Debater to MBA: IIM Indore Interview Tale

From Debater to MBA: How This Critical Thinker Tackled the IIM Indore Interview

Candidate Profile

  • Background: Graduate in Political Science with a keen interest in debate and current affairs
  • Work Experience: 1 year as a research analyst at a public policy think tank
  • Academics:
    • 10th Grade: 93%
    • 12th Grade: 95%
    • Undergraduate CGPA: 8.4

Interview Panel

  • Panel Composition: 3 interviewers (2 Male, 1 Female)
  • Location: Online (virtual interview)

Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach

1️⃣ Icebreaker & Philosophical Debates

🔵 Q1: If all food in the world were non-vegetarian, what would happen?

📌 Tip: Approach such hypothetical questions with creativity and logic. Link them to cultural, environmental, and ethical impacts.

🔵 Q2: Are protests in India a sign of too much freedom? Argue for or against.

📌 Tip: Avoid extreme positions. A balanced perspective acknowledging both democratic rights and potential disruptions works best.

🔵 Q3: Lockdown and its effects—was it good or bad?

📌 Tip: Connect your answer to public health, economy, education, and mental health impacts to show multidimensional thinking.

2️⃣ Economy, Society & Policy

🔵 Q4: IPL player auctions—good or bad?

📌 Tip: Consider commercialization, fairness, and sportsmanship angles.

🔵 Q5: Does the real India lie in secularism or Hindu nationalism?

📌 Tip: Handle sensitive topics tactfully, emphasizing constitutional values while acknowledging current socio-political dynamics.

🔵 Q6: History repeats itself—do you agree?

📌 Tip: Support your stance with historical examples but also mention factors that prevent recurrence.

🔵 Q7: Should children be taught how to face rejection?

📌 Tip: Frame it around emotional resilience, education policy, and preparing for real-world challenges.

3️⃣ Policy & Governance

🔵 Q8: Should top engineering rankers be banned from pursuing MBA? Argue in favor.

📌 Tip: Even if you disagree, practice arguing a given stance logically—mention brain drain, opportunity costs, or specialization mismatch.

🔵 Q9: What if the Earth started rotating east to west instead of west to east?

📌 Tip: Think about sunrise/sunset shifts, weather patterns, ocean currents—tie science with daily life implications.

🔵 Q10: Aatmanirbhar Bharat—your thoughts?

📌 Tip: Include recent initiatives, challenges in implementation, and sector-specific examples.

4️⃣ General Awareness & Opinions

🔵 Q11: Freedom of speech in India—pros and cons?

📌 Tip: Cite Article 19, reasonable restrictions, and real-world cases to showcase awareness.

🔵 Q12: Kolkata is the city of joy—do you agree?

📌 Tip: Tie in personal anecdotes, culture, festivals, and people’s warmth to craft a lively answer.

🔵 Q13: Books give us life perspective—your take?

📌 Tip: Refer to a few books that shaped your thinking to personalize your answer.

5️⃣ Education, Economy & Future Trends

🔵 Q14: Liberal arts education in India—what’s its relevance?

📌 Tip: Discuss critical thinking, interdisciplinarity, and employability challenges.

🔵 Q15: Scenario of entrepreneurship in India?

📌 Tip: Bring in recent startup successes, policy pushes like Startup India, and funding hurdles.

🔵 Q16: Women are already empowered in India—argue in favor.

📌 Tip: Cite education, workforce participation, legal rights—but acknowledge ongoing gaps delicately.

🔵 Q17: Future of IT in India?

📌 Tip: Mention AI, cloud, digital transformation, and India’s IT export growth.

6️⃣ Extempore, Case & Current Affairs

🔵 Q18: Extempore—Magic is not an illusion.

📌 Tip: Use metaphors—link it to technology, art, or life philosophy.

🔵 Q19: Role of economists in combating an economic crisis?

📌 Tip: Highlight fiscal, monetary tools, advisory roles, and policy design.

🔵 Q20: Good economy leads to good politics—agree or disagree?

📌 Tip: Reference examples like India, US, and link economic health with electoral outcomes.

7️⃣ Industry-Specific & Ethical Dilemmas

🔵 Q21: Why is FIFA managed better than ICC?

📌 Tip: Talk governance, transparency, revenue models—avoid emotional bias.

🔵 Q22: Should cryptocurrencies be banned?

📌 Tip: Balance risks (illegal use, volatility) with innovation and blockchain opportunities.

🔵 Q23: Affordable healthcare—what’s the way forward?

📌 Tip: Mention Ayushman Bharat, insurance models, and public-private partnerships.

🔵 Q24: The future of the world economy is digital—your view?

📌 Tip: Discuss digital payments, e-commerce, fintech, and digital divide.

8️⃣ Policy & Education Debates

🔵 Q25: Should the government stop Covid vaccines till further trials?

📌 Tip: Weigh public safety vs. urgent need in a pandemic context.

🔵 Q26: Education institutions like Narayana, Sri Chaitanya have reduced children to ranks—are ranks the right way to judge?

📌 Tip: Critique rote learning while acknowledging measurable benchmarks.

🔵 Q27: Smaller states are easier to manage—your view?

📌 Tip: Use examples like Chhattisgarh, Telangana vs. UP, Bihar for governance discussion.

🔵 Q28: Is online education helpful for pre-primary kids?

📌 Tip: Focus on attention span, social development, parent involvement.

🔵 Q29: IT companies giving pink slips—why?

📌 Tip: Discuss automation, cost-cutting, global recession, skill mismatch.

🔵 Q30: Should business owners prioritize stakeholders or shareholders?

📌 Tip: Bring in stakeholder capitalism, ESG trends, and long-term vs. short-term returns.

🔵 Q31: AFSPA and human rights violations—your opinion?

📌 Tip: Stay balanced—mention security concerns vs. rights abuses.

🔵 Q32: Urbanization—pros and cons?

📌 Tip: Discuss infrastructure growth, rural depopulation, slums, sustainability.

Key Takeaways for Aspirants

  • Be prepared for opinion-based and ethical dilemmas—read editorials and practice structuring arguments.
  • Use real-world examples to back abstract concepts.
  • Expect extempore and spontaneous questions—practice thinking aloud.
  • Stay calm even with provocative or contrarian topics.
  • Brush up on current affairs, economic policies, and social issues.
📢 Disclaimer: Real Stories, Modified for Privacy
The above interview experience is based on real candidate interactions collected from various sources. To ensure privacy, some details such as location, academic scores, and personal identifiers have been altered. However, the core questions and insights remain authentic. These stories are intended for educational purposes and do not claim to represent official views of any institution. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
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