Day Zero Rules

Gradeon Global Education Pvt. Ltd. Last updated: October 2026. Read with our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

1. What Day Zero is

Day Zero is a merit-based selection, free to enter, for the 120 places in Gradeon's 2027 programmes: the PG Diploma in AI Product Management + PGP in Startup Leadership and the PG Diploma in AI Transformation & GCC Management + PGP in Corporate Excellence, in Gurgaon and Bangalore (July 2027 onwards). It does not cover the January 2027 GCC batch at HCMX in Bangalore, which HCMX admits directly. The GCC programme is an HCMX programme. Day Zero is also a way into the Gradeon Boardroom (April 2027): strong entrants may be invited to a Boardroom interview, and people with 2 or more years of experience can also apply to the Boardroom directly. The PG Diploma is awarded by a UGC-recognised university, subject to its approvals. The PGP is awarded by the business school whose campus you join: Gradeon in Gurgaon (Delhi NCR) and HCMX in Bangalore.

2. Who can enter

People aged 18 or older who live in India, of any work experience, including women returning to the workforce and people changing careers. One entry per person. Staff of Gradeon Global and its advisors, and their immediate family, may not enter.

3. Cost

Entry is free. If you are invited to interview, you pay a ₹1,000 interview fee through a payment link we email you. The fee is refunded in full if we cancel or cannot hold your interview. No other fee or deposit is charged at any stage of Day Zero, and the interview fee does not buy a place, a scholarship or any priority.

4. How to enter

Between 1 December 2026, 10:00 am IST, and 21 December 2026, 11:59 pm IST. Complete means all of the following on gradeonglobal.com/day-zero-enter:

• your details and consent;
• your CV, as a PDF or Word file of up to 3 MB;
• one written case chosen for your background, with seven answers of up to 60 words each, in English;
• a link to your own 60-second video, in English, on YouTube (Unlisted) or Google Drive (anyone with the link can view), kept available until 28 February 2027.

You may also add a CAT, MAT, GMAT, GRE or similar test score. It is optional. Entries are accepted in the order received.

5. How entries are judged

By people, in stages. No AI scores or ranks entries. The total is 100 points:

• Interview, 50 points. A video call of 15 to 30 minutes with an advisor, for about 300 entrants, conducted and rated by advisors.
• CV and profile, 20 points. Read by the Gradeon team. A test score, if you add one, can add to this score and can never count against you.
• Written answers, 20 points. Read by the Gradeon team against the published traits.
• The 60-second video, 10 points. Watched by the team.

The traits are described at gradeonglobal.com/day-zero. A minimum standard applies on three traits: first-principles thinking, learning speed and coachability. Ties are broken by the interview score and then by the written score.

6. Timeline

• Entries: 1 to 21 December 2026.
• Review of CVs, answers and videos: 22 December to 6 January. About 300 entrants are invited to interview by 6 January 2027.
• Interviews: 7 January to 5 February.
• Offers of admission: first round by 15 January 2027, final round by 10 February 2027. Offers stay open for 14 days.

Dates may change only as stated in the Terms.

7. Admission and scholarships

The 120 places are filled in rank order of total score among entrants who meet the minimum standard. There is a waitlist of about 50.

Up to 20 admitted candidates receive a scholarship of 25% to 100% of the programme fee of the format you choose. Twenty is a maximum, not a target, and fewer may be awarded. Scholarships are awarded only to people who take part in Day Zero and are admitted, and they are decided by the admission committee and the Board of Advisors on an internal assessment of the whole candidate. We look in particular to support women returning to the workforce or changing careers. A scholarship is a reduction of the fee, not cash. It cannot be transferred or exchanged, and it stays fixed for the whole programme. If you accept an offer, you pay 50% of the balance fee (the programme fee less your scholarship) within 30 days of accepting, and the remaining 50% at least 30 days before the cohort starts. See the Terms for conditions.

8. Sponsored places

Up to 2 places a year may be sponsored, for exceptional achievers, in school, college or beyond the classroom, who show that they cannot otherwise afford the programme. A sponsored place carries a full scholarship, accommodation and a monthly stipend, as stated in the offer. Before an offer, we ask for proof of the achievement and, in confidence, proof of financial need, we meet the candidate's family and we carry out a background check. We do not promise a sponsored place every year, and we award one only if a deserving candidate comes forward.

9. Fair play

We may disqualify an entry that is copied, written by someone else, false, duplicated, abusive, or that tries to manipulate the process. An advisor who knows an entrant will not rate that entrant. Reasonable adjustments are available: tell us in the form or write to admissions@gradeonglobal.com.

10. Your data

Used as described in the Privacy Policy under "Day Zero". Interviews are recorded for review and deleted within 90 days of results.

11. Questions and complaints

admissions@gradeonglobal.com or WhatsApp +91 81236 33644.