Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "Social media: democratizing information or spreading misinformation?" - social category, medium difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
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.
Para 1: Democratization benefits with examples
Para 2: Misinformation harms with data
Para 3: Solutions: fact-checking, media literacy, platform accountability
Social media is a tool. Focus on building media literacy and platform regulation.
India had 958 million active internet users in 2025, and 57% of them were in rural areas (IAMAI-Kantar, January 2026)
Amended IT Rules in force since 20 February 2026 require labelling of AI-generated content and cut the takedown deadline for unlawful content from 36 hours to 3 hours
Blanket condemnation of social media
Not providing concrete solutions
Ignoring the positive use cases entirely
Use specific examples from India (WhatsApp University, COVID misinformation) to ground your argument.
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. Use specific examples from India (WhatsApp University, COVID misinformation) to ground your argument.
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.
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. Your body should cover: Para 1: Democratization benefits with examples; Para 2: Misinformation harms with data; Para 3: Solutions: fact-checking, media literacy, platform accountability.
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