IIM Tiruchirappalli

Mentorship Programme, 2013

A Student Initiative

Mentorship Programme, 2013

WAT
Writing atleast two essays on two different topics every day is the best way to get oneself ready for WAT. In the pages that follow, youll find a list of topics with a few reference links. These essays by different thinkers would help one see various perspectives on every topic, and in the process, might lead one to look at the situation from an entirely different perspective. A perspective different, but sensible and reasonable, always helps one stand out. These topics are what we found relevant for WAT preparation. As stated earlier, keep writing essays on various topics. We cannot comment on the time limit. It may vary from 10 to 30 minutes as noted from the previous years tests. Therefore, it would be better to practice writing essays with a set time limit. At the end of the document, you can find a few online resources for guidance on WAT.

Disclaimer: The opinions in the links below are not ours and we do not advocate support to any of the arguments. These links are provided only for the reference of the aspirants to help them develop an understanding of the topics.

Topics
1. 2013 Economic State, India http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2013/01/15/hello-2013-blame-nehru-dynasty-forindias-growth-collapse/ http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-01-15/news/36353242_1_fiscaldeficit-major-tax-reforms-tax-system http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/experts-see-india039s-economicgrowth-pickingin-2013/494820/ http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-0121/news/36462814_1_persistently-high-inflation-stagflation-type-environment-ruralemployment-scheme
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http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/no-sweetening-this-bitterpill/article4354414.ece 2. FDI in Retail http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/fdi-in-retail-what-itentails/article4372020.ece http://www.livemint.com/Industry/NnLRFb8SygFznSRnrPF4dL/Foreign-retailersslow-to-enter-Indian-market.html http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agribiz/article2687070.ece http://www.financialexpress.com/news/retail-fdi-should-not-hurt-small-traderssc/1063425 http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/50612-fdi-in-multi-brand-retail-willhurt-all.html http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/FDI-in-retail-won-thurt-small-traders-PM/Article1-933698.aspx http://www.livemint.com/Politics/tPNaEDCR4xy8cUhAoEjX3H/Capital-Calculus-Loving-and-hating-FDI-in-retail.html http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/retail/walmartcontinues-lobbying-in-us-for-india-entry/articleshow/18317481.cms 3. Food Security Bill http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jul/16/fightingfood-security-india http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/07/20117810358528978.html http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_a-food-for-thought_1752961 http://www.prsindia.org/theprsblog/?p=1743 http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/parliament-committee-proposes-no-changefoodgrain-entitlement-food-security-bill
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http://www.livemint.com/Politics/lbPLWJ3dgfygyDeEqiIm4O/Govt-puts-foodsecurity-Bill-on-fast-track-to-Parliament.html?ref=editor_pick http://kafila.org/2013/01/27/why-the-parliament-should-reject-the-standingcommittees-recommendations-on-the-food-security-bill-rtfc/ http://www.livemint.com/Page/Id/2.0.931131737 http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/5ZJj2ROgo25BZyBNSuGe4N/Food-security-Against-the-grain.html?ref=related 4. Eurozone crisis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pee_w3RwHhs http://www.atkearney.com/gbpc/issue-papers-and-perspectives/article//asset_publisher/3iSOlX7wDpJG/content/global-business-policy-council-theeurozone-crisis-scenarios-to-20-1/10192 http://theconversation.edu.au/the-euro-crisis-has-arrived-in-germany-but-is-arecession-scenario-plausible-11695 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16290598 http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-01-29/news/36616171_1_esmeurozone-ecb 5. Capitalism in Democracy http://newleftreview.org/II/71/wolfgang-streeck-the-crises-of-democratic-capitalism http://expandyourmind.tripod.com/whatisdemocraticsocialism.htm http://www.salon.com/2013/01/17/can_capitalism_and_democracy_coexist/ http://www.spectacle.org/496/demo.html 6. IPL http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/article3376833.ece http://www.eircoficwai.com/Articles/8908-ipp.pdf http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article3453046.ece
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www.firstpost.com/sports/indian-premier-league-bad-for-democracy-capitalism-andindia-320844.html http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/a-swot-analysis-for-the-indian-premierleague-marketing-essay.php 7. Middle East Crisis History and Effect on Financial Markets http://www.lewrockwell.com/margolis/margolis325.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/07/economics-oil-inflation-middle-east http://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/Middle-East/A-New-Middle-East-Crisis-in-theMaking.html http://www.livemint.com/Politics/dBopMv49nFqzTOVw3RWHaN/Peace-envoysays-Syria-is-being-destroyed.html?ref=related http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/05/99/israel_elections/340237.stm 8. India US relations http://carnegieendowment.org/globalten/?fa=50147 http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/od/countryprofile1/p/usindia.htm http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/01/unleashing-the-market-in-the-indiaus-economic-relationship-part-1 9. India Democracy before British rule? Democracy and Indian Polity http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/6426 http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Independent/democracy.htm http://history.stackexchange.com/questions/2083/was-democracy-present-in-indiabefore-british-colonization

10. Industrial Revolution and India http://www.ivarta.com/columns/OL_041214.htm

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http://sulekha.forumotion.com/t74-india-s-role-in-the-industrial-revolution#147 http://www.shareyouressays.com/3274/1566-words-essay-on-industrial-revolution-inindia 2004 article http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-04-18/all-thatmatters/28329289_1_industrial-revolution-ssi-manufacturing-jobs 11. Walmart and the business of lobbying http://www.flonnet.com/fl3001/stories/20130125300104800.htm http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/international/walmart-continueslobbying-in-us-for-india-entry/article4375075.ece?homepage=true http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-what-walmarts-lobbyingdisclosure-reveals/20121212.htm http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-defends-walmartlobbying/article4186996.ece http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20690630 http://www.nasdaq.com/article/india-probes-wal-mart-lobbying-2012122700175#.UQ9biqX0DMg http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Wal-Mart-admitsspending-Rs-125-crore-on-lobbying-to-enter-India/articleshow/17549995.cms

12. Indian Army no longer an attractive career option http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl3001/stories/20130125300104500.htm http://www.indiabix.com/group-discussion/indian-army-as-a-career-option/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7881859.stm http://nimis540.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/indian-army-an-unattractive-career-forthe-youth/ http://www.window2india.com/cms/admin/article.jsp?aid=7289

13. India and ASEAN relations http://www.flonnet.com/fl3001/stories/20130125300105300.htm

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www.icwa.in/pdfs/VPIndiaasean.pdf http://mea.gov.in/foriegn-relation.htm?ForeignRelation_212 http://www.asean.org/asean/external-relations/india/item/asean-india-dialoguerelations http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/commentary/strengthening-asean-india-ties-thedelhi-summits-takeaways/563810

14. Oil Companies: Evidence of cartelization & its impact on Economy http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-09-23/news/34040701_1_petrolprices-omcs-international-oil-prices http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20130208300213700.htm http://www.firstpost.com/economy/cartelisation-cci-to-probe-oil-psus-over-petrolpricing-465744.html http://magazine.powerenergyindia.com/content/cci-may-commence-investigationagainst-oil-marketing-companies-suspected-cartelization http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-09-23/news/34040701_1_petrolprices-omcs-international-oil-prices

15. Good times gone bad : Kingfisher Airlines http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Wont-go-by-KingfisherAirlines-empty-promises-AAI-says/articleshow/18223258.cms http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-0131/news/36659149_1_kingfisher-airlines-cent-hni-shareholders http://www.dsij.in/articledetails/tabid/740/articleid/3723/kingfisher-airlines-facingturbulence.aspx

16. Sports in India

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http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/12/28/divided-loyalties-what-is-the-future-ofsports-in-india/ http://forbesindia.com/article/biggest-questions-of-2013/can-badminton-becomeindias-next-big-commercial-sport-in-2013/34373/1 http://theviewspaper.net/the-state-of-sports-in-india-2/ 17. India General Elections 2014 http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/congress-dalit-votes-india-inc-help-2014-generalelections/1/223806.html http://www.travelindia-guide.com/elections-indian-lok-sabha/ http://videathink.com/latest-atricle/where-india-is-leading-in-2014-lok-sabhaelections/ http://ibnlive.in.com/news/2014-general-elections-congress-to-explore-possiblealliances/370434-37-64.html 18. Samsung vs Apple http://www.cnbc.com/id/100408005/Apple_vs_Samsung_More_Than_Meets_the_Ey e http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/25/apple-samsung-won-smartphonewars http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/21459/apple-v-samsung-why-peacecant-happen-patent-war http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57500247-37/apples-big-win-over-samsungwhat-does-it-mean/ 19. Sub Prime Crisis https://www.khanacademy.org/science/core-finance/housing/housing-priceconundrum (refer to the whole series of lectures!) http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/is-europe-s-housing-market-nexthttp://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/sub-prime-economic-theory 20. Global Economy Expectations for 2013-02-04
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http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-global-economy-s-rising-risks-in2013-by-nouriel-roubini

21. Does Art Imitate Life or Does Life Imitate Art? http://www.studymode.com/essays/Does-Art-Imitate-Life-Does-Life72732.html?read_essay http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-psychology-fiction/201104/does-artimitate-life http://consciousbridge.com/wordpress/our-positive-evolution/art-imitating-lifeimitating-art/ http://hellogiggles.com/life-imitates-art http://wistfulwriter.com/2012/02/a-writers-pitfall-art-imitating-life 22. Are all Superstition Scientific? http://www.preservearticles.com/2012022423700/are-all-superstition-scientificessay.html http://babeltogether.com/?p=206 23. Leaders vs Managers http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/11/21/are-leaders-born-or-made/ http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Leaders-are-born-not-madeby-education/Article1-910470.aspx http://www.futurevisions.org/ldr_mgr.htm http://www.studymode.com/essays/Leaders-Vs-Managers-1243132.html?topic http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/08/true_leaders_are_also_managers.html 24. Should we hang all terrorists instantly? http://www.preservearticles.com/2012022423713/should-we-hang-all-terroristsinstantly-essay.html http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/journal/24_1/essay/001 http://library.thinkquest.org/23685/data/terrorin.html 25. 50-50 Cricket Vs 20-20 Cricket
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http://www.thesportsmirror.com/2011/01/50-50-cricket-vs-20-20-cricket/ http://www.indiabix.com/group-discussion/is-t20-cricket-killing-real-cricketing-skills/ http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-australia-defend-50-overcricket-says-its-in-good-health-despite-low-crowds-and-popularity-of-t20cricket/story-fn2mcu3x-1226264290244

26. Should prostitution be legalized (in India)? http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/02/legalizing-prostitution-india/ http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-prostitution-be-legal

27. Development and Social Freedom http://www.mrglobalization.com/development/185-development-as-freedom http://www.essayswriters.com/essays/Economics/How-Free-Markets-Bring-Freedomto-the-Poor.html?PHPSESSID=830d0a35a5e721a6ced9b137e45c1828 http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=35&type=educator 28. Should bandhs be banned? http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-10-08/editpage/27984039_1_peaceful-bandh-ruling-dmk-led-coalition-lawyers http://www.iitk.ac.in/ime/MBA_IITK/avantgarde/?p=161

29. Is brain-drain good for a globalized world? http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-11-29/india/27151670_1_braindrain-migrants-oda http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2005-10-26/rest-ofworld/27843124_1_brain-drain-oecd-countries-economic-cooperation-anddevelopment http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/content/98/11/487.full

30. Do we need the death penalty? http://deathpenaltycurriculum.org/student/c/about/arguments/arguments.PDF

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31. Cricket is killing other sports in India http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/All-things-bright/entry/how-cricket-haskilled-other-forms-of-sport1 http://bleacherreport.com/articles/82673-indian-cricket-killing-other-sports-a-brutalmisconception 32. Reservation in todays India - Is it necessary? http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/india/29820335_1_admissionof-obc-candidates-constitution-bench-cent-quota http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2011/02/educational-reservations-india-solutions/ 33. Medias role in todays India http://www.caluniv.ac.in/Global%20mdia%20journal/Commentaries/C%207.%20%2 0%20%20%20SOUMYA%20DUTTA.pdf http://whisperingsilence.wordpress.com/2010/07/20/media-the-4th-wheel-of-indiandemocracy/ 34. 100 years of Indian cinema have we become global? http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/the-cables/article1716155.ece http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15616027 http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/New_Horizons_Final/$FILE/New_Hori zons_Final.pdf 35. Is democracy always better than autocracy? http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2010/10/democracy-or-autocracy-which-isbetter-for-economic-growth-becker.html http://debatewise.org/debates/2154-democracy-is-the-best-form-of-government/ 36. Indo Pak relations what is next? http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Provoked--A-look-at-theIndo-Pak-relationship/Article1-988861.aspx

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http://news.oneindia.in/feature/2013/indo-pak-isnt-just-about-wars-theres-more-torelation-1132435.html

37. Is Google killing our creativity? http://www.thedp.com/article/2011/04/bank_on_it_how_the_internet_killed_creativit y http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/switched-on-world-is-killing-creativityexpert-warns/story-fn7celvh-1226064491905

38. Is China a threat to Indian industries? http://gennextindians.com/Blog/2009/10/is-china-a-threat-to-india/ http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/69618/china-real-threat-indian-outsourcing-industry

39. Importance of social media http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/scene/the-importance-of-social-media-1.2680499 http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneywisewomen/2012/08/08/the-developing-role-ofsocial-media-in-the-modern-business-world/ http://smartboydesigns.com/2012/10/08/importance-social-media-marketing-tool/

40. Financial Inclusion http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Speeches/PDFs/FICHI121011S.pdf http://www.nabard.org/departments/pdf/FICCI%20Report%20on%20Promoting%20F inancial%20Inclusion_new.pdf

41. Should CSR activities be made mandatory for the Indian corporates? http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-09-01/news/33535456_1_netprofit-companies-bill-crore-last-year http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/panel-for-making-2-spendingcsrmandatory/177822/on

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http://www.rediff.com/money/report/csr-spending-should-be-made-mandatory-forprivate-firms/20110405.htm

42. Are our industries ready for Gen Y? http://www.hoklife.com/2012/08/28/how-is-generation-y-transforming-theworkplace/ http://business.time.com/2012/09/28/note-to-gen-y-workers-performance-on-the-jobactually-matters/ http://business.time.com/2012/08/29/just-how-underemployed-is-gen-y/

43. Will Direct Cash Transfer Scheme benefit the common man? http://www.moneylife.in/article/will-the-direct-cash-transfer-scheme-benefit-thecommon-man/30575.html http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/cash-transfers-can-help-make-india-lessunequal-but-are-not-a-magic-bullet/article4291270.ece http://www.theindianeconomy.com/news/cash-transfer-scheme

44. Privatization in India Issues and benefits http://saiindia.gov.in/english/Members_Area/Public_Financial/Courseware%20Sessio n%20Wise/SEssion%2016%20Disinvestment/Disinvestment%20and%20Privatisation %20in%20India%20Assessment%20and%20Options.pdf http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/mar/21guest.htm http://www.financialexpress.com/news/the-political-economy-of-privatisation-inchina-india/65392

45. Should Air India be privatised? http://business-standard.com/india/news/should-air-india-be-privatised/189261/on http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/no-privatisation-of-air-indiagovernment/1/17837.html

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http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/rajivkumar/article2211467.ece?homepage=true http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/suicidal-at-air-india/article3415784.ece

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Few more Resources

Basics of Economics (macro & micro): http://economics.about.com/ India: http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/pl_vsn2020.pdf

A one stop site for MBA preparation (WAT/GD & PI): http://www.mbakarnihai.com/tag/iim-wat-topics/ Note: Also, here you get management subjects related read ups (related marketing, FDI, FII, HR etc.), as well as ppts and videos for various topics.

Links for a whole lot of Abstract & Current Happenings Topics: http://www.mbakarnihai.com/featured/iim-wat-essay-topics/ http://essaysforiim.blogspot.in/2013/ http://www.shiksha.com/preparing-for-gd-use-this-checklist-for-topics-article-5649-1 Note: Frame opinions on these topics and this can be of great help, as past trends show abstract topics are generally preferred.

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