IIM Shortlists 2026 for all campuses was announced in January and the interviews were conducted in February-March. The final results for MBA 2026 batch admission was announced in May for all campuses. Read to know all about IIM shortlist and final admission announcements.
All about PI shortlisting process for IIMs
Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) campuses completed the shortlisting process for the Personal Interview round of PGP/MBA admission 2026, in January and conducted the WAT-PI round on February-March. Each campus released the final merit list in May and sent out admission offer letters to selected candidates via email. A few IIMs also released the MBA waitlist to fill up the seats. MBA classes will commence in July, so the admission process is to be completed by June 2026.
The IIM shortlisting of candidates was based on their CAT 2025 result. For 2026 academic year, the qualifying CAT cut offs were between 80-90 percentile (General category). The final CAT cut offs were much higher (98-100 percentile ) as always. While the top IIMs conducted the selection process individually, newer IIMs shortlisted candidates through IIM CAP and IIM JAP. Read all about IIM shortlist and admissions 2026 in this article.
- IIM Shortlisting and Selection Process 2026
- IIMs Shortlist 2026 Status
- IIMs WAT-GD-PI: Documents to Carry
- IIM Admission Status 2026-2028 (Final)
- IIM Admission: WAT/GD/PI experience shared by students
IIM Shortlisting and Selection Process 2026
The IIM shortlisting and selection process for MBA admission 2026 included three stages.
Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of their CAT exam score
Candidates had to apply for WAT/GD-PI round by each IIM on its official website basis their CAT score vs CAT cut offs.
Stage 2: Screening of candidates for WAT-GD-PI
In the second stage, the institute shortlisted the candidates who applied for WAT-GD-PI and send them invite.
Stage 3: Calculation of Composite Score and Final Selection
In the third stage, the composite score of each candidate was calculated on the basis of parameters such as CAT score, WAT-PI performance, academic history, work experience, diversity, etc. to finalise their selection for MBA admission.
Also Read:
What is IIM SAP 2026: Know dates and process?
IIM Waitlist Movement: Meaning and Past Trends
IIMs Shortlist 2026 Status
Candidates had to fill the shortlist forms to participate in WAT-PI using their CAT login IDs. The shortlist application window is usually opened for a week only. Check below IIM campus wise seat intake for MBA.
| IIMs |
IIM shortlist 2026 |
*Number of seats in MBA/PGP |
|---|---|---|
| Closed |
395 |
|
| Closed | 375 |
|
| Closed | 120 |
|
| Closed | 460 |
|
| Closed | 500 |
|
| Closed | 483 |
|
| Closed | 450 |
|
| Closed | 240 |
|
| Closed | 180 |
|
| Closed |
240 |
|
| Closed |
260 |
|
| Closed |
185 |
|
| Closed | 240 |
|
| Closed | 260 |
|
| Closed | 160 |
|
| Closed | 120 |
|
| Closed | 240 |
|
| Closed | 240 |
|
| Closed | 120 |
|
| Closed | 120 |
*Institute wise MBA/PGP seats data is based on previous batch. For the upcoming batch the seat intake may increase.
IIMs WAT-GD-PI: Documents to Carry
- Marksheets of Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation (original and self-attested photocopies).
- Caste/class and/or disability certificate in case of SC, ST, NC-OBC and PwD candidates (original and self-attested photocopies).
- Candidates appearing for the final year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) examination had to show a certificate from the Principal/Registrar/Director of the university/institution certifying that he/she has obtained a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate or equivalent (45 per cent in case of the candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD category) in the latest available grades/marks.
Also Read:
CAT 2025 toppers names, scores and percentiles
All About IIM Shortlisting and Selection Process
Check institute-wise IIM cut offs (qualifying and final)
IIM Admission Status 2026-2028 (Final)
Check the table below for institute-wise IIM admission status for MBA/PGP batch 2026-2028.
| IIM |
Admission Status |
|---|---|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
|
| Out |
Commonly asked questions
The CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore hovers between 97-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off required for being eligible for IIM Bangalore's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 85 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST candidates, it is 65 percentile and for PwD candidates it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore.
- General category: 80 VARC 75 DILR 75 Quantitative Aptitude 85 (Overall)
- NC-OBC category: 75 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- EWS category: 70 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- SC category: 65 VARC 60 DILR 60 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
- ST category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 65 (Overall)
- PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
Having a good academic profile for IIM admission is very critical. The top 6 IIMs lay a lot of emphasis on Class 10 and Class 12 score for selection of candidates for WAT-PI round. The academic profile is evaluated again at the time of preparation of final merit list. It has been seen in the past that some candidates despite having 99+ percentile, were not selected for PI round due to low score in Class 12.
The academic profile is assessed for academic as well as gender diversity. Which means a candidate who studied Arts in Class 12 may be selected for PI with lower marks than a candidate who studied Science in Class 12.
Candidates aiming for IIMs must know that while the importance of academic profile is very important for top IIMs, it is moderately important for rest of the IIMs. For, other top MBA colleges, overall profile matters more than academic score. So, if you do not have superlative scores in Class 10 and 12, build a good profile with work experience and extra curricular activities to increase your chances of selection.
CAT cut offs for non-IIMs is usually lower than IIMs.
Top MBA College | CAT Cut Offs (percentile) |
|---|---|
FMS, Delhi | 98-99 |
IIFT Delhi | 95-99 |
SPJIMR, Mumbai | 95-99 |
IMT, Ghaziabad | 95-97 |
JBIMS, Mumbai | 96 |
MDI, Gurgaon | 97-99 |
IMI, New Delhi | 90 |
XIM, Bhubaneshwar | 91 |
GIM Goa | 85 |
K J Somaiya, Mumbai | 86 |
TAPMI, Manipal | 80 |
FORE, New Delhi | 85 |
IFMR, Chennai | 80 |
IRMA, Anand | 80 |
MICA, Ahmedabad | 80 |
LIBA, Chennai | 70 |
XIME, Bangalore | 70 |
IIM Admission: WAT/GD/PI experience shared by students
- Abhishek Roy shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM Lucknow
- Sai Prabhu shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM Calcutta
- Rupesh Gupta shares his IIM Ahmedabad WAT-PI experience
- Abhinav Paigwar shares his IIM Bangalore WAT-PI experience
- Mayank shares his IIM Bangalore WAT-PI experience
- Ahsaas Sharma recalls his WAT-PI experience at IIM Ahmedabad
- Somansh Chordia shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta
- Devesh Bansal recalls PI experience at IIM Kozhikode
- Kislay Jha recalls PI experience at IIM Ahmedabad
- Isha Nisar shares WAT-PI Experience at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore
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Commonly asked questions
CAT cutoffs are usually not announced with the CAT result. The CAT cutoffs are also not released to the public.
They are published after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs opens their shortlisting window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 16 hours ago
IIM Calcutta has only mentioned accepting GMAT score for admission into EMBA courses.
However, CAT is commonly accepted by other similar institutes for both MBA and MBAEx courses. Thus, candidates are advised to ask admission desk for confirmation on this question.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 19 hours ago
It is not possible to determine a candidate's admission in IIM Calcutta MBA course through CAT score alone. In Stage 1, a score 85% in CAT will be enough for a general category candidate to be selected for PI+WAT admission stage.
Final admission cutoffs are based on many factors other than CAT score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 21 hours ago
No, IIM Calcutta cannot get into MBA courses without appearing CAT first. CAT is a mandatory entrance exam and it is conducted every year for admissions into all MBA courses offered by this institute.
However, candidates who are applying for MBAEx course will be required to appear in GMAT for admissi
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
To get a seat at IFMR Chennai, students have to first appear for any one of the entrance exams accepted by the institute for the MBA/PGDM course admission. CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, Andhra Pradesh ICET, IPAMT and SAT India are the entrance exams accepted by this institute for admission to the management
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
No, you cannot use the CAT score for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at this university.
You would need to first appear for the CAT entrance exam, and then get shortlisted for the PI and or GD rounds to be considered for a seat. Since the CAT cutoff is not released publicly, the closest esti
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The Vishwakarma University CAT cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM course for the All India quota.
For the General AI category, the estimated Vishwakarma University MBA cutoff 2025 was 50. Students who gained this percentile are then eligible to enter the second round of admission
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
The National Institute of Bank Management Cutoff 2026 for General AI category in CAT exam is 80.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
No, you cannot use the CAT exam result for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at AIMS Institutes, Bangalore.
The college accepts the CAT, XAT and MAT exam results for admission to the management programme. Students have to first attain the qualifying cutoff percentiles and then sit in the select
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates applying for admission in MBA at IIM Raipur should have qualified the CAT exam. Check below the application fee of CAT:
- INR 2,300 for general category students
- INR 1,150 for SC/ST/PwD students
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To get a seat in the FLAME University of the MBA/PGDM course, you have to appear for any one of the accepted exams, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After clearing the exam, you have to get shortlisted for further admission round, which involves PI or GD.
The FLAME University CAT cutoff 2025 was 75 for the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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