How is IIM Lucknow's PI different from IIM Calcutta or IIM Mumbai?

Question

Accepted Answer

IIM Lucknow's PI tends to be more current-affairs and domain-heavy compared to IIM Calcutta's quant-heavy style and IIM Mumbai's engineering-focused style. Based on March 2026 Kolkata interviews: IIM L asked about ECE basics, TV displays, West Bengal politics, business estimation (Qutab Minar); IIM M asked about filters, signal distortion, RFID, full-form SEBI, exchanges and stock market; IIM C asked about credit card interest, smartphones, normal distribution, Bayes theorem. IIM Lucknow at Rs 22L fees and Rs 32.

3 LPA average has balanced panels, while IIM C at Rs 27L fees and Rs 34.23 LPA average leans quant and domain depth, and IIM M at Rs 23L fees and Rs 22 LPA average leans engineering operations. Prep strategy: (
for IIM L, brush up state politics, business environment, and engineering basics, (
for IIM C, revise probability, statistics, and consumer tech, (
for IIM M, engineering concepts plus current financial markets.

All three value: articulate Why MBA, structured tell-me-about-yourself, humility under pressure. Common elements: HR questions (strengths, weaknesses, 5-year plan), behavioral questions (describe a challenge), domain questions (based on your degree). IIM L panels at Taj Bengal had 2 panelists with 1 adversarial and 1 friendly; IIM M at ITC Fortune had 2 female panelists friendly in tone; IIM C at Joka had 3 male panelists with mixed tones.

Tailor your preparation to each IIM's style. Check your eligibility at collvera.