MBA Entrance Exam 2025 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 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.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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%
Since MAT is an entrance exam for post graduate level management courses, the minimum eligibility criteria for MAT exam is graduation. Candidate should have completed graduation in full-time or part-time mode in Arts, Commerce or Science from a recognised university. The eligibility criteria for MAT PBT, CBT and IBT are the same. Final year graduation students who will be giving their final exam or awaiting results are also eligible to appear in MAT. There is no minimum score requirement in MAT. Candidates need to have passing marks in graduation.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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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.
MICA ( Mudra institute of communication, Ahmedabad ), admission to MICA is typically through competitive exams like XAT/ GMAT/ MICAT/ CAT. After GE (Group exercise), PI (Personal interview) the college will be announced the final merit list, to avoid the large-scale application and selection process. Student can go for direct admission in MICA management quota seat, NRI quota seat, donation seat.
MICA management quota
- Most private colleges have certain seats reserved, these seats known as management quota admission to this management quota seat is construct on the soul decision of college.
MICA donation seats
- are available on the basis of donation amount, the seats are also called donation seat not all the colleges in India provide donation base seats you need to check for each college.
MICA NRI
- NRI stand for non-resident Indians if you are an NRI and wish to pursue BBA, MBA from a private or autonomous college then you can get direct admission through NRI quota
The next CMAT exam will be held in January 2026. The NTA will start registration for the same in November 2025. Those interested in appearing for the exam are required to register for it at CMAT-NTA website and fill the online application form. The score of CMAT will be valid for one year only, so if you appear for CMAT 2026, you must take admission in the same academic year.
Apart from 1300 B-schools, the CMAT score is also valid for admission through MAH CET CAP. The Maharashtra State CET Cell conducts MBA/MMS admissions for 300 colleges in the state. It is followed by a common counselling process called CAP. CMAT test takers can also participate in MAH MBA CET CAP and secure a seat in MBA/MMS course offered by over 300 colleges in Maharashtra.
XLRI Jamshedpur PGDM eligibility criteria differs based on the course choosen by a student. Students can check below to know the course-wise eligibility criteria for the PGDM programme:
| Course | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| PGDM BM/HRM | Students who have completed three years of bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognised university |
| PGDM GM | Must hold a minimum of three-year bachelor's degree from a recognised University in India/abroad in any discipline and be employed in a full-time job; must have at least three years of relevant managerial experience as on March 31, 2025, in an organisation |
Comments
(5)
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.