Getting into an IIM is a primary goal for many MBA candidates, though only a small percentage secure admission to these prestigious institutions. This guide offers essential details specifically for SC and ST applicants regarding seat allocation across various campuses.
SC & ST Category Seats in IIMs for MBA: Indian Institutes of Management grant MBA entry using CAT results. All 21 locations adhere to a unified reservation strategy mandated by the Government of India. The proportion of seats for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students remains consistent, regardless of the overall class size. This guide provides the specific distribution of spots for these applicants. While seat counts might fluctuate slightly during different admission cycles based on vacancy shifts, the following data is calculated using current national guidelines. Scroll down for further information on SC & ST Category seats in IIMs for MBA.
| Check Category Wise IIM Seats | ||
| Total IIM Seats for General Category | Total IIM Seats for General Category | Total IIM Seats for OBC Category |
- SC & ST Category Seats in IIMs for MBA
- IIM Reservation Policy
- MBA Admission Process at IIMs
SC & ST Category Seats in IIMs for MBA
IIM Ahmedabad provides 58 spots for SC students and 29 for ST students. IIM Bangalore follows a nearly identical pattern with 57 SC and 29 ST positions. IIM Calcutta, a premier member of the "old IIM" trio, features the largest student intake. Established in 1961, it has produced notable leaders like Sunil Alagh and Ajit Balakrishnan. It offers 69 reserved seats for SC and 35 for ST candidates. Review the campus-wise seat distribution in the table below:
| IIM Institute |
Seats for SC candidates |
Seats for ST candidates |
|---|---|---|
| 58 |
29 |
|
| IIM Bangalore |
57 |
29 |
| IIM Calcutta |
69 |
37 |
| 63 |
32 |
|
| 68 |
34 |
|
| 56 |
28 |
|
| 18 |
10 |
|
| 18 |
10 |
|
| 18 |
10 |
|
| 18 |
10 |
|
| 15 |
8 |
|
| 18 |
10 |
|
| 14 |
7 |
|
| 18 |
9 |
|
| 20 |
10 |
|
| 20 |
10 |
|
| 9 |
5 |
|
| 21 |
11 |
|
| 18 |
9 |
|
| 18 |
9 |
|
| Total |
614 |
317 |
Asterisks (*) indicate campuses where specific seat numbers may experience minor adjustments.
IIM Reservation Policy
The distribution of seats across categories is governed by these percentages:
| Category |
IIM Reservation Criteria |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) |
15 |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) |
7.5 |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) |
27 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) |
10 |
| Total |
59.5 |
Understanding these figures is vital for estimating required CAT cutoffs for different institutes.
MBA Admission Process at IIMs
The first step towards getting into the IIMs is taking the CAT exam. The next steps are Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). The WAT and PI are the main selection criteria of IIM MBA admission. Candidates who meet the CAT cut off, are shortlisted for WAT and PI. Final selection for IIM admission is based on candidate's overall profile - CAT exam score, academic score, work experience, category and WAT and PI score.
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Student Forum
Answered 2 days ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for MBA at SOA University. Candidates without CAT scores can appear for SAAT conducted by SOA for admission in MBA. Aspirants can choose any of these of admission pathways.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, candidates can get admission to specific executive or online MBA programs at IIM Mumbai without the CAT by using alternative exams like GMAT or GRE, or by clearing the institute's own entrance test. However, the regular, full-time flagship MBA programme strictly requires a valid CAT score.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
CAT coaching institutes in Ludhiana that offer weekend batches are TIME, IMS, Master Mind, Bulls Eye and Career Launcher.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Ludhiana, candidates must consider the following points:
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
- Success Rate of the centre.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The average fee in Ludhiana is from ₹50,000 to ₹85,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
CAT coaching institutes in Kerala that offer weekend batches are IMS (Kochi), Career Launcher (Trivandrum) and T.I.M.E.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Kerala, candidates must consider the following points:
- Success Rate of the centre
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The average fee ranges in Kerala from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000 for offline classroom courses and ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 for online courses.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
CAT coaching institute in Goa that offers weekend batches is T.I.M.E. IMS is also said to run the batches on weekends.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
To choose the best CAT Coaching institute in Goa, candidates must consider the following points:
- Success Rate of the centre
- Compare classroom vs. online/hybrid formats
- Ask about batch size, number of full-length mocks, recorded sessions/notes
- Final fee structure and refund/installment policy.
S
Contributor-Level 10

Abhishek Dhawan is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He holds a BA degree from the University of Delhi. At Shiksha, Abhishek primarily covers MBA and BBA entrance
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