CAT-2018: Exam sees 50% increase in female aspirants
As compared to 2013, CAT examination, the entrance test for admission in the esteemed Indian Institutes of Management, saw a 50% rise in female aspirants. This year, 84,350 women registered for the examination as compared to 56,409 in 2013. This year the total number of aspirants was 2.41 lakh. This number last year was 2.29 lakh, out of which 78,009 were women.
Senior official says they want more women in IIMs
Notably, the registrations saw a sharp jump from 2014 to 2015. From 69,176 the number of female candidates went to 76,704. CAT convenor Sumanta Basu from IIM Calcutta. said, "The IIMs are consciously giving leverage to women to increase diversity in classrooms. We want more women in our institutes." This year the test was conducted by IIM Calcutta.
IIMs have been changing policies to diversify classrooms
In recent years, IIM has been taking thoughtful steps to make classrooms more diverse. For this purpose, the institutes have started reserving seats for women and non-engineer aspirants. IIM-Kozhikode became the first institute to reserve seats for women in 2013. As a result, women made for 54% of the total strength of PGP (postgraduate programme in management). In summer placements, 60% of women got jobs.
IIMs even consider Class X, XII scores these days
Notably, IIMs have also changed their policies. Apart from CAT score, performance in personal interviews and group discussions, few IIMs also consider scores of Class X and Class XII. IIM-Kozhikode Director Debashis Chatterjee said, "Girls do better in school and higher secondary classes but as families prefer sending boys for coaching for preparation of entrance exams, they may be doing better there."
