IIMs in India: An Overview

What the IIMs are

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are a group of public business schools set up by the Government of India, offering postgraduate management programmes such as the two-year flagship MBA/PGP, along with doctoral and executive programmes. The earliest IIMs were established in the 1960s, and the network has expanded across the country since.

Some of the IIMs

Widely known IIMs include those listed below, among others. Because newer IIMs have been added over the years, the most reliable way to see the complete, current set — with their programmes and seats — is the official CAT site, which lists the participating institutes.

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Lucknow
• IIM Kozhikode
• IIM Indore

How admission works

Admission to the flagship MBA/PGP at the IIMs is based mainly on the Common Admission Test (CAT) score, followed by stages such as written ability tests, group discussions, and personal interviews that each institute conducts. The exact weightings and shortlisting criteria are set by each IIM and published officially each year.

Choosing without rankings

Rather than relying on unofficial "best IIM" lists, compare institutes on factors you can verify officially — programmes offered, location, fees, and selection criteria published on each IIM's own site. The right fit depends on your goals, not a single ranking.