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CAT Cut Off for IIMs 2026: Category-Wise, Sectional Cutoffs & Admission Trends

23 June, 2026
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Key Highlights

✔ CAT cutoffs vary across IIMs and differ by category, program, and admission stage.

✔ Top IIMs such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta typically require 99+ percentile for General-category candidates.

✔ Clearing the qualifying cutoff only ensures eligibility; final selection depends on WAT, PI, academics, work experience, and composite scores.

✔ Most IIMs also have sectional cutoffs in VARC, DILR, and QA that candidates must clear.

✔ CAT cutoffs change annually based on exam difficulty, applicant volume, seat availability, and institute reputation.

The CAT 2026 admission cycle is underway, and candidates can use the latest published IIM admission policies and recent conversion trends to estimate the percentile needed for calls from various institutes.  

While each IIM sets its own shortlist criteria, candidates targeting the top IIMs generally need a very high percentile for a competitive chance in the General category. Category-specific requirements vary significantly across institutes.

The mentors at IMS India decode the nuances of IIM CAT cutoffs, sectional thresholds, category-wise requirements, and strategies to maximise your admission prospects across all 21 IIM campuses.

What is the CAT Cut Off for IIMs and Why Does It Matter?

The CAT cut-off determines your eligibility for the next selection stages. The CAT cut-off for IIM refers to the minimum percentile score that candidates must achieve to qualify for further selection rounds at Indian Institutes of Management, such as:

  • Shortlisting for WAT–PI
  • Composite score calculation
  • Final merit list preparation

Each IIM decides its own CAT cut off, which may vary based on:

  • Program (PGP / MBA)
  • Category (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD)
  • Number of applicants
  • Difficulty level of the CAT paper
  • Academic and diversity requirements

Understanding IIM CAT cutoffs, sectional cutoffs, and how they differ across institutes is crucial, not just for shortlisting but also for realistic target setting. Unlike fixed mark-based cutoffs, IIM cutoffs are expressed as percentiles.

CAT percentiles are calculated using a normalisation process conducted by IIMs and are based on a candidate’s relative performance compared to all test-takers. The exact methodology may vary slightly from year to year.

It means that if you’re in the 99th percentile, your performance exceeds that of 99% of test-takers.

Types of CAT Cut Offs for IIMs

IIM cutoffs operate at two distinct levels: the qualifying cutoff (minimum eligibility threshold announced before CAT results) and the final cutoff (the actual percentile at which selection occurs, announced after results).

The distinction is critical because meeting the qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible for interview rounds, not guaranteed selection. The final admission depends on performance across all evaluation parameters.

Qualifying CAT Cut Off

  • Minimum percentile required to apply or be considered before CAT results.
  • Declared officially by IIMs.
  • Usually lower than actual selection cutoffs.

Final CAT Cut Off

  • Actual percentile at which candidates are shortlisted for WAT–PI.
  • Announced after results.
  • Generally much higher than qualifying cutoffs.

Category-Wise CAT Cut Off of IIM

Here are the category-wise cut-offs for IIMs analysed by IMS India:

IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Ahmedabad – MBA
General (87.1), EWS (99.39), NC-OBC (86.5), SC (82.86), ST (72.4), PWD (70.67)
2023-25
Final Convert Cutoff
General (93.76), EWS (98.2), NC-OBC (79.02), SC (73.68), ST (74.52), PWD (79.32)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoff
General (93.9), EWS (98.94), NC-OBC (87.87), SC (76.9), ST (60.01), PWD (81.81)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoff
IIM Ahmedabad – MBA-FABM
General (73.25), EWS (90.52), NC-OBC (74.81), SC (66.25), ST (65.41)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs
General (89), EWS (91.61), NC-OBC (82.9), SC (65.54), ST (74.99), PWD (85.85)
2023-25
Final Convert Cutoffs
General (80.52), EWS (88.77), NC-OBC (82.11), SC (69.97), ST (72.01)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

IIM Kozhikode CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Kozhikode – PGP
General (90.85), EWS (76.51), NC-OBC (75.41), SC (66.81), ST (56.54), PWD (56.13)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Kozhikode – PGP
General (91.94), EWS (80.45), NC-OBC (79.01), SC (65.11), ST (55.16), PWD (62.96)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Kozhikode – PGP
General (88.14), EWS (85.67), NC-OBC (75.42), SC (67.06), ST (57.02), PWD (75.15)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Kozhikode – PGP LSM
General (84.62), EWS (85.53), NC-OBC (76.11), SC (73.93), ST (68.2), PWD (70.3)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Kozhikode – PGP Finance
General (86.74), EWS (90.85), NC-OBC (80.31), SC (65.23), ST (66.65), PWD (70.3)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Kozhikode – PGP Finance
General (89.06), EWS (86.4), NC-OBC (83.06), SC (72.11), ST (72.65), PWD (80.26)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

IIM Bangalore CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (93.26), EWS (79.5), NC-OBC (83.53), SC (71.83), ST (67.04), PWD (93.14)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (86.18), EWS (89.88), NC-OBC (81.01), SC (76.21), ST (73.91)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (91.97), EWS (90.16), NC-OBC (82.65), SC (75.12), ST (74.52), PWD (83.53)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (99.62), EWS (89.89), NC-OBC (97.23), SC (92.22), ST (79.66), PWD (95.41)
2024-26
MBA BA, Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (86.19), EWS (89.88), NC-OBC (81.01), SC (76.21), ST (73.91)
2024-26
MBA BA, Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bangalore – MBA + MBA BA
General (93.03), EWS (90.31), NC-OBC (82.65), SC (80.37), ST (75.82), PWD (80.46)
2024-26
MBA BA, Final Convert Cutoffs

 

IIM Lucknow CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch
IIM Lucknow – MBA + MBA-ABM
General (52.92), EWS (35.69), NC-OBC (35.86), SC (26.11), ST (10.93), PWD (13.18)
2022-24
IIM Lucknow – MBA + MBA-ABM
General (48.96), EWS (33.34), NC-OBC (32.94), SC (26.22), ST (17.73), PWD (14.03)
2023-25
IIM Lucknow – MBA + MBA-ABM
General (48.8), EWS (35.43), NC-OBC (38.28), SC (27.14), ST (19.4), PWD (8.73)
2024-26
IIM Lucknow – MBA + MBA-ABM
General (47.64), EWS (32.22), NC-OBC (32.78), SC (20.61), ST (10.29), PWD (13.18)
2022-24
IIM Lucknow – MBA + MBA-ABM
General (44.54), EWS (29.93), NC-OBC (29.44), SC (20.51), ST (9.45), PWD (11.11)
2023-25
IIM Lucknow – MBA-SM
General (39.78), EWS (21.99), NC-OBC (18.29), SC (14.96), ST (15.85), PWD (19.77)
2022-24
IIM Lucknow – MBA-SM
General (35.11), EWS (21.58), NC-OBC (19), SC (12.38), ST (12.55), PWD (18.11)
2023-25

 

IIM Calcutta CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Calcutta – MBA
General (56.49), EWS (51.03), NC-OBC (48.63), SC (41.2), ST (34.35)
2022-24
Shortlisting Stage Cutoffs
IIM Calcutta – MBA
General (51.3), EWS (46.95), NC-OBC (44.78), SC (38.71), ST (33.91)
2024-26
Shortlisting Stage Cutoffs

 

Watch IMS Expert’s Video of CAT 2025 SLOT 1 Cutoffs:

 

CAT 2025 SLOT 2 Cutoffs

 

IIM Mumbai CAT Cutoff 

IIM Mumbai – MBA
General (97)
2025-27
IIM Mumbai – OSCM
General (97)
2025-27
IIM Mumbai – SM
General (97)
2025-27

 

IIM Trichy CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM-Trichy – PGPM + PGPM-HR
General (77.77), EWS (72.9), NC-OBC (72.74), SC (66.68), ST (59.13), PWD (52.04)
2022-24
PGPM, Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM-Trichy – PGPM + PGPM-HR
General (77.64), EWS (72.59), NC-OBC (72.38), SC (64.54), ST (56.06), PWD (50.4)
2023-25
PGPM, Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM-Trichy – PGPM + PGPM-HR
General (82.54), EWS (75.81), NC-OBC (76.06), SC (70.43), ST (63.01), PWD (68.96)
2024-26
PGPM, Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Vishakhapatnam CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Visakhapatnam – PGP
General (82.03), EWS (72.05), NC-OBC (72.11), SC (51.33), ST (41.54), PWD (40.01)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

IIM Indore CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Indore – PGP
General (67.25), EWS (59), NC-OBC (58), SC (50.68), ST (31.55), PWD (21.04)
2022-24
IIM Indore – PGP
General (90.75), EWS (91.73), NC-OBC (80.21), SC (65.38), ST (51.9)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Indore – PGP
General (63.9), EWS (56.77), NC-OBC (55.21), SC (50.91), ST (44.83), PWD (20.53)
2023-25
IIM Indore – PGP
General (90.72), EWS (92.99), NC-OBC (80.17), SC (63.31), ST (48.34), PWD (45.12)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Indore – PGP
General (60.01), EWS (53.66), NC-OBC (51.5), SC (46.98), ST (40.95), PWD (11.75)
2025-27
IIM Indore – PGP-HRM
General (70.5), EWS (61.6), NC-OBC (58.52), SC (50.91), ST (39), PWD (14.05)
2025-27
IIM Indore – PGP-HRM
General (93.73), EWS (96.82), NC-OBC (84.6), SC (65.03), ST (48.34), PWD (67.18)
2025-27
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Jammu CAT Cutoff 

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Jammu – MBA
General (93.14), EWS (91.48), NC-OBC (78.87), SC (78.98), ST (37.88), PWD (38.46)
2022-24
IIM Jammu – MBA
General (87.03), EWS (67.06), NC-OBC (71.13), SC (51.07), ST (36.46), PWD (40.32)
2023-25
IIM Jammu – MBA (HA & HM)
General (93.05), EWS (66.75), NC-OBC (71.59), SC (50.47), ST (39.63)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Jammu – MBA (HA & HM)
General (85.64), EWS (68.3), NC-OBC (71.24), SC (49.02), ST (44.85), PWD (36.03)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Rohtak CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch
IIM Rohtak – PGP
General (95), EWS (90), NC-OBC (78), SC (55), ST (30), PWD (30)
2022-24
IIM Rohtak – PGP
General (95), EWS (90), NC-OBC (78), SC (55), ST (30), PWD (30)
2023-25
IIM Rohtak – PGP
General (96), EWS (92), NC-OBC (82), SC (60), ST (50), PWD (40)
2024-26

 

 

IIM Kashipur CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Kashipur – MBA + MBA Analytics
General (92), EWS (70.16), NC-OBC (74.07), SC (54.03), ST (40.09), PWD (40.08)
2022-24
MBA
IIM Kashipur – MBA + MBA Analytics
General (94), EWS (77.37), NC-OBC (77.33), SC (60.76), ST (40.18), PWD (40.01)
2023-25
MBA
IIM Kashipur – MBA + MBA Analytics
General (92), EWS (71.54), NC-OBC (74.01), SC (54.29), ST (54.29), PWD (48.34)
2024-26
MBA
IIM Kashipur – MBA + MBA Analytics
General (50.59), EWS (68.23), NC-OBC (25.48), SC (40.21), ST (21.64), PWD (12.39)
2022-24
MBA Analytics

 

 

IIM Sirmaur CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Sirmaur – MBA
General (80.23), EWS (61.42), NC-OBC (60.15), SC (47.16), ST (35.64)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Sirmaur – MBA
General (92), EWS (71.01), NC-OBC (74.01), SC (54), ST (40.43), PWD (40.58)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Sirmaur – MBA Tourism
General (85.05), EWS (59.22), NC-OBC (56.2), SC (40.59), ST (37.61)
2023-25
IIM Sirmaur – MBA Tourism
General (80.62), EWS (56.95), NC-OBC (57.59), SC (43.22), ST (39.07)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

CAT Cut Off for IIM Raipur

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Raipur – PGP
General (71.57), EWS (68.14), NC-OBC (67.7), SC (60.53), ST (50.63), PWD (31.25)
2022-24
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Raipur – PGP
General (74.97), EWS (70.42), NC-OBC (69.19), SC (62.19), ST (48.19), PWD (33.8)
2023-25
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Raipur – PGP
General (72.88), EWS (69.26), NC-OBC (69.68), SC (60.64), ST (52.13), PWD (34.27)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Udaipur CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch
IIM Udaipur – MBA
General (92), EWS (70.02), NC-OBC (74.01), SC (54.03), ST (40.51), PWD (40.08)
2022-24
IIM Udaipur – MBA
General (92), EWS (70), NC-OBC (74), SC (54), ST (40), PWD (40)
2023-25
IIM Udaipur – MBA
General (94), EWS (77), NC-OBC (77), SC (60), ST (40), PWD (40)
2024-26
IIM Udaipur – MBA
General (92.77), EWS (81.11), NC-OBC (77.03), SC (56.77), ST (55.55), PWD (62.9)
2025-27

 

 

IIM Nagpur CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Nagpur – MBA
General (85.15), EWS (85.19), NC-OBC (76.54), SC (60.1), ST (40.62), PWD (40.25)
2022-24
IIM Nagpur – MBA
General (94), EWS (77.01), NC-OBC (77), SC (60.02), ST (40.18), PWD (40.01)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Nagpur – MBA
General (90.16), EWS (80), NC-OBC (77.66), SC (60.97), ST (48.98), PWD (42.25)
2024-26
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Bodh Gaya CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Bodh Gaya – MBA
General (55.29), EWS (51.44), NC-OBC (49.47), SC (44.54), ST (30.77), PWD ()
2023-25
Final Convert Cutoffs
IIM Bodh Gaya – MBA
General (90), EWS (68), NC-OBC (72), SC (52), ST (37), PWD (37)
2022-24

 

CAT Cut Off for IIM Shillong

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Shillong – PGP
General (60.99), EWS (55.69), SC (39.85), ST (35.92)
2023-25
Final Convert Cutoffs

 

 

IIM Sambalpur CAT Cutoff

IIM & MBA Program Category-Wise Cutoff  Batch Remarks
IIM Sambalpur – MBA
General (92), EWS (70), NC-OBC (74), SC (54), ST (40), PWD (40)
2024-26
IIM Sambalpur – MBA
General (92), EWS (70), NC-OBC (74), SC (54), ST (40), PWD (40)
2023-25

 

CAT Score vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)

While CAT scores will officially be released only in January. The CAT answer key is out now. Based on the key, you can accurately gauge your score and compare it to previous years’ scores to get a fair idea of your percentile. And then, based on those percentiles, you can figure out the cutoffs you will most likely clear and the colleges to expect a call from.

Now that we have an idea of CAT scores, we can speculate about the percentile you’ll need for CAT 2026. Beware, the CAT cutoff is expected to track upwards due to the lower difficulty level of the exam. You can compare CAT scores vs percentiles to check the required scores.

CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor

Calculate your CAT 2025 Percentile

Even with a 99+ overall percentile, failure to clear a single sectional cut-off can result in direct rejection. Top IIMs such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta generally require very high percentiles for General category candidates.

The other IIMs, like Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode, might have cutoffs in the range of 91–99.5. Historically, the percentile required for a shortlist from top IIMs has been significantly higher than the published qualifying cutoff.

For older, legacy IIMs, General-category candidates should typically aim well above the minimum qualifying cutoffs to have a realistic chance of a shortlist. For newer IIMs, the final call can still vary depending on category, academic profile, and competition in that year.

CAT Sectional Cut Offs for Top IIMs

IIM VARC  DILR  QA
IIM Ahmedabad 85 85 85
IIM Bangalore 80 75 75
IIM Calcutta 80 75 75
IIM Lucknow 85 85 85
IIM Kozhikode 75 75 75
IIM Indore 80 80 80
IIM Shillong 75 75 75

Disclaimer: These figures should be used as qualifying thresholds, not as guarantees of admission. The actual shortlist depends on composite scoring, profile, category, and interview performance.

If you’re targeting admission to an IIM, understanding both qualifying cutoffs and actual shortlist trends is essential. While meeting the qualifying cutoff keeps you eligible for consideration, final shortlisting depends on a combination of CAT percentile, academic profile, work experience, diversity factors, and interview performance.

Read More – Top MBA Colleges of India – Compare fees, placement, and RoI

CAT Sectional Cut Offs for Top IIMs

The minimum qualifying cutoff is only used to determine eligibility for the GDPI process. Clearing these cutoffs does not guarantee a place on the shortlist.

IIM Minimum Qualifying Cutoff
IIM Ahmedabad 95
IIM Bangalore 85
IIM Calcutta 85
IIM Lucknow 90
IIM Indore 90
IIM Kozhikode 85
IIM Mumbai 85
IIM Tiruchirappalli 95
IIM Shillong 75
IIM Raipur 95
IIM Ranchi 95
IIM Kashipur 95
IIM Rohtak 96
IIM Udaipur 94
IIM Nagpur 94
IIM Visakhapatnam 82
IIM Amritsar 90
IIM Bodh Gaya 92
IIM Jammu 92
IIM Sirmaur 95
IIM Sambalpur 95

Read More – MBA vs PGDM – Differences, salaries, jobs, higher education

Minimum Qualifying CAT Cutoffs Across IIMs

IIM cutoffs are not static; they fluctuate annually based on exam difficulty, the number of test-takers, seat availability, and the institute’s reputation.

Exam Difficulty Level: When the CAT paper is easier, more candidates score high marks, which can push percentiles upward for a given raw score. Larger applicant pools also increase competition and can make shortlisting stricter.

Number of Test-Takers: When CAT attracts 3.5–4 lakh candidates (recent years), percentile inflation is severe—a 99 percentile might require 120+ raw marks instead of 110+ in lower-participation years. More applicants naturally push qualifying cutoffs higher.

Percentage of Qualifiers: If 70% of candidates score above 90 percentile due to an easier paper, IIMs may raise the minimum qualifying cutoff from 85 to 90 percentile to maintain admission standards.

Seat Availability: Seat availability and institute reputation also matter because highly ranked IIMs attract stronger applicant pools, which keeps their shortlist thresholds higher than those of newer institutes.

Institute Reputation: Higher-ranked institutes (as per NIRF, QS, etc.) attract superior applicants, enabling slightly higher cutoffs. Tier 1 IIMs consistently maintain the highest standards, while newer institutes have gradually increased their standards as their reputation grows.

Cutoff Trends: IIMs don’t dramatically change cutoffs year-on-year. They maintain relative consistency, adjusting marginally for the factors above. This provides aspirants with historical cutoff data for reasonable predictions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What CAT percentile is required for IIM Ahmedabad?

Most General category candidates who receive interview calls from IIM Ahmedabad typically score above the 99th percentile, although profile-based shortlisting can influence outcomes.

Is clearing the CAT cutoff enough for admission into an IIM?

No. Clearing the cutoff only makes a candidate eligible for further evaluation. Final admission depends on WAT, PI, academics, work experience, and composite score calculations.

Do all IIMs have sectional cutoffs?

Most IIMs consider sectional performance in VARC, DILR, and QA, though the exact thresholds vary across institutes and categories.

What is the difference between the qualifying cutoff and the final cutoff?

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile required for consideration, while the final cutoff is the percentile range at which candidates receive interview calls or admission offers.

Can candidates with 90th percentile get IIM calls?

Yes. Several newer IIMs and category-based admissions may issue calls at or below the 90 percentile, depending on profile and reservation category.

 

 

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