The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), ranked No. 1 by NIRF, has significantly raised the minimum CAT 2025 cut-offs for its flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP) and PGP-FABM (Food and Agri-Business Management) for the 2026-28 batch, making admission more competitive. Announced on August 13, 2025, the updated criteria aim to shortlist top-tier performers for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds, as confirmed by Prof. Karthik Sriram, Chairperson of Admissions. The CAT 2025 exam, scheduled for November 30, 2025, across 170 cities, is the gateway to these programs, with registrations open until September 13, 2025. Below is a detailed breakdown of the new criteria, cut-offs, and selection process.
Category-Wise CAT 2025 Cut-Offs for IIMA PGP & PGP-FABM
IIMA has increased both overall and sectional cut-offs for CAT 2025, ensuring only high-performing candidates advance. The cut-offs vary by category, with relaxed thresholds for reserved and PwD candidates. Here’s the detailed breakdown:
- General/EWS:
- Overall: 95 percentile
- Sectional (VARC, DILR, QA): 85 percentile each
- PwD: Overall 85 percentile, Sectional 75 percentile each
- NC-OBC:
- Overall: 90 percentile
- Sectional (VARC, DILR, QA): 80 percentile each
- PwD: Overall 80 percentile, Sectional 70 percentile each
- SC:
- Overall: 85 percentile
- Sectional (VARC, DILR, QA): 75 percentile each
- PwD: Overall 75 percentile, Sectional 65 percentile each
- ST:
- Overall: 75 percentile
- Sectional (VARC, DILR, QA): 65 percentile each
- PwD: Overall 65 percentile, Sectional 55 percentile each
- Transgender (General Category): Follows NC-OBC cut-offs (Overall 90 percentile, Sectional 80 percentile each)
Comparison with Previous Years:
- For 2023–25 and 2024–26, General/EWS cut-offs were 80 percentile overall and 70 percentile sectional, making the 2025 jump (95/85) a significant hurdle.
- Final cut-offs for interview calls are typically higher, often 99–100 percentile for General and 97–98 percentile for reserved categories.
Note: Candidates must also score a positive raw score (>0) in each section to qualify. Failing any sectional or overall cut-off disqualifies candidates from shortlisting.
Two-Stage Selection Process
IIMA’s selection for the PGP 2026-28 batch follows a rigorous two-stage process, balancing CAT performance with academic and profile diversity:
Stage 1: Shortlisting for AWT & PI
- Composite Score (CS): Calculated as:
- 65% CAT 2025 score (normalized)
- 35% Application Rating (AR), comprising:
- Class 10 marks (rated 1–10 based on percentage)
- Class 12 marks (stream-wise: Science ≥90%, Commerce ≥85%, Arts ≥80% for max score)
- Graduation marks (set at the 80th percentile of the applicant’s academic category, e.g., Medicine, Engineering, Commerce)
- Work experience (0.20 × [months – 11], capped at 5 for >36 months)
- Gender diversity (3 points for non-male candidates)
- Academic Categories (AC): Candidates are grouped by discipline (e.g., AC-1: Medicine, AC-4: Engineering/Tech, AC-5: Arts/Law) to ensure diversity.
- Shortlisting:
- For ACs with ≥100 applicants in reserved categories, the top 5% per Academic Category and Reservation Category (ACRC) are shortlisted, subject to upper limits (e.g., 100 for General in AC-1/2/3/5, 150 for AC-4).
- Additional candidates are selected based on CS, ensuring category-wise reservation (27% NC-OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 5% PwD, up to 10% EWS).
- Eligibility:
- Bachelor’s degree with ≥50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or equivalent CGPA.
- Final-year students must submit marksheets/certificates by December 31, 2026, for exams held by June 30, 2026.
- Notification: Shortlist announced by second week of January 2026 on iima.ac.in. Candidates must confirm participation via an online form.
Stage 2: Final Selection
- Final Composite Score (FCS):
- Personal Interview (PI): 50%
- Analytical Writing Test (AWT): 10%
- CAT 2025 score: 25%
- Application Rating (AR): 15%
- Process: AWT and PI are conducted in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, or New Delhi. Final offers are based on category-wise merit lists, adhering to Government of India reservation policies.
- Timeline:
- AWT/PI results announced by second week of April 2026.
- Candidates must accept offers by first/second week of May 2026.
- Waitlisted candidates may receive offers based on acceptance rates.
Why the Change?
According to Prof. Karthik Sriram, the higher cut-offs aim to “strengthen the pool of candidates” for AWT and PI, ensuring only the most competitive applicants advance. IIMA’s focus on academic diversity and profile strength, combined with its reputation for average placements of ₹35 lakh+ (2023 data), justifies the stricter criteria. The change reflects:
- Increased Competition: With 2.88 lakh candidates in CAT 2024 and similar numbers expected for CAT 2025, IIMA aims to filter top performers.
- Diversity Goals: The 80th percentile graduation cut-off (per AC) and gender diversity points promote inclusivity across disciplines and genders.
- Exam Trends: CAT 2025’s difficulty level, number of test-takers, and seat availability (approximately 400 seats for PGP) will influence final cut-offs.
X Sentiment: Posts on X, like those from @catguruji, highlight the new cut-offs (95/85 for General), with aspirants expressing concern over the tougher bar but appreciating IIMA’s transparency.
Implications for Aspirants
The raised cut-offs make IIMA’s PGP one of the toughest MBA programs to enter globally. Here’s what this means for CAT 2025 aspirants:
- Higher Target Scores: General/EWS candidates need a 99–100 percentile for a realistic interview call, translating to a raw score of 88–97 (based on 2024 trends). Reserved categories need 97–98 percentile.
- Balanced Preparation: Sectional cut-offs (85 for General) demand strong performance across VARC, DILR, and QA, unlike the previous 70 percentile. Practice with mock tests is critical.
- Profile Strength: A robust AR score (high Class 10/12/graduation marks, 12–36 months of work experience, non-male gender) can offset a slightly lower CAT score, but sectional minima are non-negotiable.
- Competition: With 394 students placed in 2024 summer placements and top firms offering ₹1 crore+ packages, IIMA’s allure drives fierce competition.
Advice for CAT 2025 Aspirants
To secure a spot in IIMA’s PGP 2026-28 batch, candidates must strategize effectively:
- Aim High in CAT:
- Target 99+ percentile (raw score ~88–97) for General/EWS, ensuring ≥85 percentile in each section. Use CAT Percentile Predictor tools post-exam to gauge chances.
- Practice with mock tests from platforms like @time4education or @careerlauncher on X to master section-wise skills.
- Strengthen Your Profile:
- Ensure Class 10/12 marks meet stream-wise thresholds (e.g., ≥90% for Science, ≥85% for Commerce).
- Graduation marks should exceed the 80th percentile in your academic category (e.g., Engineering, Medicine). Verify via iima.ac.in.
- Gain 12–36 months of quality work experience by July 31, 2025, to maximize AR points.
- Apply Early:
- Register for CAT 2025 by September 13, 2025, via iimcat.ac.in (fee: ₹2,400 for General/NC-OBC). Select IIMA’s PGP in the form.
- Choose two preferred cities for AWT/PI (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi).
- Prepare for AWT/PI:
- Practice essay writing for AWT (10% weight) and mock interviews for PI (50% weight). Resources like @catguruji on X offer tips.
- Highlight academic diversity and work experience in your PI responses.
- Monitor Updates:
- Check iima.ac.in for the AWT/PI shortlist in January 2026. Follow @IIMAhmedabad on X for announcements.
- Contact admission@iima.ac.in or +91-79-7152-4630 for queries.
