The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur, a rising star among the new generation IIMs, has steadily carved a niche for itself as a hub of management education. Nestled in the culturally rich state of Odisha, IIM Sambalpur is committed to nurturing responsible leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset, contributing significantly to the nation's talent pool. For prospective management aspirants eyeing the 2025 academic year, here's a detailed look into what IIM Sambalpur offers.

Admission 2025: Your Gateway to IIM Sambalpur

The admission process at IIM Sambalpur for the 2025-27 batch is meticulously designed to identify candidates with strong academic credentials, relevant work experience, and a holistic profile. IIM Sambalpur has announced its independent admission process for MBA Admissions 2025, departing from the Common Admission Process (CAP). This change applies to both the flagship MBA and the new MBA (Business Analytics) programs, aiming to streamline the experience for shortlisted candidates.

Eligibility Criteria for MBA 2025:

To be considered for the coveted MBA program, candidates must meet the following fundamental eligibility requirements:

• A Bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or an equivalent CGPA from a recognized University.
• For candidates belonging to the SC/ST/DAP (Differently Abled Persons) categories, a minimum of 45% marks is required.
• Appearance in the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 is mandatory. Only candidates securing a positive (greater than zero) raw score in all sections of CAT 2024 will be considered.

The Selection Process for MBA 2025 will broadly involve three stages:

Stage 1: CAT 2024-based Shortlisting: In this initial stage, candidates who have taken the CAT 2024 exam will be evaluated based on their performance. IIM Sambalpur will release minimum sectional and overall CAT percentiles for different categories to shortlist candidates for the subsequent stages. Importantly, for male candidates with at least one year of relevant work experience, and for all female candidates, the minimum overall percentile in the General Category is reduced. Shortlisted candidates are expected to receive an email by January 10, 2025, inviting them to fill out the online application form with all relevant details.

Stage 2: Pre-Personal Interview (Pre-PI) Shortlisting: Candidates who are shortlisted in Stage 1 and successfully submit their online application form will then undergo a Pre-PI score calculation. This score, out of a maximum of 80 points, considers various components to create a comprehensive profile assessment. The breakdown for the Pre-PI score is as follows:

• CAT Score: 40% weightage
• Class X Marks: 3% weightage (points awarded based on percentage slabs, with higher percentages fetching more points)
• Class XII Marks: 3% weightage (points awarded based on percentage slabs, similar to Class X)
• Graduation Marks: 4% weightage (points awarded based on percentage slabs)
• Work Experience: 20% weightage (points awarded based on the duration of work experience, typically peaking around 30 months. No credit is given for internships, apprenticeships, or unpaid work. Work experience refers to full-time managerial, entrepreneurial, or professional experience after graduation.)
• Gender Diversity: 10% weightage (additional points for female candidates)

Based on this Pre-PI score, a select group of candidates from each category will be invited to participate in the Personal Interview (PI) round.

Stage 3: Personal Interview (PI) and Final Merit List: All candidates shortlisted from Stage 2 will be required to attend the Personal Interview (PI) process. The PI round will be conducted in online/hybrid mode, offering flexibility to candidates. The PI score holds a significant weightage of 25% in the final merit calculation. The final merit score, which determines admission offers, is derived by adding the appropriately normalized PI score (out of 25 marks) to the adjusted Pre-PI score (adjusted to 75 marks).

Admission Timeline 2025 (Tentative):

• Release of first shortlist: January 10, 2025
• Deadline to submit PI registration form: January 25, 2025
• Release of second shortlist for PI: February 10, 2025
• Intimation of interview slots: February 23, 2025
• Personal Interviews: March 3 to April 18, 2025
• Release of merit list: May 10, 2025

Other Programs and Admissions:

IIM Sambalpur also offers other significant programs. For programs like the Executive MBA (E-MBA) and MBA for Working Professionals (MBA-WP), the admission criteria typically involve a Bachelor's degree with a minimum 50% aggregate and at least three years of managerial, entrepreneurial, or professional work experience after graduation. The selection for these programs primarily relies on a Personal Interview, Statement of Purpose (SOP), and profile assessment, without a mandatory entrance exam like CAT.