IIM Admission 2026 Latest Updates & Major Changes You Must Take Note Of

IIM Admission 2026: Major Changes & Updates So Far

1. IPMAT Indore 2026 Exam Date Announced

2. IM Bangalore Cutoff 2026 remained the same

3. IIM Lucknow Cutoff 2026 remained the same

4. IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 increased

5. IIM JAP 2026 announced

6. IIMs opting out of CAP

7. IIM Udaipur opt for Individual Selection

8. IIM Guwahati Sets Up

9. IIM Sambalpur gains the most in the NIRF Ranking 2025 among IIMs

Changes in IIM 2026 Admission: IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 Increased 15 %

IIM Ahmedabad remains at the top preference of the candidates in the IIM admission, being the top B-School in India. As per the IIM Ahmedabad admission criteria 2026, released last month, the IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2025 cutoff was increased 15% compared to the last year. IIM Ahmedabad 2026 Cutoff for General and EWS candidates was increased to 95 percentile from 80 percentile. While IIM Ahmedabad CAT cutoff 2025 for SC increased to 85, IIM Ahmedabad cutoff for ST moved up to 75, and OBC (NC) candidates now have to score 90 percentile in CAT 2025 to match the IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 as per IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2026. Apart from the increase in the overall IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2025, the sectional Cutoffs for IIM Ahmedabad were also increased in this IIM Admission 2026 session.

In the table below, look at the IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff year-wise comparison.

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026

Recently, IIM Ahmedabad has released the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2026. IIM Ahmedabad 2026 admission is based on 3 rounds: a) Ahmedabad Pre-PI selection b) IIM Ahmedabad PI-WAT rounds c) IIM Ahmedabad Final Merit List 2026

IIM Ahmedabad 2026 PI Shortlisting criteria is -

IIM Ahmedabad Final Merit List criteria 2026 is -

IIM Lucknow Admission Criteria 2026 Released: Cutoff remains the same

In another IIM 2026 admission latest update, IIM Lucknow has released the 2026-28 batch admission criteria. Though IIM Ahmedabad increased the IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2025, IIM Lucknow Cutoff 2026 remained the same from last year. According to the IIM Lucknow admission criteria 2026, IIM Lucknow 2025 CAT cutoff for the general candidates is 90 percentile, while IIM Lucknow Cutoff 2026 for SC/ST remained at 60 percentile for the IIM Admission 2026 session

In the table below, look at the IIM Lucknow CAT Cutoff year-wise comparison.

IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026

IIM Lucknow has released the IIM Lucknow selection criteria 2026, and as mentioned earlier IIM Lucknow cutoff 2026 remained the same. IIM Lucknow admission is based on 3 rounds: a) IIM Lucknow Pre-PI selection b) IIM Lucknow PI-WAT rounds c) IIM Lucknow Final Merit List 2026

IIM Lucknow PI Shortlisting criteria 2026 is -

IIM Lucknow Final Merit List criteria 2026 is -

IIM Admission 2026 Latest Update: JAP 2026 Announced; IIM Raipur to Coordinate Admission

IIM Raipur, which left IIM CAP 2025 on the pretext of better control over the IIM Raipur admission, announced the formation of IIM JAP 2026 in the upcoming IIM admission 2026. Along with another three IIMs - IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Tiruchirapalli, IIM Raipur will initiate its own separate Joint Admission Process 2026 (JAP 2026). According to the JAP 2026 notification, JAP application process will begin after the CAT 2025. With the formation of JAP 2026, IIM 2026 Admission will witness 4 IIM selection processes in 2026.

JAP 2026 Announced: Key Highlights

• What is JAP 2026: Joint Admission Process 2026 (JAP 2026)

• No. of IIMs Participating in JAP 2026: IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Tiruchirapalli.

• JAP 2026 Co-ordinator: IIM Raipur.

• JAP 2026 Accepted Score: CAT 2025.

• JAP 2026 Dates: To be announced later.

• JAP 2026 Application Date: To be announced later.

• IIM JAP 2026 Cutoff: To be released later.

• Goal of JAP 2026: Single Admission Process, Meeting IIM Standard, Transparent, Aspirant-Focused Admission

Learn More: What is the difference between CAP, JAP and SAP?
Recent Development in MBA Admissions 2026

Changes in IIM 2026 Admission: IIMs are opting out of CAP 2026

IIM CAP, which provided a single window common admission test to the new and baby IIMs, looks like gradually losing its importance in the IIM selection process 2026. On the one hand, IIM CAP 2026 made life easier through a single admission process for IIM aspirants; on the other hand, those IIMs participating in IIM CAP 2026 made the IIM Admission process less expensive and less time-consuming.

However, in the last two years, more and more IIMs have left IIM CAP, citing several reasons ranging from better control over the IIM admission process to matching the standard of the students in IIM Admission.

• IIM CAP 2026: IIM Udaipur opted out of IIM CAP 2026 for the individual IIM Admission

• IIM 2026 Admission : JAP 2026 announced, IIM Raipur to coordinate, IIM Trichy, IIM Kashipur, and IIM Ranchi will join.

• IIM CAP 2025: 8 IIMs participated; IIM Bodhgaya coordinated.

• IIM CAP 2025: IIM Raipur opted out of IIM CAP 2025.

• IIM CAP 2025: IIM Sambalpur Opted out of IIM CAP 2025.

• IIM CAP 2024: 10 IIMs Participated; IIM Kashipur coordinated

IIM Admission 2026 Latest Update: IIM Udaipur Opts Out of IIM CAP 2026

IIM Udaipur, which has been a part of IIM CAP for the last couple of years, have decided to opt out of the IIM CAP 2026. As the IIM Admission 2026 session is about to get started, management aspirants predict that the individual IIM Udaipur selection would increase the IIM Udaipur CAT Cutoff 2025.

IIM Udaipur announced its separate IIM selection 2026 because of the following reasons

1. As IIM Udaipur is gradually moving towards a globally recognised management school, the independent IIM Udaipur selection process would be a huge boost towards that global outlook.

2. Apart from that, the independent IIM admission will also cater for the IIM Udaipur selection criteria based on the distinct strengths and values of IIM Udaipur, keeping in mind the academic priorities and aspirations.

IIM Guwahati became the 22nd IIM: IIM Admission to start in 2026?

IIM Guwahati became the 22nd IIM after the clearance from the Indian parliament on August 20, 2025. With Rs 555 Cr. funding, IIM Guwahati is not only the 2nd IIM from the North East region of India after IIM Shillong, but at the same time became an institute of national importance. On the very same day, the Union Education Minister also pointed out that IIM Guwahati will start functioning from the current IIM Admission 2026 session, including appointing IIM Guwahati professors as well as conducting IIM Guwahati MBA admissions. However, there has been no official communication about the IIM Guwahati admission process 2026.

• 22nd IIM : IIM Guwahati is 1st IIM from Assam , 2nd from North East after IIM Shillong , 22nd IIM of India.

• Exams Accepted: CAT 2025

• IIM Guwahati Admission Date 2026: Yet to be announced.

• IIM Guwahati Application Date 2026: Yet to be announced.

• IIM Guwahati Cutoff 2026: Yet to be published.

IIM Samabalpur NIRF Ranking 2025: Highest Gainer Among IIMs

IIM Sambalpur, which opted for the individual IIM admission last year, has been ranked 34 in the NIRF Ranking 2025, in the management domain, and was the highest gainer among the IIMs this year. Though IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode gained the first three spots among the top management colleges in India, it was a giant leap for IIM Sambalpur that gained the spotlight. However, rather than being a surprise improvement of the IIM Sambalpur inthe NIRF Ranking 2025 in the last couple of years. From the NIRF ranking 2022, where Sambalpur was ranked 66, it has moved gradually upwards in the next three years to reach 34 in the NIRF Ranking 2025.