Why some IIMs accept more girls than boys: IIM is one of the most reputed business schools in India. The CAT exam sees massive participation from students aiming for IIMs. Traditionally, the total IIM MBA batch comprised more male students. In recent years, something unique has happened as IIMs have accepted more girls than boys in their MBA programs. It has raised many questions, like why some IIMs accept more girls than boys? How fair is this? Why is it needed?. We have compiled below the recent data on the gender ratio and batch profile of IIMs along with other details to give you a clearer picture.
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Why Some IIMs Accept More Girls Than Boys?
As per the past trends and analysis, the IIM classrooms were mostly dominated by male students. What was the reason behind this? The Quant section of CAT has generally suited engineering students who were mostly male. This is one of the biggest reasons why males were more than girls in the earlier IIM admission process. But now, IIMs are more focused on improving gender balance. There are many IIMs that have recently introduced diversity points during the final admission process. For example, IIM Rohtak gives a weightage of 20% to Academic diversity and Gender diversity during the MBA admission process. However, these changes have not reduced the merit standards. Girls still have to clear the CAT cutoff scores as per their category and perform well in the interview. But the introduction of diversity points has reduced any sort of disadvantage faced by girls. IIM Rohtak has achieved 70% female representation in its PGP 2023-25 batch. Similarly, IIM Kozhikode, Nagpur, and Shillong have also seen the girls-to-boys ratio getting closer to 50:50. Read this article to know why some IIMs accept more girls than boys.
Do IIMs Accept More Girls Than Boys? What Data Says?
IIMs accepting more girls than boys indicate a transformation in admission policies to promote inclusion and equal opportunities. In recent placement reports, it has been reported that the batch size of IIM Rohtak and IIM Shillong was dominated by female students. Let’s have a look at the gender ratio of all those IIMs that have accepted more girls for MBA programs.
IIM Batch Profile: Gender Ratio
| IIMs | Batch Size | Ratio (Male: Female) |
| IIM Rohtak | 386 | 30%:70% |
| IIM Shillong | 382 | 48%:52% |
| IIM Kozhikode | 537 | 53%:47% |
| IIM Nagpur | 264 | 56%:44% (147 male and 117 Female) |
Why Gender Diversity Crucial in B-Schools?
Gender Diversity is not only about numbers. It has a huge impact on the popularity of B-school, learning outcomes, and career prospects. Let’s discuss in detail why gener diversity is crucial in B-Schools:
- It promotes better classroom discussions as multiple perspectives are involved. This results in enhanced decision-making skills, improvement in communication and realistic discussions.
- Male and female students often address problems differently. These differences can improve the learning style and problem-solving skills.
- Many top recruiters prioritise hiring from different MBA batches. Hiring students from different genders and study backgrounds in B-schools can be beneficial for businesses.
- Many companies are focused on gender balance. IIMs with higher female participation meet these requirements organically.
Why Some IIMs Accept More Girls Than Boys? Is it Fair
Many experts and critics have constantly argued that giving extra points to girls is unfair. However, they should understand that the admission is not solely based on the raw scores. Parameters like WAT-PI scores, academic records, and other skills are also considered during the admission process. Here is IIMs accepting more girls than boys is still fair:
- There is no fixed quota for girls applying for MBA admissions in IIMs. They are competing in the general pool, just with a slight extra weightage in their profile score.
- Girls still have to clear the CAT cutoff scores, perform well in WAT-PI, and have impressive academic records.
Over the years, the IIMs batch size was strongly dominated by male students. Earlier, nearly 10-20% female enrollment was seen in the IIM MBA admission process. Now, the education system is trying to balance the gender ratio, and the outcomes are quite impressive. Many of the female students who got admission through these diversity policies have topped their classes and secured high-paying jobs.
Know Other People’s Thoughts on This!
Anmol Gupta – CAT 99.47 Percentiler
I feel IIMs accept more Girls because of their selection criteria which has certain points in the selection criteria for gender diversity. And also, if we will see, the colleges are trying to meet the demands of the organizations to uplift the Female Gender. However, at some point I do feel it gets unfair, as a GEM can’t make it into IIM Rohtak even after a 99.9+ or sometimes even at 100%ile.
Anushka – IIM Vizag Alumni
Some IIMs admit more girls than boys as part of their efforts to promote gender diversity and correct historical imbalances in management education. This is a positive step that encourages inclusive leadership, enriches classroom discussions with diverse perspectives, and empowers more women to break into top corporate roles. Women are proven to be strong business leaders—they make thoughtful decisions, empathize better, and lead with collaboration. Better education gives them the platform to express their ideas, build confidence, and shape the future of business. By fostering balanced representation, IIMs are broadening the definition of merit and preparing students for a more equitable and dynamic corporate world.
Aditya – CAT 99.57 Percentiler
As a CAT aspirant, I realize that having more girls in IIMs isn’t just about gender or quotas—it’s about building future leaders who reflect real-world diversity. IIMs want students with different life experiences and viewpoints, whether that comes from rural backgrounds, unique educational paths, or being a woman in fields where they’re underrepresented. When classrooms mirror society’s mix, everyone benefits by learning from each other’s stories and challenges. This approach prepares us for workplaces and teams in the real world, making us better professionals and people.
Varun Nath – CAT 2025 Aspirant
It is a natural thing, in my opinion. Girls in our country don’t have enough opportunities, especially after graduation. The options are limited and surrounded by doubts and gossip; they often couldn’t reach their goals. What IIMs do is provide an opportunity to get ahead in their career. What they do next after their MBA is their decision but they provide a solid headstart to a great career. Moreover, the eligibility criteria for most IIMs fit female candidates. For instance, IIM Calcutta female candidates grew from 28% in 2023 to 36% in 2024. This shows IIMs are trying to change the picture for the better of our country.
Anushka Mandan – CAT 2025 Aspirant
A business school might choose to admit more women than men by giving extra points to female applicants or offering special seats because it wants a balanced, inclusive classroom. Having more women often brings different viewpoints, better teamwork, and more lively discussions. This kind of diversity is believed to enrich learning, reflect real-world workplaces, and support students in becoming inclusive leaders. Many management colleges now do this to encourage fairness and improve overall classroom dynamics
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Why Some IIMs accept more girls than boys? FAQs
Yes. Girls can easily secure admissions in MBA programs at IIMs. They will have to clear the CAT cutoffs, perform well in the interview, and have a strong academic history.
IIM Rohtak has achieved 70% female representation in its PGP 2023-25 batch.
IIM Rohtak, Kozhikode, Nagpur, and Shillong have the highest girl ratio in recent years.
