MBA Admission In India 2026 Updates: What’s New? | Recent Changes and New Introductions You Can’t Miss
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  • MBA Admission In India 2026 Updates: What’s New? | Recent Changes and New Introductions You Can’t Miss

MBA Admission In India 2026 Updates: What’s New? | Recent Changes and New Introductions You Can’t Miss

#MBA
Suvam MaitiUpdated on 30 Nov 2025, 03:03 PM IST

MBA Admission 2026 Updates: In a recent MBA admission 2026 update, IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2025 cutoff has been increased. The overall percentile to match IIM Ahmedabad 2026 cutoff increased to 95 percentile for the general candidates for IIM Ahmedabad admission 2026, while the IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2025 cutoff increased to 90 percentile for ST candidates. The sectional cutoffs have also been increased this year for IIM Ahmedabad. Apart from the IIM Ahmedabad, some other prominent IIMs like IIM Bangalore Selection 2026, IIM Calcutta Selection 2026, IIM Lucknow Admission 2026 were out. In another MBA 2026 admission news, IIM Guwahati became the 22nd IIM of India in August 2026. In the monsoon session of the Parliament, both houses nodded in favour of the 2nd IIM in North North-Eastern part of India after IIM Shillong.

This Story also Contains

  1. MBA Admission in India 2026: Latest Updates: Highlights
  2. MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Ahmedabad gains top spot, IIM Sambalpur makes a Giant Leap in NIRF Ranking 2025
  3. NIRF Ranking 2025: Key Highlights for MBA Colleges 2025
  4. MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Ahmedabad 2026 Cutoff Increased 15 %
  5. IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff: 2025 vs 2024
  6. MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Guwahati became the 22nd IIM
  7. IIM Guwahati 22nd IIM of India: Key Highlights
  8. MBA Admission 2026: JAP 2026 Announced; IIM Raipur to Coordinate Admission
  9. JAP 2026 Announced: Key Highlights
MBA Admission In India 2026 Updates: What’s New? | Recent Changes and New Introductions You Can’t Miss
MBA Admission In India 2026 Updates

The NIRF 2025 ranking was also announced recently. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Kozhikode maintained their top #3 positions in the NIRF MBA 2025 ranking. But this year, IIM Sambalpur made a huge leap of 16 places to move up to 34 in the NIRF Ranking 2025 in the management domain. Another Indian MBA admission 2026 update that you must know is that a new IIM admission process has been announced, called the Joint Admission Process (JAP). JAP 2026 is the single window IIM Admission process 2026. Led by IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Trichy, it will participate in the IIM JAP 2026. Explore the article to learn more about the new highlights of the MBA admission 2026.

MBA Admission in India 2026: Latest Updates: Highlights

  1. IIM Guwahati Announced as the 22nd IIM of India

  2. JAP 2026 announced, IIM Raipur to coordinate.

  3. NIRF Ranking 2025 announced: IIM Ahmedabad holds onto top position, IIM Sambalpur highest gainer among IIMs. (From 50 in 2024, moved up to 34 in NIRF Management Ranking 2025)

  4. As of now, only two IIMs have released their official admission policy for the two-year MBA course. While IIM Lucknow 2026 cutoff remained the same, IIM Ahmedabad 2026 cutoff was increased from

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MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Ahmedabad gains top spot, IIM Sambalpur makes a Giant Leap in NIRF Ranking 2025

IIM Ahmedabad has once again bagged the 1st spot among the top 100 MBA colleges in the NIRF 2025 Ranking. IM A has become India’s no. 1 college for MBA admission 2026-28. This year, IIM Ahmedabad gained an NIRF score of 83.29 to become the No. 1 in the NIRF MBA ranking 2025, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode. Apart from the IIMs, IIT Delhi made it to the top NIRF MBA ranking list 2025, making it the highest-ranked IITs, offering MBA courses. MDI Gurgaon has moved up to rank 9 in the NIRF management ranking 2025, making it the highest-ranked private MBA college in India 2026-28.

NIRF Ranking 2025: Key Highlights for MBA Colleges 2025

  1. Top IIM in NIRF Management Ranking 2025: IIM Ahmedabad

  2. NIRF 2025 Ranking Top 3 IIMs are IIM Ahmedabad (1), IIM Bangalore (2), and IIM Kozhikode (3).

  3. Top Non-IIM in NIRF Ranking 2025: IIT Delhi (Rank 4)

  4. Top Private MBA College in NIRF Ranking 2025: MDI Gurgaon (Rank 9)

  5. Out of 21 IIMs, 9 IIMs improved their NIRF Ranking, while 6 IIMs slipped in NIRF 2025 Ranking compared to last year in this session of I

  6. The Highest Gain among IIMs is IIM Sambalpur (34), ranking increased by 16 places. IIM Trichy (16) NIRF 2025 ranking increased by 11 places, and IIM Jammu (35) NIRF 2025 Ranking increased by 7 places.

  7. IIM Shillong (38) slipped 14 points from NIRF ranking 24 last year, while IIM Amritsar (64) slipped 17 places from 47 last year.

  8. NIRF Ranking New New Parameters Introduced -

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MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Ahmedabad 2026 Cutoff Increased 15 %

In this MBA Admission 2026 session, IIM Ahmedabad, which has recently released the IIM Ahmedabad admission criteria 2026, has also increased the IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 whopping 15% compared to the previous years. IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2026 for General and EWS candidates was increased to 95 percentile. While IIM Ahmedabad CAT cutoff 2026 for SC increased to 85, IIM Ahmedabad cutoff for ST moved up to 75, and OBC (NC) candidates now have to score 90 percentile in CAT 2025 to match the IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 as per IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2026

IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff: 2025 vs 2024

IIM Ahmedabad Admission 2026

IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2025 Cutoff (percentile)

IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2024 Cutoff (percentile)

General /EWS

Overall: 95

VARC: 85
DILR: 85
QA: 75

Overall: 80

VARC: 70
DILR: 70
QA: 70

NC-OBC

Overall: 90

VARC: 80
DILR: 80
QA: 70

Overall: 75

VARC: 65
DILR: 65
QA: 65

SC

Overall: 85

VARC: 75
DILR: 75
QA: 65

Overall: 70

VARC: 60
DILR: 60
QA: 60

ST

Overall: 75

VARC: 65
DILR: 65
QA: 55

Overall: 60

VARC: 50
DILR: 50
QA: 50

PWD

Overall: 85-65

VARC: 75-55
DILR: 75-55
QA: 75 -55

Overall: 70-60

VARC: 50-60
DILR: 50-60
QA: 50-60

MBA 2026 Admission: IIM Guwahati became the 22nd IIM

In a major update about MBA Admission 2026, on August 20, 2025, the Indian Parliament cleared the way for IIM Guwahati to become the 22nd IIM. With the inclusion of IIM Guwahati, which is the 1st IIM from Assam, the North Eastern part of India is set to get its 2nd IIM after IIM Shillong. The establishment of IIM Guwahati is a part of a special development package for Assam. IIM Guwahati will receive Rs 555 crore over 5 years till the institution becomes self-sustaining. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while discussing the IIM Bill 2025, also pointed out that IIM Guwahati will start functioning from the current IIM Admission season, including appointing IIM Guwahati professors as well as conducting IIM Guwahati MBA admissions.

IIM Guwahati 22nd IIM of India: Key Highlights

  • 22nd IIM : IIM Guwahati is 1st IIM from Assam , 2nd from North East after IIM Shillong , 22nd IIM of India.

  • Institute of Importance: IIM Guwahati is set to become an Institute of Importance through the Indian Institute of Management (Amendment) Bill 2025.

  • IIM Guwahati Funding: IIM Guwahati will receive Rs. 555 crore from 2025-2026 till 2029-2030.

  • IIM Act, 2017: Through the Indian Institute of Management Act, 2017, all IIMs are granted the status of Institutions of National Importance, and they function as a full-fledged university.

  • IIM Guwahati Functioning: It is expected that IIM Guwahati will commence its MBA 2026 admission process from the 2025-2026 session.

  • Education Qualification (Expected): Minimum of a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university.

  • Minimum Graduation Marks (Expected): The Minimum marks to apply for the IIM Guwahati are expected to be 50 % for general candidates, while 45% for the reserved category.

  • Exams Accepted: CAT 2025

  • IIM Guwahati selection process 2026 (expected): IIM Guwahati CAT Cutoff + Pre-PI shortlist + IIM Guwahati PI-WAT Round = IIM Guwahati Final Merit List 2026.

  • IIM Guwahati Admission Date 2026: Yet to be announced.

  • IIM Guwahati Application Date 2026: Yet to be announced.

  • IIM Guwahati Cutoff 2026: Yet to be published.

MBA Admission 2026: JAP 2026 Announced; IIM Raipur to Coordinate Admission

JAP 2026 is the latest inclusion in the MBA 2026 admission 2026 led by IIM Raipur. 4 IIMs, IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Tiruchirapalli have announced their own separate Joint Admission Process 2026 (JAP 2026) on September 09, 2025. IIM Raipur will be the coordinator for the JAP 2026. As the IIM Admission session in 2025-2026 is about to get started, with the CAT 2025 scheduled for November 30, 2025, management aspirants now have 4 different MBA admission 2026 processes to get into the 21 IIMs in India, through the CAT 2025 score. Apart from the JAP 2026, management aspirants can get IIM admission 2026 through individual IIM admission process 2026, IIM CAP 2026, and IIM SAP 2026. The Last date for the CAT 2025 registration 2025 is September 13, 2025.

JAP 2026 Announced: Key Highlights

  • What is JAP 2026: Joint Admission Process (2026).

  • No. of IIMs Participating in JAP 2026: IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Tiruchirapalli.

  • JAP 2026 Co-ordinator: IIM Raipur.

  • JAP 2026 Accepted Score: CAT 2025.

  • JAP 2026 Dates: To be announced later.

  • JAP 2026 Application Date: To be announced later.

  • IIM JAP 2026 Cutoff: To be released later.

  • Goal of JAP 2026: Single Admission Process, Meeting IIM Standard, Transparent, Aspirant-Focused Admission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Will IIM Guwahati start working in 2025?
A:

The Union Education Minister has stated that IIM Guwahati will start operation in 2025-206 sessions. 

Q: What is the IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026?
A:

IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2026 for the general candidates is 95 percentile. 

Q: What is the IIM Guwahati budget?
A:

IIM Guwahati Budget is Rs. 555 Cr.

Q: What is JAP 2026?
A:

JAP 2026 stands for Joint Admission Process 2026, a common admission process for 4 IIMs - IIM Raipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Tiruchirapalli 

Q: The JAP 2026 will start?
A:

JAP 2026 will start after the publication of the CAT 2025 results. 

Q: Which is the top-most MBA college in the NIRF Ranking 2025?
A:

IIM Ahmedabad is the top-most MBA college in the NIRF Ranking 2025. 

Q: Which is the top-most non-IIM MBA college in the NIRF Ranking 2025?
A:

IIT Delhi is the top-most non-IIM MBA college in the NIRF Ranking 2025. 

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Questions related to MBA

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to MBA ?

Hello

With an NMAT score of 205, you have decent chances in good mid-tier MBA colleges.
You may get calls from NMIMS Hyderabad or Indore, but the Mumbai core is usually slightly higher.
Colleges like SDA Bocconi Asia Centre, BML Munjal, and IBS Hyderabad are realistic options.
Some reputed private B-schools may also consider you if sectional cutoffs are clear. Overall, 205 is a fair score that can lead to a solid MBA college with good planning.

You can refer to the link I am attaching for more details: CLICK HERE

CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.

The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.

Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.

After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.

Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.

So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.

If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.


Hello aspirant,

First-year MBA fees in India vary greatly, ranging from less than rupees one lakh for government/distance programs to rupees ten to twenty-five lakhs or more for elite private B-schools (such as ISB, IIMs, and XLRI). The majority of elite private institutions charge between rupees eight and twenty-five lakh for the entire two-year program, indicating that first-year expenses are substantial.

For more information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/mba-fee-know-how-much-your-mba-will-cost-in-top-b-schools

Thank you

Hello,

Transferring mid-stream from an online MBA to an offline MBA is generally very difficult and rare, requiring a fresh application and usually withdrawal from your current program. You can apply for a new offline MBA after completing your online MBA or even while pursuing it (with caution), provided your current university is recognized.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello

You have scored 234 (QA: 78, VA: 84, LR: 72), you have a higher chance of getting a call from the NMIMS Mumbai MBA Core call, as it is the nearest score to the 235 cutoff. You have a good score in the verbal subject and have a decent score in QA/LR, which makes a call quite possible. It also depends on the final year's cutoffs and the specific section requirements. Around 230-250 marks are considered a good score. I hope this information helps you.

Thank you.