The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur and IIM Sambalpur have made significant changes to their admissions processes by announcing their exit from the Common Admission Process (CAP) starting with the 2025 academic year. This move, driven by the desire for greater autonomy and to attract candidates with specific profiles, signals a shift away from centralized admissions recently favored by many B-schools.
The decision was firmly rooted in the belief among both IIM directors—Professor Ram Kumar Kakani of IIM Raipur and Mahadeo Jaiswal of IIM Sambalpur—that the CAP framework does not adequately identify candidates suited to their respective programs. "We’re more focused on admitting candidates who have an entrepreneurial mindset, which we were unable to procure from CAP," said Kakani, highlighting the need for independent assessments to find suitable candidates. IIM Sambalpur echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their requirement for candidates with specific backgrounds, particularly for their new MBA Business Analytics program, which calls for at least one year of work experience and specialization in STEM fields. Jaiswal pointed out the significance of profile assessment in their admissions.
The CAP, which previously included the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interviews (PI) conducted online, is now viewed by these institutions as insufficient for gauging the mindset and personality of applicants. IIM Raipur has opted for offline interviews, which will take place across various cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Raipur, Lucknow, and Guwahati, between February 10 and March 9, 2025. Kakani stated, "Through these offline interviews, we will be able to meet candidates from all regions of the country so there will be wider diversity. We will also judge them more effectively when we meet face-to-face, providing them with feedback, something new for IIMs."
IIM Sambalpur, on the other hand, plans to offer both online and offline interview options to candidates, providing flexibility to meet individual needs. Their offline interviews are scheduled to take place at their Sambalpur and Delhi campuses. Notably, both institutions have indicated their intention to include industry experts on their interview panels, adding another layer of evaluation not present under the CAP framework.
While IIM Raipur expects to bear significantly higher costs for conducting these physical interviews—anticipatively reaching around Rs 3 crore—compared to the previous investment of just Rs 25–30 lakh for virtual interviews, the message is clear: quality matters amid rising expenses. The anticipated CAT cut-off percentile stands at 90, similar to previous years, allowing IIM Raipur to maintain its competitive edge. During the 2023 admissions, the institute made 660 offers, receiving 380 acceptances, and ranked eighth among the 21 IIMs based on placement figures—showcasing its stature as one of the leading management institutes.
Across the Indian management education sector, this trend may not be isolated. Other IIMs, like IIM Amritsar, have expressed preferences for more control over hiring processes, choosing to not participate in CAP. Faculty members at these institutions believe it aligns with their commitment to identify candidates who uniquely fit their institutional goals.
By moving away from CAP, IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur join the ranks of first-generation IIMs—such as IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore—who have traditionally leveraged their independent admission policies to attract diverse talent. The first and second-gen IIMs typically have distinct entry criteria based on CAT scores, personal presentations, academic profiles, and relevant work experience, enhancing their ability to evaluate prospective students comprehensively.
While the CAP system allowed candidates to apply to multiple IIMs through one application, simplifying the process for them, it had its drawbacks as mentioned by the directors. IIM Bodh Gaya, which is hosting CAP 2025, continues to endorse CAP's convenience for students, allowing them to take one entrance exam and appear for one interview, easing the burden of applications across multiple institutions. Sunil Kumar, chairperson of IIM Bodh Gaya’s Admissions Committee, emphasized, "Our intention is to reduce the burden for students, and that's why we prefer CAP. This process gives us access to a greater pool of talent, allowing us to select the best candidates." Nevertheless, with the recent moves by IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur, the future of admissions processes across newer IIMs seems destined for more personalization and adaptability which may resonate with the changing educational needs and candidate aspirations.
