The good news is that CAT 2015 registrations from non-engineers have taken a leap upward and those from engineers have seen a dip of 8%. This is significant because over the years CAT authorities have tried various measures to make the CAT exam as alluring to non-engineers as engineers. Some of these measures have include increasing the duration of the exam by 10 minutes and adding a new section – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR). The paper will also be segregated into three sections i.e. Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VRC).
To top that, there has been an overall increase in total registrations as well – a mighty 2,18,664 as compared to 1.89 lakhs last year. This is the largest increase in the last five years. How many of these actually take the exam is yet to be seen.
When asked about the increase, CAT 2015 Convenor, Prof Tathagat Bandyopadhyay said that it is primarily because new IIMs have been set up. “There are 360 new seats because of the new IIMs. If you take an average, some 22,000 will be applying to these new seats, so naturally the number will go up.”
Another significant increase are the applications from Maharashtra. While there is no logical explanation to this, Prof Badyopadhyay says it could be the presence of IIM Nagpur that has triggered an interest in the state.
Just one figure refuses to make any valuable jump is the number of women applicants. While there is a 4% increase, Prof Bandyopadhyay, in his characteristic modest style says “the increase is not much, could have been higher.” Another increase, which does not have a logical reason is the hike in registrations from transgenders (80 applicants).