Should candidates from non-creamy undergrads (non-IIT/NIT/BITS) target the new and baby IIMs?

Yes, if your undergraduate college carries limited corporate brand weight, even a new or baby IIM is worth serious consideration. The IIM tag does real work for you precisely when your UG institution does not.

This asymmetry is the core of the decision.

Why UG Brand Changes the Calculus

Recruiters at mid-tier and large corporates run mental shortcuts. A candidate from a lesser-known state college plus a new IIM gets read primarily as an IIM graduate.

A candidate from IIT Bombay or SRCC plus a new IIM gets read as an IIT/SRCC graduate who did not crack an older IIM. The tag's marginal value depends entirely on what it is replacing in the recruiter's mental shortlist.

This is not speculation. Campus placement reports from newer IIMs like IIM Raipur, IIM Amritsar, and IIM Sirmaur show average packages in the ₹11-16 LPA range, with top offers occasionally touching ₹25-30 LPA from firms like Deloitte, KPMG, and Accenture.

These numbers are not spectacular, but they are often significantly above what the same candidate would access from a strong private MBA at an equivalent rank.

The Alternative Matters More Than the College

The honest comparison is not "new IIM vs. IIM Ahmedabad." That comparison is irrelevant for most applicants reading this. The real comparison is new IIM versus your next-best realistic option.

Compounding Over Five Years

Starting at ₹12 LPA from a new IIM is not a permanent ceiling. Lateral hiring after two to three years values your MBA institution far less than your performance record.

Candidates who join decent firms through new IIMs and build functional expertise in finance, consulting, or operations frequently cross ₹25-35 LPA within five years. The early gap between new IIM and older IIM outputs narrows considerably by mid-career, especially for non-creamy UG candidates who have fewer competing signals to fall back on.

When to Be More Selective

If your UG is from an IIT, NIT, or a name-brand Delhi University college, your recruiter optionality is already higher. In that case, accepting a baby IIM over a strong Tier-1 private school (like SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, or NMIMS Mumbai) deserves harder scrutiny.

The IIM tag adds less marginal value when you already carry a recognized pedigree. Do not default to "IIM always wins." That is lazy logic that ignores placement data.

The decision rule is simple: if the IIM tag is doing heavy lifting your UG brand cannot do, take it. If your UG already provides recruiter access, be selective about which IIM or MBA program you accept.