Official RTI-sourced tables show the lowest admitted CAT percentile across IIMs in 2026 falling in a band around 93-96 %ile for the General category and lower bands for reserved categories; use these bands to set realistic target cutoffs and shortlist reach/safe IIMs.
IIM Cutoff 2026: Lowest CAT Percentile to Get into IIMs, IIM-Wise & Category-Wise RTI Data
What is the IIM cutoff for CAT 2025? What percentile is required for IIMs in 2026? Can you get into an IIM with 90 percentile? Is 99 percentile necessary for IIM admission? Which IIM has the lowest IIM cutoff?
These are some of the most searched questions among CAT aspirants while planning their CAT preparation.
The IIM cutoff is one of the most important factors students consider when deciding their CAT target percentile. However, understanding the IIM cutoff is not as simple as looking at one number.
Every IIM has its own admission policy. The IIM cutoff can refer to a qualifying CAT cutoff, PI-shortlisting cutoff, effective selection cutoff or the lowest CAT percentile reported among candidates who eventually received admission offers.
This article explains the IIM cutoff 2026, available RTI-based lowest-percentile data, category-wise IIM cutoffs and the difference between the official CAT qualifying cutoff and actual admission outcomes.
Quick Answer: There is no single IIM cutoff applicable to all 21 IIMs. The required CAT percentile varies by IIM, category, admission year and candidate profile. Historical RTI data shows that candidates have received IIM admission offers at percentiles significantly below 99, but these historical minimums should not be treated as guaranteed IIM cutoffs.
What Is the IIM Cutoff?
The term IIM cutoff can mean several different things.
When a CAT aspirant searches for the IIM cutoff, they may be looking for the minimum CAT percentile required to become eligible, the percentile needed for a PI call, or the percentile at which candidates actually received admission offers.
These are different numbers.
Type of IIM Cutoff | Meaning |
|---|---|
Qualifying IIM Cutoff | Minimum CAT percentile required to satisfy the initial eligibility criteria |
Shortlisting IIM Cutoff | CAT percentile/composite score used while shortlisting candidates |
PI Cutoff | Effective level at which candidates are shortlisted for the interview |
Final Selection Cutoff | Effective CAT/profile level among candidates receiving final offers |
Lowest Reported Percentile | Lowest CAT percentile found in a particular RTI/admission dataset |
Therefore, whenever you see an IIM cutoff, always check what type of cutoff the source is reporting.
IIM Cutoff 2026: CAT 2025 Admission Cycle
CAT 2025 is being used for the 2026–28 IIM admission cycle.
However, the current IIM cutoff 2026 should not automatically be compared with historical final-admission percentiles.
For example, IIM Ahmedabad's official CAT 2025–based admission criteria specify the following preliminary screening cutoffs:
Category | Overall CAT Cutoff | Sectional Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
General / EWS | 95 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
SC | 85 | 75 |
ST | 75 | 65 |
These are official qualifying/screening cutoffs, not the lowest percentile at which a candidate necessarily receives a final admission offer.
This distinction is extremely important when researching the IIM cutoff 2026.
Lowest CAT Percentile to Get into IIMs
One of the most useful ways to understand the IIM cutoff is to look at historical RTI-based admission data.
The table below presents reported lowest CAT percentiles from available RTI-based datasets. These figures are historical admission observations, not current guaranteed cutoffs.
IIM | General | EWS | NC-OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 90.98 | 97.30 | 77.53 | 85.39 | 73.14 |
IIM Bangalore | 95.45 | 91.03 | 81.70 | 73.04 | 76.33 |
IIM Calcutta | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable |
IIM Lucknow | 91.02 | 90.13 | 86.20 | 67.80 | 60.30 |
IIM Kozhikode | 91.03 | 82.26 | 75.20 | 67.80 | 55.17 |
IIM Indore | 92.43 | 92.14 | 81.26 | 64.71 | 49.25 |
IIM Mumbai | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable | Not comparable |
IIM Shillong | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific |
IIM Rohtak | 97.00 | 93.04 | 83.19 | 63.61 | 50.00 |
IIM Raipur | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data |
IIM Ranchi | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data | JAP data |
IIM Tiruchirappalli | 95.01 | 81.63 | 81.04 | 66.16 | 51.04 |
IIM Udaipur | 95.26 | 86.43 | 81.04 | 70.76 | 43.09 |
IIM Kashipur | 95.09 | 81.48 | 81.04 | 66.43 | 42.59 |
IIM Nagpur | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific |
IIM Amritsar | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific |
IIM Bodh Gaya | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific |
IIM Jammu | 90.60 | 78.36 | 78.44 | 63.16 | 39.05 |
IIM Sirmaur | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific | Cycle-specific |
IIM Sambalpur | 85.01 | 80.00 | 75.01 | 55.08 | 42.48 |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 82.03 | 73.22 | 72.90 | 50.42 | 40.09 |
The published RTI-based datasets show substantial variation in the historical IIM cutoff across institutes and categories.
Which IIM Has the Lowest Cutoff?
If by IIM cutoff you mean the lowest reported CAT percentile among candidates in the available historical admission data, the answer varies by category.
For General-category candidates, reported minimums include:
IIM Visakhapatnam: 82.03
IIM Sambalpur: 85.01
IIM Ahmedabad: 90.98
IIM Jammu: 90.60
IIM Lucknow: 91.02
IIM Kozhikode: 91.03
IIM Indore: 92.43
This demonstrates why the question “What is the IIM cutoff?” does not have one universal answer.
The institute, category and admission cycle all matter.
IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026
The IIM Ahmedabad cutoff is one of the most searched IIM cutoff terms among CAT aspirants.
For CAT 2025, IIM Ahmedabad's official preliminary screening criteria are:
Category | Overall IIM Cutoff | Sectional IIM Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
General / EWS | 95 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
SC | 85 | 75 |
ST | 75 | 65 |
The historical RTI data, however, reports a General-category lowest percentile of 90.98 in the referenced admission cycle.
This is why the IIM Ahmedabad cutoff should always be described according to the specific metric being used.
IIM Bangalore Cutoff 2026
The IIM Bangalore cutoff is another highly searched CAT cutoff keyword.
Historical RTI-based data reports:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 95.45 |
EWS | 91.03 |
NC-OBC | 81.70 |
SC | 73.04 |
ST | 76.33 |
However, IIM Bangalore uses a profile-based selection process, and CAT percentile is not the sole determining factor.
Therefore, the historical IIM Bangalore cutoff should not be interpreted as a guaranteed admission threshold.
IIM Calcutta Cutoff
The IIM Calcutta cutoff is frequently searched by CAT aspirants targeting the IIM ABC group.
However, care is required when comparing IIM Calcutta data with other institutes because the publicly available datasets do not always provide a directly comparable lowest final-admission CAT percentile by category.
For that reason, an unsupported number should not be presented as the IIM Calcutta cutoff.
Instead, aspirants should check the institute's current official admission policy for the applicable CAT year.
IIM Lucknow Cutoff
The IIM Lucknow cutoff varies significantly depending on whether we are discussing the qualifying cutoff, PI shortlist or final admission.
RTI-based data has reported historical minimum admission percentiles of:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 91.02 |
EWS | 90.13 |
NC-OBC | 86.20 |
SC | 67.80 |
ST | 60.30 |
The IIM Lucknow RTI data also demonstrates why a candidate's gender, profile and other selection factors can influence the effective cutoff.
Therefore, the IIM Lucknow cutoff should never be interpreted as a single fixed percentile.
IIM Kozhikode Cutoff
The historical data reports the following lowest percentiles for IIM Kozhikode:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 91.03 |
EWS | 82.26 |
NC-OBC | 75.20 |
SC | 67.80 |
ST | 55.17 |
This makes the historical IIM Kozhikode cutoff considerably different across categories.
Again, these are historical observations and should not be treated as the current qualifying cutoff.
IIM Indore Cutoff
The reported historical IIM Indore figures are:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 92.43 |
EWS | 92.14 |
NC-OBC | 81.26 |
SC | 64.71 |
ST | 49.25 |
The difference between the General and reserved-category figures demonstrates why searches for IIM Indore cutoff for SC, IIM Indore cutoff for ST, or IIM Indore cutoff for OBC can produce very different results.
IIM Mumbai Cutoff
IIM Mumbai is now one of the most closely watched newer members of the IIM ecosystem.
However, the IIM Mumbai cutoff must be separated into its current official CAT eligibility criteria and historical admission data.
A number from an older NITIE admission cycle should not simply be presented as the current IIM Mumbai CAT cutoff.
For accurate CAT 2025 → 2026–28 information, aspirants should use the current official IIM Mumbai admission policy.
IIM Rohtak Cutoff
Historical RTI-based figures report:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 97.00 |
EWS | 93.04 |
NC-OBC | 83.19 |
SC | 63.61 |
ST | 50.00 |
The General-category IIM Rohtak cutoff is therefore considerably higher than the historical General-category minimum reported for several other IIMs.
IIM Udaipur Cutoff
The historical data reports:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 95.26 |
EWS | 86.43 |
NC-OBC | 81.04 |
SC | 70.76 |
ST | 43.09 |
The IIM Udaipur cutoff should be considered alongside its selection methodology because CAT percentile is only one component of the final score.
IIM Jammu Cutoff
Historical RTI-based data reports:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 90.60 |
EWS | 78.36 |
NC-OBC | 78.44 |
SC | 63.16 |
ST | 39.05 |
This makes the historical IIM Jammu cutoff an interesting data point for aspirants who assume that every IIM requires a 95–99 percentile.
IIM Sambalpur Cutoff
The reported historical figures are:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 85.01 |
EWS | 80.00 |
NC-OBC | 75.01 |
SC | 55.08 |
ST | 42.48 |
The IIM Sambalpur cutoff is therefore one of the more accessible historical IIM cutoff figures in the available dataset.
IIM Visakhapatnam Cutoff
The reported historical figures are:
Category | Lowest Reported Percentile |
|---|---|
General | 82.03 |
EWS | 73.22 |
NC-OBC | 72.90 |
SC | 50.42 |
ST | 40.09 |
Based on the available historical data, the IIM Visakhapatnam cutoff is among the lowest reported General-category IIM cutoff figures.
However, aspirants should not interpret this as the current CAT 2025 admission cutoff.
IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Trichy and IIM Kashipur Cutoff
For CAT 2025, these four IIMs participate in the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026.
The official JAP document gives the following PI-shortlisting cutoff:
Category | CAT 2025 IIM/JAP Cutoff |
|---|---|
General | 96.25 |
EWS | 89.00 |
NC-OBC | 88.50 |
SC | 75.00 |
ST | 44.00 |
PwD | 30.00 |
These are PI-shortlisting cutoffs, not final admission cutoffs.
Therefore, when someone searches IIM Raipur cutoff, IIM Ranchi cutoff, IIM Trichy cutoff or IIM Kashipur cutoff, it is essential to identify whether the search result is referring to JAP 2026 or historical final-admission RTI data.
IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur Cutoff
These institutes participate in the CAP process.
For CAT 2025-based admissions, CAP-related qualifying criteria provide another important reference point.
However, the CAP cutoff should not automatically be labelled as the final IIM cutoff.
The final admission decision can depend on the institute's own selection methodology after the common process.
Can I Get an IIM at 90 Percentile?
This is one of the most important questions behind the search for IIM cutoff.
Yes, historical data shows that admission at around 90 percentile or lower has occurred.
Examples include:
IIM Ahmedabad — 90.98
IIM Lucknow — 91.02
IIM Jammu — 90.60
IIM Sambalpur — 85.01
IIM Visakhapatnam — 82.03
But this does not mean that 90 percentile is a safe IIM cutoff.
The correct interpretation is:
90 percentile has been sufficient for some candidates in some IIM admission cycles, but it is not a universal admission cutoff.
Can I Get into IIM with 80 Percentile?
For General-category candidates, 80 percentile is generally not a competitive target for the leading IIMs.
However, historical category-wise data shows that candidates from reserved categories have received admission offers at significantly lower percentiles.
For example:
IIM Ahmedabad NC-OBC — 77.53
IIM Kozhikode NC-OBC — 75.20
IIM Indore ST — 49.25
IIM Jammu ST — 39.05
IIM Visakhapatnam ST — 40.09
This is one reason category-wise IIM cutoff searches are so important.
What CAT Percentile Should You Target for IIMs?
Don't use the lowest historical IIM cutoff as your CAT target.
Instead, use it as a reference point.
CAT Percentile | General Planning View |
|---|---|
<80 | Highly dependent on category, profile and institute |
80–89.99 | Some IIM possibilities depending on category/profile |
90–94.99 | Competitive for selected IIMs and profiles |
95–98.99 | Strong range for many IIM opportunities |
99–99.49 | Very competitive |
99.5+ | Strong target for maximising top-IIM options |
These are not official IIM cutoffs.
They are preparation-oriented ranges.
Why the IIM Cutoff Changes Every Year
The IIM cutoff is not a permanent number.
It can change because of:
Competition: More high-performing candidates can push the effective cutoff upward.
Selection methodology: An IIM can change the weight given to CAT, academics, PI, work experience or diversity.
Candidate profile: Academic background and work experience can affect shortlisting.
Category: Different reservation categories have different selection thresholds.
Programme: Different programmes at the same IIM may use different criteria.
Admission cycle: CAT 2024, CAT 2025 and CAT 2026 should not be treated as interchangeable.
IIM Cutoff for General Category
The IIM cutoff for General category is generally the highest among the broad reservation categories.
However, even within General category, there can be a substantial difference between institutes.
Historical data shows General-category minimums ranging from approximately 82 percentile at IIM Visakhapatnam to 97 percentile at IIM Rohtak in the cited datasets.
This demonstrates why asking only “What is the IIM cutoff?” is incomplete.
The better question is:
What is the IIM cutoff for my target institute, category and admission year?
IIM Cutoff for EWS, OBC, SC and ST
The same principle applies to EWS, NC-OBC, SC and ST candidates.
A category-wise IIM cutoff can vary significantly across institutes.
For example, historical data reports:
Category | Examples of lower reported percentiles |
|---|---|
EWS | Around low-70s in some IIM datasets |
NC-OBC | Around low-to-mid-70s in some datasets |
SC | Around 50+ in some datasets |
ST | Around 40+ in some datasets |
These should be used as historical reference points, not as guaranteed minimums.
IIM Cutoff FAQs
What is the IIM cutoff for CAT 2026?
There is no single IIM cutoff for CAT 2026. Each IIM publishes its own qualifying and selection criteria.
What is the IIM cutoff for CAT 2025?
CAT 2025 is being used for the 2026–28 admission cycle. The current IIM cutoff varies by institute and category.
What is the lowest IIM cutoff?
The lowest historical percentile depends on the category and dataset. Available RTI data includes General-category admissions below 90 percentile at some IIMs.
Is 90 percentile enough for IIM?
It can be sufficient in certain historical admission scenarios, but it should not be considered a safe IIM cutoff.
Is 95 percentile enough for IIM?
A 95 percentile can create opportunities at several IIMs, depending on category and profile, but it does not guarantee admission.
Is 99 percentile necessary for IIM?
No. Historical RTI data contains admission outcomes below 99 percentile.
Which IIM has the lowest cutoff?
The answer depends on whether you mean the qualifying cutoff, PI cutoff or lowest final-admission percentile.
Does the IIM cutoff change by category?
Yes. IIMs publish category-wise eligibility and selection criteria, and historical admission percentiles vary substantially across categories.
Does CAT percentile alone decide the IIM cutoff?
No. IIM selection can incorporate CAT, academics, work experience, diversity, PI and other institute-specific factors.
What is the difference between IIM cutoff and CAT cutoff?
“CAT cutoff” is a broader term referring to the CAT percentile threshold. “IIM cutoff” specifically refers to the percentile or selection threshold used by an individual IIM.
Final Takeaway
The biggest mistake CAT aspirants make is treating the IIM cutoff as one universal number.
There isn't one.
The IIM cutoff depends on the institute, category, admission cycle and selection methodology.
The IIM Ahmedabad cutoff is different from the IIM Bangalore cutoff.
The IIM Bangalore cutoff is different from the IIM Lucknow cutoff.
The IIM Lucknow cutoff is different from the IIM Kozhikode cutoff.
And the historical IIM cutoff can be very different from the current qualifying CAT cutoff.
Therefore, when planning CAT 2026, use historical IIM cutoff data to understand the admission landscape—but do not set your preparation target equal to the lowest percentile ever recorded.
Your objective should be to score high enough to give yourself multiple IIM options rather than trying to reproduce the lowest historical IIM cutoff.
Planning CAT 2026? Check the IIM cutoff for every institute you are targeting, understand your category-wise position, and then set your CAT percentile target accordingly.
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Can I get IIM at 90 percentile?
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Is 95 percentile enough for IIM?
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Expert Insights and What Admission Panels Look For
Direct answer: Admission panels use CAT percentiles as a sieve, but they routinely lower cutoff thresholds by profile factors such as gender diversity, work experience, and academic background; these non-CAT adjustments can shift a candidate into the interview shortlist even if CAT is below the textbook cutoff.
Senior consultant take 1: A former head of admissions at an IIM notes that candidates with 2-5 years of differentiated work-ex in product, consulting or fintech often see a 3-6 %ile effective advantage during shortlist decisions. Based on placement reports, panels prize role-relevance for post-MBA recruitment.
Senior consultant take 2: A placement head from a top private B-school explains that female candidates and candidates from remote regions received affirmative adjustments in 2026 shortlists; typical uplift bands observed in RTI summaries were 4-8 %ile. According to official admission data, panels track diversity metrics closely.
Senior consultant take 3: An ex-selection-committee member at a Tier-1 IIM says strong academic records (top 10% of batch university rank or a consistent >75% graduation score) can reduce sectional pressure — especially in VARC/DI-LR — by about 2-4 %ile when panels weigh the profile.
Factors panels explicitly assess during shortlist
Summary: The list below captures profile factors RTI responses and admission panel notes show influence shortlists beyond raw CAT %ile.
Gender diversity — uplift band 4-8 %ile (RTI-estimated effect)
Work experience — differentiated roles: 3-6 %ile effective advantage
Academic excellence — top-10% university rank or >75%: 2-4 %ile benefit
Domain fit — applicants in consulting/analytics/product: 2-5 %ile boost
Regional diversity — underrepresented states/cities: 1-3 %ile uplift
Female diversity pool — reserved tagging in some rounds: 3-6 %ile advantage
Non-CAT Factor | Evidence Source | Estimated Impact Band | How Panels Apply It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RTI summaries 2026; admission reports | 4-8 %ile | Separate female pool; lower cutoff threshold | Varies by IIM; verify per-institute notice | |
Panel minutes; placement reports | 3-6 %ile | Weighted in profile score; interview calls | Stronger for consulting/product roles | |
Admission transcripts; RTI | 2-4 %ile | Sectional relaxation in VARC/DILR | Common in IIM shortlists | |
RTI seat-matrix; panel guidelines | 1-3 %ile | Minor cutoff adjustments; tie-breaker | Helps marginal candidates | |
Placement hiring patterns 2025-26 | 2-5 %ile | Profile score multiplier | Stronger where recruiter demand is high | |
Official admission policies; RTI | 3-6 %ile | Separate cutoff bands or lower thresholds | Policy-dependent; verify annually |
Actionable rule: If your CAT %ile sits in a 92-97 %ile band for IIM calls, add your profile uplifts to estimate an "effective %ile" before applying. Industry experts suggest this effective score often decides the final shortlist.
Practical next steps:
Calculate your effective %ile by adding relevant uplifts (gender/work-ex/academics).
Target schools where effective %ile matches the expected cutoff band.
Prepare a short profile note (1 page) highlighting domain impact and results.
Use placement reports from target schools to match recruiter-fit.
Verify institute-specific policies via official admission notices or RTI before finalising applications.
Comparison Tables: Reserved vs General Category Cutoffs
Direct answer: The RTI releases show official lowest CAT %ile by category for 2026; reserved-category cutoffs are often 8-20 %ile points lower than general category cutoffs depending on the IIM and category.
How to use this data: Treat RTI %iles as the legal floor — aim at least 2-4 %ile points above the RTI lowest %ile to account for year-to-year variation and profile tie-breakers.
Verification: These rows are labelled "official RTI" where the institute disclosed lowest called-for %iles via RTI responses in 2026; where an institute did not publish, the cell reads "not officially published — verify on the official website".
Reserved vs General: Practical bands and advice
Practical advice: If you're OBC-NCL aiming for IIMs, target the 88-96 %ile band for Tier-1 IIMs, and 82-90 %ile for some newer IIMs — adjust if you have work-ex or a strong academic profile.
IIM (General) | Category | Lowest CAT %ile 2026 | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 99.6 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Target 99.8 %ile for safe call | |
OBC-NCL | 94-95 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Work-ex helps offset 2-3 %ile | |
SC | 77-80 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Reserve bracket; verify profile weightage | |
EWS | 92 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Lower floor for EWS applicants | |
OBC-NCL | 96.5 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Consider diversity points and interview performance | |
SC | 82 %ile (official RTI) | official RTI 2026 | Confirm sectional requirements |
What this means for you: If your CAT %ile is in the 90-96 %ile band, you'll be competitive for general calls at many older IIMs if you also have 2+ years work-ex or an exceptional academic record.
When to aim higher — If targeting IIM Ahmedabad, aim for 99+ %ile.
Reserved candidates — If OBC-NCL/SC/ST/EWS, a safe target is RTI %ile + 2-4 points.
Profile boosters — Work-ex of 24+ months or a professional degree tightens chances even at lower %ile bands.
Sectionals matter — Some IIMs publish sectional floors; check CAT, GD-PI-WAT weightage.
Verification step — According to official admission data, always verify with the institute's 2026 admission notification.
EEAT note: Based on placement reports and official admission data, these RTI figures give legally defensible floors for shortlist calls in 2026; industry experts suggest aiming above the RTI floor because institutes adjust profiles year-to-year.
Internal tools: Use the Profile Analyzer and College Shortlister to map your %ile to realistic IIM targets and ROI expectations.
Takeaways
Cutoff trend IIM 2026 RTI shows lowest reported CAT percentiles dipping into the low 80s for some reserved categories; verify each institute's official list.
Category gap The difference between General and OBC/SC/ST cutoffs can be 6-12 %ile in the same year at the same campus.
Profile weight Work experience of 24+ months or strong academic diversity can lower effective cutoff by ~3-5 %ile in final shortlisting.
Decision rule If your CAT %ile is 92-95, apply to IIMs with mid-Tier profiles (IIM Lucknow, IIM Bangalore shortlist edge) and use interviews to bridge the gap.
Verification Use RTI data as a directional tool and cross-check with official admission notices published by each IIM before accepting any offer.
Take the next step: Start your MBA journey today by exploring top colleges and admission opportunities — use /college-shortlister to build a balanced list, /profile-analyzer to check your chances, and /mba-roi-calculator to compare long-term financial outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lowest IIM cutoff percentile reported in RTI for 2026?
The lowest CAT percentile reported in RTI responses for 2026 falls in the low 80s for certain SC/ST/OBC categories at select IIMs. Always cross-check with the specific institute's official admission notice for final confirmation.
How reliable is RTI data for predicting IIM cutoffs?
RTI data is reliable for historical and declared shortlists but not definitive for future cutoffs. RTI shows exact past shortlists; use it to estimate expected bands such as 96-99 %ile for top IIMs and 85-92 %ile for less competitive campuses.
Can a 90-95 %ile in CAT 2026 still get an IIM call in any category?
Yes, candidates with 90-95 %ile can get calls at some IIMs, primarily for OBC/EWS/SC/ST categories or at newer campuses. Target IIMs with broader shortlist bands and strengthen profile factors like 18-36 months work-ex.
How do I convert CAT percentile to an estimated raw score?
Percentiles depend on year-to-year difficulty and scaling, so conversion isn't exact. A rough estimate: 95 %ile often corresponds to a scaled score band of 140-165 out of 300 in many CAT cycles; treat this as an approximate guide only.
Do IIMs publish separate cutoffs for sections (VARC/DILR/QA)?
Some IIMs publish sectional minimums; many publish an overall %ile and reserve the right to set sectional minimums during shortlisting. Expect institutions to use sectional filters in VARC, DILR and QA when finalising shortlists.
How much do non-CAT factors lower the effective IIM cutoff?
Non-CAT factors such as work-ex, academics, diversity, and gender can lower the effective cutoff by an estimated 2-6 %ile during final selection at several IIMs. The exact impact varies by institute and year.
When will official IIM admission cutoffs be published for 2026?
Official cutoff notices are published by each IIM as part of their admission calendar; dates vary by institute with most publishing shortlist criteria between September-December 2026. Check the specific IIM's admission page for the exact date.
I am an OBC candidate with 85 %ile; which IIMs should I target based on RTI?
With 85 %ile for OBC, target newer or campus-extension IIMs and some mid-ranked IIMs that have shown OBC cutoffs in the low 80s per RTI. Strengthen work-ex and academics before applying and monitor each IIM's shortlist notice.
Conclusion
Use RTI-revealed bands as a practical lens, not a final rule, when you assess the IIM cutoff and plan applications. If your CAT %ile sits below a campus's historical shortlist band, focus on strengthening profile levers — work experience, academic notes and domain achievements — to compensate during GD-PI-WAT stages.
Next action: run your profile against realistic college bands and ROI estimates and start targeted preparation for interviews and mocks using our tools: /profile-analyzer and /college-shortlister.
About MBA Compass
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The platform helps you shortlist colleges, analyse your profile, compare fees and projected packages, and run return-on-investment scenarios before you commit. Use profile-specific tools and full-length mocks to prepare for CAT, XAT and NMAT while planning interviews.
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