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IIM Admission 2026: What is JAP, CAP, and SAP? Key Differences Explained
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  • IIM Admission 2026: What is JAP, CAP, and SAP? Key Differences Explained

IIM Admission 2026: What is JAP, CAP, and SAP? Key Differences Explained

#MBA
Suvam MaitiUpdated on 26 Dec 2025, 03:28 PM IST

In this IIM admission 2026 season, with the introduction of JAP 2026, IIM selection would be based on the 4 major IIM admission processes 2026. In a latest update, IIM Raipur has released the IIM JAP 2026 selection criteria for the personal interview as part of JAP selection process. In addition to this, IIM BLACKI will conduct its own IIM 2026 admission process. IIM CAP 2026, IIM SAP 2026, and IIM JAP 2026 will be the other three MBA admission processes for IIM. CAP 2026 vs SAP 2026, vs JAP 2026 are single admission processes for the specific IIMs. While CAP and SAP were existing MBA processes, JAP 2026 was announced recently, consisting of 4 IIMs. In this article, we will be discussing the 3 single IIM admission processes - IIM CAP 2026, IIM JAP 2026, and IIM SAP. IIM admission 2026 started with the announcement of CAT 2025. This year, CAT 2025 will happen on November 30, 2025, while having a valid CAT 2025 score is mandatory for the IIM admission 2026.
LATEST: IIM JAP Cutoff 2026 | CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 vs 2024 | CAT 2025 Toppers List

This Story also Contains

  1. IIM CAP 2026 vs IIM SAP 2026 vs IIM JAP 2026
  2. IIM CAP 2026 vs IIM JAP 2026 vs IIM SAP 2026
  3. CAP vs SAP vs JAP 2026: JAP 2026
  4. IIM JAP 2026: Step-By-Step Admission Process
  5. CAP vs SAP vs JAP 2026: CAP 2026
  6. IIM Admission Process: SAP 2026
IIM Admission 2026: What is JAP, CAP, and SAP? Key Differences Explained
IIM Admission 2026

IIM CAP 2026 vs IIM SAP 2026 vs IIM JAP 2026

Apart from the Individual IIM admission process 2026, there will be three (3) single collaborative admission processes for the IIMs. Rather than applying for the different IIMs, through IIM CAP vs IIM SAP vs IIM JAP 2026, management aspirants can get into the participating IIMs with a single application. Here is a comparative analysis between IIM CAP 2026, IIM SAP 2026, and IIM JAP 2026

IIM CAP 2026 vs IIM JAP 2026 vs IIM SAP 2026

Feature

IIM CAP 2026 (Common Admission Process)

IIM SAP 2026 (Supplementary Admission Process)

IIM JAP 2026 (Joint Admission Process)

Definition

CAP 2026, or the Common Admission Process, is a centralised, single-window selection process for the

Participating IIMs in the CAP 2026.


A second-chance process for candidates who miss shortlisting in CAP but still meet the relaxed criteria of certain IIMs.

IIM JAP 2026 (Joint Admission Process)

A new single-portal admission process for four IIMs, announced in 2025, coordinated by IIM Raipur.

Purpose

Single IIM admissions process for the 4 IIMs with one common PI/WAT.

Fill vacant seats by giving eligible but non-shortlisted candidates for IIM CAP another opportunity.

Simplify applications to four IIMs through one portal + one PI/WAT round.

Participating IIMs 2026

IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sirmaur,

Typically, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sirmaur (may vary by year).

IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Trichy.

Coordinating IIM 2026

IIM CAP 2026 coordinating IIM has not been announced yet.

IIM SAP 2026 coordinating IIM has not been announced yet.

IIM Raipur is the JAP 2026 coordinator.

Eligibility / Shortlisting

Based on CAT 2025 scores, academic background, work experience, and diversity factors. Cut-offs differ across IIMs.

Candidates who: (a) took CAT 2025, (b) missed CAP shortlist, but (c) met SAP IIMs’ lower/alternate cut-offs.

Shortlisting on CAT 2025 scores; exact criteria decided jointly, but each IIM may later apply its own weightage in final selection.

Selection Rounds

  • One PI/WAT/AWT round is considered by all CAP IIMs.

  • Each IIM has their own IIM admission criteria.

  • Each IIM releases their own final merit list separately.

  • Separate PI/WAT conducted for SAP candidates.

  • Final selection by each SAP IIM individually.

  • One common PI/WAT is organised through JAP portal.

  • IIM participating in the IIM JAP 2026 will have its own selection criteria for 2026

IIM admission Timeline (2026 cycle)

IIM CAP Starts around January, immediately after the CAT results.

IIM SAP Conducted after CAP ends, likely Feb-Mar 2026.

IIM SAP was announced in Sep 2025, and will begin post-CAT 2025 results.

IIM Application Window
(Expected)

IIM CAP Application Start: January 14, 2026
End: January 23, 2026

IIM CAP PI Merit List Out: January 30, 2026

Separate SAP application form to be filled once SAP 2026 opens.

IIM JAP 2026 application starts: After the CAT 2025 results.



Application Fee

No separate Application Fee for IIM CAP 2026

No separate Application Fee for IIM CAP 2026.

IIM JAP application fees will be announced by IIM Raipur later.(If there is any)

Final Offers

Each IIM issues its own offer after applying weightages to CAP scores and PI/WAT performance.

Each SAP IIM makes independent offers for its vacant seats.

Each JAP IIM makes independent offers based on joint interview performance + institute-specific criteria.

Candidate Advantage

Candidates attend only one PI/WAT for multiple IIMs, save time and effort.

Provides a second chance for admission to some IIMs.

Apply once, attend one interview, and be considered by four IIMs together.

Best for

Candidates targeting multiple newer/baby IIMs.

Candidates who just missed CAP shortlisting but want entry into IIMs like Bodh Gaya, Jammu, or Sirmaur.

Candidates focusing on the JAP four (Raipur, Ranchi, Kashipur, Trichy) with simplified process.

CAP vs SAP vs JAP 2026: JAP 2026

IIM JAP 2026 is the newest inclusion in the IIM Admission 2026. JAP 2026 is the Joint Admission Process for the 4 IIMs- IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Tiruchirapalli. CAT 2025 candidates will be able to complete their IIM Admission 2026 through this single joint admission process 2026.

According to the press releases, candidates can apply for the JAP 2026 after the publication of the CAT 2025 results. The CAT 2025 result has been announced on December 24, 2025. So, keeping these in mind JAP 2026 dates could be around the last week of December 2025 or the first week of January 2026.

  • IIM JAP Dates 2026: After publication of the CAT 2025 result (expected)

  • IIM JAP Application 2026: The IIM JAP application 2026 will be released after the CAT 2025 results.

  • IIM JAP Conducting IIM 2026: IIM Raipur

  • IIM JAP Fees 2026: It is expected that there will be no separate IIM JAP Fees 2026

  • IIMs Participating in IIM CAP 2026: IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Tiruchirapalli.

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IIM JAP 2026: Step-By-Step Admission Process

The IIM JAP coordinated by IIM Raipur, has released the IIM JAP 2026 admission process and has adopted a two-step process for MBA admission 2026-28. Candidates can check the step-by-step admission process in the points below.

  • Step 1: Eligible candidates will be asked to fill out the IIM JAP 2026 registration form received via mail.

  • Step 2: IIM JAP will release the cutoff percentile for different categories to shortlist candidates for a personal interview.

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IIM JAP 2026 Eligibility Criteria

IIM JAP Category

SSC/Class 10 Percentage

HSC/Class 12 Percentage

Graduation Percentage

Sectional Scaled Percentile

Overall Scaled Percentile

General

60

60

50

75

90

EWS

60

60

50

60

75

OBC

60

60

50

60

75

SC

55

55

45

45

50

ST

55

55

45

25

30

PWD

45

45

45

25

30


CAP vs SAP vs JAP 2026: CAP 2026

That means rather than applying differently for the various IIMs, management aspirants can have an MBA admission process for all the IIMs that are participating in CAP 2026. The candidates applying for the CAP 2026 will have the same IIM CAP cutoff and similar IIM CAP dates 2026. Last year, 8 IIMs participated in IIM CAP 2025, while IIM Bodhagaya was in charge of conducting IIM CAP.

  • IIM CAP Dates 2026: Between January 14, 2026 , to May 10, 2026 ( expected)

  • IIM CAP Application 2026: IIM CAP application will start around January 14, 2026

  • IIM CAP Conducting IIM 2026: Yet to be announced (Last Year IIM Bodhgaya was conducting IIM CAP)

  • IIM CAP Fees 2026: There no separate IIM CAP Fees 2026

  • IIMs Participating in IIM CAP 2026: Yet to be announced ( Last Year it was 8 IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy (according to IIM CAP 2025)

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IIM Admission Process: SAP 2026

Supplementary Admission Process (SAP) 2025 is the final selection round for MBA admission in three baby IIMs, namely IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sirmaur. IIM SAP will consist of a personal interview round and will be conducted for the students who have not been shortlisted for the IIM CAP round.

These IIMs shortlist candidates for the SAP round with a lower CAT cutoff than the CAP round. The admissions committee of SAP participating IIMs lowers the overall and section-wise minimum CAT cutoff to get the required number of candidates for all the applicants.

  • IIM SAP Dates 2026: After May 10, 2026 (After the conclusion of IIM CAP 2026)

  • IIM SAP Application 2026: The IIM SAP application will start around May 3rd week 2026

  • IIM SAP Conducting IIM 2026: Yet to be announced

  • IIM SAP Fees 2026: There are no separate IIM CAP Fees 2026

  • IIMs Participating in IIM SAP 2026: IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is eligible for the IIM Admission 2026?
A:

Those who match the IIM CAT Cutoff would be eligible for the IIM Admission 2026.

Q: Can I get direct admission to IIMs?
A:

No, one can not get direct admission to IIMs.

Q: Is CAT score valid for 2 years?
A:

CAT score is valid for 1 year. 

Q: Can I join IIM without a CAT?
A:

No, one can not join IIM without CAT 2025.

Q: Last date to apply for IIMs?
A:

The last date to apply for the IIMs is September 13, 2025, which is the last 

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