Protest Against MHRD taking over Entrance Exam.
for admission to IIMs

Overview

Background:

The Common Admission Test or CAT is conducted by the six Indian Institutes of Management. It is a multiple choice written exam designed to test a candidate's aptitude, under a time constraint. CAT is the first step towards securing admission to the post graduate/fellow programmes in management at the IIMs, followed closely by Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

Held by the IIMs, CAT has now become the entrance examination for several other leading institutes (52 in all) besides IIMs. Some of these leading institutes that use CAT scores other than the IIMs are MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, etc. The CAT score is one of the inputs used in short-listing candidates. Other inputs used are past academic background and achievements, and post-degree experience. The final shortlist is based on a weighted score, where each institute independently decides what weightages should be given to the various areas on the basis of its own priorities and needs.

The latest CAT test paper leakage has put the credibility of this exam under scrutiny for the first time. The CBI probe is on full scale. But in the meantime, this CAT scam has given MHRD the much-needed handle over the IIMs. As the outcome of the infamous CAT scam awaits finality, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) may open a new battlefront in its ongoing tiff with the premier B schools of the country - the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

Apprehensions abound that a recent Supreme Court judgment that suggested a single entrance test for professional courses will now be directed against the IIMs. Sources alleged that the Ministry of HRD is trying to subvert the judgment by using it as a tool to encroach upon the autonomy of the IIMs.

A 15-member National Coordination Committee comprising senior academicians and bureaucrats has commenced work in the direction of a common test for the academic year '05-06. Surprisingly, none of the directors of the more eminent IIMs - IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta and IIM Bangalore, are a part of the committee.

Only IIM Lucknow director, Devi Singh, made it to the committee. Sources say the directors of IIMA, IIMC and IIMB have been in office for more than a year compared to their IIML counterpart.

Devi Singh, the lone representative of the IIMs in the National Co-ordination Committee, however, feels that the common entrance test is not an attempt to clip the wings of the IIMs. "I am there to speak for all the IIMs, and this is not a move to clip the wings of the IIMs," he said.

But Devi Singh's nomination to the committee, which does not include the directors of the top three IIMs, has raised the eyebrows of his counterparts in other institutes. (Foul Play???) Moreover, one source pointed out that Devi Singh has himself been installed at IIM Lucknow by Ministry of HRD and has no great academic credentials to boast.

Cick here to join the debate on these issues

It may also be pointed out that IIMA, IIMC and IIMB had earlier declined to sign an HRD ministry memorandum of understanding (MoU) giving more control to the government as against the other three IIMs that had agreed to sign the same. In fact, the directors of all the IIMs had met the representatives of the HRD ministry over the issue in October. And it was decided that the CAT '03 would go ahead as scheduled.

This issue is also being highlighted and given desired prominence by every source in media, including Outlookindia.com whose Magazine Section is featuring an article titled, "No, Mr Minister!" carrying opinions of Mr. Sandipan Deb, an alumnus of IIM Calcutta, 23rd Batch, which gives a lot of food for disturbing thoughts, none of which sound kosher.

Click here to read the article "No, Mr Minister!" by Sandipan Deb

MHRD's Stand:

MHRD has wanted to take over CAT for a very long time now. And it provides solid logic for such. More than 1.25 lakh students sit for various MBA entrance exams and in the process pay large amounts as fees. A combined exam would save the headache of sitting for various exams and also save them money. MHRD also favours doing away with the Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

IIMs' Stand:

On the other hand, IIM managements do not want to give up control of CAT as they generate their finances from it, since they do not get any government support. But that's not the only reason. One reason for IIMs brand equity being sky-high is that the CAT is perceived as being extremely fair. The admission procedure of IIMs is so vigorous, as its not alone CAT, but also Group Discussion and Personal Interview that decide the performance level of a management aspirant. The fact that the best have got in through a fair, tough and transparent admission process adds tremendously to the market value of those passing out.

The General Concern

The general concern that's doing the rounds in the management community these days is that once the CAT is taken up by MHRD, it would loose all its credibility and integrity. The paper leakage is something that can happen even if MHRD takes up the responsibility of conducting CAT, infact there are more chances of that happening. Besides this, removing Group Discussion and Personal Interview from the admission procedure would give solid grounds for manipulation and it can no longer be claimed as a fair process.

"Let the Common Admission Test (CAT) remain with the IIMs." This is the overwhelming view of students who took the exam on 23rd November or those who plan to sit for it next year. They don't want the government to tame the CAT. Despite the paper leak, they hold on to the opinion that the government should not interfere at all.

Objective

To prevent the CAT from going to MHRD.

CoolAvenues is the largest management community network in India, hence it becomes imperative for CoolAvenues to bring this concern to the notice of MHRD.

We, at CoolAvenues.com, have taken up the task of reaching out to as many concerned individuals as possible and ask for their support to stand with us in keeping CAT under the patronship of IIMs, maintaining the high standards and brand equity that IIMs have diligently build up in the last few decades.

CoolAvenues' request to you

1. Learn more about this matter by reading from as many sources of information as are available to you, and if you agree with our arguments, please come to the aid of IIMs whose are as such put into this embarassing situation by a leak that happened outside their system.

2. Sign the petition form online, the link to which is given at the end of this letter, which we would submit to the HRD Minister on the due date, provided we receive a respectable number to support our point.

3. Otherwise, you can write a mail to petition@coolavenues.com addressing it to Minister of HRD asking him not to let MHRD take over CAT, providing your own brief enlightened reasoning. Your letter need not be more than a few clear lines expressing your opinion and you may of course freely use the contents of this document to base your letter on.

4. Spread the word about this petition to your colleagues and all other alumni by asking them to sign the petition

To Sign the Petition, click here

To Send a Personalized Mail, click here