Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "Is reservation policy still relevant in modern India?" - social category, hard difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
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.
Para 1: Evidence that discrimination persists
Para 2: Valid critiques of current implementation
Para 3: Proposed reforms (economic criteria, creamy layer, better data)
Don't abolish, but evolve the policy with better data and clear review points.
Until the 2011 Census only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were counted by caste; the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided on 30 April 2025 to include caste enumeration in Census 2027 (PIB)
Census 2027 population enumeration, which will record caste, is scheduled for February 2027 (PIB)
In August 2026 the Centre told the Supreme Court that the creamy layer concept does not apply to SCs and STs (The Hindu, 6 August 2026)
Taking an extreme anti-reservation stance
Not knowing the constitutional basis (Articles 15, 16)
Ignoring data on continued discrimination
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.
Rhetoric (4th Century BC)
Insight: Persuasion requires ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic) working together.
How to apply: Structure your WAT with logical arguments (logos), establish credibility through data/examples (ethos), and connect to human impact (pathos). IIM evaluators look for all three.
Made to Stick (2007)
Insight: Ideas that stick are Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, and tell Stories (SUCCESs).
How to apply: Open with an unexpected fact or angle. Use concrete examples, not abstractions. Ground arguments in credible data. Make it memorable.
The Sense of Style (2014)
Insight: Good writing is about showing the reader something in the world, not performing your knowledge.
How to apply: Don't write to impress—write to illuminate. Avoid jargon and pompous language. Show you understand the issue, don't just list points.
Politics and the English Language (1946)
Insight: Clear thinking leads to clear writing. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
How to apply: Prefer active voice. Cut unnecessary words. If you can cut a word, cut it. Clarity beats complexity in 200-word essays.
Values original thinking and nuanced positions over conventional wisdom.
Tip: IIMA loves contrarian but well-reasoned takes. Don't be afraid to challenge the premise of the topic itself.
Practical, business-oriented evaluation. Values structured thinking.
Tip: IIMB appreciates when you connect topics to business/management implications. Always include "so what" for managers.
Rigorous analytical approach. Values data and economic reasoning.
Tip: IIMC loves numbers. Include at least one relevant statistic. Show you understand economic trade-offs.
Balanced evaluation of content and expression.
Tip: IIML values clear structure. Use explicit transitions and signposting.
Ethics-focused, values human-centric perspectives.
Tip: XLRI's Jesuit heritage means they value ethical dimensions. Always consider the human/social impact angle.
There's no "right" stance. What matters is taking a clear position and defending it well. 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.
Nobody outside the institute can say. IIMs set the essay topic on the day. This topic is tied to an issue that was current in September 2026, and the statistics on this page carry their source and date, so use it for practice.
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. Your body should cover: Para 1: Evidence that discrimination persists; Para 2: Valid critiques of current implementation; Para 3: Proposed reforms (economic criteria, creamy layer, better data).
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