Should B-Schools Groom Specialists Or Stick To General Management? Experts Debate CAT Exam Pattern

In a special discussion ahead of the 25th edition of Business Today's Best B-School rankings, Experts delve into the evolving role of B-schools and the relevance of the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam pattern. Moderated by Siddharth Zarabi, Managing Editor of Business Today TV, the panel featured experts like Prabir Jha (Founder & CEO, Prabir Jha People Advisory), Jaideep Kewalramani (Head of Employability Business, TeamLease Edtech), Bhavishya Sharma (MD, Athena Executive Search), and Aviral Bhatnagar (Alumnus, IIMA & Managing Partner, AJVC). Prabir Jha emphasized the need for CAT to evolve from a cookie-cutter model, arguing that it should prioritize leadership qualities beyond academic brilliance. Jaideep Kewalramani highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and street-smartness in the current business environment. Bhavishya Sharma noted the bias toward engineers in CAT intake and stressed the need for a more diverse talent pool. On the other hand, Aviral Bhatnagar defended the CAT's filtration process, observing recent changes that have diversified the talent pool. The discussion also centered on the theme 'Education to Employment,' emphasizing the widening skills gap and the need for B-schools to bridge the divide between academic training and industry expectations.