New IIMs, Baby IIMs – Are They Worth It?

When we think of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), names like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta immediately come to mind. These are the holy trinity of management education in India. But what about the newer IIMs, often referred to as Baby IIMs and New Generation IIMs? Are they worth the hype, the effort, and the CAT preparation stress?

Let’s break it down.

🧩 Who Are the Baby IIMs and New IIMs?

Baby IIMs are those IIMs that were established after 2010 and are still in their growth phase. These include:

IIM Jammu (2016)
IIM Sambalpur (2015)
IIM Sirmaur (2015)
IIM Bodh Gaya (2015)
IIM Nagpur (2015)
IIM Amritsar (2015)
IIM Visakhapatnam (2015)

New IIMs refer to the institutes established between 2008 and 2010, including:

IIM Raipur
IIM Trichy
IIM Kashipur
IIM Udaipur
IIM Ranchi
IIM Rohtak

All these IIMs offer Post Graduate Programs (PGP), which are now MBA degrees, and are mentored by older IIMs (most Baby IIMs started with mentorship from the top 6 IIMs).

🔍 What Makes Them Worth Considering?

1. IIM Brand Tag

The biggest pull factor is the brand “IIM”. Even if you graduate from a Baby IIM, the alumni network and recognition globally carry weight.

2. Placements Are Improving

While Baby IIMs might not yet match the old IIMs in average packages, many have seen consistent growth in placement stats. For example:

IIM	Average Package (2024)	Top Recruiters
IIM Trichy	₹20+ LPA	Deloitte, EY, ICICI Bank
IIM Udaipur	₹19.5 LPA	Accenture, Bain, Infosys
IIM Rohtak	₹18.7 LPA	KPMG, Cognizant, TCS
Baby IIMs Avg.	₹12–16 LPA	HDFC, SBI, Tech Mahindra

Note: Stats are approximate and updated as per the latest reports.

3. Smaller Batch Size = More Opportunities

Unlike the older IIMs where batch sizes can be over 500, most Baby IIMs have smaller batches (180–260 students), which means more focused attention, and better student-to-faculty ratio.

4. Mentorship from Top IIMs

Most Baby IIMs started under the guidance of older IIMs. For instance:

IIM Nagpur was mentored by IIM Ahmedabad.
IIM Visakhapatnam was mentored by IIM Bangalore. This means curriculum quality, pedagogy, and values are passed down.

5. Campus Infrastructure

New IIMs are investing heavily in infrastructure. Permanent campuses of IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Amritsar are either already operational or in final phases of construction.

🔄 Baby IIMs vs. Tier-1 Non-IIMs – What’s Better?

Aspect	Baby IIMs	Tier-1 Non-IIMs (e.g., MDI, IMT, NMIMS, SPJIMR)
Brand	IIM tag advantage	Recognized, but no IIM tag
Placements	₹12–16 LPA (avg)	₹15–25 LPA (avg at top ones)
Location	Smaller cities	Mostly metro cities
Alumni	Still growing	Established networks
Campus Life	Evolving	Rich culture and legacy

Verdict: If brand value, long-term career growth, and government institution preference matter to you — Baby IIMs are worth it. But if you’re looking for immediate ROI, better industry exposure, and networking — top private B-schools can be better bets.

💡 So… Are Baby IIMs Worth It?

Yes — but with realistic expectations.

If you're aiming to get into IIM ABC but land up in IIM Nagpur or IIM Sirmaur, don’t be disheartened. Many Baby IIM alumni are working at McKinsey, Amazon, Deloitte, and top startups. What matters most is how you utilize those 2 years, the internships you grab, and your overall profile building.

Also, consider the Common Admission Process (CAP) for New and Baby IIMs — this unified WAT-PI process allows you to apply to multiple IIMs through one interview cycle.

🎯 Final Thoughts

The MBA journey is what you make of it. Baby IIMs are not just backup options anymore. With the right mindset, skill-building, and networking, they can be stepping stones to stellar careers.

So if you get a call from a Baby IIM, take it seriously, prepare for CAP well, and walk into the opportunity with an open mind.

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Author

Anisha Mukhija

Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.