Yes, the IPM IIM Indore entrance exam can be prepared in 10 months. Some of my friends who joined IIM Indore and opted for IPM prepared for the exam in only 9-10 months.

Although, your level of participation could not be measured in months, but can be determined by the number of hours you put in each day. Many students used to enroll in the course for the year and then choose to drop out. But on the other hand students who are from crash courses are seen to reach their goal.

All in all, concentrate on your studies. Make a proper strategy by selecting the topics which are your strengths and weaknesses and solve them accordingly. Learn time management as this will be very beneficial. Finally, you can also look for a mentor to guide you through the process.

According to my friends studying at IIM Indore, they use a process that consists of two stages to grant admission to suitable applicants to its Five-Year Integrated IPM Program.

The IPM course has a total enrollment of 121 students every year. 57 of them are from the general category, 33 from the OBC category, 18 from the SC category, 9 from the ST category and 4 from the PWD category.

The two-stage process includes:

• Screening of applications and calculation of composite scores based on stream, Secondary and Higher secondary scores, and SAT-1 scores. 
• The applicants are then shortlisted for Aptitude Test and personal interview rounds as per the prepared merit list.
• The aptitude test and personal interview round are conducted of the shortlisted candidates. 
• The aptitude test would consist of written and verbal ability questions, along with a few questions relating to the general awareness, and analytical skills of the candidates. 
• The level is the same as that of the secondary level (10+2) education system of India.

The final compost score is calculated as: Final Composite Score (FCS) = Aptitude Test (40%)+Personal Interview (60%).

After all the rounds are completed, a merit list is prepared to offer admission to eligible candidates based on the final composite score. 

If your main goal is to study economics, maths and statistics then opting for IPM at IIM Indore would be a very good idea. However, the fee structure is very high. INR 4,00,000 per annum for domestic students and for international students, it is INR 6,00,000.

You will also have to study subjects which you will necessarily not like such as sociology, psychology, etc.

Another drawback is that there is no degree for IPM. You will only get a certificate from IGNOU.

In the case of NIT Allahabad, it is a reputed institute for engineering. You will be able to study subjects that meet your interests. The fees are also very less. In the placement drive of 2020, the highest package offered to the students was INR 49 LPA. Some of the top recruiters were IBM, Adobe, Accenture, Tata Steel, Capgemini, etc. The average package was INR 10.28 LPA.

Although it depends on your interest, SSCBS has an edge over IIM Indore’s IPM in several ways. Few of my classmates were in the same dilemma of selecting between these two colleges. Most of them chose SSCBS over IPM. 

Here are some reasons why:

• SSCBS provides you with a plethora of opportunities apart from classroom knowledge. 
• BMS at SSCBS is much better than regular courses like B.Com (H). 
• Unlike most regular courses, you need to clear an entrance test by DU to get selected. 
• BMS course at SSCBS includes a much practical approach to make you industry-ready.
• The campus is filled all year round with a platter of societies that provide personal development through live projects, internships, annual event,s or corporate exposure.
• The college has also won various laurels for itself and for the country. 
• SSCBS has been ranked 1st regarding Career Progression, Placements, Intake Quality, and Value for Money.
• The placement record of SSCBS makes it stand far ahead of Hindu/Hansraj/SRCC. 
• Over 80+ companies visited the campus for recruitment. 
• SIIF society of SSCBS has been supporting budding entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas.

Overall, SSCBS beats the IPM of IIM Indore any day. The robust curriculum, great infrastructure, ambient location, and great placement record are something that makes it one of the top-notch B-schools for India. In addition, you can prepare for CAT and pursue MBA from top IIMs after completing your graduation.

The integrated IIM course offers a vast number of opportunities for the students. IPM students can be categorized into 2 branches, which are as follows. 

Students opting for PGP program: The majority of the students choose this option. The IPM students then sit for the placement process and take posts in Finance, HR, Marketing, Operations, etc, the same as the PGP students who get admission through CAT. However, there are some job profiles in Consulting which do not take IPM students due to their lack of experience.

Students who choose to exit after 3 years:  Some of these students apply to different B schools in India or abroad. The course taught in the undergraduate years of the degree is mainly liberal arts. It has subjects such as Economics, Statistics, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, Communication, etc. So, you can therefore pursue master’s in these courses. Some of the students start preparing for civil services.

If you continue to PGP you will get the same job opportunities and exposure as the PGP students. You also have the option to exit the course after 3 years of the UG program. 

CAT is the first stage entrance exam for all IIMs and many non-IIM colleges. Following the CAT results, you will be shortlisted for the second round based on a few parameters. These parameters include:

• CAT percentile.
• Academic performance entails your grades in 10th, 12th, and graduation.
• Work Experience - For PGP or 2 Year courses, preference will be given to up to 36 months of experience.

In the second round, any of the following skills will be tested using a combination of Personal Interview-

• GD
• Writing an Essay
• WAT
• Exercise in Groups

Different IIMs select different skills to assess, and this varies from institute to institute. After passing the second round, you will be offered admission based on your overall performance in the first and second rounds, as well as the availability of seats in a specific IIM.

According to my friends at IIM Indore, the institute does accept improvement marks. The minimum eligibility to get admission is 60% for the general category in the 10th and 12th standards.

You are required to score extremely well in the ATS, which is the aptitude exam. You have to score a minimum of around 50%. Other than that, you also have to perform well in the Personal Interview session, alongside the Written Assessment. Your admission will depend upon these three factors. 

Except that, the marks you achieved in your 10th and 12th standard are usually used only for the eligibility check, that is, 60%. The age limit is 20 years, for the general category.

Courses like IPM and PGP-HRM are bold, outstanding, and pathbreaking. It took great hard work for the decision-makers to start these courses. However, the amount of success for these completely depends upon the intention.

The real question would be, “Why IPM? Why Mumbai Campus? And why opting for HRM course?”. If the answer to all of these questions is “Money” then whether IIM Indore is doing right or not will depend on the number of admissions, fees, and the ROI.

If the answer to your question is “for a good career”, then the success completely depends upon the faculty, facilities, and placements. Even if the intentions are considered to be good, most government bodies do not take the lead and act from the front. 

It is very confusing to say if the students are too ignorant to believe what they see or if the institutions are providing incorrect information

This is a tough question but let me provide you with some suggestions which you may find useful. Having to know a lot of people from IIM Indore, I can share the information I acquired from them.

• Prepare thoroughly for your CBSE boards. You need to do well in these exams. 
• Both IIT-JEE and IPM-IIM Indore can be given another time also if required.
• You need to decide what you want to do.
• If you choose JEE, you are then going ahead with a technical career.
• If you opt for IPM, it will be completely different as it will focus on management.
• The IPM course is a 5 year integrated course. It used to be a diploma degree but has now transitioned to a degree course.

So, the first thing you need to do is decide which path you want to go. If your mind is scattered all over the place, you might make a mistake.

A lot of people choose Engineering+MBA. It is very much popular among students. But if you intend to do an MBA, then do not go for IPM. You can complete your 4 years of B.Tech or BE graduation. This will save 1 year. Then you can prepare for the CAT and opt for a normal MBA.