IIM Admission 2020: Srishti Banzal Recalls WAT-PI Experience of IIM Calcutta

Srishti Banzal who scored 99.86%ile in CAT 2019 is all set to join IIM Calcutta after successfully converting the admission call. Read her IIM Calcutta WAT-PI experience.

Srishti Banzal, BE in Computer Science along with MSc in Economics (integrated programme) from BITs Pilani after clearing CAT 2019, had received calls of IIM A,B,C,L. She cleared the admission call of IIM Calcutta with ease and confidence. Read on to know her experience as she recalls IIM Calcutta WAT-PI experience.

Also read: CAT 2019 Topper Interview: 99.86%iler Srishti Banzal Shares Her Key To Success

IIM Calcutta: WAT- PI Experience

Date: February 20, 2020

Place of Interview: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

WAT topic: Analyse the reasons why youth no longer wish to join the public sector and suggest a few measures to increase their participation in the same.

Summary of what I wrote

I did an analysis of the main arguments why the youth may not wish to join the government; some points were inadequate remuneration, relatively slow promotion, very few instances of performance-linked pay and career growth, image issues among the youth regarding the bureaucratic red tape and inefficient processes etc. Then suggested some remedies like introducing performance-linked bonuses and promotions, better positions for technocrats and non-IAS officers etc.

Personal Interview Experience

The panel consisted of three persons- a woman and two men

Q: Introduce yourself

A: I told them that I am a final year student, about my branch, my on-going 6 month long internship etc.

Q: What are you actually working on in the 6-month long internship?

A: I told them about my project involving Reinforcement Learning.

Q: Can you explain Reinforcement Learning to me as if you are explaining it to your grandmother?

A: Tried to make the explanation as easy as possible to understand, without including too many technical terms. (Did not really succeed at making it easy, was let off the hook though)

Q: What do you think is the practical application of your project?

A: Answered it from a marketing Point of View and how it would benefit the firm. (Mentioned recommendations here)

Q: What are recommender systems? Can you give me an example of a popular recommendation system you have used?

A: Told them about recommendation systems, talked about content-based and collaborative recommendation systems. As an example, I talked about Spotify.

Q: Do you know about Indifference curves? Draw them. Did as asked.

A: Asked me about properties of Indifference Curves, what I mean by “marginal” rate of substitution and asked basic questions on partial derivatives and equilibrium conditions

Q: What do you know about the Vodafone-idea case?

A: Told them about the merger and talked about the AGR controversy going on at that time.

Q: Do you think it is okay for companies to keep looting the government of their rightful revenue? Should the government relent in this case and give the telecom operators some breathing space?

A: Argued in favour of giving the telecom service providers some breathing space, else, the industry may collapse into a duopoly and it will not be in the interests of the consumers etc.

Q: What is a duopoly? Why it is bad from a consumer’s POV?

A: The answer included the definition and market dynamics; bargaining power of the consumers and market power of the firms; cartelization etc.

Q: What kind of books do you like to read? What do you enjoy about them in particular?

Answered

Status of the WAT-PI rounds: Converted

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