GD Topic - Quick Commerce: A Step Toward Progress or a Wasteful Luxury?

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Senior Executive - Editorial

Updated on Sep 24, 2025 16:39 IST

GD or Group Discussion is a major part of the MBA Admission Process. Candidates preparing for the Group Discussion Round can check the below article for a debate over Quick Commerce being a step towards progress or a wasteful luxury in today's fast-paced world.

MBA aspirants aiming for top B-schools must take entrance exams like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, and MAH MBA CET. A candidate's performance in the GD and Personal Interview (PI) rounds is essential to secure admission at prestigious MBA institutions. Check out this page to discuss quick commerce as a GD topic.

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Table of content

What is Quick Commerce?
Rise of Quick Commerce in India
How Quick Commerce Works?
Quick Commerce in India: The Bright Side
Quick Commerce in India: The Flip Side
Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

What is Quick Commerce?

Quick commerce, or Q-commerce, is a segment of the e-commerce industry that focuses on delivering goods, primarily groceries and daily essentials, within a very short time frame, typically 10 to 30 minutes. Quick commerce has emerged as a game-changer in India’s retail world. It is because of the advancement in technology, urbanization, and the post-pandemic changes in preferences for contactless services.

In 2024, the q-commerce industry is valued at approximately $3.5 billion to $4 billion. It is projected to grow by 25-30% over the next five years. Quick commerce is rapidly changing consumer habits. This has given rise to a debate over whether it is an urban necessity or a wasteful luxury.

Before diving into this GD topic, let us first learn about Quick Commerce in India.

Q: In how many months can I prepare for XAT?

Ideally, XAT preparation takes six to nine months, but if candidates have prepared for CAT too, XAT preparation can be done in lesser time as one will have to only work on Decision Making and General Knowledge topics. Those who are weak in English Comprehension must start reading practice early on. The ideal time to start XAT preparation is May, so you can cover the whole syllabus by October and dedicate two months to mock test practice.

If you start studying for XAT late, by July or so, make sure you complete the syllabus by October only. Remember that XAT syllabus is tough, so you’ll need to study at least 6-8 hours daily from start until the end. Give ample time to yourself to complete the XAT syllabus.

Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?

Yes, CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of the candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.

Q: Is CAT exam tough for an average student?

CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems.

However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

Rise of Quick Commerce in India

Quick commerce has grown to become a necessity for people. Companies like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto have made their name in this domain. They aim to deliver groceries and essentials within 10–30 minutes. To provide better services, they are using advanced technology and logistics.

Blinkit has a Gross Order Value (GOV) of around ₹12,496 crore in FY 2024. It has established its position in the industry. Blinkit is currently valued at $13 billion, which is worth more than Zomato's main food delivery business.

Swiggy Instamart has a GOV of ₹8,100 crore. It capitalizes on Swiggy’s extensive delivery network to ensure fast service.

Zepto is the youngest player of the quick commerce insdustry. It has achieved remarkable sales of approximately ₹5,000 crore in 2024. The business focuses on urban millennials and Gen Z consumers.

This growth in sales of the major business in quick commerce shows a rise in India's online grocery market. The quick commerce market in India is valued at $11 billion, which is half of the Indian market. This reflects the ability of the q-commerce market to grow further.

How Quick Commerce Works?

Quick commerce operates on a micro-warehouse model, known as dark stores. These stores are small fulfillment centers. Companies locate their dark stores in the densely populated cities. They use the dark stores to stock their high-demand items, which helps them reduce delivery time.

Q-commerce platforms use advanced algorithms to optimize inventory and delivery routes. Additionally, with real-time data on consumer behavior, companies ensure their dark stores are filled with the right products. It helps them minimize the risk of delay or shortage.

Quick Commerce in India: The Bright Side

Quick commerce has completely changed the way urban consumers access daily essentials. With quick commerce, consumers get convenience as well as efficiency. It also helps in creating jobs and driving technological advancements. Some of the benefits of quick commerce in India are as follows:

With quick commerce, purchasing goods has become a convenience for urban people. Receiving essentials like milk, bread, or medicines in under 30 minutes is not just a luxury but a lifesaver for working people, students, and busy parents.
Companies like Swiggy Instamart, and Blinkit are creating thousands of jobs. This is supporting India’s growing economy. The job roles at these companies provide income opportunities for people, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
Quick commerce helps in advancements in logistics, AI-driven inventory management, and predictive analytics. These technologies also benefit the broader e-commerce ecosystem.
Quick commerce has also proven invaluable in emergencies. Delivery of medical supplies or groceries during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic shows that it is a critical urban utility.

Quick Commerce in India: The Flip Side

Quick commerce also brings significant challenges with its operational model. Some of the drawbacks of quick commerce in India are as follows:

Although many companies provide their delivery agents with e-bikes, most use fossil fuel-powered vehicles. This contributes to pollution and carbon emissions.
Quick commerce encourages impulsive purchasing, creating instant gratification. This results in overconsumption of goods that strains the resources.
The delivery personnel experience pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines. This often results in stressful working conditions.
A high operational cost is used for running dark stores, maintaining inventory turnover, and ensuring delivery speed.

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA GD/PI

Candidates preparing for the Group Discussion Rounds for admission in MBA at B-schools can check out the below GD topics:

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About the Author

Nupur Jain

Senior Executive - Editorial

Nupur is an experienced content writer with a specialized focus on Commerce students. Over the past three years, she has crafted engaging and insightful materials to help learners excel in their studies. Outside of Read Full Bio