Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    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 08 Aug 2026, 11:51 AM IST

    IIM 2026 Admission Criteria for PwD: The 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

    Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2027

    Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 18 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2026

    XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2027

    75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools

    Know how to crack WAT and GD/PI rounds for MBA/ PGP admission

    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 based on 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.

    Past 10 years CAT Question Papers with Solutions
    Ace CAT with confidence! Download the Past 10 Years' CAT Question Papers with detailed answers to understand exam trends, improve accuracy, and maximize your percentile.
    Download Ebook

    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 of 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
    NMAT by GMAC 2026

    Test centres are available in 70+ cities across India | 75,000+ aspirants apply for the NMAT exam | Accepted by 58+ institutions like NMIMS, KJSIM, ISB, SPJIMR and Great Lakes.

    Symbiosis MBA - SNAP 2026

    1 Exam accepted by 17 Top Symbiosis Institutes for 29 MBA programmes.

    IIM Admission Guidelines for PwD Candidates: Seats offered

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

    Note: The seat reservation for Persons 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. 

    Articles
    |
    Certifications By Top Providers
    Online MBA
    Via Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar
    Corporate Tax Planning
    Via Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online MBA Business Analytics
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
    Digital Marketing
    Via Panjab University, Chandigarh
    Online MBA
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe
    University of Essex, Colchester
    Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
    Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
    Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
    Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
    Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
    University of Reading, Reading
    Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
    Bournemouth University, Bournemouth
    Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5BB, United Kingdom

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    Hello Student,

    Your question is incomplete because the name of the app or platform is not mentioned.

    Please tell me which CAT online batch or app you are referring to. Then I can tell you whether the classes are conducted through the app, website, or both.

    Best Wishes for your

    If by B-category you mean management/private quota MBBS seats, the cutoff is very different from government-quota MBBS.

    In Tamil Nadu, management-quota MBBS seats are available in self-financing/private medical colleges through the state counselling process. The closing rank varies significantly between colleges and counselling rounds. The 2025 counselling data shows that

    Hello Student,

    With a CAT 2025 percentile of 98.25, you have a good chance of receiving calls from several IIMs, particularly newer IIMs. However, IIM Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Calcutta , and Lucknow generally require higher percentiles for General-category candidates. Calls also depend on sectional percentiles, academics, work experience, and

    Hello Aspirant,

    Yes, you can access CAT preparation resources, including mock tests, practice questions, previous-year papers, and study material. Explore the CAT preparation resources and test series using the link below:

    https://bschool.careers360.com/download/ebooks-and-sample-papers?exam=45

    Hope this Helps!

    Hello CAT Aspirant!

    If you mean the CAT ( Common Admission Test) EWS certificate, the important point is whether the certificate is valid and issued in the prescribed format, rather than simply the language used on it.

    Yes, a Hindi EWS certificate can generally be accepted for CAT, provided it