MBA Entrance Exam 2025 Reservation Criteria & Guidelines for Reserved Category Students

MBA Entrance Exam 2025 Reservation Criteria & Guidelines for Reserved Category Students

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Shruti
Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on Jul 8, 2025 13:51 IST

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

Eligibility Criteria for MBA Course

The admission process and criteria for various MBA entrance exams 2025 are different. Some MBA exams have different eligibility criteria, application fees, and number of seats reserved for each category such as General category, SC, ST, etc. Some exams, on the other hand, don’t follow the quota system. For example, MBA exams like CAT, CMAT and IIFT exam fees for Reserved category students is 50 per cent less than of the MBA fees for General category students. Still, the XAT and SNAP exam fee is the same for all students.

Similarly, in CAT and MAH CET, seats are reserved for candidates belonging to different categories as per the Reservation guidelines of the Government of India. On the other hand, in private MBA exams like SNAP and MICAT, there is no reservation of seats.

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.

Table of content
  • MBA Reservation
  • Reservation Criteria for MBA Admissions
  • Top MBA Entrance Exams: Eligibility Criteria for Reserved category students and application fee
  • Top MBA Colleges in India with NIRF Ranking 2024

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 

Take a look at the detailed category requirements meant for different MBA exams:

Exam Name

Categories

Seats Reserved in Institutes

Certificates Required

CAT

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

XAT

No reservation

NA

NA

CMAT

1. Schedule Caste (SC)

2. Schedule Tribe (ST)

3. Physical Disabled (PD)

-

1. Caste Certificate   

2.Physical Disabled Scribe Form

SNAP

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 %

 -

NMAT by GMAC

No reservation

-

 -

MAT

No reservation

-

 -

ATMA

No reservation

-

 -

IBSAT

No reservation

-

 -

MICAT

No reservation

-

 -

MAH-CET

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

* Percentage of Reservation
  • 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%
Q:   What is the validity of CAT score?
A:

CAT score is valid for one year at the IIMs and top B-Schools. In some tier 3 and government institutions, CAT score of previous two years are also acceptable. Many B-schools including IIMs have an option of deferment of admission, wherein you can confirm your admission and pay the nominal fee but join the batch in the next year. It is advised that candidates take admission in the same year as their CAT attempt so that they don't have to reappear next year. Given the competition in MBA space, it is difficult to get a good college whether you have a low score or average score. So, incase one is getting a good college, they should take admission and not drop a year to appear for CAT again.

Q:   Do Iims accept MAT score?
A:

No, IIMs do not accept MAT score for MBA Admission. They only accept CAT score for admission to their MBA/PGP programmes. However, MAT score is accepted by over 700 MBA colleges in India including: Amity University GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research Christ University GITAM Institute of Management JIMS Rohini Jain University Taxila Business School, Jaipur SRM University Birla Institute of Management Technology Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Tezpur University Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India IIFM Bhopal YMCA.

Q:   Can I write MAT - CBT exam at my home or will they provide a center for this exam?
A:

For MAT CBT, candidates will be allotted a test centre in the city they shall have selected as preference in the, MAT application form. Candidates can appear for MAT from home in only IBT mode.  MAT CBT is held in the followimg cities: Agra, Ahmedabad, Asansol, Bareilly, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Ernakulam - Kochi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hubballi (Hubli), Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Madurai, Meerut, Mumbai, Mysuru (Mysore), Nashik, Noida, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Rourkela, Shillong, Shimla, Silchar, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Vellore and Vijayawada

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

CAT

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

XAT

Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all candidates

Application fee for all students is INR 2,200

CMAT

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

SNAP

Minimum 45% aggregate in graduation for Reserved category

50% for General category

Application fee for all students is INR 2,250

NMAT by GMAC

Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all

Application fee for all students is INR 3000 plus taxes

MAT

No minimum marks are required to apply

Application fee for all students is INR 2200 for all candidates (One attempt)

ATMA

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

IBSAT

Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all

Application fee for all students is INR 1800

MICAT

Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation for all

Application fee for all students is INR 2100 for all candidates

MAH-CET

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

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Top MBA Colleges in India with NIRF Ranking 2024

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:

College Name NIRF 2024 MBA Exam Score Accepted
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Ahmedabad 1 CAT
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Bangalore 2 CAT
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Kozhikode 3 CAT
Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Delhi 4 CAT
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Calcutta 5 CAT
IIM Mumbai (formerly known as NITIE) 6 CAT
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Lucknow 7 CAT
Indian Institute of Management, (IIM) Indore 8 CAT
XLRI-Xavier School of Management 9 XAT
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay 10 CAT

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.

Q:   What is the IIFT selection criteria?
A:

The IIFT selection criteria includes Writing Skill Assessment (WSA), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). These activities will be conducted in March-April 2025. Since, the admission to 2025 batch will be based on CAT score, candidates who will clear the CAT exam were shortlisted for WSA, GD and PI which is conducted in at several cities. The shortlist will be prepared on the basis of cut offs and the final selection will be done on the basis of candidate's overall performance in all the selection rounds. Certain points out of 100 are attributed to the parameters for selection of candidates for WSA, GD and PI. Check the table below:

IIFT Selection Parameters

Score*

IIFT exam score

73

Class 10 score

10

Class 12 score

10

Academic diversity

Non-Engg = 5, Engg=0

Gender diversity (M=0; F=2)

2

Total score

100

Q:   For how long is MAT score valid?
A:

MAT score is valid for admission for the same academic year in which the candidate has taken the exam. For example, MAT 2025 score will be valid for admission for 2025-2026 MBA batch only. If a candidate wishes to drop a year after taking the MAT exam, then they will have to appear for the exam once again next year. They should however check the eligibility or selection criteria to have a clarity of MAT score of which session/phase is valid for admission in which academic year. For example, for 2025 academic session MAT September and MAT December scores will be valid for admission to some MBA colleges who have the admission cycle of January-February. Whereas, colleges who conduct admission in March-May accept MAT February exam scores for admission. To simplify, MAT test takers must not try to use their score for admission more than one year after appearing for it. They should appear for it again and use the latest score for admission.

Q:   Can I get into MICA with 90 percentile in CAT?
A:

Mica Shela Ahmedabad cutoff 2024 was concluded with the release of last round cutoff list. The cutoff was released as cutoff percentiles. In the last round, the cutoff percentile for the General AI category candidates was 80. In 2023 and 2022, the cutoff percentiles were 80. Thus, the cutoff has remained constant throughout a few years. 

 

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About the Author
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Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Shruti is a graduate in Education and Literature with expertise in exam preparation, admissions, and higher education content. She creates reliable guides and resources to help students acheive their academic and ca Read Full Bio
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Comments

(5)

C

Christy raju

5 years ago

There is any reservation for oec students to apply kmat exam

Reply to Christy raju

S

Shivani BEHL

5 years ago

Is there any reservation for EWS students

Reply to Shivani BEHL

A

Aparna Jeemon

6 years ago

Is there any scholarship for oec /sebc

Reply to Aparna Jeemon

S

Sneha Nirmale

7 years ago

Can I get a list of colleges with SC cutoff

Reply to Sneha Nirmale

a

aboli jumde

8 years ago

Is there any scholarship for sc category