IIM Reservation Policy 2025 for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Exam On - 30 Nov '25
India has as many as 21 IIMs following a common reservation policy laid down by the Government of India. IIM reservation policy includes seats reserved for OBC, SC, ST, EwS, and PwD categories. Seats left after the IIM reservation are allocated for the general category candidates. Check IIM reservation policy 2025 here.
IIM Reservation Policy 2025 for SC, ST, OBC NCL, PwD, EwS
IIM Reservation Policy 2025: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are centrally funded institutes that follow a reservation policy for different social categories in India. The policy ensures representation of various social and economic categories in their PG programs. Under the IIM reservation policy 2025, seats are allocated for OBC, SC, ST, PwD, and EWS categories.
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CAT aspirants must obtain an understanding the IIM reservation criteria in India to plan their preparation. During shortlisting for admissions, the IIM reservation quota 2025 requires a general category candidate to score higher compared to a PwD candidate. This article indicates the IIM reservation policy 2025.
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.
On CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines like cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, etc.:
CAT exam day dos:
- Reach examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2.
- Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos
- PwD candidates should carry relevant certificates and documents.
- Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing attendance sheet
- Cooperate with test centre staff and follow instructions
- 7. While entering answers, use only computer mouse.
- Do not touch keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking.
CAT exam day don'ts:
- Do not carry items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices.
- Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it.
- Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets
- Don't be late for exam. Entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam.
- No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that.
- Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT.
- Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab
- Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.
IIM Reservation Policy 2025
The table below mentions the IIM reservation percentage for SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories:
| Category |
IIM Reservation Criteria |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
15 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
7.5 |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) |
27 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) |
10 |
| Total |
59.5 |
As per the policy a total of 59.5 per cent reservation prevails in IIMs. On top of this reservation, PwD candidates have a horizontal reservation of 5 per cent. Therefore, five per cent of seats for all categories is reserved for PwD candidates.
NOTE: IIMs do not release IIM reservation criteria PDF. The reservation policy is common for all centrally funded institutes
IIM Reservation Criteria for PwD - Horizontal Reservation
PwD candidates who belong to any of the social and economic categories mentioned above have a five per cent reservation among the reserved seats. The table below indicates the PwD IIM reservation criteria for MBA:
| Category |
IIM Reservation Criteria for PwD candidates |
|---|---|
| PwD candidates from SC category |
5% of 15% seats |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
5% of 7.5% seats |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) |
5% of 27% seats |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) |
5% of 10% seats |
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How IIM Reservation Policy works during MBA Admissions via CAT?
The IIM admission process has multiple stages; the reservation policy is applied at each step of the IIM admission to ensure fairness for all categories. During the shortlisting process cutoff scores are defined based on the IIM reservation policy.
IIM Reservation Criteria: Shortlisting for WAT-PI
After CAT results are declared, each IIM releases its shortlist based on CAT cutoff percentile. Reserved category candidates have a slightly lower cutoff percentile compared to the General category candidates. Each IIM has a separate cutoff percentile which keeps varying every admissions session.
The table below mentions category-wise expected cutoff requirements for all IIMs:
| Category |
Approx. Cut-off |
|---|---|
| General |
98+ percentile |
| NC-OBC |
90–92 percentile |
| SC |
80–85 percentile |
| ST |
70–75 percentile |
| PwD* |
60–70 percentile |
For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process.
IIM Reservation Policy during Final Selection
Candidates shortlisted for WAT and PI are evaluated on a composite score that includes:
- CAT percentile
- Academic performance
- Work experience
- Diversity factors
- WAT-PI performance
IIMs prepare a separate merit list for each category (General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD). This ensures that a candidate competes only within their own category.
IIM Reservation Policy in Seat Allotment & Waitlist Movement
IIMs release final selection lists after evaluating candidates on multiple factors. Candidates have to accept or reject the converted seats. Along the selection lists, IIMs publish a waitlist. Vacant seats after rejections are offered to candidates as per the category-wise waitlists. IIMs follow the reservation policy during seat allotment and waitlist movement to ensure the reservation criteria is met as per the IIM reservation policy.
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