Facts checked 29 September 2026 for the CAT 2026 cycle
WAT Topic: "Mankind should end war before war ends mankind" - abstract category, easy difficulty. Consider 2 perspectives for a balanced essay.
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.
Para 1: Why the threat is real (nuclear weapons, civilian casualties)
Para 2: Why eliminating war is difficult (human nature, power politics)
Para 3: What can reduce war (international institutions, economic ties, diplomacy)
Work toward minimizing wars while maintaining defensive capabilities.
Being too preachy without substance
Ignoring current conflicts (Ukraine, the Middle East)
Purely idealistic without acknowledging realities
Ground abstract topics in current events. Reference specific conflicts to show current awareness.
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. Ground abstract topics in current events. Reference specific conflicts to show current awareness.
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 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. Your body should cover: Para 1: Why the threat is real (nuclear weapons, civilian casualties); Para 2: Why eliminating war is difficult (human nature, power politics); Para 3: What can reduce war (international institutions, economic ties, diplomacy).
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