The Coordination Forum of the Indian Institutes of Management, chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, discussed the possibility of a common undergraduate entrance examination and a coordinated MBA counselling process for all IIMs, officials said.
Newer four‑year programmes have further diversified admission routes, according to the meeting’s discussion points【F2/S1】. IIM Lucknow director MP Gupta said the institute’s undergraduate programme “requires students with a strong mathematical background” and that it admits students through JEE Advanced because the exam aligns with the programme’s academic requirements【F3/S1】【F4/S1】.
IIM Indore director Himanshu Rai said the broader consensus was to avoid creating new entrance tests and instead leverage credible examinations that already exist【F5/S1】. Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi added that such a “significant decision” could not be finalized in a single meeting and would require analysis of students’ test‑taking patterns and socio‑economic backgrounds【F5/S1】.
The forum tasked IIM Mumbai with developing a prototype of the proposed platform【F6/S1】. A senior IIM Mumbai official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the platform would ensure smooth and timely counselling across the IIM system【F9/S1】. The ministry may review the platform and provide an update, but no final decision has been taken yet【F7/S1】【F8/S1】.
Participants also raised concerns that newer IIMs sometimes experience vacant seats when candidates accept offers from older IIMs. One suggestion was that older IIMs could stop admissions after a defined date and share information with newer IIMs to better manage waitlists and admissions【F11/S1】. The objective, officials said, is to improve coordination across the system and minimise vacancies【F12/S1】. Most IIMs currently follow a standardised refund policy modelled on UGC guidelines, wherein students withdrawing before classes commence receive a refund of the admission confirmation amount with only a ₹1,000 deduction【F12/S1】.
Gupta described the idea of a common test and counselling as “a good” proposal, while Rai noted that “unlike engineering institutions, IIMs have different missions, pedagogies and admission processes”【F10/S1】.
Sources
Hindustan Times – India News, “IIM Indian Institute of Management common UG entrance test admissions counselling MBA,” September 22 2026, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/iim-indian-institute-of-management-common-ug-entrance-test-admissions-counselling-mba-101790036497853.html
Source: Hindustan Times – India News
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
