Several company officials and HR heads ET spoke to say a classical MBA degree is losing out to the current market trend of hiring talent with specialised skills and those who come at a lesser cost. Ironically, this fall in demand for MBA degree holders comes at a time when their supply is increasing. A record 330,000 candidates from across India registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2023, a 30% increase from the previous year - a reflection of the aspirational value of the degree.