IIMs have strict criteria to shortlist students through the CAT exam. In 2026, the CAT Cutoff for IIMs will increase for multiple reasons. As in every other year, competition will be tough, and candidates will definitely eye top MBA colleges in India. Last year, the cutoff for top IIMs was between 98-100%ile for general category students.
Basically, cutoffs vary by college and reservation category. In this blog, we will walk you through the expected CAT 2026 cutoffs. Note that if you’re eyeing IIM ABC, then you must definitely aim to score 99+%ile. The higher you score, the better your chances of securing admission to top MBA colleges in India.
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Top Factors that Impact the CAT Cutoff for IIMs
Before discussing the CAT Cutoff for IIMs, let’s explain the main reasons that affect it. Check the pointers below:
- Total number of candidates in the Exam: The CAT attracts a large number of candidates every year, which is the main factor affecting the CAT cutoff score.
- Actual Exam Difficulty Level: Depending on the complexity of the Common Admission Test in different slots, IIMs set cutoffs to shortlist meritorious students.
- Previous Year CAT Cutoffs: This is the third most important factor that impacts the cutoff for the upcoming year.
- Seat Capacity of Every Institute: Old IIMs have a lower seat intake but select candidates with a higher Cutoff. However, the baby IIMs keep their CAT cutoff between 85-90%ile
- Reservation Category of the Students: Consider it fair or unfair, but the CAT Cutoff for IIMs also differs every year for General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
What is the Expected CAT Cutoff for IIMs in 2026?
Overall, there are 22 IIMs in India, but each IIM has its own cutoff. Today, cutoffs vary not only by college but also by reservation category. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the cutoffs for different IIMs and also according to all the categories.
IIM CAT Cutoffs For General Category
| List of IIM Colleges in India | Minimum Qualifying CAT Cutoff for IIMs |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 85%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 85%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 90%ile |
| IIM Indore | 90%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85%ile |
| IIM Shillong | 75%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 85%ile |
| IIM Rohtak | 95%ile |
| IIM Amritsar | 90%ile |
| IIM Nagpur | 94%ile |
| IIM Sambalpur | 94%ile |
| IIM Trichy | 94%ile |
| IIM Raipur | 94%ile |
| IIM Ranchi | 92%ile |
| IIM Kashipur | 94%ile |
| IIM Vizag | 82%ile |
| IIM Udaipur | 94%ile |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 94%ile |
| IIM Sirmaur | 94%ile |
| IIM Jammu | 94%ile |
IIM CAT Cutoffs For EWS Category
| Top IIM Colleges in India | Overall Qualifying CAT Cutoff |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 75%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 75%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 82%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75%ile |
| IIM Indore | 90%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 75%ile |
| Baby IIMs | 75-88%ile |
IIM CAT Cutoffs For NC-OBC Category
| Best IIM Colleges in India | Minimum Criteria For CAT Cutoff |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 90%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 75%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 75%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 82%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75%ile |
| IIM Indore | 80%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 75%ile |
| Baby IIMs | 74-80%ile |
IIM CAT Cutoffs For SC Category
| IIM Colleges in India | Mandatory CAT Cutoff for IIMs |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 70%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 70%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 65%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 65%ile |
| IIM Indore | 60%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 70%ile |
| Baby IIMs | 54-60%ile |
IIM CAT Cutoffs For ST Category
| IIM Institutes | CAT Cutoff Criteria For IIMs |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 75%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 65%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 65%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 60%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 55%ile |
| IIM Indore | 60%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 65%ile |
| Baby IIMs | 35-40%ile |
IIM CAT Cutoffs For PwD Category
| Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) | PwD Qualifying CAT Cutoff |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85%ile |
| IIM Bangalore | 60%ile |
| IIM Calcutta | 55%ile |
| IIM Lucknow | 60%ile |
| IIM Kozhikode | 45%ile |
| IIM Indore | 55%ile |
| IIM Mumbai | 55%ile |
| Baby IIMs | 30-42%ile |
What is the CAT Cutoff for Non-IIMs in 2026?
The CAT cutoff for IIMs also differs from that of non-IIMs in India. There isn’t a major difference, and it falls in the same bracket. Go through the expected CAT percentile 2026 for other notable B-schools in India apart from the IIMs.
| Top Non-IIMs in India | Qualifying CAT Cutoff For Non-IIMs |
| IIT Bombay | 99+%ile |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90+%ile |
| TAPMI | 85+%ile |
| NIRMA | 75-85%ile |
| IMI | 85-90%ile |
| Great Lakes | 85+%ile |
| IIT Madras | 95+%ile |
| IMS Ghaziabad | 75-85%ile |
| Welingkar | 70-80%ile |
| XIMB | 90+%ile |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95+%ile |
| SP Jain | 85+%ile |
| National Institute of Industrial Engineering | 95+%ile |
| BITSOM | 94%ile |
| DMS, IIT Delhi | 98+%ile |
| FMS Delhi | 98.20%ile |
| LIBA | 90+%ile |
Maximum CAT Percentile for IIM Admission
On a scale of 0-100, IIMs calculate the CAT Percentile. The CAT Cutoff for IIMs is generally higher for the IIM ABC. Over time, they have set criteria that go up to 99.99+%ile.
Other IIMs have different CAT percentiles, but they also fall in the 90-99%ile range. The higher the institute’s reputation, the higher the cutoff will be because they want to select bright minds for future leadership roles.
| IIMs | Expected Maximum CAT Percentile 2026 |
| IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, IIM Mumbai | 97-99+%ile |
| IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta | 99-99.9+%ile |
| Other New IIMs | 93-97%ile |
| IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Nagpur, IIM Bodh Gaya. IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Amritsar, IIM Jammu | 90-95%ile |
How Should I Study To Achieve CAT Cutoff for IIMs?
More than 3lakhs+ students appear for the CAT exam. This year the number of candidates will increase and so will be the competition and cutoff for IIMs and non-IIMs in India.
Although,if IIM is your ultimate dream and that too IIM ABC then the level of your preparation should be top-notch. Follow these key CAT preparation tips to nail the CAT exam 2026 with 99.99+%ile.
- Appear for at least 2-3 mocks in a week to gauge your CAT preparation skills.
- Keep a error trecker and analyse your mistakes to improve them.
- Focus on making maximum number of correct attempts and avoid random guesses.
- Practice full-length mocks and sectionals within a strict time limit.
- Cover high-weightage topics from the VARC, QA and DILR section.
- Aim to score 99.99+%ile in the full-length mocks and sectionals to boost your confidence.
With just a few days left for the CAT 2026 examination, your preparation needs the right balance of revision and problem-solving. But preparation isn’t just about solving questions on your own; asking doubts, discussing problems, and learning from peers are equally important to strengthen your concepts and improve your approach.
This is where iQuanta’s CAT preparation community comes in. With 47K+ aspirants already connected, the community gives you a space to discuss questions with peers, clear doubts, stay updated with the latest exam details, and access courses, past papers, mocks, free study material, and more all in one place.
The snapshot below gives you a glimpse of the real discussions CAT aspirants have in the community while preparing for the exam.
With the community of 47k+ aspirants, you can get several tricks and smart strategies to conclude your problem-solving for the CAT 2026 examination.
Although, there is various free study material available on the iQuanta CAT preparation app community that streamlines preparation in the right direction. Focus on each module to specify your sectional as well as overall percentile.
To become a part of this amazing community, candidates simply need to download the iQuanta CAT Preparation App and join a growing community of 47K+ aspirants working towards success.
If you’re an Android user, download the iQuanta app from the Google Play Store. iPhone users can download it directly from the App Store and get access to the community, discussions, study resources, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions: CAT Cutoff for IIMs
Yes, you must clear the CAT exam with a good CAT score and percentile. In addition, you must also clear the sectional cutoff in VARC, QA, and DI.
As one of the top-tier MBA colleges in India, IIMA cut-off is 99+%ile. They aim to shortlist only the best brains from the entire pool of candidates.
For this information, you must visit the Admission Policy section of IIMs. In this section, they clearly address their eligibility criteria and qualifying cutoffs.
CAT cutoffs vary across all B-schools in India. Multiple factors affect the cutoff, and it also fluctuates every year. Moreover, old IIMs have the highest cutoff.
Army Institute of Management, Kolkata and many other colleges in India accept low CAT scores. Candidates with 50+%ile can seek admission here and pursue a full-time MBA course.
