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    IIM Admission 2026 for PwD: Eligibility, CAT Cutoff, Reservation, Seats & Selection Process Explained

    IIM Admission 2026 for PwD: Eligibility, CAT Cutoff, Reservation, Seats & Selection Process Explained

    SundararajanUpdated on 22 Apr 2026, 03:19 PM IST

    IIM 2026 Admission Criteria for PwD: CAT exam is the first step to get into IIMs. The next steps are a written ability test (WAT) and a personal interview (PI). Like the general category, even for PwD, WAT and PI are the main selection criteria for the IIM MBA admission 2026-28 session. PwD candidates who meet the CAT cutoff are shortlisted for the WAT and PI rounds. The final selection for IIM admission for PwD candidates is based on the overall profile of the candidate – CAT score, academic score, work experience, and WAT/ PI score. Get all information related to the reservation criteria and guidelines for applying for IIM admission under the PwD category.

    This Story also Contains

    1. IIM Admission Guide for PwD Candidates
    2. IIM Admission for PwD: Eligibility Criteria 2026
    3. How to Get Admission in IIM for PwD Candidates
    4. CAT Exam Pattern for PwD candidates
    5. IIM CAT Cutoff for Pwd candidates (minimum)
    6. IIM Admission Guidelines for PwD Candidates: Seats offered
    IIM Admission 2026 for PwD: Eligibility, CAT Cutoff, Reservation, Seats & Selection Process Explained
    IIM Admission Guide for PwD Candidates

    IIM Admission Guide for PwD Candidates

    The selection process and criteria for IIM PwD admission may differ for each IIM. Some IIMs have different eligibility criteria, cutoffs, fees, and the number of seats reserved for PwD. For example, the minimum CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad is 65-85, depending on category, but IIM Kashipur's minimum CAT cutoff for PwD is 30 (as per JAP 2026) for the 2026 MBA admissions.

    Careers360 has compiled important information related to IIM admission guidelines under the PwD category. In this article, aspirants will get all the details related to the IIM PwD admission guidelines and reservation criteria.

    IIM Admission for PwD: Eligibility Criteria 2026

    To get an invitation from the desired IIM, it is mandatory for the PwD candidates to fulfil the required IIM eligibility criteria.

    • Candidates should score a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in graduation for PwD category candidates.

    • Should meet the respective IIM CAT cutoff

    • Crack the WAT/ PI

    • Work experience (if any) - Not mandatory

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    How to Get Admission in IIM for PwD Candidates

    Generally, the IIM admission process for PwD consists of three stages. Below are the details on how to get into IIM.

    Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of their CAT score

    Stage 2: Screening of students for WAT/GD-PI

    Stage 3: Calculation of Composite Score and Final Selection

    IIM Admission Criteria: Parameters Considered for PwD Category

    IIM Admission Parameter

    What does it mean?

    CAT score

    Overall percentile obtained in the CAT exam.

    Graduation Score

    Aggregate percentage obtained in a three-year degree or equivalent course.

    Class 12 Score

    Aggregate percentage of marks in class 12 or equivalent marks.

    Class 10 Score

    Aggregate percentage of marks in 10th grade or equivalent.

    WAT/GD-PI

    Each candidate's performance in WAT/GD-PI will be evaluated and marks assigned accordingly.

    Academic Diversity

    Additional points are awarded to candidates from non-engineering backgrounds to ensure a fair representation of students from other streams.

    Gender Diversity

    To promote fair representation of each gender, IIMs award additional points to female/transgender students.

    Work Experience

    Candidates with prior work experience will be awarded additional points (from 1-5). For this, a range is defined from low to high.

    Note: Points of academic diversity, gender diversity, and work experience vary from campus to campus.

    IIM MBA Reservation for Physically Disabled (PD) or Persons with Disability (PwD)

    The CAT entrance exam has reservations for the PwD category. There are two important points that every aspirant applying under the PwD category should check before applying for the CAT exam.

    • The applicant must possess a valid certificate attested by the concerned authority; otherwise, the candidates will be treated as general category candidates.

    • Candidates must check before filling out the application form. It is important to check the eligibility criteria of the CAT examination and the individual IIMs.

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    CAT Exam Criteria and Guidelines for PwD Candidates

    Exam Name

    Categories

    Seats Reserved in Institutes

    Certificates Required

    CAT

    Persons with disabilities (PwD)/ differently abled (DA) are divided into three categories:

    • Low vision blindness

    • Hearing impairment

    • Locomotor disability/ cerebral palsy

    PwD/DA: 5%

    Certificate for Persons with Disabilities

    CAT Exam: Eligibility Criteria for DA category students and application fee

    Eligibility criteria and application fee information for the CAT entrance exam for PwD candidates are listed below in the table.

    Exam Name

    Eligibility

    Application Fees

    CAT

    Minimum aggregate marks required in graduation for PwD candidates is 45%

    CAT Application fee for PwD candidates is Rs. 1250

    CAT Exam Pattern for PwD candidates

    The actual duration of the CAT exam is 2 hours (40 minutes per section). PwD candidates will get an additional 20 minutes per test hour.

    CAT Exam Sections

    No. of Questions

    Time limit for PwD students

    Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

    24

    53 minutes and 20 seconds

    Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

    20

    53 minutes and 20 seconds

    Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

    22

    53 minutes and 20 seconds

    Total

    66

    160 minutes

    IIM CAT Cutoff for Pwd candidates (minimum)

    The minimum CAT cutoff PwD candidates will require for IIMs is listed below. the table consists od the sectional as well as overall percentile needed for each IIM.

    List of IIMs 2026CAT 2025 Minimum Cutoff
    IIM Ahmedabad85-65

    VARC: 75-55
    DILR: 75-55
    QA: 75-55
    IIM Bangalore60

    VARC: 50
    DILR : 50
    QA: 50
    IIM Kozhikode
    55

    VARC: 45
    DILR : 45
    QA: 45
    IIM Lucknow60

    VARC: 50
    DILR : 50
    QA: 50
    IIM Mumbai>55

    VARC: 45
    DILR : 45
    QA: 45
    IIM Calcutta>55

    VARC: 45
    DILR : 45
    QA: 45
    IIM Indore45

    VARC: 40
    DILR : 40
    QA: 40
    IIM Raipur (JAP 2026)30

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 25
    IIM Trichy (JAP 2026)30

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 25
    IIM Ranchi (JAP 2026)30

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 25
    IIM Rohtak87-40
    IIM Udaipur42

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 30
    IIM Kashipur (JAP 2026)30

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 25
    IIM Sambalpur40

    VARC: 35
    DILR : 35
    QA: 35
    IIM Vizag40

    VARC:3
    DILR :30
    QA: 30
    IIM Amritsar40

    VARC:37
    DILR : 35
    QA: 40
    IIM Jammu (part of IIM CAP)42

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 30
    IIM Nagpur40

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA:25
    IIM Sirmaur (part of IIM CAP)42

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 30
    IIM Shillong-
    VARC: 50
    DILR : 50
    QA: 50
    IIM Bodhgaya (part of IIM CAP)42

    VARC: 25
    DILR : 25
    QA: 30
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    IIM Admission Guidelines for PwD Candidates: Seats offered

    Refer to the table below for IIM admission guidelines and number of seats at ecah IIM for PwD candidates.

    Note: The seat reservation for Person with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) is 5%.

    IIM List

    Total Seat Intake (as per 2024-26 batch)

    CAT seats for PwD

    IIM Ahmedabad

    402

    20

    IIM Bangalore

    535

    26

    IIM Kozhikode

    497

    23

    IIM Calcutta

    475

    22

    IIM Lucknow

    576

    28

    IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE)

    505

    25

    IIM Indore

    489

    24

    IIM Raipur

    327

    16

    IIM Rohtak

    348 (including IPM)

    18

    IIM Udaipur

    343

    17

    IIM Kashipur

    474

    23

    IIM Trichy

    -

    -

    IIM Ranchi

    250

    13

    IIM Shillong

    395

    19

    IIM Visakhapatnam

    344

    17

    IIM Jammu

    -

    -

    IIM Nagpur

    340 (2026-28)

    17

    IIM Amritsar

    262

    13

    IIM Bodh Gaya

    326

    16

    IIM Sambalpur

    316

    16

    IIM Sirmaur

    297

    15

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: How many seats are reserved for PwD candidates at IIMs?
    A:

    As per the reservation policy laid out by givernment of India 5% seats are reserved for PwD candidates. 

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