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IIM-A Topper Balances Riverside Rides with Rigorous Academic Schedule

The rank one student at IIM Ahmedabad offers insights into maintaining work-life balance while pursuing one of India's most competitive management programmes. The achiever credits early CAT exam preparation during final year graduation as key to securing admission.

LSN India · 7 October 2026

The top-ranked student at IIM Ahmedabad has revealed a daily routine that blends leisure pursuits with demanding coursework, including late-night rides along the Sabarmati riverfront and early morning classes starting at 9 am. The balance between recreational activities and academic commitments offers a window into life at one of India's premier business schools.

In discussing his path to the institute, the student highlighted the importance of beginning competitive exam preparation during the final year of undergraduate studies. This early start on the Common Admission Test (CAT) proved instrumental in achieving the top ranking at IIM Ahmedabad, one of the most selective management institutes in the country.

The student's approach underscores a broader reality for high-achieving management students in India: success at institutions like IIM Ahmedabad requires not only intensive preparation and focus but also the ability to sustain mental and physical well-being throughout the demanding programme. The Ahmedabad campus, located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, provides students with opportunities for outdoor recreation amid their rigorous academic schedules.

With competition for IIM seats intensifying each year, the experiences of top-ranked students serve as reference points for aspiring management professionals across the country. The student's success story reinforces that early, consistent preparation and maintaining a balanced lifestyle can be complementary rather than contradictory pursuits in the journey toward elite management education.