Two prominent institutions within India’s management education framework, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur and IIM Sambalpur, are taking decisive steps to redefine their admissions processes. For the 2025 MBA batch, both institutes have opted to exit the Common Admission Process (CAP), moving away from the centralized system traditionally used alongside the Common Admission Test (CAT).
The decision was revealed amid plans to create personalized admissions strategies, aimed at attracting diverse talent and enhancing the overall quality of student cohorts. For the uninitiated, CAP has been instrumental for several newer IIMs, enabling streamlined admissions across constituent institutes. By stepping away, IIM Raipur and Sambalpur hope to exercise greater autonomy and tailor the selection of candidates to fit their specific institutional goals.
Prof Ram Kumar Kakani, the Director of IIM Raipur, elaborated on the reasoning behind this strategic shift. “By choosing to exit, IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur will handle shortlisting, interviews, and final selections on their own,” he acknowledged. With the aim of crafting a more customized process, IIM Raipur is set to implement new metrics including its Aggregate Index Score (AIS).
The AIS framework will encompass multiple evaluation criteria, ensuring potential candidates are assessed through various lenses. Specifically, this includes CAT Scores, which will constitute 50% of the overall weightage, academic performance accounting for another 40%, and gender and academic diversity contributing the remaining 10%. Such criteria reflect IIM Raipur’s intentions of promoting inclusivity and quality within its ranks.
Prof Kakani addressed misconceptions surrounding the decision, indicating it was not indicative of perceived candidate quality but part of broader capacity-building objectives. “I disagree with the notion some have proposed—that this decision arose from concerns over the inferior quality of candidates. The word ‘inferior’ has never been used,” he stated emphatically. The intent, he elaborated, is rooted deeply within the institute’s ethos of nurturing and developing business leaders aligned to IIM Raipur’s vision.
With the new admissions process, shortlisted candidates will undertake group discussions and personal interviews, which are set to occur across various major Indian cities. The approach promises to merge academic rigour with real-world business perspectives, as the selection panel will include industry experts alongside faculty members.
IIM Sambalpur has echoed these sentiments, stating through its officials, “The decision will help tailor the admission process to match its specific requirements.” This indicates both institutions are not just swapping systems but seeking vertical growth by aligning applicant interests with institutional missions.
One particularly noteworthy aspect of this shift is the emphasis on gender diversity within the admissions process. IIM Raipur has previously reported accepting 62% female students for their latest MBA intake. Prof Kakani reasoned this could be attributed to unique advantages offered by the campus, such as amenities and support systems—including onsite healthcare services—fostering security and satisfaction for female students and their families. “Girls prioritise IIM Raipur over other institutes because of certain unique advantages,” he shared.
Looking to the future, IIM Raipur is gearing up for ambitious expansions with plans to double its campus capacity by 2027. This will include the introduction of dual-degree programs, likely through partnerships with international institutions such as the University of Wolverhampton, England. Students may find themselves partaking in programs where they spend one year studying domestically and another abroad, gaining valuable global exposure.
The Academic Council’s discussions on this shift date back to July 2022, culminating with official notifications made mid-2023, as noted by Prof Kakani. This protracted decision-making process highlights the institution's careful consideration of how to best navigate the competitive educational environment.
The director urged prospective candidates to adopt open-mindedness toward this change. “Change is something which is permanent. Whenever there is change, there is a lot of thought, and worry out there. I would request potential applicants to be calm and enjoy the process, as they will truly benefit from it,” Prof Kakani noted.
With two formidable institutions paving their own way, the 2025 MBA admissions at IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur will surely be one to watch. Candidates eyeing these schools are encouraged to stay abreast of notifications and updates from the respective institutes to leverage their chances of successful admission. The autonomy both schools have chosen could potentially yield diverse advantages, tapping untapped talent pools through individualized strategies and assessments.
