If your main goal is to study economics, maths and statistics then opting for IPM at IIM Indore would be a very good idea. However, the fee structure is very high. INR 4,00,000 per annum for domestic students and for international students, it is INR 6,00,000.

You will also have to study subjects which you will necessarily not like such as sociology, psychology, etc.

Another drawback is that there is no degree for IPM. You will only get a certificate from IGNOU.

In the case of NIT Allahabad, it is a reputed institute for engineering. You will be able to study subjects that meet your interests. The fees are also very less. In the placement drive of 2020, the highest package offered to the students was INR 49 LPA. Some of the top recruiters were IBM, Adobe, Accenture, Tata Steel, Capgemini, etc. The average package was INR 10.28 LPA.

CAT is the first stage entrance exam for all IIMs and many non-IIM colleges. Following the CAT results, you will be shortlisted for the second round based on a few parameters. These parameters include:

• CAT percentile.
• Academic performance entails your grades in 10th, 12th, and graduation.
• Work Experience - For PGP or 2 Year courses, preference will be given to up to 36 months of experience.

In the second round, any of the following skills will be tested using a combination of Personal Interview-

• GD
• Writing an Essay
• WAT
• Exercise in Groups

Different IIMs select different skills to assess, and this varies from institute to institute. After passing the second round, you will be offered admission based on your overall performance in the first and second rounds, as well as the availability of seats in a specific IIM.

According to my friends at IIM Indore, the institute does accept improvement marks. The minimum eligibility to get admission is 60% for the general category in the 10th and 12th standards.

You are required to score extremely well in the ATS, which is the aptitude exam. You have to score a minimum of around 50%. Other than that, you also have to perform well in the Personal Interview session, alongside the Written Assessment. Your admission will depend upon these three factors. 

Except that, the marks you achieved in your 10th and 12th standard are usually used only for the eligibility check, that is, 60%. The age limit is 20 years, for the general category.

The PG programs in IIM Indore usually consider admissions through the CAT exam. However, in case you are referring to the IPM AT for the 5-year integrated program, then it cannot be compared to CAT, since they are completely different from each other. IPM AT is for UG students while CAT is for PG courses.

Having said that, the basic preparation steps for any entrance exam need basic steps of preparation.

• You should be aware of the exams, as well as the pattern, the syllabus, and others. For similar purposes, you can take a look at the sample papers of previous years, or several mock test papers, if required.
• You must assess your own level of aptitude, whenever necessary, and prepare thoroughly.
• You should work to strengthen your fundamental knowledge.
• Evaluate your base by taking the mock test papers and analyze each answer when done. Further, prepare a strategy that can incentivize your scores in the exam. 

These are the basic steps to look forward to when preparing for the exam. 

Courses like IPM and PGP-HRM are bold, outstanding, and pathbreaking. It took great hard work for the decision-makers to start these courses. However, the amount of success for these completely depends upon the intention.

The real question would be, “Why IPM? Why Mumbai Campus? And why opting for HRM course?”. If the answer to all of these questions is “Money” then whether IIM Indore is doing right or not will depend on the number of admissions, fees, and the ROI.

If the answer to your question is “for a good career”, then the success completely depends upon the faculty, facilities, and placements. Even if the intentions are considered to be good, most government bodies do not take the lead and act from the front. 

It is very confusing to say if the students are too ignorant to believe what they see or if the institutions are providing incorrect information

As one of my friends who studied at IIM Indore, I might be able to help you answer your question. Go through the following points and see if you get a clear understanding.

• To get a detailed outlook of the 5-year Integrated Programme in Management, you should visit the main website.
• In the notifications area, you can see a section that will provide you with a variety of admission notices for the 5-year IPM program. 
• You can follow the link at your convenience to acquire further updates. 
• Subsequently, you will find an option that will ask you to register yourself. 
• Then you will obtain your username and passwords, both of which are supposed to be mailed to you after registering in. 

After you have acquired the login details, you will have to go to the respective website and fill up the already accessible application form. Then pay the examination fee of about INR 1400 via online monetary methods of payment. 

The 2013-18 group received a dual degree with a BA Foundations in Management and an MBA last year, and the later batches are anticipated to receive the same. The degrees conferred are in accordance with UGC guidelines.

IIM Indore offers an Integrated Program in Management (IPM) which is a 5-year management program. The detailed procedure for admission to the course is given below.

• Eligibility Criteria: Passed 12th in 2019, 2020, or appearing in 2021 and secured 60% in 10th examination.
• Application fee and registration: Application fee of INR 4,130 (general and NC-OBC candidates) and INR 2,065 (SC/ST/PwD candidates). Register for the entrance test online.
• Aptitude Test (AT): Consists of Quantitative Ability (MCQ), Quantitative Ability (Short Answer), and Verbal Ability (MCQ) having a time limit of 1.5 hours. You need to clear the cut-off to appear for the Personal Assessment (PA).
• Personal Assessment (PA): It consists of a personal interview (PI) and a writing ability test (WAT). But for 2021-22, only PI will be conducted
• Final Admission: It depends on the composite score of your aptitude test and personal assessment. The weightage is PA – 35% and AT – 65%.

This is the complete procedure of admission to the IPM course at IIM Indore.