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Has anyone appeared for the entrance exam for the Mahatma Gandhi Fellowship Program of IIM Bangalore? If yes, how was the experience?
A friend of mine has recently appeared in the entrance exam of the MGNF program of IIM Bangalore and Ministry of Skill Development and he even qualified for the written exam.
He wrote the examination and just received a confirmation email for the interview process. He briefly gave an overview of the different sections of the Entrance paper which is as follows.
- In the General Awareness section, you will have around 10 questions and the level of the questions are not very high. There were questions about a metal that is found in the liquid state, capital of Tripura, civil disobedience movement launched by the newest state of India, etc.
- In the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section, there are a total of 30 questions. There would be two sets (5 questions each) based on a bar graph and the graph would be quite easy to read. You can solve them by using the approximation method because questions are mainly ratio-based.
- Then there would be one set (5 questions) based on the pie graph which again was very easy to read and answer. Only one catch in one question is that you should know the conversion of hectares to acres. One very easy set based on the linear sitting arrangement and a few questions based on simplification. There was only one set based on some missing/incomplete tables which were tough and time-consuming.
- Let us now move to the next section which was Quantitative Ability, again there would be 30 questions on topics like percentages, ratio proportion, averages, Simple interest, ages, probability, TSD, circles, cubes, time, and work, and few questions were based on simplification.
- The final section of the paper is Reading comprehension and Vocabulary, again there you will have 30 questions. There were 4 small RCs consisting of 10 questions and most of the questions based on RC were inferred based on only 1 or 2 questions based on facts so this part of the paper would be a little tricky. The other 20 questions were easy to moderate level based on Synonyms, antonyms, odd man out, fillers, sentence correction, and one question was based on analogy.
So overall, I would say the paper would be easy but the only constraint would be time. Only 120 minutes for 100 questions. Out of 100 questions, 55-60 questions would be really easy and doable.
What qualities does IIM Bangalore look for during the selection process from a candidate who has worked at IT companies?
Make a clear assessment of your role in the organization. Quantify your contributions, and list the ways you have helped your organization grow. This will help your present a clear picture during the interview.
Got admits from IIMA PGPX, IIM Bangalore EPGP, and IIM Calcutta PGPEX. Which one should I go for (I'm really confused about the placements, no clarity whatsoever)?
Your selection should be based on your profile, such as your work experience, industry, and, most importantly, what you hope to gain from the program. If you have 4-5 years of work experience, you can look at EPGP because they have gone through ISB and have capped the work experience of the candidates they accept.
The age range for IIMA is 5-20 years, so the learning will be unparalleled in terms of class discussions and peer group learning. If I recall correctly, IIM Calcutta has a lower batch strength, and the batch is slightly on the higher side of work experience.
Placements are good at all institutes, and your previous industry experience is important. This is something you cannot change and should accept, but you can look at how candidates in that sector have performed over time.
In terms of learning, you'll not find the variety you'll find at PGPX anywhere else. Make contact with both alumni and current students. Make an informed decision based on your motivation for enrolling in the program.
What should I do to get into IIM Bangalore?
To grant admission, IIMs administer the Common Admission Test, also known as the CAT.
While the CAT score is the primary criterion, IIMs also use interviews, group discussions, and written ability tests to evaluate candidates after the CAT. Aside from that, they consider the candidate's past academic record as well as work experience.
So, to gain admission to IIM Bangalore, the procedure would be as follows:
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Begin preparing for the CAT.
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Fill out the CAT application form in the provided window.
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Attend the CAT and achieve a high percentile. (Something like 99.5 or higher)
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If you are selected, you must attend their GDPI round and perform well.
If everything goes well, you will receive an admission call from IIM B.
Is 90 in 12th class (CBSE, PCM) considered good by IIM-Bangalore?
As one of my friends studied at IIM Bangalore, I can say that it certainly does give special percentage weightage to how much you have scored in your 10th, 12th, and graduation.
IIM Bangalore has always been clear about the percentage. But then, you should also realize that this weightage criteria changes with each passing year. It's not constant nor any standard is set.
If you have a score of 90+ in your 10th and 12th standard along with an 8+ GPA in graduation, you can still anticipate a call. However, you would only be eligible once you clear your CAT examination and you also show work experience as well. IIM B always gives preference to candidates with work experience, unlike the other IIMs.
How much work experience is required to get an interview call from IIM Bangalore?
As per the admission trends of IIM Bangalore, almost every student stands a chance of getting interview calls. Here is the work-experience profile of PGPBA 2021 in batch.
| Work Experience in months | Number of students |
| No experience | 18 |
| <13 months of experience | 8 |
| 13-24 months of experience | 9 |
| 25-36 months of experience | 7 |
| 37-48 months of experience | 2 |
| Above 48 months of experience | 1 |
So, the above statistics back up the fact that every aspirant has chances of getting interview calls. IIM Bangalore puts more emphasis on the quality of work experience in relevant sectors, CAT percentile, and past academic performance, rather than years of experience.
Should I join IIM Bangalore given that I am already earning 20 lpa (base) at Amazon?
No, I don’t think you should join IIM Bangalore and pursue MBA given that you are already receiving INR 20 LPA (base).
If your base is INR 20 LPA then the package should be around INR 25 LPA. An MBA from IIM Bangalore will also get you placed with a similar package maybe around INR 30 LPA. This does not make much difference considering the high fees you will have to pay. In Fact you will be leaving out the market risk, performance, opportunity costs and the increment that you will probably get in the next two years.
So an MBA from IIM Bangalore does not seem a good option since you are already working at an esteemed organization with an above average salary.
Will anyone be allowed entry inside the IIM Bangalore campus?
No, any outsider cannot enter the campus of IIM Bangalore easily. There are certain restrictions that need to be followed inside the campus by everyone. The points below give a brief overview of the rules and regulations that are strictly followed inside the campus of IIM Bangalore.
- A student, a professor, or an alumnus can enter and leave the campus of IIM Bangalore freely. The only way an outsider can enter the campus is as an invited guest by some professor or student.
- During cultural events, fests, and seminars, the security at IIM Bangalore is relaxed compared to normal days. But, outsiders need at least valid proof of participation even during those days.
- There are students who get involved in activities like climbing the barbed fence to enter the campus, and eventually get punished if caught.
- Although the campus of IIM Bangalore is quite strict for outsiders, it should not affect the motivation of the student to be a part of the institute someday. Every student, who wants to seek motivation to visit the institute, should keep the above aspects in mind while making their visit.
These are some of the key highlights about the strictness of security inside the campus of IIM Bangalore, which is quite relaxed for students but difficult for strangers to pay a visit to.
What is the fee for SC/ST students in IIM A, B, and C?
There is no concession for SC/ST students in IIM A, B and C. But this is not a major issue.
IIMs offer a lot of financial aid services to financially weak people. In some cases, the entire fee is paid by the college or some part. It depends on the judgment of the panel on the basis of your situation.
All IIMs offer educational loans at a relatively low interest rate. Banks usually consider IIM students as a profitable investment. So rather than worrying about the money, focus more on your goals.
What are some famous startups started by IIM Bangalore alumni?
IIM Bangalore has always been a pretty good place for nurturing entrepreneurial ideas and has consistently encouraged the values and culture of entrepreneurship. Some of the most popular Startups which were launched by IIM Bangalore alumni are as follows.
- Urban Ladder: It was established by Ashish Goel and Rajiv Srivatsa in 2012 and was introduced as an online marketplace (E-commerce store) to buy and sell furniture and home decor products. The startup is responsible for the delivery and installation of all the products which it offers on its website.
- Delhivery:This Startup was co-founded by Sahil Barua in the year 2011. It is a third-party logistics delivery company with a Pan-India delivery network supported by in-house fulfillment services and transportation management systems, customer analytics, geocoding, and route optimization.
- Zoojoo.be:This startup was launched in the year 2012 by Avinash Saurabh. It is a social wellness platform based on Games that aims to unite the workforce of organizations to build up healthier habits.
- Pikkol: It was co-founded in 2015 by Deepu Chandran. It acts as a relocation services aggregator and a logistics firm based upon technology-centric innovations and ideas. The Startup aims to create a technological, analytical, and operational structure to ease all of the relocation requirements of clients in the potential marketplaces.
- ReportBee: It was co-founded by Anantharaman Maniin 2010. The startup aims to offer smart report card systems to schools by data collection and then providing an accurate presentation of the findings in an easy to interpret format for quicker and better comprehension of the data and improved decision making.
These are some of the famous startups by IIM Bangalore alumni.
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