CAT Cutoffs for All IIMs in 2026: Complete List with Category-wise Details

CAT Cutoffs for IIMs: Lakhs of candidates appear in the CAT exam every year. But only a fraction could clear the CAT cutoff percentile for the top IIMs. The IIM CAT 2026 cutoff will play a major role in shortlisting candidates for the next stages.

The cutoff differs from IIM to IIM due to certain factors. This includes institutes, categories, academics, and diversity criteria.  The top IIMs generally accept a very high percentile. But many new and baby IIMs shortlist candidates at comparatively lower scores. 

The CAT qualifying cutoff and the CAT final selection cutoff are two different components. Qualifying cutoffs are used to shortlist, while the final selection cutoff is used for MBA admission. You must understand all the parameters to plan your strategy better.

Read ahead to know the CAT cutoffs for all IIMs in 2026. This includes category-wise, sectional, percentile expectations, etc.

CAT 2026 IIM Cutoff Overview

The CAT cutoff is the minimum percentile required to move to the next admission stage. Every IIM releases its own cutoff criteria.

These cutoffs are not the same for all categories. It varies for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories. The CAT cutoff has two parts:

• Qualifying cutoff
• Final selection cutoff

The qualifying cutoff is the minimum score to qualify for the next stage. The final selection cutoff is generally higher. This happens due to extreme competition in the admission process.

IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta have very high cutoffs for the General category. But candidates with strong academic records and profiles may convert calls at lower percentiles.

Expected CAT Cutoffs for Top IIMs in 2026

The top IIMs are called the BLACKI IIMs. There is immense competition to get admission to these colleges. We have shared expected CAT 2026 cutoffs for top IIMs:

Top IIMs	CAT Expected Cutoffs 2026 (General)
IIM Bangalore	85+
IIM Lucknow	90+
IIM Ahmedabad	95+
IIM Calcutta	≥85
IIM Kozhikode	85+
IIM Indore	90+

Note: These are expected cutoffs based on past trends. The actual cutoff may vary. It depends on the difficulty and the number of applicants. 

Category-Wise CAT Cutoff 2026

The CAT cutoff varies category-wise. Reserved category candidates receive relaxation in the coursework. The expected category-wise CAT cutoff for top IIMs:

Category	CAT 2026 Expected Cutoff
General	98-99+ percentile
EWS	94-97 percentile
OBC	92-96 percentile
SC	80-88 percentile
ST	70-80 percentile
PWD	60-75 percentile

Just clearing the cutoff does not ensure admission. The final shortlist depends on several factors. This includes academics, work experience, and PI.

CAT Sectional Cutoff for All IIMs in 2026

Most IIMs accept both the CAT sectional and overall cutoffs. You need to perform well in all three sections of the CAT exam. If you fail to clear sectional cutoffs, you may not receive PI calls.

IIM will soon release the CAT sectional cutoffs 2026. Till then, you can check the CAT sectional cutoffs of last year:

IIM	Category	VARC	DILR	QA
IIM Ahmedabad	General	85	85	85
IIM Bangalore	General	80	75	75
IIM Calcutta	General	≥80	≥80	≥75
IIM Lucknow	General	85	85	85

CAT Cutoff for Old IIMs (Expected)

The old IIMs are the top MBA institutes in India. These colleges usually accept high CAT scores and excellent academic records.

Below is the expected CAT cutoff 2026 for Old IIMs:

Top IIMs	CAT Expected Cutoffs 2026 (General)
IIM Bangalore	85+
IIM Lucknow	90+
IIM Ahmedabad	95+
IIM Calcutta	≥85
IIM Kozhikode	85+
IIM Indore	90+
IIM Mumbai	85+

CAT 2026 Cutoff for New IIMs (Expected)

The new IIMs have gained popularity due to excellent placements and infrastructure. Their cutoffs are slightly lower compared to older IIMs.

Candidates with strong profiles can expect PI calls even at lower percentiles. The CAT expected cutoffs for new IIMs:

Top IIMs	CAT Expected Cutoffs 2026 (General)
IIM Shillong	92+
IIM Rohtak	97+
IIM Raipur	90+
IIM Ranchi	90+
IIM Tiruchirappali	90+
IIM Kashipur	90+
IIM Udaipur	94+

CAT Cutoff for Baby IIMs in 2026 (Expected)

Baby IIMs provide excellent chances for MBA admission with comparatively lower cutoffs. Given below are the CAT expected cutoffs for Baby IIMs: 

Top IIMs	CAT Expected Cutoffs 2026 (General)
IIM Vishakhapatnam	82+
IIM Jammu	91+
IIM Nagpur	95+
IIM Amritsar	90+
IIM Bodh Gaya	95+
IIM Sambalpur	90+
IIM Sirmaur	95+

Factors Affecting IIM CAT Cutoffs 

Several factors affect the CAT cutoff every year. And there is variation in these cutoffs. Some of them are explained below:

• Number of Applicants: A huge number of CAT registrations leads to higher competition and a cutoff.
• Difficulty Level: If the exam is tough, the cutoff percentile may fall.
• Seat Availability: The number of seats also influences the cutoff.
• Academic Diversity: Many IIMs give preference to candidates from non-engineering streams.

Previous Year IIM CAT Cutoff Trends 

Knowing past trends helps you set realistic targets. Recent years have shown a stable cutoff across IIMs. Most BLACKI IIMs still maintain 98-99 percentile for the General category.

New IIMs have also seen increased competition. This happens due to growing popularity and an impressive placement record. Check the IIM CAT previous year cutoffs for all categories:

IIM	GEN	OBC	EWS	SC	ST
IIM Ahmedabad	95+	90+	95+	85+	75+
IIM Calcutta	≥85	≥75	≥75	≥70	≥65
IIM Bangalore	85+	75+	75+	70+	65+
IIM Kozhikode	85+	75+	75+	65+	55+
IIM Indore	90+	80+	90+	60+	45+
IIM Lucknow	90+	82+	82+	65+	60+
IIM Trichy	90	75	75	50	30
IIM Ranchi	90	75	75	50	30
IIM Mumbai	85+	75+	75+	70+	65+
IIM Vishakhapatnam	82+	72+	72+	50+	40+
IIM Sirmaur	95	81	81	66	42
IIM Udaipur	94	81	81	66	42
IIM Amritsar	90+	80+	90+	55+	40+
IIM Raipur	90	75	75	50	30
IIM Nagpur	95	85	85	65	40
IIM Kashipur	90	75	75	50	30
IIM Rohtak	97+	83+	93+	60+	50+
IIM Sambalpur	90+	75+	80+	55+	40+
IIM Bodhgaya	95	81	81	66	42