Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "Should India adopt a Uniform Civil Code?" - social category, hard difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
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.
Para 1: Constitutional vision and gender equality argument
Para 2: Legitimate minority concerns, federalism and exemptions
Para 3: A phased approach with consensus building
Support UCC in principle but advocate for a consultative process.
Uttarakhand's UCC came into force on 27 January 2025; the state reported about 4.98 lakh registration applications in its first year
Gujarat's Assembly passed a UCC Bill in March 2026 and Assam's Assembly passed one on 27 May 2026, excluding Scheduled Tribes
Article 44 lists a uniform civil code as a Directive Principle of State Policy
Turning it into a religious debate
Not knowing Article 44 and Directive Principles
Ignoring Goa's existing UCC as example
This is politically sensitive. Focus on gender equality and process, not religious identity.
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 politically sensitive. Focus on gender equality and process, not religious identity.
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 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. Your body should cover: Para 1: Constitutional vision and gender equality argument; Para 2: Legitimate minority concerns, federalism and exemptions; Para 3: A phased approach with consensus building.
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