IPMAT is a legitimate path for class 12 students who want an IIM tag right after school, but it is a 5-year integrated program at IIM Indore, Rohtak, Ranchi, Jammu, Bodhgaya, Sirmaur, etc., which is a very different commitment from the 2-year PGP. IIM Indore IPM (5-year BBA+MBA) charges roughly Rs 30L total and ends with the same PGP degree as CAT aspirants, so your placements match IIM Indore PGP (Rs 16.
5L fees for PGP only, Rs 25 LPA avg). IIM Rohtak IPM costs less at around Rs 25L total with Rs 18 LPA avg placement. One thread commenter mentioned "messed up chasing IIPMAT dream, ended up wasting entire 17th year without preparing properly.
At 18, I opted tier 2 college." This captures the risk: IPMAT is brutally competitive with 1.5 lakh applicants for roughly 600 total seats across all IIMs, and missing it means you have wasted a gap year that a regular BBA or BTech program would have used productively.
If you are in class 12 with strong math and verbal aptitude, apply for IPMAT as a long shot while also enrolling in a solid UG program. If you clear IPMAT Indore, take it; otherwise complete a good UG degree and write CAT in your final year. Do not drop a year purely for IPMAT retake unless you scored within the top 2000 rank.
Check your eligibility at collvera.