The new Common Admission Test (CAT) Convenor Prof Rohit Kapoor of the Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I) says that CAT 2013 will have no substantive changes and that no one should expect any major surprise either. Prof Kapoor who was earlier Assistant Vice-President, Operations, Angel Capital and Debt Markets Ltd., has been with IIM-I for almost five years and known to be an extremely shy person. In charge of Admissions as well as hostel issues, Prof Kapoor is considered the most approachable professor among all, say students at IIM-I.

Below is Prof Kapoor’s first interview (and exclusive to PaGaLGuY) after taking on the new responsibility.

Are you geared to take on this new job, considering that it comes with its share of problems?

Of course I am. Ever since I was told about my new responsibility, I have been thinking on how to go about it. I am excited. I have spoken to people who have been connected with CAT and am really happy with whatever I have learnt so far.”

What will be the changes in the paper this year?

No substantive changes. In the sense, no added sections or no sections done away with. The paper pattern will be almost like last year. You can write that there will not be any major surprises.

What are CAT 2013 dates?

CAT 2013 will start on October 16 and end on November 11, 2013. New centres such as Trivandrum, Udaipur and Vijayawada have been added and vouchers will be available for almost two months. (CAT dates have been announced earlier this year)

Will candidates again have to buy vouchers from Axis Bank like in the previous years?

Yes, no changes in that as of now.

(The vouchers for the test will be available at selected Axis Bank branches from July 29 to September 24, 2013. Applicants can register for the test online for two additional days until September 26, announced Prometric, the test-delivery service provider of the CAT.)

But should CAT 2013 now not progress to online mode of payment?

That is something I am thinking of. Let me see. Can’t tell you anything right now but yes that has been a concern before and will let you know if some changes come about on that front.

What about all the complaints that candidates made in the last few years? Are they going to be taken into consideration?

Yes, have made a list of all the complaints. Especially issues like normalisation which are still factors that trouble candidates, they will be dealt with. At least there will be more clarity. I can’t say much now but I have a list of issues that I plan to resolve and definitely so.

This should be the last year with Prometric? Any plans on which agency next?

That does not come under my purview. That is for the IIM directors to decide. I am meeting Prometric people next month and will have more information on CAT 2013 only then.