Is US MBA losing its sheen? Gender gap doesn't spare the boardroom, and more news

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Fewer Indians are seeking admission to US business schools. Data from the Graduate Management Admission Council shows that 45% of those who sat for the GMAT this year sent their scores to American B-schools, down from 57% in 2015. Half the international students who didn’t apply said weak job prospects were a deterrent, besides factors such as the political environment, safety fears and stricter visa rules. Global applications to MBA programmes in the US fell 9.1% this year, after 7% in 2018. One upside? The odds of acceptance are starting to look better, reports the FT. Join the conversation.

Women’s representation on corporate boards in India continues to lag global average, shows a Credit Suisse study of 3,000 firms across 56 countries. The share of women on company boards rose 4.3 percentage points in the last five years to 15.2%, but it’s still much below the global figure of 20.6%. Women are even more under-represented (8.5%) in senior management roles, rarely occupying the CEO or CFO office. India has made it mandatory to have at least one woman director on company boards, but businesses seem to be doing the bare minimum to comply with the rule. Join the conversation.

Sports utility vehicles are likely to overtake hatchbacks as the top-selling automobile category next year, sales trends suggest. SUVs made up 40% of passenger vehicle volumes in September – just five percentage points behind small cars, which commanded 60-70% of the market a decade ago. What's driving this? Urban buyers’ rising preference for modern, spacious and safer cars. Automakers have responded with a bevy of launches across price segments, from mid-sized models such as the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Venue to "baby SUVs" like the Renault Kwid and the Maruti S-Presso. Join the conversation.

Smaller restobars in Delhi may take expensive alcohol brands like Ballantine’s and Chivas off the menu, Economic Times reports. Restaurateurs say the government’s eight-day rule – premium wines, whisky and vodka have to be served within eight days of being opened and any unsold portion has to be disposed of – will mean huge losses. Bar-owners also feel this may make the beverage scene in the city substandard as many may end up stocking only Indian Made Foreign Liquor. The state government’s order – in effect from October 1 – is aimed at checking pilferage and adulteration of liquor. Join the conversation.

Domestic air traffic fell for a fourth straight month in September, forcing the civil aviation regulator to cut 2019 growth forecasts to 4-6%, Mint reports. DGCA data shows Indian carriers flew 11.53 million passengers last month, down from 11.79 million in August. IndiGo accounted for 48% of the traffic, more than the next three airlines combined. 2019 is proving a tough year for Indian aviation, but DGCA feels double-digit growth could return early next year as carriers induct more planes. Join the conversation.

Idea of the day: The general public is perceptive when it comes to whether an apology is genuine or if it’s simply a shallow attempt to minimise damage and “redirect public vitriol in another direction,” Kirstin Ferguson, deputy chair of the ABC, says. Most importantly, apologies should be specific, acknowledge the harm caused and take responsibility. 

“An apology is an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, emotional intelligence, values and ethics. Understanding the way an apology can be given effectively will also be an important way to rebuild trust that may have been lost.”

Nirajita Banerjee, Dipti Jain, Mandar M Bakre and Shajil Kumar

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