Which IIM Has Lowest Cut Off? - IIMs have a high CAT cutoff for admission to their MBA/PGDM programs for candidates. IIMs have a sectional CAT cut-off which a candidate must clear to become eligible to apply. The cut-off percentile for the general category in the IIMS is known to have a very competitive process of admission based on the CAT. The CAT cutoffs usually are at a higher percentile, close to 100%. Therefore, candidates often turn to IIMs having a lower cutoff to maximise their chances of getting into the prestigious IIM. There are several IIMs with a lower cutoff as compared to the others. However, the sectional cutoff criteria also apply.
A few IIMs like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Nagpur are among the IIMs with the lowest CAT cutoffs. The qualifying CAT cutoff for these IIMs ranges between 50 to 70, depending on the category of a candidate. The IIMs with the lowest cutoffs are mentioned in the table below.
IIM with lowest cutoff | CAT cutoff for General | CAT cutoff for SC | CAT cutoff for ST | CAT cutoff for OBC |
--- | --- | 50 | 82 | |
--- | 54 | 40 | 74 | |
82+ | 50+ | 40+ | 72+ | |
94+ | 60+ | 40+ | 77+ | |
97+ | 60+ | 40+ | --- | |
94+ | 60+0 | 40+ | 77+ | |
94+ | 60+ | 40+ | 77+ |
Check out: IIM CAT Cut Off (GEM/OBC/SC/ST) for MBA/PGDM/PGPM
Other than IIMs also, there are colleges with low cutoffs for their MBA/PGDM courses. Only a few of them might have reservations or cutoff relaxation for different categories. The CAT cutoff for non-IIM MBA/ PGDM colleges is provided in the table below.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IIM Rohtak is the only IIM that does not have a sectional cut-off, meaning you only need to meet the overall CAT percentile to be considered for MBA admission.
Generally lower tier IIMs are easier to get if a candidate has a weaker overall application profile. IIMs such as IIM Shillong, IIM Nagpur, IIM Rohtak, and IIM Bodh Gaya are a few to name when it comes to easier IIMs to get into. IIM Rohtak does not has any sectional cutoff criteria.
IIM Rohtak is the only IIM that does not have a sectional cut-off, meaning you only need to meet the overall CAT percentile to be considered for MBA admission.
A few IIMs like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Nagpur, and IIM SIrmaur are among the IIMs with the lowest CAT Cut offs. Going by trends, the qualifying CAT cutoff for these IIMs ranges between 50 to 70 percentile depending on the category of candidate.
There are several IIMs that require a lower CAT cutoff such as IIM Nagpur, IIM Shillong, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Ranchi etc. Candidates with a low CAT score can apply to the MBA/PGDM programs of these IIMs for a better chance of getting accepted.
With 95 percentile candidates can apply for IIMs like II Trichy, IIM Vizag etc. The cutoff will vary for different reserved categories. At 95 percentile a few good non-IIM colleges with great placement record can also be aimed for.
The hardest IIMs to get into are the top tier IIMs IIM A, B, and C (IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta). The CAT cutoffs for all categories are the highest for these IIMs along with a lower acceptance rate among the other IIMs.
On Question asked by student community
If by OC you mean Open Category/General category in India, and you have 95%+ throughout your academics (Class 10, Class 12, and graduation) , then your CAT percentile target depends on the B-schools you're aiming for.
Here's a general guideline:
| Target B-school | Safe CAT Percentile (General Category) |
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of |
Hello,
Getting an MBBS seat in Karnataka with 460 marks is quite difficult, even if you belong to Category 1, Ex-serviceman, and HK category in government colleges. However, you have a good chance of getting a seat in the private medical colleges through the government-quota seats in private medical colleges.
Hello Dear Student,
Yes, you have a very strong chance of securing a 'Category-A' (convenor quota) BDS seat at the Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences in Hyderabad with 377 marks.
You can check, find and access more information here:
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Hope it helps!
Hello Dear Student,
Low-Tier IIIT CSE vs Jadavpur University B.Arch (for MBA Aspirants)
If your primary goal is to pursue an MBA later, switching from CSE at a lower-tier IIIT to B.Arch at Jadavpur University solely for academic diversity is generally not the best strategy.
B.Arch and MBA Preparation
Hello Dear Student,
EWS eligibility for CAT 2025-26 hinges on current financial records, but a renewed certificate is required for final IIM admissions. If future income exceeds the 8 lakh threshold, candidates will likely lose EWS status and be reclassified to the General category rather than facing seat cancellation.
Hope
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