Group Discussion

Previous years
GD topics innovation

(2016- 2019)

eBook 03
 Table of Contents

Chapter Topic Page No.

No.
1. Factual GD Topics 2018-19 1
2. Abstract GD Topics 2018-19 5
3. Case based GD Topics 2018-19 8
4. Factual GD Topics 2017-18 13
5. Abstract GD Topics 2017-18 17
6. Case based GD Topics 2017-18 18
7. Factual GD Topics 2016-17 20
8. Abstract GD Topics 2016-17 22
9. Case based GD Topics 2016-17 23
 Factual GD Topics 2018-19

1. Can MOOCs and other virtual learning platforms

replace conventional learning platforms? (IIFT
Delhi)
2. Should the Metro cities in India be de-populated?
(IIFT)
3. Are days of US dominance over? (IIFT Delhi)
4. Rafale deal (IIT Kanpur)
5. Ayushman Bharat (MDI)
6. Sabarimala - a progressive step or threat to religion
(MDI)
7. One India, One election: pros and cons (MDI)
8. Government has decided to give yearly 6000 to
farmers in this new budget. Good or just a political
gimmick? (MDI)
9. Coalition Government: Is it a threat to the citizens
of the country? (MDI)
10. Role of women in society (MDI)
11. Should agricultural subsidies be stopped? (MDI)
12. Is bullet train really needed in India? (NITIE)
13. Is IPL a waste of time and money? (NITIE)
14. Recent bank scams and reason for it- is fragile
system or political blessing? (NITIE)

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15. Demonetization- Was it a success or failure?
(NITIE)
16. Abolition of death penalty (SCMHRD)
17. Economic Growth v/s Environmental sustainability
(SIBM Pune)
18. Are organizations ready for LGTBQI inclusion in
workforce? (TAPMI)
19. Age of humanoids: How do they affect us? (TAPMI)
20. Loss of values in schools (TAPMI)
21. Is depreciating rupee a good sign? (TAPMI)
22. Should medical tourism be banned in India to curb
illegal organ trading? (TAPMI)
23. Tobacco: should it be banned or not? (TAPMI)
24. Education system in India (TISS)
25. Working class in India: Issues and Challenges
(TISS)
26. Investment in higher education (TISS)
27. Building industry-academia partnership for the
growth of knowledge economy (TISS)
28. Labour laws: Issues, challenges and their solutions
in India (TISS)
29. Gender inequality (TISS)
30. Role of Media (TISS)
31. What is Forest Rights Act? Why has it been in news
recently? (TISS)

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32. Describe different sociological approaches to
religion and their impacts on development. (TISS)
33. Critically examine the benefits, impacts and cons
of Corporate Social Responsibility. (TISS)
34. Inter-caste marriage (TISS)
35. Skill development (TISS)
36. To increase gender quality in society, there must
be women quota for MBA programmes. (XLRI)
37. Digital India (XIMB)
38. India should cut diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
(XIMB)
39. Short and long term implications of surgical strikes
(FMS)
40. As a nation, are we prepared to handle natural
calamities? (GIM)
41. How will research help in management education?
(GIM)
42. E-commerce is tempting customers to buy
unneeded things. (GIM)
43. Presidential v/s parliamentary form of democracy
(FORE)
44. Demonetisation: Was it helpful in eradicating Black
money? (ICFAI)
45. Indian Smart cities (ICFAI)
46. Globalisation (LBS)

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47. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (NIRMA)
48. Increasing vehicular pollution (NIRMA)
49. Is Mars mission justified in a developing country
like India? (Welingkar)
50. Is bureaucracy a hindrance to the economic
reforms in India? (Welingkar)
51. Impact of social media on society (Welingkar)
52. What is ailing Indian banking system? (Welingkar)
53. Aadhar Card: Is it helpful or not? (Welingkar)
54. Sittwe Port (XIME)
55. Kaladan operation (XIME)
56. Digital India - still a dream (XIME)

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 Abstract GD Topics 2018-19

1. Music, Sports and Wine: Impact on perceived

peacefulness. (IIFT Delhi)
2. Spending time is more important than spending
money on children (MDI)
3. E-Learning can substitute classroom learning.
(MDI)
4. Indians perform better individually than in groups.
(NITIE)
5. Is what India needs is a dictatorship? (NITIE)
6. Social media- boon or bane? (NITIE)
7. What is not to be worshipped (SCMHRD)
8. Renaming a historical thing is like paying tribute to
the history. (SCMHRD)
9. Nationalism v/s Globalization (SIIB Pune)
10. Beauty pageants good or bad. (SITM)
11. Laptops at home are an evil. (SITM)
12. Advertising campaign should be truthful or not?
(TAPMI)
13. Achieving digital India by 2025 (TAPMI)
14. Should people from military be given reservation in
business schools? (XLRI)
15. Abortion should be banned. Even a mother has no
right to kill her child. (XLRI)

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16. Celebrities set a bad example for the young
generation when they flaunt their romantic
relationships openly (XLRI)
17. Learning about yourself is the most difficult task
(FMS)
18. Justice delayed is justice denied (FMS)
19. Who is a winner- book smart person or a street
smart person? (FMS)
20. Corruption is the root cause of slow growth of
Indian economy (FMS)
21. Bureaucracy v/s Democracy (FMS)
22. Bigger states being divided into smaller ones- is
politically correct or not? (FMS)
23. ‘Hard work embedded with smart work’ is the key
to success. (FMS)
24. Good marks are not a reflection of high IQ. (XIMB)
25. There are no facts, but only opinions. (XIMB)
26. Is technical education necessary to enter into the
management field? (XIMB)
27. Smart cities aren't smart. For or against? (XIMB)
28. Online learning is a good substitute for classroom
learning. (XIMB)
29. A dot (GIM)
30. A ship is the safest on the harbor but this is not
what a ship is made for. (GIM)

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31. World without AI (Artificial Intelligence) (GIM)
32. We want the best person to win the elections but
the best person doesn’t really contest for it. (UBS)
33. Fools don't take advice; wise don't need it (UBS).
34. Our life is a product of our past decisions.
35. Should national anthem be played in theatres? (Delhi
University)
36. Made in India - only a slogan? (FORE)
37. One Nation, One Election (LBS)
38. Journalists make mockery of the ‘freedom of speech’
(LBS)
39. What is life? (SRCC)
40. Sustainability and Marketing: Are they compatible?
(Welingkar)
41. Is city road for pedestrians, vehicles or squatters/
hawkers? (Welingkar)
42. Women are better managers than men (XIME)
43. What is your view on B-schools admitting those
only with work experience? (XIME)
44. Corruption is something which keeps the economy
running. It is impossible to eradicate it. (XIME)
45. CSR should be decided by corporate itself or not?
(XIME)

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 Case based GD Topics 2018-19

1. Case study related to marketing (globalization &

liberalization) (IIT Kanpur)
2. Competitive games should be banned at young age
(IIM-A)
3. Direct bank transfer (DBT) vs Basic farm services.
(IIM-A)
4. Groundwater depletion and electricity subsidy (IIM-
A)
5. A driver with 15-year work experience and good
behavior was promoted as a personal driver of
Managing director of a large public sector
company. On a day, after a long tiring trip, he took
the vehicle to his own house rather than parking it
at the office, which was against office norms. On
that very day, he killed an 8-year-old girl who was
crossing road hastily. The driver tried to save that
girl but it all happened so quickly, that he could not
save her. He was taken to custody but was later
released from the law of land due to lack of enough
evidence. Now you are managing director of the
company. Decide what course of action you would
take keeping that fact that taking office vehicle to

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 home was against company’s rules and
regulations? (IIM-S)
6. Case based on the course of action for a
company’s management so as to remain in the
same market or diversify into another. (IIM-S)
7. Case regarding a company dilemma. What should
production manager do to increase productivity?
Few constraints were imposed. (IIM-S)
8. Case based on an ethical dilemma about whether a
person can share a software he uses as a part of
his job to his friend who will benefit by using the
software. (IIM-S)
9. Animal practice for medicines and cosmetics (KJ
Somaiya)
10. Is social media an effective medium of
communication? Is it turning us into a hyper anxious
society? (KJ Somaiya)
11. #MeToo (KJ Somaiya)
12. National anthem in cinema (KJ Somaiya)
13. Digital Communication (KJ Somaiya)
14. Driverless Cars (KJ Somaiya)
15. You are the member of the board of directors of the
company. A research grants needs to be given with
your permission. You are required to focus on the
CSR part of the company. (5 options are given out

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 of which the group needs to choose and justify one
option) (IRMA)
16. You are running a chain of hospitals, which is in loss.
(some facts given about the case) Give suggestions.
(IRMA)
17. Why does Amazon want to maintain its position as
a leader in Indian E-commerce? (NMIMS)
18. Based on your recommendation, it has been
decided that a UV radiation machine will be
implemented in the company to increase
productivity. The Environmental Quality Board has
to deem the machine usable and ensure that levels
are permissible. However, your superior feels that it
is unnecessary to involve the Environmental
Quality Board as it is of no use. What will be your
stand? (NMIMS)
19. An extract was given on agricultural condition in
India along with a comparison between India and
US on agricultural factors (per hectare productivity,
total productivity, total cultivable land, etc.). Give
suggestions. (NMIMS)
20. Bill gates foundation has four options to aid
monetarily (1st prize: 10 crore, 2nd prize: 2 crore,
3rd prize: 50000)
Options are:

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 a. diagnosis kit for elephantiasis
b. water filtration machine
c. menstruation awareness and sanitary pads
for free
d. mental health awareness and suicide
prevention initiatives
Decide the rankings. (NMIMS)
21. Google entering into niche market (data given
regarding Google and its rivals) (SIBM)
22. Case study based on the increasing attrition rate
and decreasing productivity of a company and
group being the HR department of that company,
has to arrive at a solution. (SIBM)
23. A case about a political party which had won the
previous 5 elections held. But, the recent election
results showed that they had won by a very slim
margin. The party head decided to start a start up
focusing on the younger generation/millennials.
Unfortunately for him, even this didn't work. He had
an employee force of about 20 people and was
willing to add up to 30 more employees. What
business strategy the party head should use?
(SIBM)
24. Case based on an Italian restaurant set up by an
Indian (Ritu). Customer analysis was given.

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 Reviewers’ ratings on multiple platforms were
mentioned. The business was going well until the
government served the owner a relocation notice
as the previous landowner had acquired the land
illegally. The logistics of relocation was not a
problem for Ritu. The main issue was the
inadequacy of the compensation provided by the
government compared to the price paid by Ritu for
the land. So she had to invest her savings in the
new location. Also, she had to maintain the
restaurant's brand equity and brand image.
Suggest a business strategy. (SIBM)
25. A case study about a startup where a startup had
been successful initially but had to now expand its
operations to 8 cities from 1. Give suggestions.
(SIBM)
26. Case study regarding a small company's business
card design and optimal use of space. (SIOM)
27. Case study regarding a company deciding its CSR
activities (options and related data given). As a
Board member, candidates are to discuss where to
use the resources. (SIOM)

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 Factual GD Topics 2017-18

1. A.I. in work: how it is going to change future of

workspace (IIFT)
2. Discuss on the quote by Mark Zuckerberg "We
don't make services to make more money, we
make money to make better services" (IIFT)
3. Long term capital gains tax - Who are the winners
and who are the losers? (IIFT)
4. Is India becoming a refugee hub? (IIFT)
5. Can management be taught or is it inherent to
oneself? (IIFT)
6. Gender sensitivity is gender equality concern?
(IIFT)
7. Is India ready for cashless economy? (IIFT)
8. Aadhar: Infringement of privacy or not? (IIFT)
9. Bollywood’s claim of Artistic license v/s Social
sensitivities (IIFT)
10. Is Indian demographic dividend being
underutilized? (IIFT)
11. India should move to a Presidential form of
Government. (IIM K)
12. Is population of India an asset or liability? (IIM K)
13. ‘Right to privacy’ is in danger in India. (IIM K)

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14. With increasing unemployment, India should ban
all its efforts on self-driving cars. (IIM K)
15. History has taught us enough. Now we must learn
our own modern day lessons. (IIM K)
16. Government should not bail out nationalized banks
which are bankrupt. (IIM K)
17. Should India finance its infrastructure through
internal finances or external borrowings? (IIM K)
18. Planning commission or NITI Aayog- has anything
changed at ground level? (IIM K)
19. Is UDAAN scheme just beneficial on paper or will it
have effects on the ground level? (IIM K)
20. Data and digitization are no solutions to agrarian
distress. (IIM K)
21. Should India focus on Smart Cities when 30 crores
of its citizens are still without electricity? (IIM K)
22. MBA in India is highly over rated. (IIT Kanpur)
23. Street hawkers should be prohibited, regulated or
relocated? (KJ Somaiya)
24. Farmers’ income can be doubled by the year 2022.
What are the challenges faced by the farmers and
how can these be tackled? (KJ Somaiya)
25. What do you think about ‘ageing gracefully’? How
can we change the trend of people going for
cosmetic surgeries? (KJ Somaiya)

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26. Linking Aadhaar/PAN card/bank account- Is
privacy warranted? (LIBA)
27. Reasons for unemployment in India. (LIBA)
28. Will Donald Trump’s visa rules have an impact on
the Indian IT industry? (LIBA)
29. Impact of westernization in India (LIBA)
30. E-commerce will ruin the retail stores. (LIBA)
31. Can India be a developed country and a Super
power? (LIBA)
32. Effect of demonetization on common citizen vis-a-
vis black money holders. (MDI)
33. In a resource starved country like India, spending
on space missions is wastage of resources. (MDI)
34. Do programs like Namami Gange help cleaning
rivers in reality? (IRMA)
35. Ease of Doing Business: A Reality or Dream in India
(NIIE)
36. Indians are not conscious about quality. (NIIE)
37. Is India’s Foreign policy pro-US? (NIIE)
38. Social media impact on teenagers. (NMIMS)
39. Air pollution (NMIMS)
40. Are nuclear families a blessing in disguise?
(SCMHRD)
41. Are men compromising their careers for family?
(SCMHRD)

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42. Primetime media discussions are propagating
intolerance. (SCMHRD)
43. Should advertising targeting children be banned?
(SCMHRD)
44. Artificial Intelligence is taking over human
workforce. (SCMHRD)
45. Suggest 5 Green initiatives as a group for a
company’s ‘go green’ mission. (SCMHRD)
46. Working from home causes depression. (SCMHRD)
47. Smart phones should be banned in educational
institutions. (SCMHRD)
48. Is India over employed or overqualified? (SCMHRD)
49. Work-life balance and Need for spirituality (SIIB)
50. Digital India (SIIB)

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 Abstract GD Topics 2017-18

1. The world is a dangerous place - Not because of

the people who are evil but because of the people
who don’t do anything about it. (IIFT)
2. “Mirror mirror on the wall, my Instagram is the
fairest of them all” - social media image v/s real
image (IIFT)
3. Stepping stones or Stumbling Blocks, they depend
on the way you see them. (IIM K)
4. Doing something right saves time better than
explaining doing something wrong. (IIM K)
5. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It
is derived from an indomitable will. (IIM K)
6. Positive attitude is more important than knowledge
for business success. (MDI)
7. If everyone agrees on a point, will it be an ideal
situation or a suffering? (SCMHRD)
8. The true guardian of democracy should be
autocratic in nature. (XLRI)
9. Online existence is achieved at the cost of real life
achievements. (XLRI)
10. How does passion affect our life? (GIM)

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 Case based GD Topics 2017-18

1. There is a pharmaceutical company which is doing

great (especially for AIDS) and has a profit rate of
28%. The latest CEO has done great in past one
year and taken some good decisions like acquiring
smaller firms to keep this firm the market leader.
But the firm is facing some issues like an Indian
Company has made a generic version of its
medicines. Also, the firm is facing a backlash
because it filed a case of South Africa's
government due to IPR Reasons. Also, the firm is
criticized for not focusing on African regions,
which face the most number of problems due to
AIDS. The General Meeting of shareholders is in
some days. How should the CEO tackle all these
issues in the meeting? (IIM S)
2. Case of a software company, wherein a person's
team used finance department's workstations to
meet the deadline of a Rs. 1300 million project.
Because of this, finance department will not be
able to transfer salaries, it being the last day of the
month. The company has never before delayed
salary. What should the general manager do? (IIM
S)

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3. Case study on: Lessons from bank frauds like Nirav
Modi case. Will the loss of PNB be recovered from
taxpayers of the country? (IIT Kanpur)
4. Case study on Henry Ford: How he ventured into
the mass car production market, and his market
strategies? Discuss the things that you could learn
from him, and the problems of his approach. (IIT
Kanpur)
5. What advice would you give to a friend who wishes
to whistle-blow but has been threatened by his
manager. (KJ Somaiya)
6. Boat is sinking. 10 people onboard. Lifeboat can
hold 6 people. List of 10 people given. Prioritize
them individually. And discuss and assign priority
again. (NMIMS)
7. Case-based situation: Suggest methods to improve
the situation of road traffic using any policies or
laws and with unlimited resources. (SCMHRD)

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 Factual GD Topics 2016-17

1. ‘Impact of Reliance Jio’ as it is providing high end

technology to customers at free of cost. (IIFT)
2. Can the world economy rely on India for growth?
(IIFT)
3. Privatization of Healthcare: Boon or Bane (IIFT)
4. Should sports be made compulsory in schools? (IIT
Delhi)
5. How will Goods and Service Tax help the economy?
(IIT Delhi)
6. India and its foreign relations (IIT Delhi)
7. Alcohol is affecting the corporate sector. (IIT
Kanpur)
8. Relevance of social media- pros and cons. (IIT
Kharagpur)
9. What can Bharti Airtel do in order to sustain the
competition with Jio? (IIT Madras)
10. Developing countries need more trade than aid.
(IMT)
11. Give 5 arguments for or against Demonetization.
(IMT)
12. Management skills taught in class can never
match those gained by experience. (IMT)
13. India’s performance in Rio Olympics (KJ Somaiya)

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14. Impact of social media on Indian society (KJ
Somaiya)
15. Social security in India (IRMA)
16. Right to Education: Success or Failure? (IRMA)
17. How big a threat is China? (IRMA)
18. Should public sector be privatized? (NIIE)
19. Should Yoga be made compulsory in schools?
(NIIE)
20. Do we really need Smart Cities? (NIIE)
21. Cricket matches with DRS technology - Pros &
Cons (NIIE)
22. The youth today do not go for high paying jobs and
are entrepreneurs. Discuss what is different in
them, and what can we learn from them. (NMIMS)
23. During the Commonwealth 2010 games hosted by
India, there were a lot of corruption charges. Give
suggestions in order to prevent it in future.
(SCMHRD)
24. Muslim Ban in US (SIBM)
25. Are Indian women truly empowered? (SIBM)
26. Smart cities vs smart villages (SITM)
27. Rural placements for doctors should be
compulsory or voluntary? (XIMB)
28. Should it be mandatory for ministers to have basic
educational qualification? (XIMB)

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29. Is celebrity brand endorsement ethical? (XIMB)
30. Globalisation is endangering the culture (XLRI)
31. Reservation based on economic background (XLRI)
32. 5 years of service in rural India should be made
compulsory post-MBA (XLRI)
33. Social entrepreneurship is an oxymoron (XLRI)
34. Women are most vulnerable yet very important for
progress (XLRI)
35. No matter what economic reasons are given, the
sole aim is to gain power (XLRI)
36. Is world ready for third world war? (XLRI)
37. Should higher earning employees not get legal
protection? (XLRI)
38. Women are better managers. (XLRI)
39. Politics and Religion (UBS)
40. What should be the right age of Politicians to serve
the nation? (UBS)
Abstract GD Topics 2016-17

1. Books alone do not make a complete man. (IIT

Kharagpur)
2. Red (SITM)
3. Justice is never given; it has to be extracted every
time. (XLRI)
4. Every cloud has a silver lining (BIMTECH)

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 Case based GD Topics 2016-17
1. A scenario in which a certain detergent brand
named Rose & Rose, is doing well in urban areas
but is interested in capturing the rural market since
it is growing at a much faster rate than the urban
market. Discuss the strategies and steps that the
brand could take. (IIFT)
2. A case about a cake manufacturing company
which is facing losses for the past few months and
had a personal brand of cakes. It is given an
opportunity to become a subcontractor for another
company. Suggest the right course of action. (IIM
S)
3. An antiques collector has a very important artifact
which is believed to be bringing good luck to a tribe
in the Amazon. But there is no scientific proof. If
you are the collector, would you give the artifact
back to the tribe? (NMIMS)
4. Case study regarding an ethical dilemma faced by
a Milk Producer in Madhya Pradesh with ambitions
to export its products to European markets.
Discuss whether company should sacrifice its
ethics, as advised by a consultant that they can
bribe and get the clearances faster, for business
gains. (NMIMS)
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