Among all the preferred career courses, Master of Business Administration or a post graduate diploma in management is perhaps the most sought after. The impact of privatization and liberalization has increased the need for managers in business establishments across all the sectors of the economy and those with an MBA degree from a reputed business school in India are the real beneficiaries of the changes brought by the globalization of India's market economy. Successful completion of an MBA course in India from a reputed institute promise a career that can touch unknown heights. A career in management, however, also demands great amount of dedication and good character. MBA Courses: MBA course curriculum in India can be categorized into the following 4 segments:

• Full-time MBA
• Part-time MBA
• Distance Learning MBA
• Executive MBA
• Online MBA

A full-time MBA usually comprises 4 semesters, inclusive of dissertation and project work, industrial exposure and summer internship. The students take up their respective major and minor specialization subjects. The choice of specialization subjects generally include: Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations and Logistics, Information Technology, Systems, International Trade and Business, Consumer Behavior, Risk Management, and many others. However, executive MBA, part time MBA, distance learning MBA and even online MBA courses are increasingly becoming popular in India. While the part time, distance learning and online MBA courses offer flexibility to the students, executive MBA courses are meant exclusively for working professionals who are ready to take a break and like to obtain an MBA degree in a shorter time period than that of a full time course.

MBA Admissions: Most of the leading Business Schools in India follow an admission process for screening applicants. The steps followed in the admission procedure are given below: Entrance Exam / The Written Test: Most MBA institutes in India have a written aptitude test. The IIMs conduct a Common Admission Test (CAT)every November. Many other business schools, like S.P. Jain Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and many others select students on the basis of their CAT score. Some other popular written tests for MBA in India conducted by other B-schools include: XAT, MAT, IIFT, SNAP, JMET, etc. Application Essays and Reference Letters: This step forms an integral part of the selection process of most top Indian B-schools. The short listed candidates of the IIMs and some other leading management institutes are expected to write these essays. GD / PI (Group Discussions / Personal Interviews): Group discussions and personal interviews are conducted generally to determine the personality traits and communication skills of the candidates. For many management colleges in India, Admission: Many B-schools offer admission to a candidate on the basis of the cumulative scores of the Entrance Exam, GD/PIs, and sometimes work experience.

MBA Prospects in India Successful completion of MBA courses can offer you at least the following options -

• Fast-track growth in professional career
• Being an entrepreneur, you can set up your own business
• Opportunity to explore
• Becoming a leader in an emerging field
• Developing business knowledge and technical skills

Accept the MBA programme as a challenge by setting your personal and career objectives. Utilize the Masters of Business Administration degree for closing gaps lying within your skills and qualifications for advancing your management career. There is huge demand of talented and hard working people in the corporate sector these days. Your enthusiasm and hunger for success will surely make you amongst top entrepreneurs of the world.

Indian Institutes Of Management (IIM)

Among the prestigious educational institutes of India that have captured the imagination of students and scholars alike, Indian Institutes of Management or IIMs, as they are known, are prominent. With its practical approach, modern facilities and well-qualified experienced faculties, an IIM can provide quality management education in India that can be compared with the best business schools of the world.

Establishment of IIMs in India:

• In1961, IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) was started as an autonomous institute in collaboration with the State and central government.
• IIM Bangalore was started in 1973 to cater to the rising demand for managing the technical uprising in the country.
• In November 1961, in association with Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (MIT), the Ford Institute and the government of West Bengal; IIM Calcutta (IIMC) was set up.
• Indian institute of Management, Indore (IIMI) was established a decade ago.
• The fifth Indian Institute of Management was established in Kozhikode (IIMK) under the guidance laid down by the government of India and the state government of Kerela.
• IIM, Lucknow (IIML) was started on a modest footing back in 1981.

IIM Admissions

However, getting into an IIM is not easy as Common Admission Test or CAT, through which admission to IIIMs is primarily done, is not an easy nut to crack. Moreover, scoring high in the CAT is also not enough to get a seat in an IIM; one also needs to perform well in the group discussions and personal interview.

IIMs in India:

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Indore
• IIM Kozhikode
• IIM Lucknow

Upcoming IIMs

Plans for seven new campuses of IIM are being drawn up. The locations for the new campuses are :

1. Chhattisgarh
2. Haryana
3. Jharkhand
4. Uttarakhand
5. Jammu and Kashmir
6. Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong
7. Tamil Nadu

Studying at one of the IIMs in India is a dream that can come true through hard work and effort. Financial assistance is provided in most of the institutes. The placement and packages offered are generally regarded best among the business schools of the country.