PGDBA 2027: Registration, Eligibility, Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Fee and Preparation Tips

PGDBA Partnering Institutes

The three institutions that jointly deliver PGDBA are:

• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata: Founded in 1931 by Professor P.C. Mahalanobis and recognized as an Institute of National Importance by an Act of Parliament in 1959. ISI is globally reputed for research and teaching in statistics, natural sciences, and social sciences.
• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur: Established in 1951 as the first IIT and recognised as an Institute of National Importance in 1956. IIT Kharagpur has 19 academic departments, 17 centres, and over 700 faculty members.
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta: Established in November 1961 as the first national institute for post-graduate studies and research in management. IIM Calcutta has built a global reputation in management education over six decades.

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PGDBA 2027: Registration Process

Admissions for each PGDBA batch are handled by one of the three partner institutes on a rotational basis. For the 2027-29 batch, the coordinating institute will be announced by the partner institutions. Registration for PGDBA is conducted entirely online. Based on the processes followed in previous batches, here is the step-by-step procedure candidates can expect:

1. Visit the official PGDBA admissions portal hosted by the coordinating institute for 2027.
2. Register as a new user by entering your name (as on Class X certificate), date of birth, valid email ID and mobile number.
3. After successful registration, you will receive a confirmation message on your registered mobile number and email ID.
4. Log in to the portal using your email ID and OTP to fill out the application form.
5. Enter personal, academic, and work experience details, and upload self-attested documents in the specified format (PDF, under 150 KB each).
6. Upload the category certificate (if applicable), ensuring it conforms to the Government of India format and is issued on or after April 1 of the relevant year.
7. Pay the application fee online. The fee for general/OBC candidates is Rs. 2,500, while SC/ST/PwD candidates pay Rs. 1,250, plus applicable payment gateway charges.
8. After successful payment, the application submission is complete and you will receive a confirmation on your registered contact details.

Candidates must apply in online mode only. No offline or postal applications are accepted. The application window for past batches has typically opened in January and closed in February of the admission year. The exact dates for the 2027-29 batch will be announced on the official portal of the coordinating institute.

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PGDBA 2027 Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for admission to the PGDBA programme, candidates must fulfil the following academic qualification requirements:

• A graduate or postgraduate degree under the 10+2+4, 10+2+5, or 10+2+3+2 structure, with at least 60% marks or a CGPA of 6.5 on a 10-point scale. Qualifying degrees include B.Tech., B.E., M.Sc., M.Com., or equivalent.
• Candidates with a 10+3 (Engineering Diploma) + 3 (lateral entry B.E./B.Tech.) structure with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.5 in the qualifying degree are also eligible.
• Candidates with a 10+2+4 B.Sc. degree with at least 60% marks or CGPA 6.5 in the qualifying degree are eligible.
• Qualified CA/CS/ICWA/CMA candidates with at least 60% marks (Intermediate and Final examinations considered together) are also eligible.
• For SC/ST and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories, the qualifying marks threshold is 55% or a CGPA of 6.0 on a 10-point scale.
• Final-year students who are yet to complete their degree may also apply, provided they complete all academic requirements by June 30 of the admission year. Such admissions are provisional, subject to submission of the final mark sheet by November 30 of the same year.
• In the case of a foreign degree, equivalence must be certified by the Association of Indian Universities.

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PGDBA Key Highlights 2027

The PGDBA Admission Test is a computer-based test (CBT). An onscreen calculator is available throughout the exam; physical calculators and any electronic devices are not permitted in the examination hall.

The following table outlines the complete structure of the PGDBA Admission Test, including the number of sections, questions, marks, duration, and marking scheme.

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PGDBA Exam Pattern 2027

The PGDBA Admission Test consists of four sections. The table below shows the section-wise distribution of questions across these sections.

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PGDBA Syllabus

The official PGDBA syllabus, as published by IIM Calcutta, covers four sections. While the exam does not prescribe a rigid list of topics for Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning, the quantitative sections have well-defined coverage.

Verbal Ability

• Reading and Comprehension
• Grammar and Correction of Sentences

Logical Reasoning

• Logical Connectives
• Statements and Conclusions
• Matching

Data Interpretation and Data Visualisation

• Data-driven questions based on charts, graphs, and tables

Quantitative Aptitude

• Sets and Combinatorics
• Basic Probability Theory
• Algebra: Solutions of Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Simultaneous Linear Equations, Binomial Theorem, Series, AP, GP, HP, Matrices
• Euclidean Geometry
• Coordinate Geometry: Lines, Circles, Conic Sections
• Trigonometry: Triangles, Trigonometric Identities, Heights and Distances
• Calculus: Functions, Limits, Continuity, Derivative, Maxima and Minima, Methods of Integration, Evaluation of Areas using Integration

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PGDBA Selection Process and Criteria

The PGDBA selection process has two main stages. In the first stage, candidates are shortlisted for a Personal Interview (PI) based solely on their score in the PGDBA Admission Test. Women and transgender candidates are awarded an additional 2 marks as a Gender Diversity Score only for the purpose of this shortlisting; these marks are not carried forward to the final selection stage.

In the second stage, the final selection is made on the basis of a composite score that takes into account multiple parameters. Weightages may be revised for the 2027-29 batch; candidates must verify the exact table on the official admissions portal once it is published.

The table below presents the components and their respective weightages used to calculate the final composite score for admission to PGDBA, based on the 2026-28 batch.

Internship, apprenticeship, article-ship, training, project work, or any unpaid work completed as part of a curricular requirement will not be counted as work experience.

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PGDBA Fee Structure

The table below provides an overview of all fee components applicable to the PGDBA programme, including what is covered and what is excluded from the programme fee. The total programme fee figure is based on the 2026-28 batch and is subject to revision for future batches.

There is a provision for need-based financial assistance (NBFA) for deserving candidates. Educational loans may also be availed from banks and other financial institutions, as the PGDBA programme is recognised by banks for educational loan purposes.

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Preparation Tips for PGDBA 2027

Given that Quantitative Aptitude carries 50% of the questions and 50% of the total marks (25 questions worth 75 marks), it is clearly the most critical section for scoring well.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Build a strong foundation in calculus, coordinate geometry, and algebra first, as these are the heaviest-weighted topics within QA.
• Practice integration techniques and differentiation problems regularly, as these appear consistently across exam years.
• Work through sets, combinatorics, and probability problems to improve your speed on these relatively shorter topics.

Verbal Ability

• Read dense academic or analytical articles regularly to sharpen comprehension skills, particularly for passage-based questions.
• Review grammar rules covering subject-verb agreement, tenses, and sentence correction patterns.
• Practice identifying errors in sentences quickly, as this section has a fixed, smaller question set where every mark counts.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation

• Practice data interpretation questions involving bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and tables under time pressure.
• For logical reasoning, focus on syllogisms, logical connectives, and statement-conclusion problems, as these are the primary question types.
• Since only 5 questions are allotted to each of LR and DI, accuracy on every single question is far more important than speed.

General Strategy

• Attempt the official mock test made available on the PGDBA portal before the exam to familiarise yourself with the CBT interface, navigation, and onscreen calculator.
• Respect the section order: all candidates attempt sections in a fixed sequence, so practice managing your time per section consistently.
• Because of the -1 negative marking, avoid guessing randomly on questions where you have no reasonable idea. An unattempted question costs you nothing.
• For the Personal Interview, be prepared to discuss your academic background, work experience (if any), interest in analytics, and current trends in data science and machine learning.