IIM Admission 2020: Nitish Nair shares WAT-PI Experience of IIM A, B and C

Nitish Nair, 99.67 percentile scorer of CAT 2019 has selected IIM Bangalore after converting interview calls of IIM A, B and C Read his experience of WAT-PI rounds here.

Seeking admission to the IIMs is extremely difficult. Many students fail to get admission despite scoring 99+ percentile in CAT. Those who are selected attribute their success to hard work and determination. This is exactly what Nitish Nair from the Palakkad district of Kerala managed to do.

While Nitish could not crack CAT 2019 with 100 percentile, he received calls from all the top IIMs with his 99.67 percentile (VA/DILR/QA - 98.60/99.50/98.64). And, this was the time to showcase his strength and wisdom gathered so far to convert all the admission calls and selecting the one he desired to join at his own will. Read on Nitish Nair’s strategy to convert admission calls of IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta successfully.

IIM Bangalore- WAT- PI Experience

Venue: Bangalore

Date: February 25, 2020

WAT Topic: Innovation, Risk Taking and Pro-activeness are the necessary entrepreneurial skills for developing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. Do you agree with this proposition?

A: I articulated my views on the topic in complete agreement to the statement in three paragraphs. I quoted a couple of examples from the real world to strengthen my argument and concluded by opining that the above-mentioned qualities were necessary conditions but not sufficient ones to make the cut.

PI Duration-30 minutes

Panel: M1 - Prof. Narayanaswamy, M2 - Prof. Ritwik Banerjee, M3 - Alumni 99 Batch Mr. Kumar

Q: So, Nitish you are a mechanical engineer with a short stint with Kalkitech and a major part of your work experience with Indian Railways.

A: Yes Sir.

Q: Where is your native and where do you work.

A: My native is Palakkad district of Kerala and I work in Trichy (Tamil Nadu).

Q: What do you do in Railways?

A: I am a senior engineer with Indian Railways looking after the heavy scheduled maintenance and breakdown maintenance of locomotives and DEMUs in Trichy.

Q: So you are from Golden Rock workshop?

A: No sir, I am from Golden Rock Diesel locomotive maintenance shed.

Q: How are the both different?

A: Sir, Golden Rock workshop is responsible for periodic overhauling and rehabilitation of locomotives while our diesel shed maintains and operates 130 locomotives and 35 DEMUs in Southern Railway. We are more inclined towards the operational regular scheduled maintenance activities. Further, the workshop also takes care of coach overhauling and wagon production as well.

Q: So how is the organisational structure? Do both these units report to the railway board?

A: Not directly sir. Both of these units come under the mechanical department of the Southern Railway whereas a few changes have been happening in the structure right now and we (shed) belong to the Traction department.

Q: After a four year graduation in mechanical engineering, is your role purely mechanical in nature?

A: Not completely sir. Diesel locomotives are diesel electric beasts, so it involves mechanical electrical and electronics engineering. My role is more of inclined towards the control systems part of the locomotive. (Explained the working of the locomotive and my role briefly)

Q: What are your targets at work and what is your role?

A: We have an operational target of running close to a 100 trains a day (68 passenger and 29 goods to be accurate). Therefore, I lead a team of three junior engineers and 30 technicians to meet this target. I have to plan for inventory and activities to achieve these targets. Apart from this, I need to attend to live trouble-shooting of locomotive issues relating to train operations.

Q: Do you have to go in person or only phone calls?

A: Depends on the issue at hand. If the issue is manageable usually, we sort it out over phone, else we have to depute technicians or need to personally attend the issue as well.

Q: Is not Golden Rock known for steam loco maintenance?

A: Explained how Golden Rock workshop and Coonor steam shed maintain steam locos and explained about the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

Q: How is railways moving away from Carbon emissions?

A: Spoke about steam locomotives being phased out and of the ambitious target of Diesel locos being planned to be phased out by 2024.

Q: How effective is the implementation?

A: Answered with numbers pertaining to my railway division. Percentage of electrification within three years and was further questioned on which sections and why they were not electrified, which I answered.

Q: Electric locos are also running using power from thermal power plants. So how do you explain a lower carbon footprint?

Explained reasonably well combining my knowledge in the power sector (Previous work experience). Brought in the plans to incorporate renewable energy to power locos as well.

Q: Railways is operating at such a huge loss. How do you explain it?

A: I agree that Railways is at loss but it is actually choosing to be at loss. (I wish I had not made this latter remark)

Q: Acknowledging ones loss does not make it any better.

A: I meant that Railways has the potential to scale up profits in multiple arenas but it is sticking to subsidize its passenger operations where all coaches apart from 3AC are in loss as only 55% of the actual expenses are recovered from the passengers. In short, Railways is working on the Robin Hood model of cross subsidization.

Q: Freight network is also at loss. How do you explain that?

A: I disagreed to that and explained to him how freight and sundry were contributing to the railway profits. In addition, I was quick to mention that the potential was huge and the whole potential was not being reaped. Further he asked me more reasons and I compared Chinese and USA railways to illustrate how they give precedence to goods trains in mixed traffic lines and how dedicated lines for freight is helping them.

Q: Given the huge losses, shouldn’t railways take the path of Air India and BSNL, to be privatized completely?

A: I partially agreed to it but I stuck to the fact that private players will not have the cross subsidizing social angle so the government must not vacate its position rather a partnership would go long. Esp. the present efforts like Bullet trains, Tejas and Station maintenance etc. are areas where private sector can be brought in.

Q: You talk about Passenger trains being given precedence but still passenger trains are not on time and coaches and services offered are pathetic. I think it should be fully privatized. I have worked with ministry of railways and have been on their advisory council and I have observed that they live in their own island, which is welcome to no change, and they are not ready to acknowledge their mistakes.

A: I answered by saying that in absolute sense all your points are correct but in relative terms the punctuality and quality of service offered has become much better over the years. I agree that railways is not that open to change but I still adhere to my stand of partial agreement and PPP rather than complete privatization, keeping in mind the social angle.

Q: Do you have non-performers in your team, if yes what percent and how do you handle them?

A: I said yes and gave him a good answer commenting on the outdated railway recruitment techniques. How this has resulted in mismatching resources. Few questions followed. Answered them.

Q: Nitish, I would say in the 70s and 80s railways was an attractive workforce and the best minds went onto join the railways. Now IITians would never join railways as they represent inefficiency. Therefore, you represent an inefficient organisation and people would not want to have such a peer. I would rather say you too are fed-up with the organisation and want to escape out of it as soon as possible.

A: I would not say Railways is a perfect organisation or that it is the best employer out there. However, the learning railways has given me in my early career is no small thing. In the private sector people work with all resources and skilled man power to achieve objectives but in the public sector we are devoid of such skilled man power and have serious budgetary constraints, despite of which we are delivering on our objectives after building teams from scratch. Railways is labelled as an inefficient organisation. It has a great share of non-performing resources. However, there is a good share of intrinsically motivated resources as well who work hard despite the fact that their extra efforts would not reap them any extra benefits. I am proud to say that I represent this population who are the real reasons behind running 15000+ trains a day.

Q: Suppose we give you an offer, it does not mean we are giving you one, will you take a study leave or will you quit?

A: I answered how I am not eligible for leave and how I have already put down my papers as the process of resignation is a lengthy one in railways.

My take on the experience: The panel members were deeply knowledgeable in Railways and thus made the interview a highly technical one. I was not happy the way things turned in the interview because if the panellists were prejudiced (I hope they were not) it was unfair and if they were checking my nerves they really had me on my toes.

Verdict: Converted

IIM A- AWT-PI Experience

Venue: Bangalore

Date: February 29, 2020

Q: AWT: An argumentative paragraph on the topic that villages are the only area to focus for the development of India instead of cities.

A: I had done quite an analysis on how AWT of IIM A is different from WAT of other IIMs, so I was prepared for the style of writing. I critically analysed the paragraph going into the given facts, commenting on biased or false assumptions made in the paragraph to derive into the conclusive statement. I made sure to quote enough examples to strengthen each of my points. Finally I concluded on how my opinion was not so in lines with the essence of the paragraph.

PI Duration: 25 minutes

Q: Since you are from railways tell me what the major expenditures of railways are.

A: Asset and capacity creation & salaries and pension.

Q: Which is the biggest head of expenditure?

A: In the recent budget, maximum allocation was to the infrastructure head, which involves asset and capacity creation. (They were actually not looking for this answer and she seemed disappointed)

Q: What is your role at work?

A: As the SSE-Locomotives(Heavy Repair), I am entrusted with the Heavy schedule preventive and breakdown maintenance of the Control system section of 120 Diesel Locomotives and 35 DEMUs primarily involving Locomotive control system and power system wiring while leading a team of three Junior Engineers and 30 technicians.

Q: Where are you located?

A: I hail from Palakkad District of Kerala. I am currently working in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.

Q: Why don't you opt for the PGPEX programme?

A: I don’t think I have enough experience for the executive programme, moreover I am thinking of exploring new domains. I don’t think an executive programme might give me the flexibility to do that. Plus, I would like to enjoy a second stint at campus for a longer period.

Q: There is a training programme for railway officers in IIM A. Do you have the chance to be part of it?

A: No, I have not been part of it. Actually, the programme is only for Group A officers who are recruited through UPSC examination. The Railway Recruitment Board recruited me.

Q: How different is a person recruited from UPSC and RRB?

A: I briefly explained the organisation structure and how UPSC entrees are more into Planning and policy making and how we RRB engineers are more into the execution part.

Q: What is your opinion on electrification?

A: I spoke about how I was in favour of electrification of rail routes. Also answered with numbers pertaining to my railway division. Percentage of electrification within three years in my division and in India.

Q: How electrification is beneficial?

A: First and foremost, the Carbon footprint aspect. Second is the fact that it is economical and easier to maintain electric locomotives over diesel locomotives. (Explained reasonably well using facts like how the average number of people required for maintenance are considerably different for both types and other numbers.)

Q: Why is then a new diesel engine production plant coming up?

A: I guess it is to cater to the need of the Dedicated Freight Corridor.

Q: Why not electric engines in the DFC?

A: Electric locomotives need overhead traction lines while in the DFC it is being planned to move double decker goods container formations. So for operational freedom electric locos are not being used.

Q: How diesel engines will be contributing to lesser carbon footprint in DFC?

A: I spoke about ethanol blended bio fuel being used and APU-Auxiliary Power Units in locos to reduce the carbon footprint.

Q: This seems like an effective but simple product. Why didn't people think of it?

A: I guess that is an issue with most problems and their solutions sir. Once it has been ideated it looks so simple.

Q: So you are good at giving exams?

A: I wouldn’t say so. I would rather say I love learning new things and if I develop an interest in the subject, exams go well for me.

Q: Railways is actually integrating its services. What is the single largest takeaway due to this step?

A: Single largest takeaway would be undoubtedly the end of in-fighting amongst the multiple departments linked to train operations since the new system suggests a model in which there is an inter departmental rotation of officers.

Q: Tell us about three recent events (last one year) which is changing the face of India.

I mentioned

1. CAA - Citizenship Amendment Act
2. SC Judgements on Sabarimala
3. Re-election of BJP and explained how all these three events are changing India's face in a disturbing manner by taking a step behind towards communalizing issues.

Final question to you Nitish, since you are from Palakkad you tell me about two issues affecting Palakkad.

Spoke about:

1. Water crisis during summer despite an age-old reservoir aimed to address this very problem
2. Illegal conversion of Agrarian land into Construction land. I stressed on the fact that Palakkad is Kerala's granary and thus Kerala has to depend upon other states for food security.

My take on the experience: The panel was very cordial and tried making us comfortable but I was low on confidence, as I was not able to begin well. In addition, my answer for the ‘3 events’ question unfortunately only spoke about political and communal issues. I felt I could have thought on other lines.

Verdict: Converted

IIM Calcutta- WAT-PI Experience

Venue: Bangalore

Date: March 5, 2020

WAT Topic: What is your opinion on the recent developments in the legal system towards awarding death penalty for heinous crimes like rape and murder.

A: Since the topic was generic one and based on current events I had a good grip on the essay. I divided the essay into four paragraphs that is introduction, pros, cons and my conclusion. I made sure to include enough data numbers and examples wherever required to make sure that no point went unnoticed or vague.

PI Duration- 30 minutes

Q: So what motivated you to join Railways?

A: I was offered a role of a locomotive maintenance engineer in Railways and it was a techno-managerial role in one of my favourite domains that is automobile/ Transportation sector. I was thrilled by this opportunity. Also, this came with a service angle and a social impact which added to my motivation to join.

Q: We rarely get to see candidates from Railways, I am glad to see one. Can you tell me approx how many kms is the reach of railways and what share of it is electrified?

A: Glad to hear that ma’am. Railways has a cumulative rail network of more than 1.2 lakh kms but then it includes double and multiple tracks. So, in absolute sense Railways connects more than 65000 kms across India. Out of these 1.2 lakh odd kms more than 55 percent are electrified routes.

Q: Nitish, you have written that you make sketches. What kind of sketches?

A: I usualy sketch portraits sir.

Q: Hey that is interesting. Can you make my portrait now?

A: Ma’am it usually takes me 2-3 hours to make a good sketch.

Q: Good excuse, but then I will give you one minute. Try to bring me on paper.

A: I will give my best try, please don’t keep your hopes high.

Took approximately two minutes to make a rough sketch of her face. Handed over the paper.

Q: Hey, you are way too humble. This is an excellent piece of work. Thank you. Can I keep this as a gift ? If you allow me to. 

A: Panelist shows sketch to two other panelists. Everyone seems impressed. Lifted my confidence.

Thank you for the compliment. You need not ask me ma’am to keep it as a gift. I am happy that you want to keep it as a gift. I am humbled.

Q: But then on a lighter note, you took more than a minute. (Everyone started laughing)

A: I smiled sheepishly.

Q: Have you have been recruited into Railways through UPSC?

A: No ma’am. I was recruited through the Railway Recruitment Board.

Q: Can you explain me the organisational structure and how do you fit in?

Explained

Q: So what are your prospects of being promoted into UPSC cadre through departmental exams?

A: I told about how our cadre was stagnated due to various court cases and internal feuds between the Group A and non-gazetted services of railways.

Q: Is that part reason for you to quit railways and join an MBA?

A: It is a definite reason to quit railways but then pursuing MBA was a priority else wise. Explained why.

Q: Why didn’t you try for UPSC ESE and IAS?

A: Explained.

Q: So Nitish what exactly does your unit do?

A: I, explained how my unit functioned, my team, my targets and how we work towards maintaining and operating trains.

Q: What is your specific role?

A: I spoke about human and material management and technical role in investigation of failures, troubleshooting and making modifications to existing systems in locomotives.

Q: So does railway employ any modern day techniques for inventory management.

A: I told about how Railways rely on conventional models. Told him about the long lead times we have to plan for and how I plan for material in a detailed answer.

Q: Can you speak about any two challenges or opportunities Railways is facing?

A: I spoke about how the recruitment policy of railways was causing a skill mismatch for technical roles in domains like locomotive maintenance where technical roles are filled by arts graduates and overqualified candidates. I also spoke about how it was a pain for the employer, as these resources had to be trained even more, thus costing both time and money.

Then I spoke about how Railways is having land in almost every metro, Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities in prime locations. I told on how railways is missing revenue generation opportunities to tap this land, which is otherwise lying barren. I also spoke about the potential of generating renewable power-to-power green railways by converting such barren lands to solar farms.

Q: What do you know about the bullet train and is it feasible for India?

A: I told that bullet train could play a pivotal role in connecting the economy like it did for China. However, then I added how India is relying on foreign vendors to realize its project and how that is different from China which is indigenously developing bullet trains. I spoke about the technical differences in bullet trains and non-bullet high-speed trains. I emphasised on how the latter would suit India where we wouldn’t be needing to bring in as much infrastructure funding as a bullet train and how non bullet high speed trains can be realised by improving on existing infrastructure, thereby increasing speed of operations by three to four folds.

Q: Then what is stopping the railways from doing it?

A: I spoke about the herculean task of working on redesigning rails and how this becomes difficult for an already over populated network. Also, spoke about how tracks need to be secured from people and road traffic by isolating train operations.

Q: So after railways now are u wanting to joining an MNC post MBA? Any specific sector in mind?

A: I am keeping my options open sir but then given a chance would like to explore roles in general management and management consulting.

Q: Would you like to go back to railways post MBA?

A: As a full time employee no, but then if it is for achieving specific projects or objectives, I would love to take up short stinted roles and help railways become better.

Q: So you would like to do consulting for railways?

A: I would love to do that as I have spent quality time with railways I have a decent idea on what issues are faced by railways and through learning and experience, I would love to play an important role in solving these issues.

Rapid fire begins.

Q: When did the railways start operations in India?

A: 1853

Q: From where to where?

A: Bombay to Thane.

Q: How many kms was the route?

A: 34 kms.

Q: You shouldn’t be asking him all this questions, he must be well versed in railway history?

A: I smiled

Q: So Nitish tell me what is an Idempotent matrix.

A: Sorry maam I am quite disconnected from maths. I can’t recollect.

Q: Do you know what an Identity matrix is?

A: Yes

Q: Please write a 2x2 identity matrix for me.

A: Wrote

Q: Now write a matrix and write its transpose as well.

A: Wrote

Q: If AA(transpose) = Identity matrix then what is A called?

A: Sorry maam. I cannot recollect.

Q: What is your cat overall percentile and quant percentile?

A: Overall 99.67 and Quant 98.64.

Q: How did you manage to score this much without visiting matrices?

A: Ma’am to be frank I was not very scientific in my CAT preparation. As I was in a 6-day job, I was left out with very little time. Therefore, I made the smart move of pivoting my preparation through mocks. In addition, since there were 34 questions in quant section I chose to strengthen my strong areas, which were mostly, applied mathematics and not pure mathematics. My target was to get somewhere around 18-25 questions correct depending on the difficulty of the exam.

Q: What all calls do you have?

A: ABCL and I amongst old IIMs.

Q: Hailing from Kerala you did not receive a K call? (Everyone started laughing)

A: I told how the 10 marks for the diversity aspect worked against me.

Q: Given that you have calls from the ABC Trinity what is your preference?

A: I smiled

Q: Why are you smiling?

A: Even a hypothetical situation, which involves getting a conversion from ABC, is a pure happy scene sir. I have a strong inclination towards B and C because of B's emphasis on high work ex candidates and my friends from C tell me how academic rigor, extracurricular and personal life is well balanced in C. So I have not yet decided amongst B or C. Then on a lighter note, if I have converts from A B and C then it is the best of problems one can have in life.

Thank you Nitish.

My take on the experience: The panel was very pleasant and they made me comfortable. One of my best interview experiences.

Verdict: Converted

Tips To Future CAT Aspirants

My 2 cents to future CAT aspirants would be 

1. The whole exam is not one which involves a lot of difficulty. The key according to me during the whole preparation is Smart work.
2. Reading anything and everything ranging from Newspapers to Novels helps. Reading about current events should follow with an analysis and one should create strong opinions for every important issues.  

         All the best.

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