Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon stands as one of India's premier business schools, consistently ranking among the top private management institutions in the country. For aspiring MBA candidates targeting the 2026-28 batch, understanding the comprehensive admission process and selection criteria is crucial for securing admission to this prestigious institution. This detailed guide covers everything you need to know about MDI Gurgaon's admission process, from application procedures to final selection criteria.
The MDI Application Form for the 2026-28 batch is available exclusively through the official MDI Gurgaon website at mdi.ac.in. The online application process has been streamlined to ensure candidates can easily navigate through the registration and submission process.
Key Application Details:
Application Mode: Online only through the official website
Application Start Date: September 25, 2025
Application Deadline: November 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM IST
Single Unified Form: One MDI Application Form covers all PGDM programs
The application process is designed to be user-friendly, allowing candidates to register, fill out detailed information, upload documents, and pay fees through a single integrated platform.
Step 1: Initial Registration
Visit the official MDI Gurgaon website (mdi.ac.in)
Click on the "Admissions" section
Read all requirements carefully and proceed with email ID registration
Step 2: Account Creation
Enter a valid email ID and mobile number
Verify through OTP sent to the provided mobile number
Create login credentials for future access
Step 3: Program Selection
Choose desired program(s) from available options
Indicate preference order for multiple programs
Note: program preference once filled becomes final
Step 4: Form Completion
Fill in personal information, academic background, and work experience details
Upload required documents in specified formats
Double-check all information for accuracy
Step 5: Fee Payment
Pay the application fee online using debit card, credit card, or net banking
Save the payment receipt for future reference
The MDI Gurgaon admission timeline for the 2026-28 batch follows a structured schedule aligned with the CAT 2025 examination cycle.
Critical Dates:
CAT 2025 Registration: August 1 – September 13, 2025
MDI Application Opens: September 25, 2025
CAT 2025 Exam Date: November 30, 2025
MDI Application Deadline: November 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM IST
CAT Results Declaration: Second week of January 2026 (tentative)
Shortlisting Announcement: To be announced post-CAT results
WAT-GD-PI Rounds: February to April 2026
Final Results: April/May 2026
Program Commencement: August 2026
For PGDM, PGDM-HRM, and PGDM-Business Analytics:
Bachelor's degree with minimum 3 years duration
Minimum 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in graduation
Minimum 50% marks in Class 10th and 12th
Final year students eligible if degree completed by June 30, 2026
For PGDM-International Business (IB):
Minimum 4-year bachelor's degree with 50% marks
Mandatory 1 year of full-time work experience as of January 31, 2026
3-year degree holders not eligible for this program
Grade Conversion Policy:
CGPA conversion follows respective board/university norms
Where conversion rules don't exist, CGPA divided by maximum possible CGPA and multiplied by 100
NRI and Foreign Nationals:
Eligible based on valid GMAT scores for MDI Gurgaon programs
CAT scores not applicable for this category
Same academic requirements (50% in Class 10th, 12th, and graduation)
Shortlisted candidates called for Personal Interview in April 2026
For Indian Candidates:
CAT 2025: Primary entrance exam for all Indian applicants
No sectional cutoffs applied by MDI Gurgaon
Overall CAT percentile requirement: 96+ for competitive consideration
For International Applicants:
GMAT: Accepted for NRI, Foreign Nationals, OCI, and Gulf Quota candidates
Valid GMAT score required with same academic eligibility criteria
Overall Expected Cutoff (General Category):
96–97 percentile
No sectional cutoffs
Historical Cutoff Trends:
2024: 95–97 percentile
2023: 94–95 percentile
2022: 94+ percentile
Fee Categories:
Domestic Candidates (Single Program): ₹3,000 inclusive of 18% GST
Domestic Candidates (Both MDI-G & MDI-M): ₹3,590 inclusive of 18% GST
NRI/Foreign Nationals/Gulf Quota/OCI: ₹8,496 inclusive of 18% GST
Payment Methods:
Online payment through debit card, credit card, or net banking
Payment receipt must be saved for future reference
Fee is irrespective of number of programs applied for within the same category
MDI Gurgaon follows a comprehensive two-stage selection process designed to evaluate candidates holistically.
Shortlisting Criteria Weightage:
CAT Score: 70%
Class 10th Percentage: 5%
Class 12th Percentage: 5%
Graduation Percentage: 5% (based on pre-final year for ongoing degrees)
Academic Diversity: 2.5%
Gender Diversity: 2.5%
Work Experience: 10%
The second stage has undergone significant changes for the 2026-28 batch, with the introduction of a new Behavioral Assessment Test (BAT).
Revised Final Selection Weightage:
CAT Score: 35%
Behavioral Assessment Test (BAT): 5% (NEW)
Written Analysis Test (WAT): 5%
Group Discussion (GD): 10%
Personal Interview (PI): 20%
Graduation Marks: 5%
Academic Diversity: 2.5%
Gender Diversity: 2.5%
Regional Diversity: 2.5% (North-East and J&K candidates)
Sports: 2.5% (National and International level only)
Work Experience: 10%
Key Change: Class 10th and 12th marks have been completely removed from the final selection criteria for 2026-28, replaced by the Behavioral Assessment Test.
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
Duration: 2 years full-time
Specializations: 8 areas including Finance, Marketing, Operations, Strategy, etc.
Seats: 300 seats available
Fee: ₹11.75 lakhs (first year)
PGDM-Human Resource Management (HRM)
Focus: Holistic HR management with business acumen
Duration: 2 years full-time
Fee: ₹11.75 lakhs (first year)
PGDM-International Business (IB)
Unique Feature: Dual degree program with European partner
Special Requirement: Mandatory 1-year work experience
Duration: 2 years full-time
Fee: ₹11.75 lakhs (first year)
PGDM-Business Analytics
Focus: Data-driven business decision making
Duration: 2 years full-time
Fee: ₹11.6 lakhs (first year)
PGDM-Business Management (BM): ₹16.70 lakhs
PGDM-Public Policy Management (PPM): ₹16.70 lakhs
PGDM-Business Analytics (Executive): Various fee structures
Written Analysis Test (WAT):
Duration: 15 minutes
Format: ~300 words (one page, both sides)
Topics: Current affairs, business scenarios, geopolitical issues
Evaluation: Content quality, analytical thinking, written communication
Group Discussion (GD):
Format: 8–10 candidates per group
Duration: 15–20 minutes
Topics: Usually continuation of WAT topic
Evaluation: Leadership, teamwork, communication skills
Personal Interview (PI):
Panel: Typically 2 panelists (1 male, 1 female)
Duration: 15–20 minutes
Focus: Academic background, work experience, general awareness
Evaluation: Communication skills, subject knowledge, personality traits
Behavioral Assessment Test (BAT):
Introduction: First time in 2026-28 admissions
Weightage: 5% of final selection
Purpose: Evaluate non-academic behavioral traits
MDI Gurgaon conducts selection rounds across multiple cities to ensure accessibility.
Major Interview Cities:
Bangalore/Bengaluru
Gurugram (NCR)
Kolkata
Hyderabad
Mumbai
Other major cities as per candidate concentration
Process Timeline:
Document verification before interviews
Refreshments during waiting periods
Panel assignments displayed with sequence numbers
All rounds typically completed in a single day
Result Declaration:
Provisional Offers: April/May 2026
Final Merit List: Based on composite scores
Multiple waitlists maintained
Fee Payment Schedule:
First Installment: ₹6,00,000 at admission time (April-July 2026)
Second Installment: ₹7,20,900 (October 15-31, 2026)
Third Installment: ₹12,78,400 (May 1-15, 2027)
Documents Required:
Class 10th mark sheet and certificate
Class 12th mark sheet and certificate
All semester/year-wise graduation mark sheets
Graduation degree certificate (if available)
Work experience documents (if applicable)
Category certificates (if applicable)
Recent passport-size photographs
Available Support:
Tuition Fee Waiver: Up to 5% of intake (AICTE guidelines)
Bank Loans: Partnerships with multiple banks
Merit-based Support: For exceptional candidates
Removal of Class 10th and 12th Weightage:
Previously 2.5% each in final selection
Now completely eliminated
Introduction of Behavioral Assessment Test:
New 5% weightage component
Focus on personality traits and behavioral assessment
Enhanced Focus on CAT Performance:
CAT remains most critical component
Combined with interview performance for majority weightage
Weak Academic Record: Better chances due to removal of 10th/12th marks
Strong CAT Performers: Advantage with 35% final weightage
Experienced Professionals: 10% weightage for work experience
Diverse Backgrounds: Academic diversity benefits remain
High weightage in both stages (70% in Stage 1, 35% in Stage 2)
Target: 96-99 percentile for strong consideration
Balanced performance across sections advised
WAT:
Stay updated on business & geopolitics
Practice concise, analytical writing
GD:
Work on communication & leadership
Engage actively but not aggressively
PI:
Strong grasp of UG subjects
Clear articulation of work experience
Awareness of business trends
Guidelines:
Fill the form accurately
Upload clear, legible documents
Save payment receipt
Submit early (avoid deadline rush)
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
Incomplete academic information
Wrong program preference order
Missing document uploads
Weak preparation for current affairs & BAT
MDI Gurgaon's admission process for the 2026-28 batch marks an evolution with behavioral assessment and removal of traditional academic weightages.
The two-stage process balances CAT performance, communication skills, work experience, and behavioral attributes. Strong CAT preparation remains the cornerstone, but success also requires effective communication, leadership, and awareness during selection rounds.
With its excellent placements, curriculum, and industry ties, MDI Gurgaon continues to attract top talent. The 2026-28 selection process represents a progressive step toward evaluating well-rounded business leaders.
