Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "Should India prioritize space exploration over poverty alleviation?" - political category, medium difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
Reference Gaganyaan's first uncrewed flight, planned for 2026, and the 2026-27 Budget numbers for space and rural employment. State: false dichotomy.
Para 1: Why this is a false choice (budget comparison)
Para 2: Benefits of the space program beyond prestige
Para 3: How space and development can coexist
India can and should do both. The budget isn't the constraint.
Union Budget 2026-27: Rs 13,705.60 crore for the Department of Space
Union Budget 2026-27: Rs 95,692 crore for VB-G RAM G, the scheme that replaced MGNREGA on 1 July 2026, and Rs 30,000 crore for the outgoing MGNREGA (Mint)
The ISRO chairman said on 4 September 2026 that the first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight (G1) is targeted for this calendar year
Accepting the false dichotomy
Not knowing ISRO's budget (Rs 13,706 crore in 2026-27)
Ignoring practical benefits (weather, communication, GPS)
Always compare the space budget to other spending. MGNREGA has been replaced by VB-G RAM G, so use the current scheme name.
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. Always compare the space budget to other spending. MGNREGA has been replaced by VB-G RAM G, so use the current scheme name.
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 Gaganyaan's first uncrewed flight, planned for 2026, and the 2026-27 Budget numbers for space and rural employment. State: false dichotomy. Your body should cover: Para 1: Why this is a false choice (budget comparison); Para 2: Benefits of the space program beyond prestige; Para 3: How space and development can coexist.
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