Sunita does all the housework, takes care of her
kids and also works in the office. You are the Sunitas boss. How will you help Sunita solve her problems?
PI : The number of panelists in the PI was 2-3. In general the PIs lasted for about 20-25 minutes. Since it was an IIM interview the
level of preparation required is high. The panelists expect students to come fully prepared and put their best foot forward. The
students should prepare their favorite subjects and current affairs topics thoroughly. In general stress was created in most of the
interviews. The questions covered almost all the aspects about a candidature. The students were grilled on their academics, work
experience and extra curricular activities. Why MBA? was the common question asked to everyone.
Sample PI questions
O

Tell us something about yourself.

What is the difference between a processor & an IC?

What do you know about the quality system?

What is a kernel?

Name some manufacturers of ICs?

What is a computer network?

What is the difference between network computing and distributed & parallel computing?

Questions on candidates work experience like - what is the structure of your organization?

What all other calls have you got?

How do you design logic circuits? What is the difference between a processor and logic circuits?

What is your career objective?

Why dont you want to join your fathers business?

Why do you want to do an MBA?

Tell us about your extra curricular activities.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What specialization do you have in mind?

What are your hobbies?

Why do you want to change your field? (to a BCA student)

What is AM and FM?

How is the president of India elected?

WXWXWX

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