XLRI GD Topics Of The Past Few Years

XLRI’s Group Discussion (GD) and Essay Writing tests are important parts of the MBA admission process after the XAT 2026 exam. In the GD round, 8-10 students discuss a given topic for 20-30 minutes while judges observe their ideas, communication, and behaviour. The essay writing test checks how well candidates express their opinions in 200-250 words within 20 minutes. Sometimes, topics for GD and essay are the same, making it easier to prepare.

There is also a special type called Context-Based GD, where participants read a short passage, discuss it for 15 minutes, and then share their main takeaway.

Past GD topics at XLRI have covered areas like democracy, leadership, ethics, and business challenges. For XAT 2026, likely topics include artificial intelligence, remote work, climate change, and emotional intelligence. These help assess candidates’ knowledge, communication, and critical thinking skills.

What is XAT Essay Writing

The Essay Writing test checks how well candidates understand a topic and how clearly they can share their opinions about it. This round tests communication skills by seeing how well candidates can present their ideas and convince others. Candidates get 20 minutes to write an essay of 200-250 words on the given topic. This is an important part of the XLRI selection process.

What is the XLRI GD Round?

The GD round at XLRI Jamshedpur is done in groups of 8-10 students. Each group gets a topic to discuss. Judges observe how each student presents their ideas, the strength of their points, and their behaviour and tone. The discussion lasts 20-30 minutes, and everyone has the opportunity to speak. The topics for the Written Ability Test (WAT) are usually the same as the GD topic, which helps candidates prepare better.

Context-Based Group Discussions

Context-Based Group Discussions start with participants reading a short passage for 3 minutes. Then, they discuss their viewpoints for 15 minutes, exploring different ideas together. In the last 5 minutes, each participant shares their main takeaway from the discussion. This process helps assess understanding, communication skills, and the ability to listen and respond thoughtfully.

1. Context Introduction: The participants will be given 3 minutes to read the provided excerpt. Candidates will have to formulate their viewpoints based on the provided context.
2. Discussion Phase: This is the main segment of 15 minutes. Here, participants will have to discuss their viewpoints and collectively explore the nuances of the given context.
3. Takeaway Reflection: In the final 5 minutes of the session, each participant will have to share their key takeaway from the discussion.

Also Check:What's Next After XAT 2026 Result: Check Details to Prepare for XLRI GD/ PI

XLRI GD Topics from the Past Five Years

Here’s a list of GD topics given to XLRI aspirants in the second phase of the MBA admission process:

1. Capitalism and Democracy
2. Students with stellar academic records turn out to be average managers
3. A true democracy is a utopian concept
4. Is Donald Trump good or bad for world peace?
5. Greatness is not in achieving some great position but in showing great character throughout life
6. Should dress code be implemented in organisations?
7. Do we have a morally corrupt system?
8. India’s Technical Education is a complete failure, as it only produces managers.
9. Delayed justice is no justice
10. Nature is the longest-surviving and most sustainable business enterprise
11. One who does not recognise the inherent differences between men and women cannot be a good leader
12. A person's greatness in society is not defined by position but by character
13. Money is the sole factor for progress and promotion in the workplace
14. Junk food decreases vitality and productivity. Should the govt. Substantially increase taxes on junk food?
15. Trump is just another name for Modi.
16. Abortion should not be prohibited by law. It should be at the mother's discretion.
17. Diversity in the workplace is overstated.
18. Transition to industrial is necessary as agriculture contributes just 16% to GDP
19. Monopolising railways is bad
20. Online existence is achieved at the cost of real-life achievement
21. 5 years of service in rural India should be made compulsory post-MBA
22. Is religion an economic activity?
23. Could India replace China as the manufacturing hub in the near future?
24. The government is solely responsible for the growing unemployment in the country.
25. Is HR an important function, or are technical people required in it or not
26. Is India's culture largely identified as agrarian?
27. Online existence is achieved at the cost of real-life achievements
28. The true guardian of democracy should be autocratic in nature
29. Should Sanskrit be made the national language of India?
30. Advertisements in print media have lost their relevance in the digital age.
31. Would Indian companies do better abroad?
32. Are our industries staring at a future where only robots will be employed?
33. Is absolute freedom of speech and expression a myth?
34. Can women make better managers than men when given multiple tasks?
35. Does the ranking of business schools convey an accurate picture of management education in India?

XLRI Admission 2026: Abstract Topics for GD

Since the XAT 2026 exam and its selection rounds like GD are yet to happen, here are some likely abstract topics for XLRI GD 2026 based on recent trends and common themes in management and current affairs:

• Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business
• Sustainability vs Profit: What Should Come First?
• Remote Work: Future of Corporate Culture
• The Role of Ethics in Modern Business
• Innovation in a Post-Pandemic World
• Balancing Technology and Human Touch
• Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
• Climate Change: Business Responsibility or Government?
• Are Traditional Managers Becoming Obsolete?
• Social Media: Boon or Bane for Business Communication
• Role of Startups in Economic Growth
• Data Privacy: A Growing Concern for Businesses
• Adaptability: The Key to Business Survival

Key Takeaway

XLRI’s GD and Essay Writing rounds are important parts of the admission process after the XAT 2026 exam. These rounds test candidates’ communication skills, knowledge, and ability to present and defend their ideas. Past GD topics have covered a wide range of social, political, and business issues. For XAT 2026, topics may focus on current trends like artificial intelligence, ethics, and remote work. Preparing well for these rounds can help candidates perform confidently and improve their chances of admission.