Out of the total 5500 IIM seats combined across the MBA and PGDM programs, a staggering 27% of the IIM seats are reserved for the OBC category candidates. The OBC candidates fill in the IIM seats for the OBC category by clearing the CAT exam with the required CAT percentile. The CAT percentile for the OBC category is different from one IIM to another. CAT 2024 concludes on November 24 in three different shifts.
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To select the candidates for the IIM seats for the OBC category a set selection process takes place. A candidate’s entire profile along with CAT score and work experience (if applicable) is taken into consideration for final shortlisting.
The total number of seats in IIM for the OBC category is around 809 approximately. The percentage-wise distribution of IIM seats for different categories is given in the table below.
Category | Distribution of IIM Seats |
40.5% | |
IIM Seats for OBC Category | 27% |
7.5% and 15% | |
PwD and EWS | 10% |
Check out the Total Seats in IIM for MBA/PGDM
Different IIMs have different seats reserved for the OBC category as per the total IIM seats offered by them. The total IIM seats for the OBC category candidates in different IIMs are provided in the table below.
Name of the IIM | Total IIM Seats | IIM seats for the OBC Category |
398 | 104 | |
412 | 103 | |
462 | 125 | |
436 | 113 | |
450 | 122 | |
525 | 102 | |
240 | 33 | |
240 | 33 | |
120 | 37 | |
210 | 28 | |
210 | 32 | |
210 | 32 | |
120 | 37 | |
150 | 32 | |
120 | 33 | |
180 | 32 | |
170 | 17 | |
240 | 32 | |
550 | 148 |
The CAT cutoff is mandatory to clear for any candidates wishing to apply to any IIM for admission to its MBA/PGDM programs. The CAT cutoff depends on several factors including CAT exam difficulty level, normalization, total qualifying candidates, reservation criteria, etc. The CAT cutoff for IIM seats for the OBC category is given in the table below.
Name of the IIM | CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM seats for OBC Category (Expected) |
75 | |
75 | |
75+ | |
77 | |
80 | |
75 | |
75 | |
76.5 | |
74 | |
74 | |
74 | |
74 | |
70 | |
74 | |
74 | |
82 | |
74 | |
78 | |
75 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT exam registration fee for OBC category candidates is Rs. 2400 similar to that for the General category candidates. The fees for SC, ST, and PwD categories are Rs. 1200.
The total IIM seats for OBC are 809, about 27% of the total IIM seats. The SC and ST categories are given a reservation of 15% and 7.5% in the IIM seats respectively.
The CAT percentile required for IIM by the OBC candidate is around 85-90. This is the qualifying percentile. The percentile for final selection is generally much higher around 97-99.
The OBC percentile for IIM Kozhikode is 75 (qualifying basis). OBC candidates with 75 percentile can apply to IIM Kozhikode. The selection will be based on the overall profile assessment, performance in the PI round, and CAT score (post-normalization).
On Question asked by student community
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
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