Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025
ApplyAdmissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Established in 1982, the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, was set up with the aim to inculcate the art and profession of management of forestry development. IIFM Bhopal is ranked 62nd by NIRF India Rankings 2020 for Management. While IIFM offers a total of five programmesat the doctoral and postgraduate levels, its flagship programmes are the PGDM courses in Forest Management and Sustainability Management. Other courses include an M. Phil course, a PhD course, and a fellowship programme. Careers360 engaged with Dr. Pankaj Srivastava, Director of Admission of IIFM, Bhopal, about the institute’s mission, legacy, admissions, courses and placements. Read the full interview with Dr. Pankaj Srivastava, Director of Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, below.
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Watch the full interview of Dr. Pankaj Srivastava here.
Careers360: Tell us about IIFM, Bhopal.
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: The institute started four decades back. It aims to inculcate in its students the sense of balance between nature and this development has been acknowledged by the world today. It is recognized by AICTE: is NBA - accredited and AIU approved for equivalence. This management institute is unique in the country not only in the forestry sector but also in the entire management sector. We are unique since we are not only restricted to forestry management but also sustainability and various other dimensions of development.
Careers360: What are the programs and specialization offered by IIFM?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: Two years back, we had started a program on Sustainability Management. There is a phenomenal growth in these two years considering that the course witnessed 180% growth in its second year of existence. This program was introduced after looking at the industrial needs of sustainability reporting and various kinds of regulatory compliances regarding environmental related aspects. The institute offers PG Diploma in Sustainability Management which has been acknowledged around the globe. Many CEOs and CSOs participate to come as a guest faculty to the institute.
Careers360: What are the admission criteria and the required cutoffs for the admission in IIFM?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: We consider only CAT and XAT aspirants as of now. As far as cutoff is concerned, last year we had a cutoff of 70%. Earlier it used to be 80% to 85% but we deliberately brought it down to enhance the diversity. Since this program is different from other mainstream MBA programs, we need the students to have some inclination towards nature and forestry. Cutting down the cutoff also gave us a broader group to select from.
Careers360:What is the diversity ratios at IIFM campus?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: We totally believe that a diversified classroom, college enhances learning. Students coming from different economic, geographic backgrounds and having industry experiences really make the discussions in the classroom multifaceted. We want students to come from arts, medicine and commerce. As far as gender diversity is concerned, there are 30% to 35% girls in every classroom and the number is increasing every passing year. I am also proud to say that we have students hailing from about 23 states of the country.
Careers360: What are the placements criteria at IIFM?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: We have a lot of big companies coming to the campus for recruitment. The reputation of IIFM plays a huge role in driving the companies to the campus. As for IIFM placements, we have had an average salary of 7.8 LPA and the highest one has gone up to 14 Lakhs.
Careers360: Are there any hostel facilities available for the students?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: Yes, there are separate hostel buildings for girls and boys. Single accommodation is also available for our students on the campus. We are also constructing some new hostel buildings. Infrastructure development in the hostel department is in the pipeline since the number of students getting enrolled is increasing and we need to accommodate them.
Careers360: Does the IIFM have any internships criteria?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: Yes, the students are expected to do their internships as stipulated. Many students go to different environmental sectors to pursue their internships.
Careers360: What kind of students should be joining IIFM?
Dr. Pankaj Srivastava: We are in search of students who are inclined towards nature and forestry. We aim at grooming them as future leading managers. We teach them the value of conservation, conflict between society, development and conservation related issues; those are the essential parts of our programs.
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
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Hello,
Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:
Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.
MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.
Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
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A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 7.5 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
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Ranked 05th best University in India by NIRF 2024 | Highest CTC 35 LPA | Average CTC 11.4 LPA
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