The reservation of IIM seats for the ST and SC categories is done as per the reservation policy for backward classes in the education institutes. The Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste have been assigned 7.5% and 15% of the total IIM seats through the CAT exam under the reservation quota. It is done to make sure the extent of high-quality education penetrates the lower strata of society. IIMs also are prioritizing candidates that bring the diversity factor into it.
This Story also Contains
Approximately 538 seats are reserved in IIMs for the ST and SC categories which is about 22.5%. The percentage-wise distribution of total IIM seats across different categories is given in the table below.
Category | Distribution of IIM Seats |
40.5% | |
27% | |
IIM Seats for ST and SC Category | 7.5% and 15% |
PwD and EWS | 10% |
Check out the Total Seats in IIM for MBA/PGDM
IIMs across the nation have different numbers of seats reserved for the ST and SC category candidates. The number of seats for the ST and SC category candidates in different IIMs is mentioned in the table below.
Name of the IIM | Total IIM Seats | IIM seats for the SC Category | IIM seats for the ST Category |
398 | 58 | 29 | |
412 | 57 | 29 | |
462 | 69 | 37 | |
436 | 63 | 32 | |
450 | 68 | 34 | |
525 | 56 | 28 | |
240 | 18 | 9 | |
240 | 18 | 9 | |
120 | 20 | 10 | |
210 | 15 | 8 | |
210 | 18 | 10 | |
210 | 18 | 10 | |
120 | 20 | 10 | |
150 | 28 | 10 | |
120 | 18 | 9 | |
180 | 18 | 10 | |
170 | 9 | 5 | |
240 | 18 | 10 | |
550 | 82 | 41 |
The selection criteria for IIMs is purely merit-based. Candidates across all categories need to qualify for the IIM CAT cutoff for applying to the prestigious IIMs. The CAT cutoff for different IIMs for the ST and SC category is given in the table below.
Name of the IIM | CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM seats for SC Category (Expected) | CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM seats for ST Category (Expected) |
70 | 60 | |
70 | 65 | |
70 | 65 | |
65 | 60 | |
60 | 50 | |
65 | 55 | |
55 | 40 | |
60 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
45 | 35 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
60 | 50 | |
54 | 40 | |
55 | 30 | |
70 | 65 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IIMs have a prescribed SC ST quota for the SC and ST category candidates. 15% and 7.5% of the total IIM seats are reserved for the candidates from SC and ST categories.
IIMs have a total of 538 seats reserved for the SC and ST category candidates. The number of reserved seats for a particular IIM varies depending on the batch size and total seat matrix.
The IIM cutoff for SC and ST candidates ranges between 50-70 CAT percentile. This is the qualifying cutoff at which the candidate is eligible to apply. The selection is based on the overall assessment of the candidate’s profile.
IIM has different scholarship programs for different candidates. SC category candidates studying in IIMs are also eligible for a scholarship of up to 1.5 Lakh in the second year.
On Question asked by student community
A CAT percentile of 99.64 is an excellent score and definitely places you in a strong position for top IIM calls, including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta. However, admission to these institutes is not based on CAT score alone. Each of these IIMs follows a holistic selection process
HELLO,
With a 74 percentile in CAT ,EWS category and 8/8/7 academics , you are in good spot for many non IIM colleges like :-
1.BIMTECH
2.AIM DELHI
3.AMITY GROUP
4.IMT
5.IMT NAGPUR
6.SDM IMD
7.Great Lakes (GLIM) Institute of Management
8.Alliance University
9.IBS Business School
10. Institute of Management,
Hello there,
Yes, you should surely give a try. Your score and being Non-Engineer gives you an edge. The previous trends shows that cutoff typically hovers around 75-84 for EWS category. Therefore you must give a try.
NIBM gives proper weightage to academics as well, therefore your 8\8\8 would work
HELLO,
With an overall 98.54 percentile ( QA/DILR 97.55, VARC 94.89) and strong academics 9/9/0, you have a good profile. As a B.Tech candidate you can expect calls from :-
Hope this
Hello there,
The IIMs you should expect are listed below:
Your biotech background
Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
Highest Package 27.25 LPA | Top 100 Average package 16.65 LPA | AACSB Accredited | Ranked 52 by QS International
Phase 02 Applications Window Closing on 23rd January 2026 | 100% Placement Record | Average CTC 12.75 LPA | Highest CTC 40.31 LPA | Median CTC 12.49 LPA
Application Deadline 15th Jan’26 | UGC Approved Programs | Near 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.32 LPA
Ranked #36 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement