Consider integrated interview: HRD ministry to IIMs

The suggestion originally came from the controversial Bhargava Committee,instituted by former HRD Minister Arjun Singh. “On the face of it this (the current interview procedure) is enormously wasteful and unnecessary. Like the Civil Services,there should be a common interview where all the IIMs could be represented. The students who qualify may choose the IIM they wish to join,” the report says.

However,since almost all the committee’s recommendations have been junked by the IIMs,the fact that this suggestion has found favour with a new minister at the helm has raised many an eyebrow in the IIM community.

The ministry is reportedly concerned that with six new IIMs being set up,it would be a problem for candidates to get interviewed in all 13 IIMs and it would be prudent to switch to the single interview system along the lines followed by the IITs. The allocation of the particular IIM can then be made on the basis of the student’s performance. “The IIMs have not yet taken a final call on this and it is an issue that will have to be discussed with Faculty and the Board of Governors as well,” a source said.

IIMs,however,have always taken pride in their individual character and are expected to meet soon to come up with a response to the above suggestion.