Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics & Essay Writing Ideas

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics & Essay Writing Ideas

Updated on Dec 14, 2022 04:58 PM IST | #MBA

GD and Essay Topics: GDs (Group Discussions) and Essay Writing (Written assessment test) are integral to the admission process for IIMs and top MBA colleges in India. This article covers some of the most important GD and Essay topics. But before we do that, let's dive into Group Discussions and Essay Writing basics.

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics & Essay Writing Ideas
Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics & Essay Writing Ideas

What is a Group Discussion?

Group discussion for part of the decisive selection round in admission interview that applicants must attend after passing their aptitude test or written exam. GDs essentially involve the active participation of a group of candidates who are asked to discuss and discuss various aspects of a topic raised by the interviewers.

Whether you want to attend a top university or apply for a job, you'll have to face the round of group discussion to get one step closer to realising your dream. While many candidates are paralysed when thinking about how they will speak, engage, and participate in a group discussion, the group discussion session is not as dreaded as it seems when you master the proven tricks that help decipher GDs.

BFIT Technical Campus Dehradun | MBA Admissions 2025

2-year full-time MBA program affiliated with HNB Garhwal Central University and approved by UGC.

WUD | MBA- Design Strategy & Management Admissions 2025

International Tie Ups | Project Based Learning | State of the art infrastructure | Applications Closing Soon!

Why is a Group Discussion important?

The group discussion round is essential because it allows interviewers to analyse candidates based on various parameters, including their self-confidence, ability to work as a team, communication, leadership, and analytical and logical skills.

Now that you have understood what Group Discussions and Essay Writing are, and why they matter from the selection panel's point of view, the next step of your preparation includes preparing for various topics that might appear in group discussions and essay writing.

What is Essay Writing/WAT?

The Writing Ability Test (WAT) is a selection test with a maximum duration of 30 minutes and forms an essential part of the MBA admission process at top colleges in the country. A few B-schools, such as XLRI and IIFT and also carry out analyses of the WAT or perhaps of case studies similar to the WAT. The WAT at IIMs and most of these take place shortly before the personal interview; the duration can range from 15 to 30 minutes. In fact, as a recent trend, most IIMs have stopped using GDs (group discussions) and instead opt for in the WAT during the final selection process.

Why is Essay Writing/WAT important?

Many top MBA colleges in India have replaced Group Discussions with Essay Writing/WAT for admission to the MBA/PGP program. This is because many candidates could not express their opinions during the group discussion, and their real abilities could not be evaluated. This is where Essay Writing/WAT came in to help in the final selection process, as candidates could write their views and thoughts on paper without fear of being interrupted.

Which is the one good thing about GD and Essay Writing (WAT) Preparation?

The one good thing GDs and Essay Writing is that they have common topics. A topic appearing in a group discussion can also be the subject of your essay. Hence, preparing for a common pool of topics, where you analyse these topics and collect content for them, can go a long way in helping you prepare for the selection procedures. Keeping this in mind, let's go through some of the important GD and Essay Writing topics.

Important GD and Essay Writing Topics

  • Discuss the importance of financial literacy in today's world.

  • What are the benefits of a college education?

  • Analyse the impact of technology on our daily lives.

  • Is Indian culture in decline?

  • Should mobile phones and such devices be allowed in schools and colleges?

  • Who are better managers: men or women?

  • Should beauty pageants be banned or promoted?

  • Is India ready for Driverless cars?

  • Is Indian Culture at threat from Globalisation?

  • Examine the effects of global warming on the environment.

  • Discuss the pros and cons of social media.

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of current methods of enforcing environmental protection laws.

  • Video games: Virtue or Vice?

  • Should firecrackers be banned during Diwali?

  • Hard work vs Smart work - what's the difference?

  • How do movies impact the young generation?

  • Compare and contrast the different approaches to health care in India and abroad.

  • Analyse the positive and negative effects of Globalisation.

  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of multinational corporations.

  • India's population growth: Can it be controlled?

  • Should we make Hindi India's national language?

  • Is a paper ballot system the best way to restore democracy?

  • How can we reduce poverty and inequality in the world?

  • Should governments regulate social media?

  • What are the risks and rewards of online shopping?

  • Should online data be regulated and protected?

  • Can E-learning substitute for classroom learning?

  • Media: Problem or solution?

  • Examinations – Has education become irrelevant?

  • Are foreign television channels damaging our culture?

  • What strategies can be used to protect personal data online?

  • What are the potential ethical implications of artificial intelligence?

  • Technology in the classroom: Benefits and drawbacks

  • E-waste management: Does the topic deserve urgent attention?

  • Social networking sites: Virtue or Vice?

  • Is the ever-increasing reliance on digital technologies good or bad?

  • Brain Drain: Does it need to be stopped?

  • What are the implications of using facial recognition technology?

  • Love marriage vs Arranged marriage: Pros and cons

  • Should alcohol be banned?

  • What should be the role and ambit of youth in politics?

  • Generation Gap: Can it ever be bridged?

  • What changes can be made to promote digital security?

  • What are the best practices for using the internet safely?

  • Is the cap on wedding expenditure fair?

  • Where does the problem lie with ever-growing air pollution levels?

  • Is it right to kill stray animals?

  • Should the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi be replaced on Indian currency notes?

  • Uniforms in schools: Mandatory or optional?

  • Free WiFi spots – are they always beneficial?

  • The population explosion – what is its effect?

Top UGC Approved Colleges for Online MBA
Download this ebook and get all details related to the top UGC approved colleges for Online MBA.
Download List Here

How should you approach the GD (Group Discussion) and WAT (Essay Writing) topics?

The task here can be divided into two broad parts or phases.

Phase-1: The Research Phase

As a starting point for the topics given above, make a list of points that come to your mind. Then, as additional work, run some quick Google searches for each topic and identify the various points you missed during the research phase. You will find some great resources, essays, and even some Wikipedia pages for some of these topics. Make sure you spend time on these and absorb as much content as possible.

Phase-2: The Articulation Phase

With the points you have gathered above, articulate an argument on a given topic. Coherently and logically sequentially present your points, with one thing leading to the other. Remember, the greater the number of logical connections (such as cause and effect sequences or logical conclusions for a given course of action) you establish in your oral or written arguments, the greater your impact on the examiner.

Articles

Explore Top Universities Across Globe

University of Essex, Colchester
 Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
 Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
 Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
 Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
 Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
 The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to MBA

Have a question related to MBA ?

Hello Pragyan

So you have done Diploma and have a work experience of 4 years which is great. But unfortunately, doing MBA requires an undergraduate degree (of minimum 3 years) from a recognized university. Diploma holders are not eligible for regular MBA.

But there are some alternatives routes which you can take if you wanna do MBA which are:
1. Lateral Entry: You can apply for lateral entries in colleges for B.Tech/B.E. if you have done your diploma in engineering/technology field. So you will be in 2nd year and after completing the degree (which will take 3 years as you will be lateral), you could pursue MBA.
2. Distance/Online MBA: Some private institutions offer Distance/Online MBA but be aware that many of them are not recognized by UGC/AICTE.
3.  Degree: You could also pursue a 3 year degree in BBA/BA/B.Com/ whichever stream you are interested in.

If you would really want to pursue MBA, my personal recommendation would be go for a lateral entry or New degree as per your convenience as both will take 3 years. Or if you just want the skills taught in MBA, you can gain them by doing certificates/courses uploaded by IIMs and other professional institutes/individuals like Coursera and Udemy.

Thank You!!!

Hello, vinisha

in gurugram there are two best mba colleges .

1. management development institute

2. great lakes institute of management.

for faridabad these are the best mba colleges

1. Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies

2. Lingaya’s Vidyapeeth

and for noida these are the colleges that has good mba programm

1. Amity Business School

2.Jaipuria Institute of Management


Yes. If a student:

  • Does not meet attendance requirements ,

  • Performs poorly in internal/external assessments,

  • Fails to keep up with the heavy academic load ,

then they can fail or be barred from continuing. So far, while there's no exact failure percentage, student reviews highlight that failure is possible , especially for those who treat the course lightly.

You can apply for MBA through entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, or through direct admission in some private colleges.

Hello,

Yes, with a 622 rank in IPU CET for MBA and being a Delhi candidate, you have a good chance of getting admission in MAIT (Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology).

You don’t need to worry about not giving the CAT exam. IPU CET rank is enough for admission in MAIT under the CET quota.

Just make sure to keep MAIT high in your preference list during counselling.

Hope it helps !

View All
Marketing Director

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. 

4 Jobs Available
Business Development Executive

A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.

3 Jobs Available
Content Marketing Specialist

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.

3 Jobs Available
Sales Manager

A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.

2 Jobs Available
Marketing Manager

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.

2 Jobs Available
SEO Analyst

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. 

2 Jobs Available
Digital Marketing Executive

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.

2 Jobs Available
Business Analyst

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. 

2 Jobs Available
Back to top