IIM Calcutta and TimesPro have collaborated in the launch LEAD: An Advanced Management Programme. Standing for Learn, Enhance, Aspire, & Deliver, LEAD plans at offering excellent learning solutions for senior executives & entrepreneurs that would let them handle the growth & sustainability of their respective organizations/industries.
LEAD comprises of four on-campus modules with each module spanning to be covered in a week. The primary focus of this programme is to get the participants accustomed to the various latest concepts related to finance, strategic thinking, and operations. The four modules of LEAD focuses on instilling the functional and cognitive abilities while encouraging them to face & overcome all hurdles to deliver the desired results. The LEAD programme has attracted the attention of both national & internal firms and even founders of start-ups have signed in to polish & augment their organizational & leadership skills.
TimesPro and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta have launched the Executive Programme in Business Analytics to equip learners with critical analytical skills and help to develop predictive and prescriptive modelling techniques to optimise data and accelerate growth. The 12-month IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Business Analytics will empower learners with a comprehensive understanding of technologies, skills, and statistical methods to understand past data to gain insights for the future and monitor trends in real time for making informed business decisions. The analytics industry in India recorded a substantial increase of 34.5% on a year-on-year basis in 2023, with the market value reaching USD 61.1 billion. It is projected to reach USD 201.0 Billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 26.9%.
The Executive Programme in Business Analytics will be conducted via TimesPro’s state-of-the-art Interactive Learning (IL) platform and delivered in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode that includes two-campus immersive modules of four days each. It follows a proven pedagogy of diverse tools and techniques, including lectures, real-life case studies, assignments, and quizzes.
The programme will help learners vastly enhance their skillsets by learning subjects such as Data Mining Applications in R, Data Visualisation and Descriptive Analytics, Financial Analytics, Machine Learning, Operational Analytics, Predictive Modelling, Big Data, and Cloud Computing, among others.
TimesPro and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta have launched the Executive Programme in Business Management to equip learners with the skills and knowledge required for the transition from functional roles to business experts.
The 12-month IIM Calcutta's flagship business management programme will allow learners to adapt to the fast-paced technological and organisational challenges. It will prepare them with new-age and industry-ready skills to guide their business decisions and help them gain an understanding of the complex socio-economic environment and ethical challenges prevalent. As the industry's dynamics change, there is a growing need for qualified workers, and it is essential for them to have a competitive advantage to navigate industry-driven upheavals. Business Management programme will equip learners with new-age skills while building strategic and leadership competencies to provide value to the ever-evolving ecosystem.
The Executive Programme in Business Management is in its 27th batch. Among the flagship programmes of IIM Calcutta, there are two campus-immersive sessions for learners that will be conducted through the Interactive Learning (IL) platform and will be delivered in Direct-to-Device (D2D) mode. It follows a proven pedagogy consisting of lectures, case studies, assignments, quizzes, project work, etc. The programme will help learners to enhance their skillsets by learning subjects such as Project Management, Marketing Management, Design Thinking, Innovation, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Business Analytics and Driving Business in Exigencies and Contingencies, Digital Transformation, and People Management, among others.

Some of the top Tier 1 MBA colleges in India 2026 are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIT Delhi, XLRI, and more. To get admission to these colleges, students will be required to sit for MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, etc. By taking admission to these top-tier MBA colleges in India, students can stand a chance to study from experienced faculty members, get exposure to excellent placement prospects, and world-class infrastructure.

List of courses in IIMs in 2026 consists of the flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management, PGP in Public Policy and Management, PGP in Enterprise Management, etc. The PGP or full-time MBA is the most sought-after program at IIMs. Admission to postgraduate courses is offered based on CAT 2026 exam scores. Further, IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, IIM Ranchi, IIM Jammu, and IIM Bodh Gaya offer a 5-year Integrated Programme in Management and conduct their own entrance exam, known as IPMAT, for admission. Those who meet the entrance exam cutoff scores, which are specific to their categories, get admission to the top colleges; otherwise, they get disqualified. Students eager to know more about the list of courses in IIMs in 2026 can go through the course list, top colleges offering specialisations, etc.
Also Read: List of Top IIMs in India 2026

IIM Shortlist 2026: If you are planning to pursue your MBA degree from one of the prestigious IIMs in India, you are required to ensure that to make the IIM shortlist 2026. The IIM Common Admission Process (CAP) 2026 involves mainly 3 stages: the CAT 2025 exam, the Written Ability Test (WAT), and the Personal Interviews. Based on your overall performance in all these rounds, all the IIMs release their separate shortlist featuring the names of the qualified students for admission to the respective institutes. For the 2026-28 session, the CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 30, 2026. The WAT is expected to be held in January. Based on your scores in the CAT exam and WAT, IIMs will call you for the PI round, which will be held from February to April 2026. Once all the rounds are completed, the IIM Shortlist 2026 will be released. In this article, we have provided the detailed information and the IIM admission process, including important dates.

The CAP 2026 selection process is based on CAT cutoff percentiles, work experience, and academic performance. For the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT), the cutoff percentiles were maintained at 95 for General category candidates, 66 for SC, and 42 for ST/PwD. Eight IIMs took part in this year's CAP round to shortlist deserving candidates. Before the interviews, the CAP 2026 slot booking window was kept open until February 3, 2025. If you had completed your CAP 2025 registration you could choose your preferred interview slots online via the official portal, cap2025.iimbg.ac.in.

IIM Selection Criteria 2025-27 involves the requirements that candidates must meet to get MBA admission into the IIMs. These include CAT score, academic record, work experience, diversity, written ability test, group discussion, and personal interview performance. IIM admission criteria differ for each IIM institute depending on the CAT score and academic requirements. IIM selection criteria change based on the yearly performance of the institute and admission statistics of the previous year.
Candidates who qualify for the CAT 2025 exam and meet the qualifying cutoff set by individual IIMs are selected for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). The IIM selection criteria also include meeting the final CAT cutoff 2025 requirements. The final admission into IIMs is based on the candidate's overall profile - CAT score, academic background, work experience, category, and WAT & PI score. If you are seeking admission into IIMs, then go through the complete details about IIM admission criteria 2025-27 provided below.
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The IIM CAT 2025 cutoff marks can range from 90 to 100 percentile, depending on the IIM college you wish to take admission to. For admission to some of the top IIM colleges in India, like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Calcutta, through the CAT examination, students will require a qualifying CAT percentile of 80-85. The final IIM CAT Cutoff 2025 will usually lie in the range of 99 to 100 percentile. The IIM cutoff scores and percentiles differ from category to category. The overall and section-wise cutoff scores are released by the Indian Institute of Management separately.

Are you searching for CAT 2025 preparation tips for working professionals? If so, you're in luck! We understand the challenges of preparing for CAT, one of the most challenging MBA entrance exams, while working full-time. However, it's not impossible. To effectively prepare for the CAT exam as a working professional, strategic planning and time management are crucial. Create a balanced study schedule that doesn't conflict with your work hours. Early mornings or late nights can be optimal times for undistracted study. Use weekends for longer study sessions, focusing on weak areas and taking full-length mock tests. Choose study materials designed specifically for CAT preparation, and consider enrolling in a reputable online coaching program that offers flexibility. Regularly practising mock tests and analyzing performance is crucial to understanding your strengths and weaknesses. An effective preparation plan and exam strategy must be devised for working professionals who wish to appear for CAT 2025 exam. Here are some best CAT 2025 preparation tips for working professionals that can help them succeed in the exam.


From ISB to management programs in the IIMs, there are several renowned GMAT MBA colleges in India. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has emerged as a trendy route for access to premium MBA programs in both foreign and Indian business schools. Many top Indian business schools accept GMAT scores for their MBA as well as Executive MBA programmes, thereby offering students yet another avenue to access prestigious MBA programs besides the traditionally used entrance tests like CAT, XAT, or SNAP.
Also Read: Does IIM Accept GMAT

Have you been contemplating applying to an IIM and wondering, does IIM accept GMAT? You are not alone. Although most IIMs in India have long used the CAT exam for admissions, the times are changing. Some IIMs now accept GMAT by GRE and even GRE scores, particularly for certain programs like Executive MBA or for international students. This shift is wonderful news if you are an applicant from a professional background, or even if you are applying from abroad, it provides you with greater convenience and an opportunity to apply using a globally recognised score. It also reflects the way IIMs are developing, welcoming greater diversity of talent and striving towards a more cosmopolitan classroom. So if the CAT is not suitable for you, then the GMAT exam can be your next best option. Read below to know the complete list of IIMs accepting GMAT scores in India, their cutoff, eligibility criteria, admission process and more.

The XAT 2026 Decision Making (DM) Important Topics comprise data arrangement, Conditioning, Grouping, Complex Arrangement, Premises, Conclusions, etc. The section will consist of 22 multiple-choice questions, each worth one mark for a correct answer. A deduction of 0.25 marks will be applied for each incorrect answer. All questions will be situation-based, requiring candidates to interpret scenarios and make decisions accordingly.
Questions are drawn from extensive passages related to business and ethical decision-making. Candidates must read and comprehend these passages to answer questions that involve logically interpreting or rearranging arguments, events, and information. Effective decision-making in this context requires ethical judgment, a crucial skill for successful managers and entrepreneurs. The following sections of the article provide a comprehensive overview of the important decision-making topics for XAT 2026.
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XAT 2026 QA & DI practice questions & answers can be one of the most effective resources to prepare for the XAT exam. These will further improve candidates' overall XAT preparation. In addition to helping candidates assess their readiness, these practice questions will increase their accuracy, speed, and time management abilities. Furthermore, there's a good chance that the XAT QA & DI sample questions mentioned here will show up in the actual XAT exam. Check some common XAT Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation sample questions for aspirants mentioned below!

Practising as many XAT 2026 VALR Practice Questions & Answers as possible is the best way to prepare for this section. The XAT 2026 Verbal Ability section is one of the four sections in Part I of the exam. This section includes 26 objective-type questions covering a range of topics such as vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and critical reasoning.
Typically, the paper features around four reading comprehension passages, each followed by 3-4 questions. For a detailed overview, refer to the XAT exam pattern 2026. Although Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are part of the same section, they require distinct preparation strategies. The XAT Verbal Ability questions have generally been of moderate to difficult difficulty.
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The XAT 2026 Decision Making practice questions & answers are an invaluable resource for aspirants gearing up for the XAT 2026 exam. The Decision Making section is a unique feature that sets the XAT apart from other management entrance exams. Unlike sections that test quantitative ability or verbal skills, this part focuses on evaluating candidates' ethical and moral judgment. This section aims to assess how effectively candidates can navigate various decision-making scenarios. Typically, this section comprises 20-25 questions, predominantly based on business situations, everyday challenges, and problem-solving tasks. However, there may be variations, with some questions purely testing logical reasoning. The following article covers some of the most commonly asked questions for the Decision Making section for XAT 2026.
Also Read: XAT 2026 Decision Making (DM) Important Topics

The XAT 2026 VALR important topics include Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Analogy, Parajumble, Grammar, and Critical Reasoning. The XAT 2026 covers four sections: Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, and Decision Making. The VALR section of XAT 2026 will feature 26 MCQ-format questions, weighing an overall 26 marks. The VARC section combines reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and grammar, assessing candidates' reading and reasoning skills. The Reading Comprehension section, which constitutes 50% of the XAT Verbal Ability section, is particularly challenging. Early and thorough preparation is essential to achieve high scores. Students eager to know more about the XAT 2026 VALR topics can go through the list of topics, XAT 2026 VALR weightage, etc.
Also Read: XAT 2026 Decision Making Practice Questions & Answers
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Kolkata (West Bengal)
Kolkata (West Bengal)