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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.
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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.
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
Know how to crack WAT and GD/PI rounds for MBA/ PGP admission
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 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.
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.
Exam Name | Categories | Seats Reserved in Institutes | Certificates Required |
CAT | Persons with disabilities (PwD)/ differently abled (DA) are divided into three categories:
| PwD/DA: 5% | Certificate for Persons with Disabilities |
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 |
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 |
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 2026 | CAT 2025 Minimum Cutoff |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85-65 VARC: 75-55 DILR: 75-55 QA: 75-55 |
| IIM Bangalore | 60 VARC: 50 DILR : 50 QA: 50 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 55 VARC: 45 DILR : 45 QA: 45 |
| IIM Lucknow | 60 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 Indore | 45 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 Rohtak | 87-40 |
| IIM Udaipur | 42 VARC: 25 DILR : 25 QA: 30 |
| IIM Kashipur (JAP 2026) | 30 VARC: 25 DILR : 25 QA: 25 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 40 VARC: 35 DILR : 35 QA: 35 |
| IIM Vizag | 40 VARC:3 DILR :30 QA: 30 |
| IIM Amritsar | 40 VARC:37 DILR : 35 QA: 40 |
| IIM Jammu (part of IIM CAP) | 42 VARC: 25 DILR : 25 QA: 30 |
| IIM Nagpur | 40 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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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 |
402 | 20 | |
535 | 26 | |
497 | 23 | |
475 | 22 | |
576 | 28 | |
505 | 25 | |
489 | 24 | |
327 | 16 | |
348 (including IPM) | 18 | |
343 | 17 | |
474 | 23 | |
- | - | |
250 | 13 | |
395 | 19 | |
344 | 17 | |
- | - | |
340 (2026-28) | 17 | |
262 | 13 | |
326 | 16 | |
316 | 16 | |
297 | 15 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As per the reservation policy laid out by givernment of India 5% seats are reserved for PwD candidates.
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