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

Top Group Discussion (GD) Topics & Essay Writing Ideas

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

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.

SDA Bocconi IMB Admissions 2026

Applications Deadline - 22nd January 2026 | Offers full-time PGP in International Master in business (IMB) Equivalent to MBA under following specializations Marketing, HR, Operations, and many more

IFMR Graduate School of Business MBA Admissions 2026

Application Deadline 15th Jan’26 | UGC Approved Programs | Near 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.32 LPA

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.

Upcoming Bschool Exams
Ongoing Dates
ACAT Application Date

7 Oct'25 - 26 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
VITBEE Application Date

31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Online MBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Online BBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Direct Tax Laws and Practice
Via Tezpur University, Tezpur
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
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

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to MBA ?

Hello

With an NMAT score of 205, you have decent chances in good mid-tier MBA colleges.
You may get calls from NMIMS Hyderabad or Indore, but the Mumbai core is usually slightly higher.
Colleges like SDA Bocconi Asia Centre, BML Munjal, and IBS Hyderabad are realistic options.
Some reputed private B-schools may also consider you if sectional cutoffs are clear. Overall, 205 is a fair score that can lead to a solid MBA college with good planning.

You can refer to the link I am attaching for more details: CLICK HERE

CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.

The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.

Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.

After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.

Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.

So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.

If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.


Hello aspirant,

First-year MBA fees in India vary greatly, ranging from less than rupees one lakh for government/distance programs to rupees ten to twenty-five lakhs or more for elite private B-schools (such as ISB, IIMs, and XLRI). The majority of elite private institutions charge between rupees eight and twenty-five lakh for the entire two-year program, indicating that first-year expenses are substantial.

For more information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/mba-fee-know-how-much-your-mba-will-cost-in-top-b-schools

Thank you

Hello,

Transferring mid-stream from an online MBA to an offline MBA is generally very difficult and rare, requiring a fresh application and usually withdrawal from your current program. You can apply for a new offline MBA after completing your online MBA or even while pursuing it (with caution), provided your current university is recognized.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello

You have scored 234 (QA: 78, VA: 84, LR: 72), you have a higher chance of getting a call from the NMIMS Mumbai MBA Core call, as it is the nearest score to the 235 cutoff. You have a good score in the verbal subject and have a decent score in QA/LR, which makes a call quite possible. It also depends on the final year's cutoffs and the specific section requirements. Around 230-250 marks are considered a good score. I hope this information helps you.

Thank you.