XLRI - Xavier School of Management

What XLRI is

XLRI, Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, established in 1949, is India’s oldest business school. It was founded as Xavier Labour Relations Institute with a specific mandate for management education, particularly in the then-nascent field of labour relations and human resource management. XLRI introduced India’s first post-graduate programme in human resources management in the 1950s, which remains one of its signature offerings.

XLRI is an autonomous institution, it grants PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) degrees, not MBAs. It is not affiliated to a university. The PGDM is recognised by AICTE and holds AACSB and AMBA accreditation; EQUIS eligibility was confirmed in June 2023 but full accreditation has not yet been granted.

Unlike the IIMs, XLRI uses XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test, conducted by XLRI itself) as its primary admission gateway rather than CAT. XLRI also runs a separate campus in Delhi NCR.

Who it’s for

XLRI draws two distinct candidate cohorts:

1. PGDM-BM candidates: Those seeking general management / consulting / finance careers who want an alternative to the IIM system. The BM programme competes directly with second-tier IIMs in placement outcomes (Rs 32.7 LPA average for BM in 2025).

2. PGDM-HRM candidates: Those specifically targeting Human Resources Management careers. XLRI’s HRM programme is considered India’s gold standard, it was the first of its kind in the country. Top FMCG companies, conglomerates, and consulting firms recruit specifically for HR roles from this programme.

Jamshedpur is a Tata Group city, Tata Steel’s main plant is here. This has historically given XLRI strong connections with Tata Group companies, which are significant recruiters. The city is smaller than Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Mumbai, and the campus environment is relatively insular, prospective students should account for this.

The XAT exam is specific to XLRI and Xavier-affiliate schools. Candidates cannot apply to XLRI with a CAT score alone for PGDM-BM or PGDM-HRM.

Programs offered

PGDM in Business Management (PGDM-BM), 2 years: The flagship general management programme. Jamshedpur campus intake: 210 seats; Delhi-NCR campus intake: 180 seats (total 390 combined). Covers finance, marketing, strategy, and operations with strong consulting placement outcomes.

PGDM in Human Resource Management (PGDM-HRM), 2 years: India’s oldest and most recognised post-graduate HRM programme. Jamshedpur campus intake: 180 seats. Curriculum covers labour law, OB, OD, talent management, and HR analytics. Top FMCG, banking, and consulting firms recruit for dedicated HR roles.

PGDM in General Management (PGDM-GM), 18 months: For candidates with at least 3 years of relevant managerial experience. Shorter duration, accepts GMAT, GRE, and XAT. Intake: 120 seats. Fee approximately Rs 25.9 lakh.

PGDM in Logistics & Supply Chain Management / Double Masters with Rutgers Business School, 2 years: Joint programme: first year at XLRI Jamshedpur (PGDM in Logistics & Supply Chain Management), second year at Rutgers Business School, USA (MS in Supply Chain Analytics). First-year fee at XLRI: approximately Rs 15 lakh.

PGDM in Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Development (PGDM-IEV), 2 years: Based at XLRI Delhi-NCR campus only (not Jamshedpur). Focused on entrepreneurship and venture creation via the XCEED campus incubator. Fee approximately Rs 15 lakh. No placement support provided for this programme.

Fellow Programme in Management (FPM): Doctoral programme. Fully funded with stipend.

Campus and infrastructure

XLRI’s Jamshedpur campus is a residential campus within the city. The campus architecture reflects its Jesuit heritage, including the iconic Chapel of Saint Francis Xavier. All full-time students are required to live on campus during the programme. The current Jamshedpur campus was inaugurated in 1962; a contiguous extension was inaugurated in 2015.

Jamshedpur is well-connected by rail to Kolkata (~3 hours), and to other major cities. The Tata Group’s century-long presence in the city means the infrastructure is significantly better than most cities of its size, but it is not a major metropolitan hub by typical business school standards.

XLRI Delhi-NCR campus is in Jhajjar District, Haryana (Aurangpur), approximately 25 km from Gurugram, connected to Delhi, Gurgaon, and Rewari. The foundation stone was laid on 16 January 2017; the campus commenced academic operations in August 2020. The campus is spread over 36 acres. Programmes offered at Delhi-NCR: PGDM-BM and PGDM-IEV.

Things to verify before applying

• XAT vs CAT: XLRI’s flagship programmes require XAT, not CAT. XAT is conducted in January, with a separate registration process. Confirm current XAT cutoffs on xlri.ac.in.
• Jamshedpur vs Delhi NCR campus: XLRI offers some programmes at its Delhi NCR campus. The Jamshedpur campus is the primary location. Confirm which campus you are applying to.
• PGDM vs MBA: XLRI grants PGDM, not MBA. This is legally equivalent for employment but may matter for some government or PSU roles that specify “MBA.” Confirm relevance for your target career path.
• Total fee: The 2025-27 PGDM-BM and HRM fee is Rs 15.3 lakh per annum (Rs 30.6 lakh total, excluding hostel and mess), per the admission prospectus. Confirm current fees on xlri.ac.in.
• PPO share: 34.17% of the 2025 batch received Pre-Placement Offers, a high PPO rate indicates strong summer internship performance and is a positive signal about the programme’s internship ecosystem.
• EQUIS status: XLRI has confirmed EQUIS eligibility (June 2023) but is not yet EQUIS accredited, the peer review visit is scheduled for November 2025. The school is AACSB and AMBA accredited.

Where to go next on this site

• XAT exam guide
• GMAT exam guide
• PGDM programme overview

Sources Used

• XLRI Official Website
• XLRI Admissions Prospectus 2025 (primary source)
• XLRI 69th Annual Convocation Brochure 2025 (primary source)