MBA Entrance Exam 2026 Reservation Criteria & Guidelines for Reserved Category Students
Get all the information related to reservation criteria and guidelines for applying for top MBA entrance exams under Reserved categories.
Eligibility Criteria for MBA Course
The admission process for MBA entrance exams 2026 varies across different exams in India. Each MBA entrance exam has its own set of eligibility criteria, application fees, and reservation policies for categories such as General, SC, ST, OBC, and others. For instance, exams like CAT, CMAT, and IIFT offer reduced application fees for reserved category candidates, typically up to 50% lower than the fees for General category applicants. On the other hand, exams such as XAT and SNAP charge the same application fee for all candidates, regardless of category.
When it comes to MBA seat reservation, exams like CAT and MAH CET follow the reservation guidelines set by the Government of India, ensuring a fixed percentage of seats for reserved categories. On the other hand, private MBA entrance exams such as SNAP and MICAT do not have any MBA admission reservation policy, and admissions are based purely on merit.
Shiksha has compiled important information regarding MBA entrance exam registration under the reserved category. In this article, you will get all information related to reservation criteria and guidelines viz top MBA exams including CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, MAH CET, MICAT, MAT.
- MBA Reservation
- Reservation Criteria for MBA Admissions 2026
- Top MBA Entrance Exams: Eligibility Criteria for Reserved category students and application fee
- Top MBA Colleges in India with NIRF Ranking 2025
MBA Reservation
Some of the common reserved categories in MBA exams are:
- Schedule Caste (SC)
- Schedule Tribe (ST)
- Physical Disabled (PD)/ Person with Disability (PwD)
- Other Backward Classes- Non- Creamy layer (NC-OBC)
A few MBA entrance exams have reservations for categories like Jammu & Kashmir Migrants, state-specific reservations, wards of defence personnel, etc. There are two key points that every aspirant applying under the reserved category must check before applying for any MBA exam:
1. The applicant must have a valid certificate attested by the concerned authority, otherwise the candidates will be considered as General category candidates.
2. The candidates must also verify before filling up the application form that it is important to check the eligibility criteria of the respective exam and individual institutes under the exam.
Reservation Criteria for MBA Admissions 2026
Take a look at the detailed category requirements meant for different MBA exams:| Exam Name |
Categories |
Seats Reserved in Institutes |
Certificates Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Person with disability (PwD)/ Differently Abled (DA) are divided in three categories: a) Low vision blindness b) Hearing impairment c) Loco-motor disability/cerebral palsy 2. Other Backward Classes: Non- Creamy layer (NC-OBC) 3. Schedule Caste (SC) 4. Schedule Tribe (ST) |
SC: 15% ST: 7.5% NC: OBC- 27% EWS: 10% PwD/DA: 5% |
1. NC-OBC Certificates 2. SC/ST certificates 3. Certificate for Persons with Disabilities |
|
| No reservation |
NA |
NA |
|
| 1. Schedule Caste (SC) 2. Schedule Tribe (ST) 3. Physical Disabled (PD) |
- |
1. Caste Certificate 2.Physical Disabled Scribe Form |
|
| 1. Scheduled Caste (SC) 2. Scheduled Tribes (ST) 3. Differently Abled Category (DAC)
|
SC: 15% ST: 7.5% DAC: 3% Kashmiri Migrants: 2 seats per programme International Candidates: 1 % |
- |
|
| No reservation |
- |
- |
|
| No reservation |
- |
- |
|
| No reservation |
- |
- |
|
| No reservation |
- |
- |
|
| No reservation |
- |
- |
|
| 1. Maharashtra candidates 2. All India candidates (for MS and OMS candidates) 3. Jammu & Kashmir Migrant candidates 4. Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin/Children of Indian workers in the Gulf countries candidates 5. Ward of NRI candidates 6. Institute Level Seats 7. Minority candidates*
|
Maharashtra Seats: 85% All India Seats (for MS and OMS candidates): 15% Jammu & Kashmir Migrant Seats: 1 seat over and above the sanctioned intake capacity in each management institute Foreign Nationals/Persons of Indian Origin/Children of Indian workers in the Gulf countries Seats: 15% Ward of NRI Seats: 5% Institute Level Seats: 20% Reservation for EWS Candidate: 10% Reservations for Orphan Candidates: 1% *Reservation for Backward Class Category Candidates (belonging to Maharashtra State): 66% |
1. Candidates belonging to SC, VJ/DT (NT(A)), NT(B), NT(C), NT(D), OBC and SBC categories should produce “Caste Validity Certificate” issued by Scrutiny Committee of Social Welfare Department 2. The Candidate belonging to ST category should submit “Tribe Validity Certificate” issued by Scrutiny Committee of Tribal Department 3. Candidates belonging to VJ/DT (NT(A)), NT(B), NT(C), NT(D), OBC and SBC categories should produce “Non Creamy layer Certificate” issued by Sub Divisional Officer / Deputy Collector of the district in addition to the caste certificate |
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Castes Converts to Buddhism (SC ): 13%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7%
- Vimukta Jati & Denotified Tribes (VJ/DT) i.e. NT (A): 3%
- Nomadic Tribes: 1 (NT-B): 2.5%
- Nomadic Tribes: 2 (NT-C): 3.5%
- Nomadic Tribes: 3 (NT-D): 2%
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 19%
- Socially and Economically Backward Classes: 66%
Top MBA Entrance Exams: Eligibility Criteria for Reserved category students and application fee
Listed below in the table is information on eligibility criteria and application fees of top MBA entrance exams for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
| Exam Name |
Eligibility |
Application Fees |
|---|---|---|
| The minimum aggregate required in graduation for SC/ST/PwD candidates is 45% For the General category, it is 50% |
The application fee for SC/ST /PwD candidates is INR 1,250 Application fee for General & NC-OBC candidates is INR 2,500 |
|
| Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all candidates |
Application fee for all students is INR 2,200 |
|
| Minimum 45%aggregate in graduation for Reserved category 50% for aggregate General category candidates |
Application fee for reserved category students is INR 1250 Application fee General Category students (Female) is INR 1250 Application fee General Category students (Male) is INR 2500 |
|
| Minimum 45% aggregate in graduation for Reserved category 50% for General category |
Application fee for all students is INR 2,250 |
|
| Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all |
Application fee for all students is INR 3000 plus taxes |
|
| No minimum marks are required to apply |
Application fee for all students is INR 2200 for all candidates (One attempt) |
|
| Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all |
Application fee for all students is INR 2000 for all candidates 25% concession for women candidates and 50% concession for candidates belonging to the seven northeastern states |
|
| Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all |
Application fee for all students is INR 1800 |
|
| Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all |
Application fee for all students is INR 2100 for all candidates |
|
| Minimum 45% aggregate in graduation for candidates of backward class categories and PwD belonging to Maharashtra State only) 50 per cent marks for General category |
Application fee for General Category Maharashtra State, Outside Maharashtra State and J&K Migrant candidates is INR 1000 Application fee for Reserved Category & Physically Handicapped Candidates belonging to Maharashtra State is INR 800 |
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
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27 Apr '26
15 Oct '25 - 30 Apr '26
30 Apr '26
30 Apr '26
1 Apr '26 - 25 May '26
Top MBA Colleges in India with NIRF Ranking 2025
Candidates can refer the table below to know the list of Top MBA colleges in India with NIRF ranking along with the MBA entrance exam score accepted:
| Institute Name |
NIRF Rankings 2025 |
Overall Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
83.29 |
|
| 2 |
81.56 |
|
| 3 |
79.85 |
|
| 4 |
78.94 |
|
| 5 |
77.97 |
|
| 6 |
77.58 |
|
| 7 |
77.34 |
|
| 8 |
75.68 |
|
| 9 |
71.96 |
|
| 10 |
70.63 |
For admission to top MBA institutes in India candidates must ensure to fulfill the prescribe eligibility criteria and provide the required documents in case of reserved category.
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Shruti Garg is a graduate in English and Education with over 7 years of experience in content writing/editing and education journalism. At Shiksha.com, Shruti covers UG and PG entrance exams like MBA entrance exams,
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