IIM-Calcutta hikes seats to start EWS quota

KOLKATA: Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C), one of the premier B-schools of the country, is set to introduce a 2% to 3% quota for its flagship two-year MBA programme from the 2019-2021 session for economically disadvantaged students.
The total number of seats will also be increased by 18 to a total of 480 from this year, said sources.
Ultimately, IIM-C aims to raise the EWS (economically backward section) quota to 10% by the 2021-2023 session, by which time the total number of seats will also be capped at 578.
The Union Cabinet, in January, approved a 10% reservation in jobs and educational institutions for the economically backward section in the general category. This would be applicable to all central institutes. IIM-C is among the first batch of premier B-schools to implement the EWS provision. Several prominent IIMs have postponed this quota to next year.
“After assessing our available facilities, we concluded that the institute is in a position to implement the EWS quota from this year. Hence, we went ahead,” said a senior IIM official. “Moreover, the government had been pushing for implementing the 10% increase under the quota within the next two years. The Centre has taken the decision in good faith, and it will be honoured.”
To increase student intake, IIM-C, in the next few years, will construct an adequate number of hostels, additional classrooms and build faculty offices in order to enhance the academic infrastructure. “The new hostel will accommodate at least 300 students. We will start the expansion within this year,” said the source, adding that faculty vacancies will also be filled.
To determine which students can avail themselves of the EWS quota, IIM-C will honour the formula drawn up by the Centre. “Anyone who has a gross family income of less than Rs 8 lakh, any candidate whose family does not own agricultural land of 5 acres and above, does not own an apartment of 1000sq ft and above, does not hold a residential plot of 100 square yards or above and does not own a plot of 200 square yards or above in areas other than notified municipalities can apply for consideration under the quota,” the source added.
The benefits of EWS will be immense, said a senior IIM-C faculty member. “The increase in intake means more aspirants will be able to study in a premier B-school. Also, the institute will have an opportunity to provide more resources of top talent to the recruiters,” he said.
Classes will begin from the second week of June. “The last time the institute had increased seats was way back in 2008. It had been done to implement an OBC reservation following a constitutional amendment,” said a teacher.