IIM Bangalore likely to conduct CAT 2016 exam

CAT 2016: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore is likely to conduct the next edition of the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2016. Professor Prof Rajendra K Bandi is likely to be appointed as the CAT 2016 convener.

A highly-placed source from the previous CAT committee confirmed to Catch that IIM Bangalore is expected to conduct CAT 2016 exam. The decision has reportedly been taken and the institute is expected to make an official announcement by the end of May or early-April.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an IIM Bangalore professor confirmed the news to Catch. "Yes, it's true. IIM Bangalore will conduct it. I have been hearing this for sometime now," the professor said.

The institute spokesperson, however, declined to comment about the issue.

Professor Bandi, who could be the CAT 2016 Convener, is the Chairperson Admissions & Financial Aid and faculty on Decision Sciences and Information Systems.

If the reports are to be believed, this will be the first time that the online CAT exam will be conducted by IIM Bangalore.

CAT 2015 was conducted by IIM Ahmedabad, while CAT 2014 and 2013 was conducted by IIM Indore. Previously, IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2012 and 2011.

Last week, IIM Ahmedabad spokesperson confirmed to Catch that the institute will not be conducting CAT 2016. In a telephonic conversation, CAT 2015 Convenor, Professor Bandyopadhyay Tathagata, said, "The official CAT committee meeting will be held in May-end or early-June, where IIM Ahmedabad give a handover to the respective institute which will conduct CAT 2016."

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will continue to be the test-taking agency this year. In 2014, TCS signed a five-year deal with the IIMs to conduct the test.

The notification for CAT exam 2016 is likely to be released in July or August. Going by the previous years' trend, CAT 2016 could be held in October or November 2016.

Last year, some massive changes were introduced in the CAT exam pattern. Candidates had to attempt 100 questions in 180 minutes. It was held on a single-day over two sessions.

Over the past few years, the IIMs have been introducing new changes every year. As an entrance test judging aspirants from various backgrounds, CAT is evolving with every passing year.

Last year, Professor Bandyopadhyay had informed in a statement, "Every year we review CAT and make certain changes- both operational and content.... This we hope will create a level-playing field for all candidates, no matter what educational background they come from, and will remove skewness to a large extent that we referred to above. We believe such a move will help us identify candidates from varied backgrounds who will become future leaders in their chosen profession. Such a move will also help IIMs bring in greater diversity in the classrooms and will go a long way in enriching the learning experience."

CAT scores are used for admission to MBA colleges across the country.