Understanding what happens in the SPJIMR interview room
Mumbai, Maharashtra
SPJIMR conducts value-based group interview interviews. Conversational group format probing ethics, empathy, and social sensitivity Interviews scheduled: Group Interview & PI: Feb 12-28, 2026 (Mumbai only)
Prepare with AI mock interviews that simulate SPJIMR's unique value-based group interview approach.
Group Interview & PI: Feb 12-28, 2026 (Mumbai only)
• Avg work experience: 28 months
• Class size: 240 students
• Female students: 32%
Founded in 1981 by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Sahu Shreyans Prasad Jain. This heritage shapes everything about the interview process.
SPJIMR's DNA is rooted in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's ethos of "education with values." This explains everything about the interview — they're not just testing your intellect, they're probing your character, empathy, and social sensitivity. The DoCC program (where every student spends weeks in rural India) isn't an add-on — it's central to their identity. Expect questions that reveal who you are as a person, not just what you've achieved.
SPJIMR panelists often reference alumni achievements to test awareness. Know these names and what they're known for.
CEO, Bacardi (Global)
Leading the world's largest privately-held spirits company. Questions about FMCG, global leadership, or brand management might reference his journey from SPJIMR to global CEO.
President AMEA, Mondelez International
Leads Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa for brands like Oreo and Cadbury. Relevant for discussions on FMCG, emerging markets, and global brand management.
Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra
From SPJIMR Class of 1986 to leading one of India's largest automotive and farm equipment businesses. Relevant for discussions on Indian manufacturing and corporate leadership.
President, NASSCOM
Leads India's technology industry body. Relevant for discussions on IT industry, digital transformation, and women in leadership.
President, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors
Rose through Tata Motors to lead the commercial vehicles business. Relevant for discussions on manufacturing, operations, and Indian automotive sector.
Conversational group format probing ethics, empathy, and social sensitivity
SPJIMR doesn't conduct traditional stress interviews. Instead, they use a unique two-round group interview format (GI-1 and GI-2) with 4-6 candidates per group. GI-1 focuses on academics and professional background. GI-2 shifts entirely to personality, values, and ethics — it feels more like a conversation than an interview. Panelists engage in light humor, ask unexpected questions, and genuinely try to understand you as a person.
SPJIMR's mission is "business with a human face." The mandatory DoCC program sends every student to rural India for weeks. They need students who have empathy, self-awareness, and genuine social sensitivity — not just academic brilliance. The group format also reveals how you interact with peers, whether you're collaborative or competitive, and how you handle disagreement respectfully.
"A candidate was asked: "Your mom visited your home one day. She saw your son playing with your maid's son and comes to you and says it's not good to allow your kids to play with your maid's son. How will you react?" The panelists weren't looking for a politically correct answer — they wanted to see the candidate's genuine thought process, how they balance family relationships with personal values, and whether they could articulate their reasoning without being preachy."
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Try a free SPJIMR mock interviewDon't just memorize questions. Understand the categories, why they ask them, and how to prepare.
"Describe an ethical dilemma you've encountered and your response." Or: "A company sent an employee to an executive program. The faculty confirms his assignment was plagiarized. Should she report it? He's the sole breadwinner of his family."
SPJIMR believes values cannot be taught in a classroom — students must arrive with a foundation. These scenarios test your moral reasoning, not your knowledge of ethics. They want to see how you think through competing priorities, not whether you give the "right" answer.
"Describe an ethical dilemma you've encountered at work. How did you handle it?"
They want your actual story, not a hypothetical — authenticity matters
Practice this question"Is drinking in a family that disapproves of drinking unethical? Explain your reasoning."
Tests nuanced thinking about ethics in personal vs. social contexts
"You discover your colleague is inflating expense reports. What do you do?"
Probes how you balance loyalty, integrity, and consequences
"Quote three instances from recent news that had ethical issues related to your field."
Tests if you think about ethics in real-world business contexts
"What do you like and dislike about your parents?" Or: "How is empathy applicable in our day-to-day lives? Give examples."
SPJIMR sends every student to live in rural India through DoCC. They need students who can genuinely connect with people from vastly different backgrounds. These questions reveal your self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and capacity for empathy — qualities that can't be faked.
"How is empathy applicable in our day-to-day lives? Give examples."
Want real examples, not definitions — share personal stories
Practice this question"What do you like and dislike about your parents?"
Tests self-awareness and ability to speak honestly about relationships
"What kind of person would you like to live with? Why?"
Reveals your values and self-awareness about your own traits
"If your friend works in a high-pressure environment with no room for mistakes, what would you tell them?"
Tests emotional intelligence and supportiveness
"What do you think about India's rural-urban divide?" Or: "If you were sent to a village for a month with no connectivity, how would you spend your time?"
DoCC isn't optional at SPJIMR — every student must complete it. These questions assess whether you'll thrive in rural immersion or struggle with it. They want students who see it as an opportunity for growth, not a hurdle to overcome.
"If complete work-from-home were put into practice, what's your take on it from a social perspective?"
Tests ability to see beyond personal convenience to broader societal impact
Practice this question"What would you do if asked to spend a month in a village with no phone or internet?"
Directly relates to DoCC — show openness, not reluctance
""If you educate a woman, you educate a nation." Your viewpoint."
WAT topic that tests depth of thought on social issues
"In a country like India, do you think jury trials would work? Why or why not?"
Tests understanding of India's social complexity
"Why MBA in Operations when you already have hardcore operations experience?" Or: "Walk us through your career decisions so far."
GI-1 focuses heavily on professional background and specialization choice. They want to understand your career logic, whether you've thought through your choices, and whether your chosen specialization makes sense for your trajectory.
"Already you have knowledge of hardcore operations. Then why MBA?"
Tests whether you've genuinely thought through MBA value-add
Practice this question"Why SPJIMR specifically? What do you know about our programs?"
Know DoCC, Abhyudaya, and SPJIMR's values-based approach
"Where do you see yourself in 5 years after this MBA?"
Want specificity and logical connection to your background
"What would you do if you don't get into any B-school this year?"
Tests maturity, Plan B, and whether MBA is an obsession or a choice
After a written psychometric test, panelists may ask: "You marked this scenario as 'very likely.' Explain why." Or challenge: "But wouldn't the opposite response also make sense?"
SPJIMR uses psychometric tests not for "right" answers but to understand your self-perception. In GI-2, they may probe your responses — sometimes playing devil's advocate to see if you'll stick to your stance or fold under pressure.
"You marked that you "often" take initiative. Give me an example where you didn't."
They test self-awareness by probing the edges of your claims
Practice this question"Your justification says you value team harmony. But what if the team is wrong?"
Pushback to see if you've thought through nuances
"Why did you mark this as "seldom" instead of "never"?"
Precision in self-assessment matters
Context-specific topics that SPJIMR panelists often reference. Know these well.
DoCC is SPJIMR's signature program — a mandatory 5-week rural immersion with NGOs across India. Every student participates. Understanding DoCC shows you've researched SPJIMR beyond rankings.
Another signature initiative where SPJIMR students mentor underprivileged school children. Shows SPJIMR's commitment to social impact beyond just the curriculum.
SPJIMR is located in Andheri, Mumbai — India's commercial capital. The city itself is part of the learning experience.
What to expect at each stage.
Topics are often socially-relevant rather than abstract. You write 400-500 words on topics like "Should India have jury trials?" or "Impact of work-from-home on society." The WAT may become a discussion point in your interview.
Clarity of thought, awareness of social context, balanced reasoning with a clear stance, and ability to see multiple perspectives before taking a position.
Take a stance, but show you've considered other perspectives. Include examples from Indian context. Your WAT may be referenced in GI — remember what you wrote.
Two sets of 10 questions each about behavior, ethics, and values. You rate each on a scale (rarely to very likely) and must justify 3 responses from each set in 4-5 lines. These justifications may be probed in GI-2.
Self-awareness, consistency, ability to articulate why you behave the way you do.
Answer honestly — don't try to "look good." If you mark something inconsistently, panelists will catch it. Your justifications should be genuine, not what you think they want to hear.
Panel of 2-3 faculty with 4-6 candidates. Focuses on academic background, work experience, why MBA, and specialization fit. Each candidate gets individual questions. Some situation-based questions with 1-minute preparation.
Communication clarity, logical career trajectory, genuine motivation for MBA, specialization knowledge, and how you interact with other candidates.
This is the elimination round. Be concise and clear. Don't dominate — they're watching how you share space with others. If you don't know something, say so honestly.
Smaller group, more conversational. Focus shifts entirely to personality, values, and ethics. Panelists may reference your psychometric responses. Questions can go anywhere — from family relationships to hypothetical ethical dilemmas. Light humor is common.
Character, values, empathy, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and genuine fit with SPJIMR's culture.
This isn't a formal interview — it's a conversation. Be yourself. Share stories, not scripted answers. If panelists push back, engage thoughtfully rather than folding immediately.
SPJIMR's tagline is "Business with a Human Face." Founded by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the institute believes management education must develop character alongside competence. Ethics courses and social initiatives are core, not elective.
Interview Implication: Panelists probe values through scenarios and personal questions. They're not looking for "correct" answers but genuine reflection. Show you've thought about who you are, not just what you want to achieve.
DoCC (rural immersion), Abhyudaya (mentoring underprivileged children), and Ehsaas (platform for social sector) are mandatory. SPJIMR produces managers who understand India's complexity.
Interview Implication: Expect questions about social issues, rural India, and your capacity for empathy. If you see DoCC as a "requirement to complete," you may not be the right fit.
The group interview format reflects SPJIMR's culture. They want students who lift others up, not those who shine by dimming others. Peer learning is emphasized over individual achievement.
Interview Implication: In GI, how you interact with other candidates matters as much as your individual answers. Don't interrupt, don't dominate, and acknowledge good points made by others.
Hard moments will happen. Here's how to handle them.
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Our AI simulates the value-based group interview style — including interruptions, challenges, and the pressure of thinking on your feet.