Top 10 Government MBA Colleges in India: Rankings, Fees, Admission Process

Top government MBA colleges in India include the IIMs and IITs. Get all the information related to admission, fees, process, ranking and placements of top government MBA colleges in India.
MBA is an expensive degree. The average fee of an MBA programme from a well-recognised institute is between INR 5 lakh to INR 25 lakh. Most of the Private MBA colleges fall in the high fee category as the course curriculum includes a latest and world class resources. In comparison, the MBA programme from a government college doesn’t hurt the pocket so much. Since the government MBA colleges are financially aided by the Government of India, the fee is comparatively low. But that definitely doesn’t mean that government MBA colleges are below par with private MBA colleges. In fact, some of the top MBA colleges in India are government institutions and they are on par with private MBA colleges in terms of infrastructure, pedagogy, syllabus, faculty and placements. Their fee range is also within affordable range.
The top government MBA colleges in India include the IIMs but their fee is high (that is because the government neither has no direct interference in IIMs and nor does it aid them financially). Other top ranked government MBA colleges in India include Department of Management Studies of IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay and IIT Madras. Read below to know the top government MBA colleges in India and related details.
- Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Top Government MBA Colleges
- Top Government MBA Colleges in India
- Top Government MBA Colleges in India: Admission Process and Fees
- MBA Entrance Exams 2025
- FAQs on Top MBA Government Colleges in India
Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Top Government MBA Colleges
Having a Masters of Business Administration or MBA degree is necessary in today's competitive world. This post-graduate management programme is helpful in developing organizational skills, business acumen and leadership qualities which are necessary to run a business enterprise or perform managerial responsibilities in all domains and industries. Given below are the eligibility criteria for MBA:
- For pursuing an MBA degree course, applicants must have a three-year Bachelor's degree in any discipline or equivalent qualification with a minimum 50 per cent aggregate marks
- Applicants belonging to reserved categories can apply for MBA with a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 45 per cent aggregate marks
- Candidates who have completed professional courses such as CA, CS, CMA, etc. are also eligible to pursue MBA
- Working professionals with two or more years of experience from any field are also eligible to pursue MBA
Top Government MBA Colleges in India
Although the IIMs are autonomous institutions, they fall under the category of government institutions as they are regulated and monitored by a panel appointed by the Ministry of Education. Check below, the top 10 government MBA colleges in India as per National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2024:
Top Government MBA Colleges |
NIRF Rankings 2024 |
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1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
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6 |
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7 |
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8 |
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10 |
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12 |
Also Read: Top 30 Government Colleges in India
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To secure admission at DMS IIT Delhi for the MBA programme, ensure to meet the eligibility criteria of having a graduation degree with at least 60% aggregate. The primary selection criterion is based on the CAT exam. After taking the CAT exam, candidates should also undergo an interview round as part of the admission procedure. Additionally, if students are interested in the Executive MBA programme, similar eligibility criteria will apply, along with the CAT exam as the selection parameter. The tuition fee for the MBA programme is INR 11.2 lakh.
Candidates seeking admission to the MBA course need to visit the official website of the Common Admission Test (CAT) to apply online. Before applying, the aspirants must check the course-specific eligibility criteria. Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT score and several stages of selection. Further, the final selection is done on the basis of CAT score, WAT-PI, academic performance, work experience, and gender diversity. Find below the steps involved in the IIM Calcutta MBA admission process:
- CAT registration
- Shortlisting candidates based on CAT score and invitation emails
- Shortlisted candidates replying for admission
- Selection rounds - WAT + PI
- Final admission list
- Fee payment for admission confirmation
Top Government MBA Colleges in India: Admission Process and Fees
MBA admission includes Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). Given below is the table indicating top government colleges in India based on NIRF Rankings 2024 and their selection criteria as well as course fee:
Top MBA College |
Selection Criteria and Cut Offs |
MBA Course Fee |
---|---|---|
CAT WAT and PI 99 percentile |
INR 25.00 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 99 percentile |
INR 24.50 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 99 percentile |
INR 20.50 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 99 percentile |
INR 27.00 lakh |
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CAT GD, WAT and PI 90 percentile |
INR 9.60 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 98-99 percentile |
INR 20.70 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 98-99 percentile |
INR 8.50 lakh |
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CAT WAT and PI 98-99 percentile |
INR 21.17 lakh |
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CAT GD, WAT and PI 90 percentile |
INR 8.67 lakh |
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CAT GD, WAT and PI 95 percentile |
INR 18.00 akh |
Read More:
- MBA from IITs: Courses, Admission, Fees, Cut Offs
- Top Recruiters for MBA in India
- List of IIMs: Courses and Rankings
- IIM MBA fees: Check fee structure of 20 IIMs
- IIM Admission Criteria and Selection Process
- IIM Placements: Average Salary, Top Recruiters and Other Details
MBA Entrance Exams 2025
MBA admission in India is largely based on entrance exam scores. 90 per cent of the management institutions in India accept the candidature of a student on the basis of a national-level, state-level or institute-level entrance exam score. Below mentioned are some popular national-level MBA entrance exams:
Common Admission Test (CAT)
The Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by IIMs is the most popular MBA entrance exam in India. CAT score is valid for admission to over 1,300 MBA colleges in India. About 3. 2lakh students apply for CAT every year.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting CAT score
Admission to EPGP course is based on GRE/ GMAT/ IIMB Test scores. Candidates are shortlisted for the WAT and PI round on the basis of their performance in the entrance exam, scholastic achievement and relevant work experience. An intensive one-year residential programme leading to an MBA, admission to this course is provided to students who qualify all the selection rounds. More highlights regarding IIM Bangalore E-MBA admission are as follows:
Particulars | Admission Highlights (2023) |
---|---|
Course duration | 1-year |
Seat intake* | 75 |
Total fee* | INR 23 lakh |
Eligibility criteria | - A graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA (45% aggregate or equivalent for SC/ ST/ PwD). - Those who have not undergone any UG degree but completed their CA/ ICWA/ CS after Class 12 are also eligible. The requirement of minimum percentage marks /CGPA remains the same as mentioned above. - Minimum 5 years (and preferably less than 12 years) of work experience as of March 31 of the year of admission after completion of graduation - A valid GMAT or GRE score |
Selection criteria | Academic record, GMAT/GRE scores, quality of work experience, PI and WAT |
The application process for IIM Lucknow PGP courses takes place via CAT. Therefore, candidates need to visit the official website of CAT to register themselves. For other courses, however, the application process takes place via the official website of IIM Lucknow. After the successful submission of the application form, students need to appear for the Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT-PI) rounds. Shortlisting for the WAT-PI process is based on CAT score, previous academic performance, and other criteria. Read more about IIM Lucknow Admission Process.
Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT)
The Common Management Admission Test or CMAT is an AICTE approved entrance exam conducted by the NTA. The CMAT score is accepted by over 1,300 B-schools across India including ISM Dhanbad, SIMSREE Mumbai, NIT Durgapur, GLIM Chennai, GIM Goa, Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow and so on.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting CMAT score
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
The Graduate Management Aptitude Test or GMAT is a global MBA entrance exam conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). In India, many top B-Schools accept GMAT score for admission, prominent ones being, XLRI Jamshedpur and ISB Hyderabad.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting GMAT score
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
Conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), MAT is another popular MBA entrance exam which is conducted multiple times a year. The MAT score is accepted by over 800 MBA colleges in India. Some of the MAT accepting colleges include Alliance School of Business Bangalore, Amity University Noida, IBMR Bangalore, EMPI New Delhi, NILM Delhi, SCMS Cochin, IRM Jaipur and others.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting MAT score
AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA)
Conducted by the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), ATMA is a national entrance exam conducted four times a year. Some of the best B-Schools that accept ATMA scores are MSM Meerut, Institute of Business Management & Research (IBMR IPS) and International School of Business & Media, Pune.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting ATMA score
Xavier Admission Test (XAT)
The Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur for admission into its PGDM programmes. Apart from XLRI, XAT score is valid for admission to about 800 MBA colleges in India. Some of the colleges that accept XAT score for admission include XIM Bhubaneswar, GIM Goa, XISS, BITS-Pilani, Christ University, FORE Institute of Management, etc.
Also Read: Colleges Accepting XAT score
Planning to study MBA in India? Find useful insights & emerging trends on student preferences for MBA colleges, locations and more. |
FAQs on Top MBA Government Colleges in India
Q: Which are some of the top Government MBA colleges?
A: According to the NIRF rankings 2024, some of the top Government MBA colleges are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore and IIM Lucknow and Department of Management Studies of IITs. These colleges are top ranked for pedagogy, infrastructure, placements and ROI.
Q: What is the admission process of Government MBA colleges?
A: MBA aspirants seeking admission in a Government MBA college should first fill up the application form and appear in at least one MBA entrance exam which is accepted by the institute. If shortlisted, they will be called for the final round of the admission process, which will be either Group Discussion (GD) or Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) or Counselling.
Q: Which are the MBA entrance exams accepted by the Government MBA colleges?
A: The top MBA entrance exam scores accepted by the Government MBA colleges include CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT and ATMA among others. Maximum top government colleges for MBA accept CAT or CMAT score. Thus, if you're planning to pursue MBA from a government institution you must appear for CAT and CMAT exams.
Q: Is counselling the only way of conducting the final admission at the Government MBA colleges?
A: The final admission process is done in two methods, GD/WAT, PI and counselling. While the participating institutes of the state-level MBA entrance exams resort for a centralised counselling process, other institutes conduct Group Discussion or Writing Ability Test (essay writing) and Personal Interview rounds for the shortlisted candidates.
Q: What is the fee range for studying MBA at Government colleges?
A: The fee range of Government MBA colleges is quite varied. While the MBA course fee of FMS Delhi is as low as INR 40,000 (approximate). However, the fee of IIMs is between INR 13 lakh to Rs 27 lakh.
Q: Do Government MBA colleges offer placement support to the students?
A: Yes, Government MBA colleges conduct the placement process at the end of the second year of the two-year full-time programme. Top companies across industry sectors participate in the placement process to recruit MBA graduates for multiple functions across India and abroad.
Q: Which of the Government MBA colleges offer the highest salary?
A: Some of the Government B-schools which register high salary figures at the placement processes are the old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIN Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, etc.
Q: Shall I join a Tier-2 Government MBA college or a top private B-School?
A: Choosing the right B-School is crucial and multiple parameters are weighed before zeroing down on a particular institute. Some of the key factors of choosing the right B-School include the institute’s overall repute, fees, faculty, pedagogy, etc. If an aspirant finds these factors are matching better in a top private B-School as compared to a mid-tier Government MBA college, then s/he should opt for the top private B-School instead of the latter.
Q: What are the advantages of studying in a Government MBA college?
A: Some of the advantages of studying in a Government MBA colleges include affordable fee structure, recognition, placements, to name a few. Moreover, pursuing MBA also gives a chance to go for a PhD in a specialisation of their choice.
Q: Is the course curriculum same in the Government MBA colleges and the private MBA colleges?
A: The MBA curriculum is more or less the same in Government as well as private MBA colleges. What matters most in this regard is how often the curriculum is updated. In this regard, private colleges are a notch higher in terms of updating and upgrading the MBA curriculum.
Q: Is the pedagogy of the Government MBA colleges same as that of the private MBA colleges?
A: The pedagogy of the MBA courses is more or less the same in Government and private MBA colleges. However, it may be found that some of the top Government MBA colleges and private MBA colleges are ahead in terms of offering new-age teaching-learning methodologies as compared to Tier-2 or Tier-3 Government MBA colleges.

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3 years ago
S
4 years ago
The answer to this question of whether an average student can get into IIM can be both yes and no depending on the definition of an average student.
Based on the above factors, it can be considered that while getting into top Management institutes, such as IIM is extremely tough, the past performance, CAT performance, student category and a lot of factors can be the reasons for a student to receive that final call.