Work experience is not mandatory for most MBA programs in Maharashtra, including those offered by JBIMS, NMIMS, and SIBM. However, certain institutes and specific programs—such as SPJIMR’s PGDM (which prefers 24+ months of experience) or IIM Nagpur’s Executive MBA—give significant weightage to professional experience during shortlisting and final selection. In regular MBA programs under DTE Maharashtra, freshers are eligible and form the majority of intake. That said, having work experience can strengthen a candidate’s profile during Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds, especially for competitive colleges.