Does XLRI GMP interview involve cross-questioning on random topics like economics or mutual funds?

Question

I have my XLRI GMP interview coming up and I’m hearing they sometimes ask very unexpected questions — like GDP, mutual funds, or state politics. Is that true? How deep do they go into such topics?

Supriya J · Accepted Answer

The random questions don&rsquo;t come out of nowhere,  they usually pick signals from what you say.
&bull; If you casually mention following finance or &ldquo;reading about the economy,&rdquo; expect a follow-up like &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the repo rate right now?&rdquo; &bull; They might start with a basic question to check awareness, and if your answer sounds confident, they&rsquo;ll explore it further to see how deep your understanding really goes &bull; Even something like &ldquo;What do you think of India&rsquo;s startup ecosystem?&rdquo; can lead into policy, FDI, or recent IPOs &bull; It&rsquo;s rare to get quizzed on state politics unless you bring up a social issue, volunteering, or political interest &bull; They don&rsquo;t expect expert-level answers &mdash; just awareness, logic, and whether you have an informed opinion
If you&rsquo;re unsure about something, it&rsquo;s better to admit that rather than trying to guess. The panel values honesty and reasoning far more than bluffing.

Mohit C · Answer

Yes, XLRI GMP interviews can include questions on general awareness topics like GDP, mutual funds, or economic policies, especially if your profile hints at an interest or if you mention such topics casually.
They don&rsquo;t ask to catch you off guard, it&rsquo;s more about checking how well-informed and opinionated you are beyond your technical domain. For example, if you say you follow markets or worked in BFSI projects, they might ask, &ldquo;How do mutual funds differ from index funds?&rdquo; or &ldquo;What&rsquo;s your take on India&rsquo;s growth rate this year?&rdquo;
That said, they don&rsquo;t go deep unless you signal interest. If you haven&rsquo;t brought it up, you&rsquo;re more likely to get questions focused on your work, goals, and fit for GMP.
Basic awareness helps. Scan the headlines, understand budget terms, and be ready with an opinion if asked. It&rsquo;s less about knowledge and more about thought process.

Divakshi Arora · Answer

XLRI GMP interviews do include unexpected questions at times, but they rarely go very deep into topics like GDP or mutual funds. These questions usually come up to understand how aware a candidate is about the world outside their job. The panel wants to see if someone can explain simple concepts in a clear way and connect them to everyday business situations.
The depth mainly depends on how the candidate responds. If the answer sounds confident and grounded, the panel moves on. If it feels too rehearsed, they may follow up to check real understanding. Keeping track of recent economic news, basic financial terms, and major policy updates is usually enough. The intent is more about checking comfort in open-ended conversations rather than testing academic mastery.

J.P Singh · Answer

Many candidates expect technical grilling, but the surprising questions in XLRI GMP interviews are usually just a way to understand thinking style.
&bull; Topics like inflation, GDP, or mutual funds come up, but only at a basic awareness level.&bull; The panel tends to ask follow-ups only when the answer feels unclear or too broad.&bull; It helps to read short summaries of the week&rsquo;s business news so you're not caught off guard.&bull; Simple examples work well &mdash; explaining how rising interest rates affect borrowing or markets can show clarity without needing jargon.&bull; If something is unfamiliar, being honest and reasoning through it works better than throwing random facts.
The goal is to see if a candidate can hold a natural, informed conversation without getting flustered.