24 Writing Ability Test topics for the CAT 2026 cycle, with sample outlines, both sides of each issue, and statistics that carry their source and date. Last checked 29 September 2026.
Aristotle
Rhetoric (4th Century BC)
Chip & Dan Heath
Made to Stick (2007)
Steven Pinker
The Sense of Style (2014)
George Orwell
Politics and the English Language (1946)
Daniel Kahneman
Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011)
Each of these is tied to an event or policy that was live in September 2026. The institute sets the actual essay topic on the day, so use these for practice.
Introduction: Open with the Code on Social Security, which came into force on 21 November 2025 and put gig and platform workers into Indian law for the first time. State that the answer depends on how well the rules are enforced, not on a one-word verdict.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Call for portable benefits and platform accountability while preserving flexibility.
IIM panelists value nuanced takes. Acknowledge both sides, then propose a solution.
Introduction: Reference the strategic sale of the government's and LIC's 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank, where revised bids from Fairfax and Emirates NBD were under evaluation in September 2026. State your position upfront.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Advocate for selective privatization while strengthening regulation.
Know the present state of public sector banks (gross NPA ratio 1.93% in March 2026), the 2019 mergers, and the IDBI Bank sale. Do not quote the older Rs 7 lakh crore NPA figures.
Introduction: Start with Apple's shift of iPhone production to India as the hook, and mention that a US-India trade deal was announced in February 2026 but not yet signed by July. State qualified optimism.
Body Points:
Conclusion: India can capture significant share, but not fully replace China. Focus on specific sectors.
Show you understand both the opportunity and execution challenges. Mention specific sectors like electronics, pharma, or textiles.
Introduction: Reference the 30% tax on crypto gains and the fact that India still had no dedicated crypto law in mid-2026. Position: regulate, don't ban.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Advocate for innovation-friendly regulation over prohibition.
Know the difference between crypto, blockchain, DeFi, and CBDC. Show you understand the technology.
Introduction: Reference the US Supreme Court's ruling of 20 February 2026 against IEEPA tariffs and the tariff laws the US turned to afterwards, and set it against the WTO's finding that goods trade is still growing. State: globalizing differently, not deglobalizing.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Hyper-globalization is over. Managed, regionalized globalization is emerging.
Show nuance: hyper-globalization is ending, not all globalization. Use dated WTO figures rather than older numbers.
Introduction: Open with the repeal of MGNREGA on 1 July 2026 and its replacement by VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin). State that funding and wage payment will decide the outcome.
Body Points:
Conclusion: A larger promise helps only if funding and payment systems keep up.
Use the new scheme name and the 2026-27 Budget figure. Do not quote MGNREGA numbers from before July 2026 as current.
Introduction: Reference Uttarakhand, where the UCC came into force on 27 January 2025, and the UCC Bills passed in Gujarat (March 2026) and Assam (27 May 2026). State that implementation matters more than principle.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Support UCC in principle but advocate for a consultative process.
This is politically sensitive. Focus on gender equality and process, not religious identity.
Introduction: Open with a specific example, such as deepfakes during elections, and mention that India's IT Rules were amended in February 2026 to cover synthetic media. State: a tool, not a villain.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Social media is a tool. Focus on building media literacy and platform regulation.
Use specific examples from India (WhatsApp University, COVID misinformation) to ground your argument.
Introduction: Reference Census 2027, which will record caste for every resident during its February 2027 population enumeration, and the pending demand for a creamy layer among SC and ST candidates. State: still needed, but needs reform.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Don't abolish, but evolve the policy with better data and clear review points.
This is a sensitive topic. Lead with empathy and data, not ideology. Know the 50% cap from the Indra Sawhney case and the Census 2027 caste enumeration.
Introduction: Reference the return-to-office push and the May 2026 calls for work from home to save fuel after oil prices rose. State: hybrid is the lasting change.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Pure WFH won't dominate, but work will not return fully to the pre-pandemic model. Hybrid is the likely default.
Show you're following the RTO vs WFH debate. Mention specific company examples.
Introduction: Open with the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on 30 April 2025 to include caste enumeration in Census 2027, whose population enumeration phase is scheduled for February 2027. State that the data helps only if it is used with care.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Count, but decide separately how the numbers will be used. Keep data collection and policy choices apart.
Use the PIB timeline as your anchor. Keep to data, policy design and safeguards, and avoid naming parties.
Introduction: Reference the fall in headcount at India's top five IT services firms in FY 2025-26 and the World Economic Forum's estimate for 2030. State: displacement is real, but adaptation is possible.
Body Points:
Conclusion: AI will transform work more than it destroys it. Focus on transition support.
Show awareness of India's IT sector vulnerability and the need for reskilling programs.
Introduction: Open with the IT Rules amendment notified on 10 February 2026 and in force from 20 February 2026. State: labelling is necessary but not sufficient.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Labelling is a start. Pair it with fast takedown, platform accountability and public awareness.
Show that you know India, and not only the EU, now has labelling rules. Cite the February 2026 amendment and say what it leaves open.
Introduction: Reference UPI's record 24.51 billion transactions in August 2026 alongside the rural-urban gap in connections. State: rapid progress with remaining gaps.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Digital inclusion is improving but needs parallel non-digital channels during the transition.
Balance the narrative — India's digital progress is real, but gaps exist. Propose hybrid solutions.
Introduction: Reference the EU AI Act, whose high-risk rules were pushed to December 2027 in June 2026, and India's AI Governance Guidelines released at the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026. State: risk-based regulation, not blanket rules.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Support tiered regulation based on risk level, with international coordination.
Know India's AI Governance Guidelines and the EU AI Act timeline change. This is a hot topic in 2026.
Introduction: Reference the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is with a Joint Parliamentary Committee whose deadline was extended in July 2026 to the end of the Winter Session. State: appealing in theory, complex in practice.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Worth exploring with careful consultation, but constitutional amendments need careful consideration.
Know the Kovind Committee recommendations and where the Joint Parliamentary Committee stands. This shows current affairs depth.
Introduction: Reference India hosting the BRICS summit on 12-13 September 2026 and the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi in May 2026, alongside the US Senate bill on tariffs for buyers of Russian oil. State: autonomy is possible but requires constant balancing.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Strategic autonomy is more aspiration than fixed state. Requires continuous calibration.
Show nuance. India's balancing act is impressive but faces real constraints. Know specific examples.
Introduction: Reference Gaganyaan's first uncrewed flight, planned for 2026, and the 2026-27 Budget numbers for space and rural employment. State: false dichotomy.
Body Points:
Conclusion: India can and should do both. The budget isn't the constraint.
Always compare the space budget to other spending. MGNREGA has been replaced by VB-G RAM G, so use the current scheme name.
Introduction: Reference India's 2035 climate plan (NDC) submitted in April 2026 alongside its 2070 net-zero pledge. State: false dichotomy, green growth is possible.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Demand climate justice (finance, tech transfer) while pursuing sustainable development.
Know India's NDCs, including the 2035 update, and the climate finance debate. Use per capita emissions data, not total emissions.
Introduction: Reference EV penetration rising to 8.26% of vehicle sales in FY 2025-26. State: ready for two-wheelers, not yet for cars.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Segment-by-segment transition is realistic. Full EV adoption needs a 10+ year horizon.
Differentiate between two-wheelers (ready) and cars (not ready). Know PM E-DRIVE scheme basics.
Introduction: Reference Article 19(2), which already provides restrictions. State: limits yes, but narrowly defined.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Support narrowly tailored restrictions with strong judicial oversight.
Know Article 19(1)(a) and 19(2). The Supreme Court put Section 124A of the IPC in abeyance in 2022, and its replacement, Section 152 of the BNS, is under challenge there (heard on 1 August 2026).
Introduction: Open with a provocative example (demonetization, emergency lockdown). State: context matters, but process shapes outcome.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Neither pure consequentialism nor pure deontology. Judge case-by-case with clear principles.
Use real examples (demonetization, lockdown, historical events). Show philosophical awareness.
Introduction: Reference the war in Ukraine or the 2026 conflict in the Middle East that disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz (WTO). State: reducing war is imperative, eliminating it may be idealistic.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Work toward minimizing wars while maintaining defensive capabilities.
Ground abstract topics in current events. Reference specific conflicts to show current awareness.
Introduction: Acknowledge religion's dual nature. State: the institution, not the impulse, is the problem.
Body Points:
Conclusion: Personal spirituality is valuable. Institutional religion needs reform and secularization of public sphere.
This is sensitive. Stay philosophical, avoid specific religions. Distinguish faith from organized religion.
Forget the generic advice. These are the differentiators that IIM evaluators consistently reward.
The best WAT essays don't hedge. Your opening line should tell the reader exactly where you stand — and the rest of the essay should defend that position relentlessly. Fence-sitting feels safe but scores poorly. Evaluators want to see conviction and the ability to commit to a position under pressure.
Generic claims like "this will help the economy" don't impress anyone. One concrete example beats five abstract arguments. Reference actual policies, real companies, specific data points. "UPI processed 24.51 billion transactions in August 2026" lands differently than "digital payments are growing." Give the month and the source.
Don't summarize what you just said — everyone does that. End with what your argument means for the future. What should happen next? What's at stake if we don't act? A forward-looking close shows you can think beyond the obvious.
WAT is just the warm-up. The real test is when the panel probes your stance in the PI that follows. Practice both with AI that knows what IIMs look for.