Top Government MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT Score 2026

There are numerous government institutes in India that offer MBA programs and take Common Admission Test (CAT) scores as a major criterion of eligibility for entry. Until now, there have been 86 government MBA colleges that accepted the CAT scores in India. The top institutes that include Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), IITs, and other state universities stand among them. These institutes have degrees like MBA, PGDM, and PGP which carry much prestige in the industry. Among the top government MBA colleges in India that accepting CAT score are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIT Delhi, and IIM Calcutta, making these colleges a first preference among the management aspirants.

The CAT exam is conducted each year rotationally among the IIMs. It is a computer-based test, thereby divided into three parts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. The test will take over 120 minutes with 66 questions. The test dates from the 2024 cycle are to be held on November 24, 2024, in 170 cities, while the registration window was between August 1 and September 20. The gateway test for MBA admissions into 21 IIMs and hundreds of other business schools in India, this exam tests analytical, reasoning, and verbal skills.

Important Information about CAT Exam:

CAT 2024 Exam Date: November 24, 2024.
Application Fee: ₹2,500 for General category and ₹1,250 for Reserved categories.
Conducting Body: IIM Calcutta in 2024.
Total Number of Questions: 66 (MCQs and Non-MCQs).
Exam Duration: 120 minutes, with 40 minutes per section.
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).

Top 10 Government Management Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024 (Based on NIRF Ranking)

The Government of India has implemented the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) as the framework for ranking higher education institutions in the country. It considers a variety of factors, including Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RPC), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach & Inclusivity (OI), and Perception. Here are the top 10 government management colleges in India accepting CAT score, ranked according to the NIRF 2024.

College Name	NIRF Ranking
IIM Ahmedabad-Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	1
IIM Bangalore-Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	2
IIM Kozhikode- Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode	3
IIT Delhi- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	4
IIM Calcutta - Indian Institute of Management Calcutta	5
IIM Mumbai - Indian Institute of Management Mumbai	6
IIM Lucknow- Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	7
IIM Indore - Indian Institute of Management Indore	8
IIT Bombay - Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	10
IIM Rohtak - Indian Institute of Management Rohtak	12

Top Government MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024 (Based on Careers360 Ranking)

Careers360 ranking is one among the widely accepted ranking systems given to business schools based on various parameters like academic excellence, infrastructure, faculties, placement records and student reviews. Here is a list of the top government MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score according to the ranking of Careers360 for 2024:

College Name	Careers360 Ranking
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	1
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	2
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode	3
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta	4
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	5
Indian Institute of Management Mumbai	7
SJMSOM IIT Bombay - Shailesh J Mehta School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	8
FMS Delhi - Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi	9
DMS IIT Delhi - Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	10
VGSOM IIT Kharagpur - Vinod Gupta School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	12

Top Government MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024: Fee Details

The fee structure for MBA courses in India varies significantly according to the nature of the institute, whether it is government or private. The fee range for MBA courses in the top government colleges who accept CAT scores ranges from ₹ 3 Lakhs to around ₹ 26.50 Lakhs. We have, hence, mentioned below the list of top government MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score along with their fees.

College Name	Fees
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	₹20 Lakhs - ₹26.50 Lakhs
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	₹20.11 Lakhs - ₹26 Lakhs
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode	₹13.12 Lakhs - ₹22.50 Lakhs
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	₹11.20 Lakhs - ₹12.10 Lakhs
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	₹9.20 Lakhs - ₹11.05 Lakhs

Eligibility Criteria for Admissions to Top Government MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024

In order to gain admission to the top government MBA colleges in India accepting CAT score, candidates must satisfy specified eligibility requirements. Performance in the CAT exam, academic qualifications, and other institutional requirements comprise the primary criteria. Details regarding eligibility criteria are as follows:

Academic Qualification: Candidate should be a Graduate from any reputed university/ institute. Candidates in General Category require marks from 50%. If s/he belongs to SC/ST/PwD categories, then the marks to be required is 45%.
Entrance Test: Students are required to appear for the CAT (Common Admission Test) scheduled by IIMs. CAT score is actually the major test through which students take admission in most of the IIMs and government institutions. Top IIMs and government institutions cut off is typically above the 90th percentile.
Additional Requirements: Apart from the academic requirements, some institutes also make the additional requirement of the work experience. It is very much a weightage-provider in the overall selection process, mostly for executive programs. The shortlisted candidates usually have to pass a Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT) to get admitted finally.

Top Government MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024: Admissions Process

The admission process for top government MBA colleges in India institutions accepting CAT score have a very streamlined process. The candidate goes through assessment and categorization based solely on the CAT score. Finally, the candidate undergoes a Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT). So let's take a look at the process for the top colleges:

College Name	Admissions Process
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad Admission	CAT Score, AWT (Analytical Writing Test), Personal Interview
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore Admission	CAT Score, WAT, Personal Interview, and Academic Record
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode Admission	CAT Score, Group Discussion (GD), Written Test, Personal Interview
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Admission	CAT Score, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Work Experience (preferred but not mandatory)
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Admission	CAT Score, Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview, Past Academic Performance

Top Government MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT Score 2024: FAQs

What is the minimum percentile that has to be scored in CAT to get into IIMs?
- The percentiles required for getting admission into each IIM are different. For the old IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, one requires CAT percentiles of 95-99+ percent for the general category. The newer IIMs and government MBA colleges have cut offs between 80-95 percent
Can I apply for an MBA in IITs through CAT?
- Yes, IITs like IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras take CAT scores for their MBA programmes. Actually, they have a different selection process, wherein they have GD and PI rounds after CAT.
Is work experience compulsory for getting admission in the best colleges for MBA?
- No, it is not a must, but certainly a boon for sure, especially in institutes like IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow as that institute also gives some weightage to the professional experience during admission.
What would the fees of an MBA in top government MBA colleges?
- The fees for an MBA at the top-ranking government institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore lies in the range of ₹11 Lakhs to ₹26.5 Lakhs. IITs and other government institutions have relatively lower costs at around ₹3 Lakhs.
Are there sectional cutoffs in CAT?
- Yes, most IIMs and top MBA colleges have a sectional cutoff in addition to an overall percentile cutoff. A candidate has to score well in at least one section - Verbal Ability (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).