The latest batch recently joined the IIM Vizag campus where engineering pass-outs constitute close to 60% of the overall intake. The proportion of women has increased 11 points from the previous year's batch which consisted of 40% women. 

Increasing Gender Balance Across IIMs

The increase in women candidates at IIM Visakhapatnam is a part of a larger trend within the IIM ecosystem itself where women's participation has gradually increased due to initiatives such as:

• Targeted outreach and mentorship programs.

• Supernumerary seats for women.

• Gender diversity weightage in shortlisting.

IIM Kozhikode and IIM Vishakhapatnam are now at the forefront of gender-balanced classrooms. IIM Kozhikode for example also saw 51% female admissions across its three principal PGP courses for the same batch. Other IIMs have mixed numbers:

• IIM Bangalore: 40% (2024–26 batch)

• IIM Calcutta: 36%

• IIM Lucknow & IIM Ahmedabad: Approximately 30%

• IIM Sambalpur was in the news in 2024 when it admitted 76% women in its PGP batch.

In the CAT exam 2024, which forms the foundation of IIM admissions 36.2% of the 3.29 lakh candidates applying were women showing a slow but sure shift.

IIM Vizag Director Spots Diversity Drive

Prof. M Chandrasekhar who is the Director of IIM Visakhapatnam said that the institute values gender diversity. As evidence, every one of the MBA interview panels had at least one woman faculty member on it and women now constitute 41% of the IIM Vizag faculty nearing parity.

He feels this diverse and inclusive learning culture is encouraging more women to pursue management education, thereby enhancing classroom interactions and leadership development.

PhD Admissions & Ceremony Highlights

In addition to the PGP batch, 11 PhD scholars were also admitted by IIM Visakhapatnam for the 2025 cycle. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by Prof. G. Raghuram who was the ex-Director of IIM Bangalore as its Chief Guest.