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IIM Admission 2026 and PI Shortlist: A crucial stage for MBA candidates, IIM admissions 2026, which will begin with the release of the CAT 2025 results. Reaching a high percentile is crucial, but it's just the beginning of a multi-phase selection process. Candidates are shortlisted for the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) based on their CAT percentile, sectional scores, academic background, professional experience, and overall profile. Keep reading this article to find a comprehensive guide on the role of CAT 2025 percentile, IIM shortlisting criteria, PI shortlist significance, and next steps for aspirants. It also covers sectional cutoffs, factors affecting PI shortlisting, and differences between IIM CAP, JAP and SAP processes and more.
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The CAT 2025 percentile is the primary determinant for shortlisting candidates for IIM admissions 2026. While IIMs follow a holistic admission process, the percentile largely influences which candidates move to the next stage — the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT). Through the following points, one will get to know its role, which helps aspirants plan college applications and preparation strategies effectively.
Each IIM sets minimum overall and sectional percentile cutoffs for shortlisting. Candidates scoring above the required percentile are eligible for PI/WAT.
VARC, DILR, and QA sectional percentiles are often as important as the overall percentile. Failing to meet the minimum sectional cutoff may result in no PI call, even if the overall percentile is high.
In the table below, we have mentioned the IIM admission 2026 shortlisting criteria for some of the prominent IIMs in India. Through this table, you will get a clear breakdown of the IIM CAT 2025 weightage.
Name of IIMS | CAT 2025 Weightage (2026-2028) | ||||||||||||
Interview Call | Final selection | ||||||||||||
CAT | Class 10 | Class 12 | Grads | Work Ex | Gender/Acad | CAT | WAT | PI | Acad | Work | Diversity | Resume | |
55 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 25 | 10 | 40 | 15 | 10 | - | - | |
60 | - | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5+5 | 30 | 10 | 40 | 10 | 5 | 5 | - | |
65 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 50 | - | - | - | 15 | |||||
56 | 10 | 15 | - | - | 4 | 30 | 8 | 48 | 6 | 8 | - | - | |
55 | 10 | 25 | - | 3 | 7 | 40 | - | 45 | 10 | - | 5 | - | |
- | - | - | - | - | - | 60 | 20 | 20 | |||||
- | -- | - | - | - | - | 55 | - | 25 | 6 | 6 | 8 | - | |
IIM Jammu | 100 | - | - | - | - | - | 42 | - | 30 | 10 | 10 | 8 | - |
50 | 15 | 20 | - | 5 | 10/5 | 35 | 20 | 35 | 10 | ||||
40 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 40 | - | 25 | 10 | 20 | 5 | ||
50 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 10 | - | 70 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Pre PI * 60 + Post PI * 40 | ||
- | -- | - | - | -- | - | 45 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 10 | Academic Diversity- 5% | |
One of the most important steps in the IIM admissions process is the Personal Interview (PI) shortlist. The first step in turning your percentile into a real admissions offer following the CAT 2025 results is making the PI shortlist. Candidates are better able to strategically concentrate their efforts when they recognise its significance.
The PI shortlist determines which candidates are eligible for the next stage of selection at IIMs. Even if a candidate scores exceptionally high in CAT, failing to meet the overall or sectional cutoffs may result in no PI call. One must understand that being on the PI shortlist gives you the opportunity to compete for admission, making it a critical checkpoint in the selection journey.
To be shortlisted for the Personal Interview (PI) stage at IIMs and other top MBA colleges, candidates must meet both overall and sectional CAT percentiles. Each institute sets its own minimum requirements, and clearing these cutoffs is the first step toward securing a PI call. Understanding these benchmarks helps aspirants realistically assess their chances and plan the next steps in the admission process.
List of IIMs | IIM 2025 Cutoff for General Category | CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM for EWS | CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM for NC-OBC | CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM for SC | CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM for ST | CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM for PWD |
IIM Ahmedabad | 95 VARC: 85 DILR: 85 QA: 85 | 95 VARC: 85 DILR: 85 QA: 75 | 90 VARC: 80 DILR: 80 QA: 80 | 85 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 65 | 75 VARC: 65 DILR: 65 QA: 55 | 85-65 VARC: 75-55 DILR: 75-55 QA: 75-55 |
IIM Bangalore | 85 VARC: 80 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | 75 VARC: 70 DILR: 70 QA: 65 | 75 VARC: 70 DILR: 70 QA: 70 | 70 VARC: 60 DILR: 60 QA: 60 | 65 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 60 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 |
IIM Calcutta | 85 VARC: 80 DILR: 80 QA: 75 | 75 VARC: 70 DILR: 65 QA: 65 | >75 VARC: 70 DILR: 65 QA: 65 | >70 VARC: 65 DILR: 60 QA: 60 | >65 VARC: 50 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | >55 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 |
90 VARC: 85 DILR: 85 QA: 85 | 82 VARC: 77 DILR: 77 QA: 77 | 82 VARC: 77 DILR: 77 QA: 77 | 65 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 60 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | 60 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | |
IIM Kozhikode | 85 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | 75+ VARC: >70 DILR: >65 QA: >65 | 75 VARC: 65 DILR: 65 QA: 65 | 65 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 55 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 | 55 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 |
IIM Mumbai | 85 VARC: 80 DILR: 80 QA: 75 | 75 VARC: 65 DILR: 65 QA: 65 | >75 VARC: 70 DILR: 70 QA: 70 | >70 VARC: 65 DILR: 60 QA: 60 | >65 VARC: 50 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | >55 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 |
90 VARC: 80 DILR: 80 QA: 80 | 90 VARC: 80 DILR: 80 QA: 80 | 80 VARC: 70 DILR: 70 QA: 70 | 60 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 45 VARC: 40 DILR: 40 QA: 40 | 45 VARC: 40 DILR: 40 QA: 40 | |
IIM Shillong | — | 80 VARC: 60 DILR: 60 QA: 60 | — | — | — | — |
IIM Rohtak | 97 | 88 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 80 | 83 | 60 | 50 | 87-40 |
IIM Raipur | 90 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | — VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | 80 VARC: 65 DILR: 65 QA: 65 | 65 VARC: 60 DILR: 60 QA: 60 | 55 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 45 VARC: 30 DILR: 30 QA: 30 |
IIM Ranchi | 95 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | 72 VARC: 63 DILR: 63 QA: 63 | 81 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 66 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 | 42 VARC: 25 DILR: 25 QA: 30 | 42 VARC: 25 DILR: 25 QA: 30 |
95 VARC: 75 DILR: 75 QA: 75 | 93 | 81 VARC: 55 DILR: 55 QA: 55 | 66 VARC: 45 DILR: 45 QA: 45 | 42 VARC: 25 DILR: 25 QA: 30 | 42 VARC: 25 DILR: 25 QA: 25 | |
IIM Amritsar | — | 77 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | — | — | — | — |
IIM Bodhgaya (Part of IIM CAP) | — | 77 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | — | — | — | — |
IIM Nagpur (Part of IIM CAP) | — | 77 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | — | — | — | — |
(Part of IIM CAP) | — | 77 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | — | — | — | — |
IIM Vishakhapatnam | — | 77 VARC: 50 DILR: 50 QA: 50 | — | — | — | — |
The candidates who advance in the IIM admissions process are chosen from the Personal Interview (PI) shortlist following the CAT 2025 results. A high CAT percentile is crucial, but the shortlisting process is also influenced by a number of other factors. By being aware of these, candidates can more accurately evaluate their possibilities and concentrate on improving their profiles.
CAT Score vs Percentile
Candidate academic performance
Work experience of the candidate
Overall profile and achievement of the candidate
Diversity factors (Gender diversity, academic background, regional representation, industry diversity & more)
Reservation
Institute-specific criteria
Here’s a comparison table for IIM CAP vs IIM JAP vs IIM SAP, which will help you get an understanding of how these three admission processes work.
Feature | IIM CAP (Common Admission Process) | IIM JAP (Joint Admission Process) | IIM SAP (Single Admission Process) |
Participating IIMs | Older IIMs: Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, etc. | Newer IIMs: Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy, Udaipur, Bodh Gaya | Specific IIMs for niche programs |
Purpose | Centralized shortlisting for multiple IIMs | Joint shortlisting & interviews for several IIMs | Single-institute admission process |
CAT Cutoff | High (97–99+ percentile) | Moderate (85–95 percentile) | Varies per institute |
Selection Criteria | CAT score, academics, work experience, diversity | CAT score, academics, profile | CAT score, academics, profile |
PI/WAT | Centralized PI/WAT for all participating IIMs | Joint PI/WAT for all participating IIMs | Individual PI/WAT by that IIM |
Best For | Aspirants targeting multiple top IIMs | Aspirants targeting newer IIMs | Aspirants targeting one specific IIM program |
Application Process | Single application for all CAP IIMs | Single application for all JAP IIMs | Individual application for that IIM |
Although passing the PI shortlist is an important stage in the IIM admissions process, it is not the last one. Candidates must concentrate on preparation and strategic planning after being shortlisted in order to turn the PI call into a final offer of admission. What to do next is as follows:
Prepare for WAT-GD-PI Process: Expect questions on academics, work experience, leadership, current affairs, and career goals. Practice essay writing on business, current affairs, or abstract topics. Mock interviews and WAT practice are crucial. Start immediately after the shortlist.
Organise Required Documents: All candidates must ensure that they keep all the required documents, such as, CAT scorecard, academic certificates, work experience letters, category certificates, ready to be presented. Some IIMs may ask for self-attested copies before PI.
Schedule & Confirm Interview Dates: All candidates must check official communication for PI/WAT schedules. Keep in mind that missing the PI call may lead to automatic disqualification.
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On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :
Top colleges accepting CAT:
IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)
FMS Delhi
SPJIMR Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
IIT Delhi (DMS)
IIFT
IMT Ghaziabad
JBIMS Mumbai
Top colleges accepting XAT:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIMB Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
Great
Hi there,
A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.
Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of
Hi there,
Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.
According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the
Hi there,
Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and
Hi there,
The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong
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