Group Discussions in MBA admission: how to prepare?

MBA is one of the most popular courses in the present world. Also, admission for MBA courses has more competition, just because it is popular. In the admission entrance, group discussion has inevitable role, along with all other test papers. Group discussion will always help the authorities to know about the candidate’s interest and awareness in general and business matters.

Generally the group discussions will be organized by all MBA colleges, including IIMs, soon after the results of CAT is out. It will usually come in February, every year. In order to get admission for MBA in a popular college, one must perform well in GD. For that, thorough knowledge on topics should be acquired through vast reading and preparation. Dedication and concentrated preparation is essential to crack any GD. This article is to provide some details regarding Group Discussions, and Personal Interviews, for MBA aspirants.

How MBA GD-PI is carried out?

For GD, the candidates will be divided into various groups, in random. Every group will have about 6-25 participants.
For every group, they will allot one topic for discussion. All candidates should convey their viewpoints related to that topic. The candidates will get 15-20 minutes for speaking. Also, the candidates can choose whether to favor the topic or not.
The candidates will be judged by the panel, based on various elements, in between the GD process. The elements include – idea on the topic, knowledge, speaking manner, confidence level and various other aspects.

Tips for preparing for MBA Group Discussion

GD/PI play vital role in selection process for MBA courses. It has the capacity to modify the rank lists entirely. You can crack GD with good and vast preparation. Here are some tips for improving your preparation for GD/PI.

Update your knowledge in current topics
Vast reading on different topics
Improve public speaking skills, to have confidence to appear
Include relevant points while speaking
Never interrupt any candidate while delivering their points
Be polite and gentle while expressing disagreement
Make to cool the discussion, while getting heated up, in your maximum level. This will add credits in your profile
Try to summarize, if you are unable for starting the conversation.
Don’t lose temper, even if other candidates try to provoke you.
Don’t start if you are having less knowledge on the topic. Try to get familiarized with it by listening to two or more members in the team.
Ensure to have gentle voice tone, throughout the discussion, even though it makes you heated. Also, try to handle teammates in a gentle manner, which will add values to you in selection.

Here are some topics with relevance in current affairs, which will help you for getting some ideas on preparing for GD

Privatization of public sector in India
Ban for Chinese apps in India
COVID 19 and slowdown of economy
Future of working systems and work from home nature
New National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Government under Narendra Modi and team
Revolutions in Industrial world 4.0
Various scams in banks of India
Advantages and disadvantages of Social Media
New India 2022
Jet airways and their crisis
Necessity of entry of celebrities in politics

Topics in GD: categories

MBA entrance tests are followed by Group Discussions/personal interviews and Written Ability Test (WAT). Based on the trends of topics in MBA admissions, so far, we can generally categorize them as – Current Affairs, Business and Economic topics, Abstract topics, topics based on facts, and controversial topics. For better understanding on this categorization, we provide you some examples of all these topics. The examples include:

category	Sample topics
Abstract topics	Importance of patience in business and management India in 2025 Do size matter or not? Is all publicity good or not? Women can handle various tasks at a time. Is it true or not? Lessons taught by failures. Will it have worth? Me too campaign Is freedom a fairytale Balancing work and life: is it a myth?
Topics based on facts/ current affairs	Economic impact of COVID in the world New agricultural bills Mission of chandrayaan 2 Self reliance policies: Atmanirbhar Bharat Companies Amendment Bill: advantages of companies Article 370: abolition good or not for the Kashmir Importance of Data Privacy for individuals Annual budget 2019-20 Electric vehicles: India’s preparations for it Future of work at home system Necessity of mental health Aadhaar becoming mandatory: favor or against
Topics on business and economy	Need of MBA in succeeding in business Bit coin/ Crypto currency: different opinions Privatization of Indian economy India to switch for clash less Economy Impact of technological progress in Banking sector Make in India campaign Legalizing business lobbying in India Corruption and economic slowdown in India Job opportunities and Automation and Artificial Intelligence Merging of general and railway budgets Ups and downs of Demonetization
Controversial topics	Who occupy Good managing skills: women or men? Verdict on Sabarimala case: right or wrong Acceptance of popular used language as national: acceptance and disagreement Allowing driverless cars in India Is banning cattle slaughter right? Bollywood vs .Nepotism Increasing intolerance in India: accepting or not? Ban on beauty pageants Do MBA create good business leaders? Dying democracy Impact of Pornography ban – effective or not

Topics for GD from previous years, exclusively for IIMs

Following are some of the topics selected from previous years, which came in IIM admission processes. Candidates who look to get admitted in IIMs can prepare for GD based on the idea you get through these topics.

Justification on death penalty for gender violence against women (socially relevant topic)
Zero (abstract)
Advantages of travelling in making ideas and knowledge through experiences (social problem)
India and cashless economy: are we prepared or not? (business related topic)
Knowledge as biggest wealth in life: is it true or not? (abstract)
Negative mindsets of children and less facilities for playing and refreshments (social issue)
India’s mission on Mars (current affairs)
Me too campaign (current topic)
Bit coin / crypto currency (current issue)
Scams in banking sector (relevant topic)
Pollution /climatic changes (social issue)
For and against encountering rapists in Hyderabad (social issue)
Idea of bullet trains in India (business)
Poverty: various aspects of poverty in India (economy)