Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM)-2025 Admission Procedure for Non-Government (Open) Participants

About the Programme

The Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy and Management (PGPPM) is IIM Bangalore’s Masters program for Public Policy aspirants, in government and outside. The first cohort of the PGPPM program joined the institute in 2002 and since then its graduates and alumni have significantly contributed to many aspects of public policy. This unique programme integrates public policy and general management disciplines to promote cross learning between working professionals from the Government and Non- Government sectors. Senior officers of the All-India Services and of State Governments, as well as professionals from social, infrastructure and private sectors will find the programme useful in strengthening public policy and managerial skills, especially in the current scenario where the boundary between the public and private sector is growing progressively less distinct.

IIM Bangalore has a deep commitment towards teaching and research in Public Policy. A key aspect of this is the PGPPM program that was introduced with the establishment of the Centre for Public Policy (CPP) with initial support from the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India (GoI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For Whom

• Government Sponsored Participants (DoPT Candidates)
  Mid-career officers from All India Services, Central and State Civil Services
• Non-Government Participants (Open Candidates)
  Middle and Senior-level professionals from Civil Society, NGOs, international agencies and multilateral agencies, Public Sector Undertakings, and Executives working in the CSR units of corporates, consulting, service and infrastructure development sectors.

Eligibility Criteria: Non-Government (Open) Participants

• Educational Qualification: Graduation in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Applicants from SC, ST and PwD categories should have a minimum of 45% or equivalent CGPA.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of work experience (after graduation), preferably in a public policy domain, as on July 31, 2025. Work experience in this context would mean full time work experience. Internship and part time working arrangements would not be counted as part of work experience.

Test Scores: Applicants need to have a valid CAT, GMAT or GRE score at the time of submitting the application, to be considered for admission.

a)   Applicants may apply with the Common Admission Test (CAT 2024) score. The CAT 2024 scores made available to IIMB will be used in the assessment of the application.

b) Applicants may apply with a valid GMAT score. The GMAT Code for IIMB PGPPM is Q9H-KK-94. Use this code to have your score sent directly to IIMB. Your official report from Pearson (for GMAT) will be used in the assessment of the application. Your GMAT test date must fall on or between July 31, 2020 and June 30, 2025.

c) Applicants may also apply with a valid GRE score. The GRE Code for IIMB PGPPM is 7173. Use this code to have your score sent directly to IIMB. Your official report from ETS (for GRE) will be used in the assessment of the application. Your GRE test date must fall on or between July 31, 2020 and June 30, 2025.

d) Applicants who may not be in a position to apply with any of the above test scores have the option of taking the IIMB Test, which will be conducted on July 06, 2025 . The testing fee for those opting for this test is Rs.1200/-

e) An application fee of Rs 1500 would be payable by all applicants. In the case of those opting for the IIMB test the application fee would be in addition to the test fee.

In order to submit the application, please ensure that the following documents are validly uploaded:

a)   Documents required to be uploaded :

1.    SSC, HSC & Bachelors’ Degree Transcripts

2.    Bachelor’s Degree Certificate

3.    GMAT / GRE Score Sheet (if applicable)

4.    Statement of Purpose for pursuing the PGPPM programme

5.   Candidates will be required to produce the following as evidence of work experience for each instance of employment claimed by the candidate:

i. Letter from each of the employers that the candidate claims to have worked with. The letter should state the following details (i) The starting date of the employment, ending date of that respective employment, positions occupied during employment with that particular employer. In case the candidate claims to have moved through different positions / titles during the period, the application should provide the starting date of each of those positions, pay with break up during each of the positions held and a brief description of the responsibilities during each of those positions held by the candidate. The letter should be furnished on a letter head of the employer organisation, should carry a seal of the employer and be duly affirmed by the authorized signatory.

ii. In addition, the candidate should provide a brief write up of the responsibilities held by the candidate in each of the positions in each of the organisations in which the candidate claims to have worked. In case the employer had opened a provident fund (PF) account during the period of employment the candidate should provide the PF registration number.

iii. The name and designation of official to whom the candidate reported and the contact coordinates of the official to whom IIMB may write in case it wishes to verify the employment related claim that is being made.

iv. Presentation of employment claims that are not in conformity with the requirements above are liable to be considered incomplete and disregarded by IIMB at its sole discretion. Further, IIMB is at liberty to verify any or all of the employment related claims made by the candidate. Upon such verification If it is found that some are all of the claims made are factually untrue such candidate’s application will not be processed further at IIMB. Such candidates may be further disqualified from being considered for admission to any programme at IIMB in future. After a candidate joins the PGPPM at IIMB If it comes to IIMB’s notice reliably that the candidate had made claims that cannot be substantiated as factual and

true the candidate is liable to be expelled from the programme forthwith. In the event of such expulsion the candidate will forfeit any fees paid until such expulsion.

6) If you wish to identify as belonging to a socially backward community (SC/ST/NC-OBC) or EWS category then the relevant certificate

7)  If you are a person with disability, then the relevant disability certificate.

b)  Provide details (email id & contact details) of two persons as your referees (preferably one from the current employer or from an individual who is in a position to evaluate your job performance) in the on-line application. The references will be received on-line.

c) Application fee (Non-refundable) as mentioned above, should be paid on-line for which the details are provided in the application. Those applicants opting for the IIMB Test may pay the testing fee along with the application fee.

Application Process

The application form for admission to PGPPM 2025-26, will be available at https://campus.iimb.ac.in/psp/cssisprd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG&. Applications to the PGPPM can be submitted from April 18, 2025 to 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2025.

Interview Process

Applicants will be shortlisted for interviews based on criteria, including academic background, quality of work experience, test scores (CAT/GMAT/GRE/IIMB Test) and their demonstrable aptitude in public systems and policy. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in Bengaluru/ New Delhi. In addition to the Personal Interview, shortlisted candidates are also required to submit a “Case analysis”, administered on the day of the interview itself.

Please note that the number of offers made will depend on the availability of seats, and subject to satisfying a minimum cut-off for the composite score and / or score of the applicants on any of the factors that IIMB may deem important.

Reservations:

The Institute will follow reservation for EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PWD in accordance with the law.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for Open candidates for PGPPM 2025 is Rs. 20,00,000/-.

Accommodation

The PGPPM program has a residential component of 21-25 weeks duration during the program. During this time, the candidates are expected to be on campus to take courses in term 3 and participate in on- campus assessments and engage in other program specific activities.

Campus accommodation is on a first-come, first-cum basis with some flexibility in terms of stay arrangements to accommodate participant needs and manage within institute capacity constraints. Government candidates are requested to consult the DoPT notification for accommodation details. Open candidates will be expected to pay for accommodation (on a pro-rata basis) based on their accommodation choices; specific details will be discussed at the time of enrolment.

Important Dates:

The application window and the schedule of events (Tentative) are as below:

Note:

# only those candidates who have been shortlisted will be intimated by e-mail, with all details.

* These dates are tentative and are subject to change if required.

IMB reserves the right to change, modify or adopt any new admissions process that it deems necessary, at any point. All information in this document is pertinent to the admissions cycle of this year alone and therefore, no inference can be made from this document about any admissions process of the future.

Any dispute concerning Admissions for the PGPPM 2025 Batch would be subject to jurisdiction of the competent courts within the territorial jurisdiction of city of Bangalore Only.