Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Sep 21, 2025 19:02 IST

IIM Shortlist 2026 will be announced after CAT 2025 result declaration. Check institute-wise IIM shortlist and WAT-PI dates for MBA admission 2026. Read to know all about IIM shortlist and final admission announcements.

The 21 Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) campuses will start shortlisting of candidates for PGP/MBA admission 2026 in the first week of January 2026 and completed the admission process in May 2026. The IIM PI shortlisting process will after CAT 2025 result announcement. Those who will meet the admission cut off percentiles of the particular IIM are selected for the WAT-PI round. The IIM shortlisting of candidates is based on their CAT score. For 2026 academic year, the qualifying CAT 2025 cut offs will be released between October and December 2025. The qualifying CAT cut offs are usually between 80-90 percentile (General category). The final CAT cut offs are much higher as always. The WAT-PI round will be held in March and April 2026 for all IIMs. Read all about IIM shortlist and admissions 2026 below.

Table of content
  • IIM Shortlisting and Selection Process 2026
  • IIMs WAT-GD-PI: Documents to Carry
  • IIMs Shortlist 2026 Status
  • IIM Admission Status 2026-2028
  • IIM Admission: WAT/GD/PI experience shared by students

IIM Shortlisting and Selection Process 2026

The IIM shortlisting and selection process for MBA admission includes three stages.

Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of their CAT exam score

Once the CAT result is announced, the candidates are asked 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 shortlists the candidates who applied for WAT-GD-PI on the basis of their CAT score and academic record, and send then WAT-GD-PI invite.

Stage 3: Calculation of Composite Score and Final Selection

In the third stage, the composite score of each candidate is calculated on the basis of parameters such as CAT score, WAT-PI performance, academic history, work experience, diversity, etc. to finalise their selection.

Also Read:

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 must 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:

What is IIM CAP 2026: Know dates and process?

What is IIM SAP 2026: Know dates and process?

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IIM Waitlist Movement: Meaning and Past Trends

IIMs Shortlist 2026 Status

The IIM shortlisting process includes online application submission by candidates for Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) and selection of candidates for the same based on their CAT 2025 result and academic record. Candidates will have to fill the shortlist forms to participate in WAT-PI using their CAT login IDs. The WAT-PI round will be conducted in March-April. Given below is the table where the status of IIM shortlists for WAT-GD-PI round for MBA admission 2026 will be updated.

IIMs

IIM shortlist 2026 status

*Number of seats in MBA/PGP

IIM Ahmedabad

To be updated

395

IIM Kozhikode

To be updated

375

IIM Visakhapatnam

To be updated

120

IIM Calcutta

To be updated

460

IIM Lucknow

To be updated

500

IIM Bangalore

To be updated

483

IIM Indore

To be updated

450

IIM Rohtak

To be updated

240

IIM Shillong

To be updated

180

IIM Trichy

To be updated

240

IIM Udaipur

To be updated

260

IIM Ranchi

To be updated

185

IIM Kashipur

To be updated

240

IIM Raipur

To be updated

260

IIM Amritsar

To be updated

160

IIM Bodhgaya

To be updated

120

IIM Nagpur

To be updated

240

IIM Jammu

To be updated

240

IIM Sambalpur

To be updated

120

IIM Sirmaur

To be updated

120

*Institute wise MBA/PGP seats data is based on previous batch. For the upcoming batch the seat intake may increase. 

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IIM Admission Status 2026-2028

The IIMs will announce final result of MBA/PGP admission online. Check the table below for institute-wise IIM admission status for MBA/PGP batch 2026-2028.

IIM

Admission Status

IIM Ahmedabad

To be updated

IIM Bangalore

To be updated

IIM Calcutta

To be updated

IIM Lucknow

To be updated

IIM Kozhikode

To be updated

IIM Indore

To be updated

IIM Shillong

To be updated

IIM Raipur

To be updated

IIM Nagpur

To be updated

IIM Ranchi

To be updated

IIM Udaipur

To be updated

IIM Amritsar

To be updated

IIM Kashipur

To be updated

IIM Sambalpur

To be updated

IIM Bodhgaya

To be updated

IIM Sirmaur

To be updated

IIM Jammu

To be updated

IIM Trichy

To be updated

IIM Visakhapatnam

To be updated

IIM Rohtak

To be updated

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Q:   What is the average number of CAT 100 percentilers every year?
A:

On an average, about 10-15 CAT aspirants score 100 percentile. Given below is the data of CAT 100 percentilers of last 3 years:

Exam year

CAT 100 percentilers

State wise numbers

CAT 2024

14

1- Andhra Pradesh
2- Delhi
1- Haryana
1-Kerala
5- Maharashtra
1- Odisha
1- Rajasthan
2- Telangana

CAT 2023

14

1 – Andhra Pradesh
1 - Delhi
1 – Gujarat
1 – Jammu & Kashmir
1 - Karnataka
1 - Kerala
4 – Maharashtra
1 – Tamil Nadu
2 - Telangana
1 - Uttar Pradesh

CAT 2022

11

2 - Delhi

1 - Gujarat

1 - Haryana

1 - Kerala

1 - Madhya Pradesh

2 - Maharashtra

2 - Telangana

1 - Uttar Pradesh

 

Q:   What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?
A:
The CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow is usually around 97-99 percentile. The two courses - PGP Agri-Business Management (ABM) and PGP Sustainable Management (some) are extremely popular among MBA aspirants who wish to make a career in these areas. The institute also offers PGP programme. The qualifying CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 90 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST and PwD candidates, it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow PGP course. General category: 85 VARC 85 DILR 85 Quantitative Aptitude 90 (Overall) NC-OBC category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall) EWS category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall) SC category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall) ST category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall) PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall) Click here for detailed IIM Lucknow admission and selection criteria: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-lucknow-shortlist-admission-criteria-blogId-18509.
Q:   What are the qualifying CAT cutoffs for all the IIMs?
A:

Qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of Iims for Written Ability Test (What) and Personal Interview PI are listed below. Candidates who MET the qualifying CAT cut off, were eligible for What-PI round. These qualifying CAT cut offs are for General Category. The cut offs for Reserved category students are lower:

  1. IIM Ahmedabad: 95 percentile
  2. IIM Bangalore: 85 percentile 
  3. IIM Calcutta: 85 percentile
  4. IIM Lucknow: 90 percentile
  5. IIM Kozhikode: 85 percentile
  6. IIM Indore: 90 percentile
  7. IIM Udaipur: 93 percentile
  8. IIM Shillong: 75 percentile
  9. IIM Trichy: 93 percentile
  10. IIM Visakhapatnam: 80 percentile
  11. IIM Rohtak: 95 percentile
  12. 1IIM Nagpur: 85 percentile
  13. IIM Jammu: 93 percentile 
  14. IIM Ranchi: 90 percentile
  15. IIM Sirmaur: 92 percentile
  16. IIM Bodhgaya: 93 percentile
  17. IIM Sambalpur: 93 percentile
  18. IIM Kashipur: 94 percentile 
  19. IIM Raipur: 93 percentile
  20. IIM Amritsar: 90 percentile

For complete details of IIM selection and admission process read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-shortlist-selection-admission-criteria-blogId-18787.

Q:   How can I get admission in IIM, Calcutta to pursue MBA?
A:

Candidates seeking admission to the MBA course need to visit the official website of the Common Admission Test (CAT) to apply online. Before applying, the aspirants must check the course-specific eligibility criteria. Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT score and several stages of selection. Further, the final selection is done on the basis of CAT score, WAT-PI, academic performance, work experience, and gender diversity. Find below the steps involved in the IIM Calcutta MBA admission process:

  1. CAT registration
  2. Shortlisting candidates based on CAT score and invitation emails
  3. Shortlisted candidates replying for admission
  4. Selection rounds - WAT + PI
  5. Final admission list
  6. Fee payment for admission confirmation
Q:   How can I get admission in IIM Kashipur?
A:

IIM Kashipur offers various certificate, PG and doctoral level programmes in the field of management. Here are some of the most opted courses of IIM Raipur.

MBA: IIM Kashipur offers a two-year full-time MBA programme. Candidates willing to take admission in MBA programme at IIM Kashipur must have a valid CAT score and the candidate must qualify the personal interview (PI) round followed by document verification and fee payment leading to final seat allotment.

Executive MBA: For admission in Executive MBA a two-year full-time programme offered at IIM Kashipur the candidate must have a valid CAT/ GMAT score or should take the EMAT exam conducted by IIM Kashipur. Also, candidate should have two-years of proven work experience and must qualify the personal interview (PI) round.  

Click here to learn more about admission process at IIM Kashipur.

Q:   How can I get admission to IIM Kashipur for MBA?
A:

For admission in MBA programme at IIM Kashipur, candidate must possess a UG degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for reserved categories) and should have a valid CAT score to get shortlisted for the personal interview (PI) round.

Candidates who qualify the personal interview (PI) round followed by document verification and fee payment will finally get selected for admission in MBA programme at IIM Kashipur.

Click here to check which college will you get according to your CAT score.

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About the Author
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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. Read Full Bio
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