Life at IIM Sirmaur: Hari Haran discusses Unique pedagogy, campus life, Student Life, Academic culture
Sri Hari Haran M, MBA- Travel Tourism and Hospitality Management at IIM Sirmaur, speaking with Shiksha.com discussed about his life at IIM Sirmaur, student Life at IIM Sirmaur, his hostel life, cultural events, unique teaching pedagogy, etc.
Sri Hari Haran M, MBA- Travel Tourism and Hospitality Management, IIM Sirmaur, Batch 2024-26
In the third part of our 'Life at IIM' series, we visited the northern part, in the hills, where a third-generation IIM is creating a pool of future leaders through its innovative teaching and learning. After IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Sambalpur, Shiksha spoke with a bright student of the Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur, IIM Sirmaur.
Sri Hari Haran M is pursuing an MBA- Travel Tourism and Hospitality Management at IIM Sirmaur. In a freewheeling conversation, Sri Hari Haran discussed about his life at IIM Sirmaur, student Life at IIM Sirmaur, his hostel life, cultural events, unique teaching pedagogy, etc. Here are the excerpts of the interview:
CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.
There is no difference between slot 1, 2 and 3 of CAT exam paper in terms of structure and patten. The sectional break up, marking scheme and time limit are the same in all slots. However, due to unique sets of questions in each slot leads to difference in difficulty levels. There is usually a slight difference in the CAT question papers of different slots. Sometimes, topic wise weightage of the questions also vary. To negate advantage or disadantage to candidates due to difference in difficulty level of slots, CAT scores are normalised for result preparation.
Q. Tell us about yourself and your journey to this IIM.
Sri Hari Haran: I am Sri Hari Haran M. Before joining IIM Sirmaur, I never even had the slightest taste of management on the academic side. It was all my extra-curricular activities related to management that helped me.
To begin with, my UG was in English. I converted to IIM Sirmaur alongside other IIMs during my final year of UG. My journey and transition into IIM Sirmaur were quite smooth. I had a lot of mentors, friends, and family to give me a shoulder of support whenever I needed it.
My UG would tell me that I am a creative person who has a lot of interest in poetry, novels, and art in itself. I wanted this creative side of mine to fuse with management. Hence, IIM Sirmaur.
Q. Why did you choose this IIM over others where you got admission offers?
Life at IIM Sirmaur is fascinating and students enjoy their college life to the fullest while also studying. The college offers many accademic related facilities and opportunities for students to learn and grow their skills but apart from that college also takes care of student's cocurricular growth also. IIM Sirmaur organizes annual cultural fests which are led and conducted by students. Many students also perform in the festival. Many small scaled function are also organized on special occasions for the students. This rejuvinates the students and fills them with energy. Hostel life is also very easy going and fun. All the responsibilities are taken by the college and the students are left with studies and socializing and making friends.
In CAT 2025, the following changes were seen:
- The fee amount increased from INR 2,500 to INR 2,600 for General category candidates and from INR 1,250 to INR 1300 for Reserved category candidates.
- In DILR section, number of questions increased from 20 to 22.
- Total marks of CAT DILR section increased from 60 to 66.
- Total marks of CAT exam increased from 198 to 204.
- Candidates can select five cities instead of six.
Sri Hari Haran: I got offers from IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu, Tapmi Manipal, and BIM Trichy apart from IIM Sirmaur. I chose IIM Sirmaur solely because of their MBA course, which specialises in Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality Management. The first year of the programme would be in General Management, and the second year would be in the tourism sector, with the application of all the General Management theories. This application-oriented study fascinated me. I found this to be a perfect chance to learn both General management and Tourism management.
Q. Describe your first week on campus – what stood out the most?
Sri Hari Haran: My insecurity stood out the most, to be frank. Yes, I am a fresher. I was only 20 when I stepped foot into IIM Sirmaur. Everyone else was older than me, with work experience, or had done something else in their life. I stood there as a novice. This aspect stood out the most for me.
Q. How would you describe the academic culture here – competitive, collaborative, or a mix?
Sri Hari Haran: The academic culture at IIM Sirmaur is a mixture of both competitiveness and collaboration. I say so, because everyone helps each other out by solving their doubts by offering practical insights, their handwritten notes, etc, but still everyone has this secret fire inside them to outperform each other. This makes the academic culture at IIM Sirmaur a mix.
Q. What is one unique academic tradition or teaching style you have experienced here?
Sri Hari Haran: The Professor guides the students in answering their own doubts. If I go to a professor to ask a doubt, they’ll ask me a question. I would be answering the question, and then another question would be posed to probe deeper. This would go on for even 15 mins. But, at last, the answer would be there. And, I would be the one answering it. Astonishing, isn’t it? Yes, all the time, it has been inside my mind. Our professors just act as a tool to instigate it and make us answer by ourselves.
Q. How do you balance intense academics with extra-curricular activities?
Sri Hari Haran: That is what an IIM is known for. Teaching us time management. I am an active member of one of the committees of IIM Sirmaur, and have done live projects, certifications, and internships. Believe it or not, it comes automatically. It was initially troublesome. But I figured out the rhythm, started prioritising tasks, and learned the art of delegation. This eventually made it possible to find a plane of balance. “A busy man finds time for everything; a lazy man finds time for nothing.”
Q. Which events/fests/clubs are absolute must-experiences on your campus?
Sri Hari Haran: Pinnacle is one of the most anticipated academic events at IIM Sirmaur. CEOs, CXOs, Directors, HRs, etc, of giant companies come and share their ideas through panel discussions. There’s also the IAB, where big people from tourism-related companies come for an interactive session with students. Their being on the board, and offering suggestions for the Tourism management and Tourism, Travel and Hospitality management (TTHM) Curriculum is something not to be missed.
The famous cultural event of IIM Sirmaur is Sierra, with students performing on stage, raving DJ nights, food stalls, etc. It’s just a festivity, in one word.
Q. How is the hostel and social life here? Any interesting rituals or traditions?
Sri Hari Haran: The hostel and social life at IIM Sirmaur are quite vibrant. Rooms are filled with laughter, people gossiping at each other, endless project nights, sleepless exam nights, and occasional visits to the nearby Amul shop inside the campus as a gang to chill.
Q. How being at this IIM shaped your career, personal growth?
Sri Hari Haran: Being at IIM Sirmaur has been a transformative journey for me. I stepped into this college as a creative mind with very little formal management education exposure, and now I feel I can confidently navigate both general management and tourism management realms.
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Abhay Anand is an experienced education journalist with over 15 years in print and digital media. Currently serving as Manager- Editorial at Shiksha.com, he specializes in higher education policy, student mobility,
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 months ago
There is no fixed cutoff for admission to BPW at IIM Sirmaur through IPMAT indore but general category students should try to score for ATS 55 roughly aligning with a raw score of around 175+.
After this admission depends on academic performance and performance in PI.
D
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 10 months ago
As per the IIM Sirmaur placement report 2025 for the batch of 2023-25, the overall average package received during the placement drive 2025 was INR 13.3 LPA.
Earlier, the average and median package offered during IIM Sirmaur MBA placements 2024 stood at INR 13.93 LPA and INR 12.49 LPA, respectively.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
Yes, IIM Sirmaur offers better summer placement to all its MBA students. The key summer placement highlights are presented below:
Particulars | MBA Summer Placement Statistics (2023-25 Batch) | MBA Summer Placement Statistics (2024-26 Batch) |
|---|---|---|
Average stipend | INR 71,000 | INR 54,950 |
Top 50% average stipend | INR 98,932 | INR 81,829 |
Companies visited | 150 | 202 |
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
The average package received by female students during IIM Sirmaur placements 2025 was INR 12.4 LPA. The Male and Female packages over the past three years is presented below:
Particulars | Average Package (2022) | Average Package (2023) | Average Package (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
MBA (Female) | INR 12.62 LPA | INR 13.46 LPA | INR 13.89 LPA |
MBA (Male) | INR 9.56 LPA | INR 13.86 LPA | INR 14.69 LPA |
MBATHM (Female) | INR 10.39 LPA | INR 11.65 LPA | INR 13.16 LPA |
MBATHM (Male) | INR 10.90 LPA | INR 13.87 LPA | INR 13.87 LPA |
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
Yes, IIM Sirmaur has released the placement report for the MBA batch of 2023-25. According to the report, the overall average package received during the placement drive 2025 was INR 13.3 LPA. Other than this, the average stipend received by the MBA batch of 2024-26 was INR 54,829. Top recruiters su
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
The average and median package offered during IIM Sirmaur MBA THM placements 2024 stood at INR 13.32 LPA and INR 12 LPA, respectively. Earlier, the key highlights of MBA THM placements over the past two years are presented below:
Particulars | MBA Tourism and Hospitality Management Placement Statistics (2022) | MBA Tourism and Hospitality Management Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|
the highest package | INR 22 LPA | INR 34 LPA |
Average package | INR 10.23 LPA | INR 11.47 LPA |
Median package | INR 9.90 LPA | INR 11 LPA |
Students participated | 29 | 50 |
Students placed | 26 | 45 |
Students opted out | 3 (2 students opted for higher studies and 1 student opted for Entrepreneurship) | 5 |
Total companies | 49 | 58 |
P
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
The average and median package received by MBA THM students during placements 2024 stood at INR 13.32 LPA and INR 12 LPA, respectively.
Earlier, the key highlights of IIM Sirmaur placements over the past two years for MBA THM programme are presented below:
Particulars | MBA Tourism and Hospitality Management Placement Statistics (2022) | MBA Tourism and Hospitality Management Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|
the highest package | INR 22 LPA | INR 34 LPA |
Average package | INR 10.23 LPA | INR 11.47 LPA |
Median package | INR 9.90 LPA | INR 11 LPA |
Students participated | 29 | 50 |
Students placed | 26 | 45 |
Students opted out | 3 (2 students opted for higher studies and 1 student opted for Entrepreneurship) | 5 |
Total companies | 49 | 58 |
N
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 10 months ago
The course-wise median package offered over the past three years during IIM Sirmaur placements is presented below:
Course | Median Package (2022) | Median Package (2023) | Median Package (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
MBA | INR 12.23 LPA | INR 13 LPA | INR 12.49 LPA |
MBA THM | INR 9.90 LPA | INR 11 LPA | INR 12 LPA |
Overall | INR 11.40 LPA | INR 12.49 LPA | INR 12.49 LPA |
D
Contributor-Level 9
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.