The Cabinet on Thursday cleared seven new IIMs on Thursday, and it's just the first of the government's plans to enhance the facilities offered at India's elite business schools.
Now the country will have twice the number of IIMs. But for India's elite business schools, the step it will also mean twice the number of tests, which is a stumbling block the government is trying to resolve.
Currently, the IIMs hold a Common Admission Test but group discussions and personal interviews are conducted at individual campuses. So a candidate has to appear at each IIM whether its Lucknow, Kozikode or Shillong for his interview.
In a letter to the IIM boards, Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has proposed a common interview panel for all IIMs. The less sought-after IIMs like Lucknow and Shillong have welcomed the suggestion.
But the king of the these elite B-schools, IIM Ahmedabad, is unhappy.
"This will benefit the students but will compromise the premium of top IIMs," said Amol Dhru, from IIM-Ahmedabad Alumni Association.
Sibal does not want another confrontation with the premiere B-schools, which already sore over the revision in pay scales. He has urged them to take up the common interview on a voluntary basis. At least the smaller IIMs can then opt for a single-window interview.
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