Essay Prompt
"Discuss the implications of Microsoft's voluntary exit offer on its workforce strategy."
Context & Strategic Background
Microsoft invites 60,000 employees to consider voluntary exit as it shifts focus to AI and cloud investments.
Case Interview Angle
Evaluate Microsoft's decision to offer voluntary exits to 60,000 employees. Consider the strategic alignment with its investments in AI and cloud, and the potential impact on its workforce.
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the strategic implications of Tata Motors' acquisition of Iveco."
Context & Strategic Background
Tata Motors' $4.5 billion acquisition of Iveco expands its global footprint in commercial vehicles.
Case Interview Angle
Evaluate the strategic rationale behind Tata Motors' acquisition of Iveco and its potential impact on the company's global market position.
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate whether the quick commerce sector in India is experiencing a winner-take-all dynamic based on dark store density, or if multiple aggregators can achieve sustainable profitability in the same geographic zones."
Context & Strategic Background
Eternal shows quick commerce can be profitable, while Swiggy subsidizes Instamart with food delivery margins amid a reorganization.
Case Interview Angle
A consumer internet company is deciding whether to expand its dark store network from 1,171 to 1,240 stores while absorbing an ₹895 crore quarterly segment EBITDA loss. How would you determine the break-even order volume per store required to halt consolidated margin dilution [4]?
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the dilemma between maintaining price stability and supporting economic growth in emerging economies. Is pre-emptive monetary tightening justified when inflation approaches statutory ceilings, or does it unnecessarily constrain capital formation?"
Context & Strategic Background
A unanimous rate increase masks a sharp division over how far Mint Street should squeeze borrowing costs.
Case Interview Angle
A domestic commercial bank faces an asset-liability duration mismatch where retail loans reprice within three months but corporate term loans carry fixed interest rates over three years. If bond markets price in slightly more than 100 basis points of rate increases over the coming year, how should the bank adjust its liability mix and deposit pricing to protect its net interest margin?
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the argument that artificial intelligence is an operational utility rather than a geopolitical arms race. Discuss how emerging economies should structure their technology budgets to maximize industrial productivity."
Context & Strategic Background
A footrace requires identical tracks and a single finish line, but India gains far more by deploying software than by subsidising empty compute.
Case Interview Angle
A tier-one Indian private bank wants to integrate conversational AI across its mobile banking app but faces the RBI's FREE-AI compliance standards. How would you design its vendor evaluation matrix, compute architecture, and governance process to limit balance-sheet risk?
Essay Prompt
"Examine the strategic advantages and operational pitfalls when an international banking group uses balance sheet acquisitions to replace organic branch growth in regulated emerging economies."
Context & Strategic Background
A Dubai lender folds its Indian outposts into RBL Bank after paying for control of an existing domestic branch network.
Case Interview Angle
A foreign bank with three corporate branches in India wants to expand into retail lending and cross-border trade finance. Should it invest $3 billion to acquire majority control of a mid-sized domestic bank with 600 branches, or commit $500 million over five years to build a proprietary digital-first banking platform?
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the implications of foreign ownership in India's banking sector."
Context & Strategic Background
Fairfax's acquisition of IDBI Bank raises questions about deposit safety and interest rates.
Case Interview Angle
Evaluate the strategic implications of Fairfax's acquisition of IDBI Bank. Consider the potential risks and opportunities for both the bank and its customers.
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the strategic implications of Jio Platforms' IPO for the Indian telecom sector."
Context & Strategic Background
Jio Platforms aims for a record $108 billion valuation in its IPO, looking to raise $3.2 billion for debt repayment and growth.
Case Interview Angle
Discuss the strategic rationale behind Jio Platforms' decision to pursue a $108 billion valuation in its IPO and its potential impact on the company's future operations.
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the implications of introducing transaction charges on UPI for India's digital economy."
Context & Strategic Background
As UPI evolves, pricing strategies aim to balance sustainability with financial inclusion and merchant affordability.
Case Interview Angle
How would you design a pricing model for UPI that balances financial sustainability with inclusion? Consider the impact on different stakeholders and propose a strategy for implementation.
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate whether structural tax exemptions on long-term equity can effectively counter global capital flight driven by interest rate differentials and thematic sector shifts."
Context & Strategic Background
A tax-free incentive for long-term investors could stabilize outflows amid global market shifts.
Case Interview Angle
A global fund manager is allocating $500 million across emerging Asian markets in FY27 while weighing India's 12.5% capital gains tax against alternative technology plays in North Asia. How should the fund structure its investment horizon between primary and secondary assets to optimise post-tax risk-adjusted returns [1,2]?
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the Reserve Bank of India's October 2026 forex regulations in terms of their macro-level currency stabilization goals versus their micro-level operational impact on Indian exporters and importers."
Context & Strategic Background
By restricting derivative rebooking and requiring cash reserves, the central bank stabilizes the rupee while passing higher hedging costs to corporate balance sheets.
Case Interview Angle
An Indian textile exporter with operating margins of 12% faces potential revenue losses from exchange rate shifts while corporate hedging costs have increased by 1.5%. How should the treasury head structure the company's risk management policy across its US$10 million annual trade volume?
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the impact of regulatory frameworks on the entry of global tech companies into emerging markets."
Context & Strategic Background
Elon Musk's Starlink faces regulatory challenges and questions Ambani's influence as its India launch stalls.
Case Interview Angle
How should Starlink navigate the regulatory challenges in India to successfully launch its services? Analyze the potential impact of local partnerships and infrastructure investments on its strategy.
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the effectiveness of central bank interest rate hikes and open market operations in tackling imported commodity inflation while sustaining domestic capital investment."
Context & Strategic Background
The Reserve Bank of India raised the repo rate to 5.50% to curb sticky inflation even as accelerating domestic growth and external market yield pressures narrowed its margin for error.
Case Interview Angle
A commercial bank faces rising deposit costs as primary certificate of deposit issuances jump under central bank calibrated tightening. How should the bank's asset-liability committee reprice corporate credit lines while preserving net interest margins?
Essay Prompt
"Analyze the trade-off between price stability and economic momentum in emerging economies when facing supply-side commodity risks and rising domestic credit demand."
Context & Strategic Background
The Reserve Bank of India raised its inflation projection to 5.1% while trimming growth forecasts to 6.6% for FY 2026-27.
Case Interview Angle
A domestic industrial manufacturing company plans a corporate capital expansion funded by bank debt. How should the chief financial officer adjust funding strategy given 19.3% credit growth, a 5.25% repo rate, and an inflation peak forecast of 5.9% in Q3 FY 2026-27?
Essay Prompt
"Evaluate the financial risks and strategic rewards of using corporate debt markets to build large-scale artificial intelligence hardware clusters."
Context & Strategic Background
Elon Musk is securing vast processing power to stay ahead in the AI race, despite potential silicon shortages.
Case Interview Angle
SpaceX is spending USD 15.83 billion quarterly on AI capital expenditures while earning USD 2.6 billion in AI revenue. How would you structure a debt model to ensure solvency while scaling processor capacity?
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the implications of introducing MDR on UPI transactions above ₹2,000."
Context & Strategic Background
UPI's new MDR for transactions above ₹2,000 may shift consumer payment preferences and impact merchants.
Case Interview Angle
Analyze the potential impact of the new UPI MDR on a small retail business. Consider both cost implications and consumer behavior changes.
Essay Prompt
"Discuss the reasons for the low participation of UPI users in financial markets."
Context & Strategic Background
Understand the barriers preventing millions of UPI users from investing in mutual funds and stocks.
Case Interview Angle
Analyze the barriers preventing UPI users from investing in mutual funds and equities, and propose strategies for financial institutions to address these challenges.