1. MDI Gurgaon RTI Data Analysis: Minimum CAT Percentile, Category Cutoffs & Admission Trends
2. Introduction: Why RTI
Data Matters for MDI Gurgaon Aspirants
The Right to Information (RTI)
Act, 2005 empowers Indian citizens to request legally binding disclosures from
public institutions. MDI Gurgaon – Management Development Institute – is a
public institution established under the Ministry of HRD (now Ministry of
Education) and is fully covered under the RTI Act. RTI responses from MDI carry
legal weight and provide the most reliable admission data available.
MDI Gurgaon is India's premier
management institution for general management and human resource management,
ranking consistently in the top 10 by NIRF and holding EQUIS accreditation. It
accepts CAT scores exclusively for its flagship Post Graduate Programme in
Management (PGPM) and PGPM-HRM. Unlike some peers, MDI does not accept GMAT or
GRE for its domestic programmes.
This article compiles
RTI-sourced and officially published year-wise, category-wise minimum CAT
percentile data for MDI Gurgaon (2019–2025), covering PGPM and PGPM-HRM
programmes, selection criteria, weightage breakups, comparative analysis with
top IIMs and B-schools, trend insights, FAQs, and 65+ SEO keywords.
|
Key Concept |
Explanation |
|
RTI Data |
Legally binding official
disclosures from MDI Gurgaon under RTI Act 2005 |
|
CAT Percentile |
Score in Common Admission
Test — only test accepted by MDI for PGPM/PGPM-HRM |
|
Minimum Cutoff Percentile |
Lowest CAT percentile at
which a candidate was shortlisted for GD-PI stage at MDI |
|
Conversion Percentile |
Actual percentile at which
a candidate received and accepted a final admission offer — always higher
than cutoff |
|
PGPM |
Post Graduate Programme in
Management — MDI's flagship 2-year full-time general management programme |
|
PGPM-HRM |
Post Graduate Programme in
Management – Human Resource Management — MDI's specialist HR programme |
|
PGPM-IM |
PGPM International
Management — dual-degree programme with international exposure |
|
Sectional Cutoff |
Minimum required percentile
in each CAT section: VARC, DILR, and QA |
|
GD Stage |
Group Discussion — MDI uses
GD as a selection filter before Personal Interview |
|
Scope |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM &
PGPM-HRM data 2019–2025 + comparative analysis — all RTI-backed |
3. About MDI Gurgaon – Quick
Facts
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Full Name |
Management Development
Institute |
|
Location |
Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali,
Gurugram (Gurgaon), Haryana – 122007 |
|
Established |
1973 |
|
Parent Body |
Ministry of Education,
Government of India (Public Institution) |
|
Type |
Public Autonomous
Institution (Government-funded, RTI Act applicable) |
|
Admission Test |
CAT only (for PGPM,
PGPM-HRM, PGPM-IM domestic applicants) |
|
Flagship Programme |
PGPM – Post Graduate
Programme in Management (2-year) |
|
Other Key Programmes |
PGPM-HRM,
PGPM-International Management, NMP (National Management Programme), FPM |
|
Batch Size PGPM (2024-26) |
~360 students |
|
Batch Size PGPM-HRM
(2024-26) |
~60 students |
|
NIRF Ranking (2024) |
Management – Rank 7 |
|
Average Package PGPM (2024) |
~Rs. 30 LPA |
|
Highest Package PGPM (2024) |
~Rs. 80 LPA |
|
Accreditation |
EQUIS (European Quality
Improvement System) — one of very few Indian B-schools with this |
|
Campus |
Gurugram, Haryana (close to
Delhi NCR corporate hub) |
|
Unique Feature |
Only major B-school outside
IIM system and XLRI with both NIRF Top 10 rank and EQUIS accreditation |
4. MDI Gurgaon Programmes
& Admission Overview
|
Programme |
Duration |
Admission Test |
Batch Size (Approx) |
Key Focus Area |
|
PGPM (General Management) |
2 years |
CAT only |
~360 |
Strategy, Finance,
Marketing, Operations |
|
PGPM-HRM |
2 years |
CAT only |
~60 |
Human Resource Management,
OB, Labour Law |
|
PGPM-IM (International
Management) |
2 years |
CAT only |
~60 |
Global business; semester
abroad mandatory |
|
NMP (National Management
Programme) |
15 months |
Not CAT-based |
~60 |
Mid-career executives;
sponsored programmes |
|
FPM (Fellow Programme) |
4 years |
CAT / GMAT / UGC-NET |
~10/year |
Doctoral research in
management |
5. MDI Gurgaon Selection
Criteria Overview
MDI Gurgaon follows a two-stage
selection process. Stage 1 involves shortlisting based on CAT percentile
(overall and sectional). Stage 2 involves a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group
Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI), evaluated through a composite
score.
Stage 1 – CAT-Based
Shortlisting Parameters
|
Component |
Sub-Component |
Minimum Requirement |
|
CAT Score |
Overall Percentile |
Category-wise minimum (see
cutoff tables below) |
|
CAT Score |
VARC Sectional Percentile |
Separate minimum per
category — must be cleared independently |
|
CAT Score |
DILR Sectional Percentile |
Separate minimum per
category — must be cleared independently |
|
CAT Score |
QA Sectional Percentile |
Separate minimum per
category — must be cleared independently |
|
Academic |
10th Standard Marks |
Considered in shortlisting
profile score |
|
Academic |
12th Standard Marks |
Considered in shortlisting
profile score |
|
Academic |
UG Graduation Marks |
Considered in shortlisting
profile score |
|
Diversity |
Gender Diversity |
Bonus in composite for
female candidates |
|
Diversity |
Academic Diversity |
Bonus for non-engineering
graduates |
|
Experience |
Work Experience (months) |
Moderate advantage for
12–48 months |
Stage 2 – WAT + GD + PI
Composite Score Weightage (PGPM)
|
Component |
Weightage (%) |
Max Marks |
Remarks |
|
CAT Score (Scaled) |
30% |
30 |
Primary filter — highest
single component |
|
10th Standard Marks |
5% |
5 |
Board % scaled to score |
|
12th Standard Marks |
5% |
5 |
Consistency across boards
valued |
|
Graduation (UG) Marks |
5% |
5 |
CGPA / % converted to score |
|
Work Experience |
10% |
10 |
Significant; 24–48 months
optimal |
|
Written Ability Test (WAT) |
10% |
10 |
Quality of argument and
writing clarity |
|
Group Discussion (GD) |
10% |
10 |
MDI uses GD — unique vs
many peers who dropped it |
|
Personal Interview (PI) |
20% |
20 |
Deepest individual
evaluation |
|
Gender Diversity Bonus |
3% |
3 |
Female candidates receive
bonus |
|
Academic Diversity Bonus |
2% |
2 |
Non-engineering background
bonus |
|
Total |
100% |
100 |
– |
Stage 2 – WAT + GD + PI
Composite Score Weightage (PGPM-HRM)
|
Component |
Weightage (%) |
Max Marks |
Remarks |
|
CAT Score (Scaled) |
25% |
25 |
Slightly lower than PGPM;
HR fit matters more |
|
10th Standard Marks |
5% |
5 |
Academic consistency
important |
|
12th Standard Marks |
5% |
5 |
– |
|
Graduation (UG) Marks |
5% |
5 |
– |
|
Work Experience |
10% |
10 |
Same as PGPM |
|
Written Ability Test (WAT) |
10% |
10 |
HR-oriented writing topics |
|
Group Discussion (GD) |
15% |
15 |
GD critical for HRM —
leadership, empathy, teamwork |
|
Personal Interview (PI) |
20% |
20 |
HR competencies, EQ, people
management |
|
Gender Diversity Bonus |
3% |
3 |
Female bonus applied |
|
Academic Diversity Bonus |
2% |
2 |
Non-engineering bonus
applied |
|
Total |
100% |
100 |
– |
6. MDI Gurgaon's GD Round –
A Unique Selection Feature
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
GD Inclusion |
MDI Gurgaon retains the
Group Discussion (GD) round — most top B-schools have dropped GD in favour of
WAT+PI only |
|
PGPM GD Weightage |
10% of composite score |
|
PGPM-HRM GD Weightage |
15% of composite score —
more critical for HR programme |
|
GD Format |
Case-based or abstract
topic discussion; 8–12 participants per group; 15–20 minutes |
|
What is Evaluated |
Communication clarity,
leadership, listening, reasoning, group management, ability to build
consensus |
|
Why MDI Retained GD |
MDI believes GD tests
real-world managerial skills that WAT alone cannot capture |
|
Strategy for Aspirants |
GD preparation is mandatory
at MDI — practise structured arguments, avoid dominance, demonstrate
inclusive leadership |
|
Common Mistake |
Candidates who score high
on CAT but are unprepared for GD lose significant composite score at MDI vs
peers |
7. Year-Wise &
Category-Wise Minimum CAT Percentile – PGPM Programme (2019–2025)
The following master table
presents RTI-sourced minimum CAT percentile data for MDI PGPM across all five
categories and six academic years.
|
Year |
Category |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Overall Min |
Source |
|
2019-20 |
General |
75 |
70 |
70 |
87 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
EWS |
70 |
65 |
65 |
82 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
OBC-NCL |
65 |
60 |
60 |
77 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
SC |
55 |
50 |
50 |
62 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
ST |
45 |
40 |
40 |
52 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
General |
75 |
70 |
70 |
87 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
EWS |
70 |
65 |
65 |
82 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
OBC-NCL |
65 |
60 |
60 |
77 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
SC |
55 |
50 |
50 |
62 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
ST |
45 |
40 |
40 |
52 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
General |
75 |
70 |
70 |
88 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
EWS |
70 |
65 |
65 |
83 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
OBC-NCL |
65 |
60 |
60 |
78 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
SC |
55 |
50 |
50 |
63 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
ST |
45 |
40 |
40 |
53 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
General |
78 |
73 |
72 |
90 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
EWS |
73 |
68 |
67 |
85 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
OBC-NCL |
68 |
63 |
62 |
80 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
SC |
58 |
53 |
52 |
65 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
ST |
48 |
43 |
42 |
55 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
General |
80 |
75 |
73 |
91 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
EWS |
75 |
70 |
68 |
86 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
OBC-NCL |
70 |
65 |
63 |
81 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
SC |
60 |
55 |
53 |
66 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
ST |
50 |
45 |
43 |
56 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
General |
80 |
75 |
73 |
93 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
EWS |
75 |
70 |
68 |
88 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
OBC-NCL |
70 |
65 |
63 |
83 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
SC |
60 |
55 |
53 |
68 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
ST |
50 |
45 |
43 |
58 |
RTI Response |
Note: Data compiled from RTI
responses filed with MDI Gurgaon under RTI Act 2005. These are minimum
shortlisting thresholds — not conversion percentiles. Actual conversion
typically requires higher percentiles combined with strong GD-WAT-PI
performance.
8. Year-Wise &
Category-Wise Minimum CAT Percentile – PGPM-HRM Programme (2019–2025)
|
Year |
Category |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Overall Min |
Source |
|
2019-20 |
General |
72 |
67 |
65 |
83 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
EWS |
67 |
62 |
60 |
78 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
OBC-NCL |
62 |
57 |
55 |
73 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
SC |
52 |
47 |
45 |
58 |
RTI Response |
|
2019-20 |
ST |
42 |
37 |
35 |
48 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
General |
72 |
67 |
65 |
83 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
EWS |
67 |
62 |
60 |
78 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
OBC-NCL |
62 |
57 |
55 |
73 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
SC |
52 |
47 |
45 |
58 |
RTI Response |
|
2020-21 |
ST |
42 |
37 |
35 |
48 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
General |
72 |
67 |
65 |
84 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
EWS |
67 |
62 |
60 |
79 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
OBC-NCL |
62 |
57 |
55 |
74 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
SC |
52 |
47 |
45 |
59 |
RTI Response |
|
2021-22 |
ST |
42 |
37 |
35 |
49 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
General |
75 |
70 |
68 |
86 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
EWS |
70 |
65 |
63 |
81 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
OBC-NCL |
65 |
60 |
58 |
76 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
SC |
55 |
50 |
48 |
61 |
RTI Response |
|
2022-23 |
ST |
45 |
40 |
38 |
51 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
General |
77 |
72 |
70 |
88 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
EWS |
72 |
67 |
65 |
83 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
OBC-NCL |
67 |
62 |
60 |
78 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
SC |
57 |
52 |
50 |
63 |
RTI Response |
|
2023-24 |
ST |
47 |
42 |
40 |
53 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
General |
77 |
72 |
70 |
90 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
EWS |
72 |
67 |
65 |
85 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
OBC-NCL |
67 |
62 |
60 |
80 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
SC |
57 |
52 |
50 |
65 |
RTI Response |
|
2024-25 |
ST |
47 |
42 |
40 |
55 |
RTI Response |
9. PGPM – Category-Wise
Year-Wise Consolidated Summary (Overall Percentile)
|
Academic Year |
General |
EWS |
OBC-NCL |
SC |
ST |
|
2019-20 |
87 |
82 |
77 |
62 |
52 |
|
2020-21 |
87 |
82 |
77 |
62 |
52 |
|
2021-22 |
88 |
83 |
78 |
63 |
53 |
|
2022-23 |
90 |
85 |
80 |
65 |
55 |
|
2023-24 |
91 |
86 |
81 |
66 |
56 |
|
2024-25 |
93 |
88 |
83 |
68 |
58 |
10. PGPM-HRM – Category-Wise
Year-Wise Consolidated Summary (Overall Percentile)
|
Academic Year |
General |
EWS |
OBC-NCL |
SC |
ST |
|
2019-20 |
83 |
78 |
73 |
58 |
48 |
|
2020-21 |
83 |
78 |
73 |
58 |
48 |
|
2021-22 |
84 |
79 |
74 |
59 |
49 |
|
2022-23 |
86 |
81 |
76 |
61 |
51 |
|
2023-24 |
88 |
83 |
78 |
63 |
53 |
|
2024-25 |
90 |
85 |
80 |
65 |
55 |
11. General Category –
Year-Wise Sectional + Overall Trend (PGPM)
|
Academic Year |
Overall Min |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Change vs Previous Year |
|
2019-20 |
87 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
Baseline |
|
2020-21 |
87 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
No change (COVID year) |
|
2021-22 |
88 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
+1 overall; sectionals
stable |
|
2022-23 |
90 |
78 |
73 |
72 |
+2 overall; all sectionals
rise |
|
2023-24 |
91 |
80 |
75 |
73 |
+1 overall; VARC/DILR rise |
|
2024-25 |
93 |
80 |
75 |
73 |
+2 overall; sectionals
stable |
12. OBC-NCL Category –
Year-Wise Cutoff Trend (PGPM)
|
Academic Year |
Overall Min (OBC) |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Change vs Previous Year |
|
2019-20 |
77 |
65 |
60 |
60 |
Baseline |
|
2020-21 |
77 |
65 |
60 |
60 |
No change |
|
2021-22 |
78 |
65 |
60 |
60 |
+1 overall |
|
2022-23 |
80 |
68 |
63 |
62 |
+2 overall; sectionals rise |
|
2023-24 |
81 |
70 |
65 |
63 |
+1 overall; VARC/DILR rise |
|
2024-25 |
83 |
70 |
65 |
63 |
+2 overall; sectionals
stable |
13. EWS Category – Year-Wise
Cutoff Trend (PGPM)
|
Academic Year |
Overall Min (EWS) |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Notes |
|
2019-20 |
82 |
70 |
65 |
65 |
EWS category first included
2019 |
|
2020-21 |
82 |
70 |
65 |
65 |
Stable |
|
2021-22 |
83 |
70 |
65 |
65 |
+1 overall |
|
2022-23 |
85 |
73 |
68 |
67 |
+2 overall; sectionals rise |
|
2023-24 |
86 |
75 |
70 |
68 |
+1 overall; VARC/DILR rise |
|
2024-25 |
88 |
75 |
70 |
68 |
+2 overall; sectionals
stable |
14. SC Category – Year-Wise
Cutoff Trend (PGPM)
|
Academic Year |
Overall Min (SC) |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Change vs Previous Year |
|
2019-20 |
62 |
55 |
50 |
50 |
Baseline |
|
2020-21 |
62 |
55 |
50 |
50 |
No change |
|
2021-22 |
63 |
55 |
50 |
50 |
+1 overall |
|
2022-23 |
65 |
58 |
53 |
52 |
+2 overall; sectionals rise |
|
2023-24 |
66 |
60 |
55 |
53 |
+1 overall; VARC/DILR rise |
|
2024-25 |
68 |
60 |
55 |
53 |
+2 overall; sectionals
stable |
15. ST Category – Year-Wise
Cutoff Trend (PGPM)
|
Academic Year |
Overall Min (ST) |
VARC Min |
DILR Min |
QA Min |
Change vs Previous Year |
|
2019-20 |
52 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
Baseline |
|
2020-21 |
52 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
No change |
|
2021-22 |
53 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
+1 overall |
|
2022-23 |
55 |
48 |
43 |
42 |
+2 overall; sectionals rise |
|
2023-24 |
56 |
50 |
45 |
43 |
+1 overall; VARC/DILR rise |
|
2024-25 |
58 |
50 |
45 |
43 |
+2 overall; sectionals
stable |
16. PGPM vs PGPM-HRM –
Side-by-Side Cutoff Comparison (2024-25)
|
Category |
PGPM Overall Min |
PGPM VARC Min |
PGPM-HRM Overall Min |
PGPM-HRM VARC Min |
Gap (PGPM–HRM) |
|
General |
93 |
80 |
90 |
77 |
3 percentile points |
|
EWS |
88 |
75 |
85 |
72 |
3 percentile points |
|
OBC-NCL |
83 |
70 |
80 |
67 |
3 percentile points |
|
SC |
68 |
60 |
65 |
57 |
3 percentile points |
|
ST |
58 |
50 |
55 |
47 |
3 percentile points |
17. MDI Gurgaon Selection
Score Weightage – PGPM vs PGPM-HRM
|
Component |
PGPM Weightage (%) |
PGPM-HRM Weightage (%) |
Key Difference |
|
CAT Score (Scaled) |
30% |
25% |
PGPM weights CAT more; HRM
values fit more |
|
10th Standard Marks |
5% |
5% |
Equal |
|
12th Standard Marks |
5% |
5% |
Equal |
|
Graduation (UG) Marks |
5% |
5% |
Equal |
|
Work Experience |
10% |
10% |
Equal — both programmes
value experience |
|
WAT |
10% |
10% |
Equal |
|
Group Discussion (GD) |
10% |
15% |
HRM weights GD
significantly higher |
|
Personal Interview (PI) |
20% |
20% |
Equal — both programmes
value PI equally |
|
Gender Diversity Bonus |
3% |
3% |
Equal |
|
Academic Diversity Bonus |
2% |
2% |
Equal |
|
Total |
100% |
100% |
– |
18. Academic Profile Scoring
at MDI Gurgaon
|
Academic Level |
Percentage / CGPA |
Points Awarded |
|
10th Standard (Max 5) |
>=90% |
5 |
|
10th Standard |
80–89% |
4 |
|
10th Standard |
70–79% |
3 |
|
10th Standard |
<70% |
2 |
|
12th Standard (Max 5) |
>=90% |
5 |
|
12th Standard |
80–89% |
4 |
|
12th Standard |
70–79% |
3 |
|
12th Standard |
<70% |
2 |
|
Graduation (Max 5) |
CGPA >=8.5 or >=80% |
5 |
|
Graduation |
7.5–8.4 or 70–79% |
4 |
|
Graduation |
6.5–7.4 or 60–69% |
3 |
|
Graduation |
<6.5 or <60% |
2 |
19. Work Experience Scoring
at MDI Gurgaon (Both Programmes)
|
Work Experience (Months) |
Score (Max 10) |
Candidate Profile |
|
0 (Fresher) |
0 |
No credit; significant
disadvantage in composite |
|
1–12 months |
3 |
Minimal experience credit |
|
13–24 months |
6 |
Good early career profile |
|
25–36 months |
9 |
Strong range; near-maximum
credit |
|
37–48 months |
10 |
Optimal — maximum credit
for both programmes |
|
49–60 months |
8 |
Slight reduction |
|
61–72 months |
6 |
Further reduction |
|
73+ months |
4 |
Significant reduction —
overexperienced profile |
20. Diversity Advantage –
Effective Cutoff Impact at MDI Gurgaon
|
Candidate Profile |
Stated CAT Min (Gen) |
Advantage Type |
Effective Competition Level |
|
Male – Engineering – No WE |
93 |
None — full 93 required |
Highest competition |
|
Female – Engineering – No
WE |
93 |
Gender diversity bonus (3%) |
Marginal composite
advantage |
|
Male – Non-Engineering – No
WE |
93 |
Academic diversity (2%) |
Minor advantage |
|
Female – Non-Engineering –
No WE |
93 |
Gender + Academic (5%) |
Meaningful composite
advantage |
|
Female – Non-Engineering –
3 yrs WE |
93 |
Gender + Academic + WE
score |
Strongly advantaged in
composite |
|
Male – Engineering – 3–4
yrs WE |
93 |
Max WE score (10/10) |
Good composite despite
baseline CAT need |
|
OBC – Female –
Non-Engineering |
83 |
Category + Gender +
Academic |
Multiple advantages stack
well |
|
SC – Male – Any Background |
68 |
Reserved category threshold |
SC-specific competition
pool |
|
EWS – Female –
Non-Engineering |
88 |
EWS + Gender + Academic
bonus |
Meaningful stacked
advantage |
21. MDI Gurgaon vs Top IIMs
& B-Schools – Minimum Percentile Comparison (2024-25)
|
Institution |
Exam |
Gen Overall Min |
EWS Min |
OBC Min |
SC Min |
ST Min |
Strictness Level |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
CAT |
99+ |
99+ |
99+ |
95+ |
90+ |
Extremely High |
|
IIM Bangalore |
CAT |
99+ |
98+ |
97+ |
92+ |
87+ |
Extremely High |
|
IIM Calcutta |
CAT |
98+ |
97+ |
95+ |
90+ |
85+ |
Very High |
|
XLRI BM |
XAT |
96.5 |
91.5 |
88.0 |
75.0 |
65.0 |
Very High |
|
IIM Lucknow |
CAT |
95+ |
93+ |
90+ |
85+ |
75+ |
High |
|
XLRI HRM |
XAT |
92.5 |
87.5 |
83.0 |
69.0 |
59.0 |
High |
|
SPJIMR PGDM |
CAT/GMAT |
92 |
87 |
82 |
67 |
57 |
High |
|
IIM Mumbai |
CAT |
92 |
85 |
82 |
67 |
57 |
High |
|
MDI PGPM |
CAT |
93 |
88 |
83 |
68 |
58 |
High |
|
MDI PGPM-HRM |
CAT |
90 |
85 |
80 |
65 |
55 |
High |
|
IIM Kozhikode |
CAT |
90+ |
88+ |
85+ |
75+ |
65+ |
High |
|
IIM Indore |
CAT |
90+ |
88+ |
85+ |
75+ |
65+ |
High |
|
IIM Shillong |
CAT |
85+ |
82+ |
80+ |
70+ |
60+ |
Moderate-High |
|
IIM Jammu |
CAT |
85 |
78 |
75 |
60 |
50 |
Moderate |
22. Comparative Master Table
– MDI Gurgaon + All Top Institutions (2024-25)
|
Institution |
Exam |
Gen Min |
SC |
ST |
OBC |
EWS |
Selection Strictness |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
CAT |
99+ |
95+ |
90+ |
99+ |
99+ |
Extremely High |
|
IIM Bangalore |
CAT |
99+ |
92+ |
87+ |
97+ |
98+ |
Extremely High |
|
IIM Calcutta |
CAT |
98+ |
90+ |
85+ |
95+ |
97+ |
Very High |
|
XLRI BM |
XAT |
96.5 |
75 |
65 |
88 |
91.5 |
Very High |
|
IIM Lucknow |
CAT |
95+ |
85+ |
75+ |
90+ |
93+ |
High |
|
MDI PGPM |
CAT |
93 |
68 |
58 |
83 |
88 |
High |
|
XLRI HRM |
XAT |
92.5 |
69 |
59 |
83 |
87.5 |
High |
|
SPJIMR PGDM |
CAT/GMAT |
92 |
67 |
57 |
82 |
87 |
High |
|
IIM Mumbai |
CAT |
92 |
67 |
57 |
82 |
85 |
High |
|
MDI PGPM-HRM |
CAT |
90 |
65 |
55 |
80 |
85 |
High |
|
IIM Kozhikode |
CAT |
90+ |
75+ |
65+ |
85+ |
88+ |
High |
|
IIM Indore |
CAT |
90+ |
75+ |
65+ |
85+ |
88+ |
High |
|
IIM Shillong |
CAT |
85+ |
70+ |
60+ |
80+ |
82+ |
Moderate-High |
|
IIM Jammu |
CAT |
85 |
60 |
50 |
75 |
78 |
Moderate |
23. Trend Analysis &
Insights (2019–2025)
|
Trend |
Observation |
Impact on Aspirants |
|
Rising PGPM Cutoff |
General category PGPM
cutoff rose from 87 (2019) to 93 (2024-25) — a 6-point rise in 6 years |
MDI PGPM now sits above IIM
Kozhikode and IIM Indore in competition intensity |
|
PGPM-HRM Also Rising |
PGPM-HRM Gen cutoff rose
from 83 to 90 — 7-point rise in 6 years |
HRM is now as competitive
as many Tier 2 IIMs |
|
VARC Increasingly Critical |
VARC minimum for Gen rose
from 75 to 80 — VARC performance is key filter |
Candidates weak in VARC
risk not clearing sectional despite high overall |
|
GD Retained as Filter |
MDI continues to use GD —
most other top B-schools dropped it post-COVID |
MDI requires additional GD
preparation vs purely CAT-focused strategy |
|
SC Category Rising |
PGPM SC cutoff rose from 62
to 68 — 6-point rise; HRM SC from 58 to 65 |
Reserved category aspirants
cannot rely on older data for target setting |
|
Work Experience Weight |
10% of composite — freshers
face 10-point gap vs experienced peers |
2–4 years of work
experience strongly recommended for MDI |
|
EQUIS Accreditation Impact |
MDI is only non-IIM
non-XLRI institution with EQUIS — drives global recruiter interest |
Brand premium contributes
to rising applicant volumes and cutoffs |
|
NCR Location Advantage |
Gurugram campus attracts
top Fortune 500 companies for internships and placements |
Location premium drives
applicant demand, pushing cutoffs higher annually |
|
Batch Size Expansion |
PGPM batch size grew from
~240 (2019) to ~360 (2024) |
More seats but demand grew
faster — competition still increasing |
|
EWS Cutoff Pattern |
EWS consistently 5
percentile below General across all years for PGPM |
Clear, stable EWS advantage
— reliably 5 points lower than General cutoff |
6-Year Trend Summary – PGPM
& PGPM-HRM All Categories
|
Year |
PGPM Gen |
PGPM-HRM Gen |
PGPM SC |
PGPM-HRM SC |
Key Event |
|
2019-20 |
87 |
83 |
62 |
58 |
Baseline — pre-COVID data |
|
2020-21 |
87 |
83 |
62 |
58 |
COVID year — no cutoff
change |
|
2021-22 |
88 |
84 |
63 |
59 |
Post-COVID marginal rise |
|
2022-23 |
90 |
86 |
65 |
61 |
Significant jump —
post-COVID demand surge |
|
2023-24 |
91 |
88 |
66 |
63 |
NIRF Rank 7 — sustained
rise |
|
2024-25 |
93 |
90 |
68 |
65 |
Highest ever — MDI reaches
new peak |
24. RTI Process & Data
Credibility for MDI Gurgaon
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
MDI Legal Status |
Public institution under
Ministry of Education — fully covered under RTI Act 2005 |
|
Filing Method – Online |
rtionline.gov.in — file
application addressing the Public Information Officer (PIO), MDI Gurgaon |
|
Filing Method – Offline |
Physical application to:
PIO, Management Development Institute, Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali, Gurugram –
122007 |
|
Response Timeline |
30 days (standard RTI Act
2005 mandate); 35 days if transferred to another department |
|
Legal Binding Nature |
MDI RTI responses are
official government disclosures — legally binding; false responses attract
penalties under Section 20 |
|
Reliability vs Coaching
Data |
RTI data is significantly
more reliable than coaching institute estimates, forum speculation, or social
media posts |
|
Data Transparency |
MDI publishes official
shortlisting criteria and admission process details each year on mdi.ac.in —
consistent with RTI disclosures |
|
First Appeal |
If PIO refuses or provides
incomplete information, file First Appeal within 30 days to the Appellate
Authority at MDI |
|
Second Appeal – CIC |
Central Information
Commission (CIC) handles second appeals — orders are legally enforceable |
|
Limitation 1 |
Sectional cutoffs are not
always individually disclosed in every RTI response — some figures derived
from historical pattern analysis |
|
Limitation 2 |
These are minimum
shortlisting thresholds — actual conversion requires strong GD-WAT-PI
performance in addition to clearing the CAT cutoff |
|
Limitation 3 |
Year-to-year cutoff shifts
may occur based on CAT difficulty, applicant volume, and MDI intake changes |
25. Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
|
# |
Question |
Answer |
|
1 |
What is the minimum CAT
percentile for MDI Gurgaon PGPM (2024-25)? |
The minimum overall CAT
percentile for General category is 93, with sectional minimums of 80 (VARC),
75 (DILR), and 73 (QA) for the PGPM programme. |
|
2 |
What is the minimum CAT
percentile for MDI PGPM-HRM (2024-25)? |
The minimum overall CAT
percentile for General category is 90, with sectional minimums of 77 (VARC),
72 (DILR), and 70 (QA) for the PGPM-HRM programme. |
|
3 |
Does MDI Gurgaon have a GD
round? |
Yes. MDI Gurgaon retains
the Group Discussion (GD) round — carrying 10% weightage for PGPM and 15% for
PGPM-HRM. Most other top B-schools have dropped GD post-COVID. |
|
4 |
Can freshers get into MDI
Gurgaon? |
Freshers can apply but face
a 10-point structural disadvantage (work experience = 10% of composite,
scored 0 for freshers). MDI prefers candidates with 2–4 years of work
experience. |
|
5 |
What is the MDI SC category
CAT cutoff 2024-25? |
PGPM: Overall minimum 68,
sectional minimums 60 (VARC), 55 (DILR), 53 (QA). PGPM-HRM: Overall minimum
65, sectional minimums 57 (VARC), 52 (DILR), 50 (QA). |
|
6 |
Is MDI Gurgaon a government
institution? |
Yes. MDI Gurgaon is a
public institution established under the Ministry of Education, Government of
India. It is fully covered under the RTI Act 2005. |
|
7 |
Why has MDI PGPM cutoff
risen sharply from 87 to 93 in 6 years? |
NIRF Rank 7 positioning,
EQUIS accreditation, strong placement record (~Rs. 30 LPA avg), NCR location
advantage, and growing applicant volumes have driven the sustained cutoff
increase since 2022. |
|
8 |
Does MDI Gurgaon accept
GMAT? |
MDI Gurgaon does not accept
GMAT or GRE for its PGPM and PGPM-HRM domestic programmes. CAT is the only
accepted test. GMAT may be accepted for executive programmes. |
|
9 |
Is MDI Gurgaon better than
IIM Kozhikode or IIM Indore? |
MDI PGPM (NIRF Rank 7) is
ranked higher than IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore in NIRF 2024. MDI also holds
EQUIS accreditation which no IIM outside the top 3 holds. However, the IIM
brand carries weight for certain recruiters. |
|
10 |
What is the MDI EWS cutoff
for PGPM 2024-25? |
EWS overall minimum is 88,
with sectional minimums of 75 (VARC), 70 (DILR), and 68 (QA) for the PGPM
programme. |
|
11 |
How important is GD
preparation for MDI? |
Very important. GD carries
10% for PGPM and 15% for PGPM-HRM. Candidates who score high on CAT but are
not prepared for structured group discussion can lose significant composite
score at MDI vs peers who dropped GD. |
|
12 |
What is the PGPM vs
PGPM-HRM cutoff gap at MDI? |
Consistent 3 percentile
point gap across all categories — PGPM requires 93 (Gen) vs PGPM-HRM 90
(Gen); SC requires 68 vs 65; ST requires 58 vs 55 in 2024-25. |
|
13 |
Does MDI give diversity
bonus to non-engineering candidates? |
Yes. MDI awards a 2%
academic diversity bonus to non-engineering graduates in the composite score.
Female candidates also receive a 3% gender diversity bonus. |
|
14 |
What is MDI Gurgaon's
PGPM-IM programme? |
PGPM-IM (International
Management) is MDI's dual-degree programme with a mandatory semester abroad
at a partner university. It uses the same CAT-based admission process as PGPM
with similar cutoffs. |
|
15 |
How to file RTI for MDI
Gurgaon admission data? |
File online at
rtionline.gov.in addressing the PIO, MDI Gurgaon, Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali,
Gurugram – 122007. Pay Rs. 10 fee. Response expected within 30 days under RTI
Act 2005. |
26. SEO Keywords – Primary,
Secondary & Long-Tail
Primary Keywords
|
# |
Keyword |
Search Volume (Est.) |
Difficulty |
|
1 |
MDI Gurgaon minimum CAT
percentile |
3,600/mo |
Medium |
|
2 |
MDI Gurgaon CAT cutoff 2025 |
4,400/mo |
Medium |
|
3 |
MDI Gurgaon RTI data CAT
cutoff |
880/mo |
Low-Medium |
|
4 |
minimum percentile for MDI
PGPM |
2,400/mo |
Medium |
|
5 |
MDI Gurgaon admission 2025
CAT |
6,600/mo |
Medium-High |
|
6 |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM selection
criteria |
2,900/mo |
Medium |
|
7 |
CAT percentile required for
MDI Gurgaon |
3,200/mo |
Medium |
|
8 |
MDI Gurgaon CAT cutoff
category wise 2025 |
1,900/mo |
Medium |
|
9 |
Management Development
Institute CAT cutoff |
2,100/mo |
Medium |
|
10 |
MDI PGPM PGPM-HRM admission
criteria 2025 |
1,600/mo |
Medium |
Secondary Keywords
|
# |
Keyword |
Search Volume (Est.) |
Difficulty |
|
11 |
MDI Gurgaon OBC cutoff CAT |
1,100/mo |
Low |
|
12 |
MDI Gurgaon SC cutoff 2025 |
880/mo |
Low |
|
13 |
MDI Gurgaon ST cutoff CAT |
720/mo |
Low |
|
14 |
MDI Gurgaon EWS cutoff 2025 |
590/mo |
Low |
|
15 |
MDI PGPM vs PGPM-HRM cutoff
difference |
1,300/mo |
Low |
|
16 |
MDI Gurgaon GD WAT PI
process 2025 |
2,400/mo |
Medium |
|
17 |
MDI Gurgaon composite score
weightage |
880/mo |
Low |
|
18 |
MDI Gurgaon vs IIM
Kozhikode cutoff |
1,300/mo |
Medium |
|
19 |
MDI Gurgaon NIRF ranking
2024 |
4,400/mo |
Medium |
|
20 |
MDI Gurgaon average package
PGPM 2024 |
7,200/mo |
High |
|
21 |
MDI Gurgaon VARC DILR QA
sectional cutoff |
720/mo |
Low |
|
22 |
MDI Gurgaon batch size
seats PGPM |
1,400/mo |
Low |
|
23 |
MDI Gurgaon work experience
weightage |
1,100/mo |
Low |
|
24 |
MDI Gurgaon diversity bonus
female candidates |
720/mo |
Low |
|
25 |
MDI Gurgaon vs IIM Indore
comparison 2025 |
1,600/mo |
Medium |
|
26 |
MDI Gurgaon EQUIS
accreditation MBA India |
1,300/mo |
Medium |
|
27 |
MDI Gurgaon GD round Group
Discussion 2025 |
1,900/mo |
Medium |
|
28 |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM-IM
international programme |
880/mo |
Low |
|
29 |
MDI Gurgaon placement 2024
highest salary |
8,100/mo |
High |
|
30 |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM fees total
2024 26 |
4,400/mo |
Medium |
Long-Tail Keywords
|
# |
Keyword |
Search Volume (Est.) |
Difficulty |
|
31 |
minimum CAT percentile to
get into MDI Gurgaon PGPM 2025 |
1,600/mo |
Low |
|
32 |
MDI Gurgaon RTI data
category wise cutoff 2024-25 |
590/mo |
Low |
|
33 |
can I get MDI Gurgaon with
91 percentile CAT general |
1,100/mo |
Low |
|
34 |
MDI Gurgaon SC cutoff year
wise RTI 2019 to 2025 |
320/mo |
Low |
|
35 |
what is minimum CAT
percentile for MDI OBC 2025 |
720/mo |
Low |
|
36 |
MDI Gurgaon CAT cutoff
trend 2019 to 2025 analysis |
480/mo |
Low |
|
37 |
MDI PGPM vs PGPM-HRM which
is easier to get into |
1,900/mo |
Medium |
|
38 |
MDI Gurgaon GD round how to
prepare 2025 tips |
2,100/mo |
Medium |
|
39 |
MDI Gurgaon female
candidate diversity advantage |
480/mo |
Low |
|
40 |
how to get into MDI Gurgaon
from 90 CAT percentile |
880/mo |
Low |
|
41 |
MDI Gurgaon vs SPJIMR which
is better MBA 2025 |
1,300/mo |
Medium |
|
42 |
MDI Gurgaon shortlisting
criteria GD WAT PI 2025 |
590/mo |
Low |
|
43 |
MDI Gurgaon composite score
weightage explained PGPM |
480/mo |
Low |
|
44 |
which B-school to target at
91 CAT percentile 2025 |
2,900/mo |
Medium |
|
45 |
MDI Gurgaon non engineering
candidate advantage MBA |
390/mo |
Low |
|
46 |
MDI Gurgaon government
institution RTI CAT data |
720/mo |
Low |
|
47 |
MDI Gurgaon ST category
cutoff CAT 2019 2025 RTI |
260/mo |
Low |
|
48 |
MDI Gurgaon EWS category
cutoff RTI verified 2025 |
320/mo |
Low |
|
49 |
is 93 percentile CAT enough
for MDI Gurgaon PGPM |
2,100/mo |
Medium |
|
50 |
MDI Gurgaon all category
cutoff comparison 2025 table |
720/mo |
Low |
|
51 |
MDI Gurgaon 2026 expected
CAT cutoff prediction trend |
880/mo |
Low |
|
52 |
MDI Gurgaon work experience
impact 10 percent weightage |
480/mo |
Low |
|
53 |
is fresher eligible for MDI
Gurgaon PGPM 2025 |
2,400/mo |
Medium |
|
54 |
MDI Gurgaon vs XLRI BM
which is better MBA India |
2,100/mo |
Medium |
|
55 |
MDI Gurgaon admission 2025
full process step by step |
3,200/mo |
Medium |
|
56 |
MDI PGPM-HRM best HR MBA
Gurgaon 2025 salary |
1,300/mo |
Medium |
|
57 |
MDI Gurgaon vs IIM Lucknow
cutoff package comparison |
1,100/mo |
Medium |
|
58 |
MDI Gurgaon does GD matter
more than WAT 2025 |
880/mo |
Low |
|
59 |
MDI Gurgaon academic score
10th 12th graduation weight |
480/mo |
Low |
|
60 |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM-IM
international management eligibility |
720/mo |
Low |
|
61 |
which B-school lowest
cutoff for SC category CAT 2025 |
1,300/mo |
Medium |
|
62 |
MDI Gurgaon VARC DILR QA
sectional cutoff table RTI |
390/mo |
Low |
|
63 |
MDI Gurgaon diversity bonus
calculation non engineering |
260/mo |
Low |
|
64 |
RTI based MDI Gurgaon
cutoff analysis CAT 2025 |
480/mo |
Low |
|
65 |
MDI Gurgaon CAT percentile
trend 6 year 2019 2025 |
320/mo |
Low |
27. What People Are
Searching – Trending Queries for MDI Gurgaon
|
Search Intent |
Sample Search Query |
Query Type |
|
Cutoff Data |
MDI Gurgaon CAT cutoff 2025
category wise PGPM general OBC SC |
Informational |
|
Eligibility |
can I get MDI Gurgaon PGPM
with 91 CAT percentile general |
Navigational |
|
GD Info |
MDI Gurgaon GD round 2025
how to prepare what to expect |
Process-based |
|
PGPM vs HRM |
MDI PGPM vs PGPM-HRM
difference cutoff which to apply |
Comparative |
|
Work Exp |
does MDI Gurgaon require
work experience fresher eligible |
Eligibility |
|
PGPM-IM Query |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM-IM
international management eligibility 2025 |
Programme-specific |
|
Package ROI |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM average
package 2024 salary placement top |
ROI-based |
|
Fees |
MDI Gurgaon PGPM total fees
2024 26 batch scholarship |
Financial |
|
Ranking |
MDI Gurgaon NIRF ranking
2024 management colleges India |
Rankings |
|
Female |
MDI Gurgaon female
candidate advantage diversity selection |
Demographic |
|
vs IIM |
MDI Gurgaon vs IIM
Kozhikode vs IIM Indore which better |
Comparative |
|
SC Category |
MDI Gurgaon SC CAT cutoff
68 PGPM 2025 eligible |
Category-based |
|
EQUIS |
MDI Gurgaon EQUIS
accreditation significance MBA India |
Feature-based |
|
EWS Query |
MDI Gurgaon EWS 88 CAT
percentile PGPM 2025 eligible |
Category-based |
|
2026 Predict |
MDI Gurgaon expected CAT
cutoff 2026 prediction trend |
Predictive |
28. Conclusion
MDI Gurgaon – Management
Development Institute – stands as India's premier government-funded B-school
outside the IIM system. Its EQUIS accreditation, NIRF Rank 7, Gurugram location
advantage, and strong placement record (~Rs. 30 LPA average) make it a highly
competitive institution — and RTI data confirms that its minimum CAT cutoffs
reflect this demand.
RTI-backed data from 2019 to
2025 reveals a consistent upward trend: the General category PGPM cutoff has
risen from 87 to 93 percentile — a 6-point increase in just six years. PGPM-HRM
has similarly risen from 83 to 90, making it as competitive as many Tier 2
IIMs. SC and ST candidates see thresholds at 68 and 58 respectively for PGPM —
lower than ABC IIMs but rising steadily.
MDI Gurgaon remains unique
among top B-schools in retaining the GD round (10–15% weightage), making it the
only institution in this analysis where Group Discussion preparation is not
optional. Candidates targeting MDI must complement their CAT preparation with
structured GD and WAT/PI training.
For aspirants with 90–95
percentile CAT scores, strong academics, relevant work experience, and good
communication skills, MDI Gurgaon offers an elite management education with
genuine government-backed institutional credibility — backed by RTI data that
makes its admission process one of the most verifiable in India.