
IIM Admission 2026 is the process to get into the Indian Institutes of Management for MBA and other management courses. The process started after the CAT 2025 result was declared on December 24, 2025. IIMs are releasing PI shortlists in January 2026, and candidates are being called for Personal Interviews based on their CAT scores and expected cutoffs. Shortlists for IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Udaipur were out on January 8, 2026. JAP 2026 registration has also begun for a group of IIMs. Final results for most IIMs are expected between April and May 2026.
IIMs are the most popular and highly respected management schools in India. Every year, they run the IIM Admission 2026 process to take students into their MBA and related courses. The process starts after CAT 2025 results and includes shortlisting, interviews, and final results.
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IIM Admission 2026 Overview |
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Category |
Details |
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Start |
After CAT 2025 result (Dec 24, 2025) |
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Courses |
MBA (PGP), Executive MBA, Integrated & Doctoral programmes |
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Eligibility |
Graduation + CAT 2025 score |
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Selection |
CAT → PI Shortlist → PI/WAT → Final Admission |
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Fees |
₹20–25 lakh (MBA PGP) |
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Documents |
CAT score, graduation marksheets, photo ID, photo, work experience certificate |
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PI Shortlist Dates |
Jan–Mar 2026 (varies by IIM) |
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Expected Cutoff (Gen) |
70–95 percentile depending on IIM |
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Result Dates |
Apr–May 2026 |
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Facilities |
Libraries, labs, hostels, cafeterias |
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Placements |
Top companies in consulting, IT, finance, and marketing |
IIMs offer degree programs such as:
MBA (PGP – Post Graduate Programme)
Integrated Management Programme
Doctoral programmes
These courses help students learn management skills and prepare for jobs in business, finance, consulting, and leadership roles.
IIMs are autonomous institutions under the Government of India. Their courses are recognized widely by companies and institutions around the world. This makes IIM degrees valuable and respected in both India and abroad.
The IIM Admission 2026 Process begins after the CAT 2025 result is declared on December 24, 2025.
First, IIMs publish a PI Shortlist based on CAT scores. Students must meet the minimum cutoffs to be considered for the next round. Many IIMs have already released their shortlists in early January 2026 (like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Udaipur, IIM Sambalpur).
Then shortlisted students go for the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT), depending on the institute’s policy. Final admission decisions are made after considering all stages of assessment.
Each IIM has its own fee structure. For MBA (PGP), the total fee usually ranges between ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh for the whole course. Fees include tuition, library, hostel, and other charges.
Before applying for IIM Admission 2026, make sure you have your CAT 2025 score ready. Here’s how to apply:
Fill out the CAT 2025 form and choose IIMs.
After the results, check the PI Shortlist on the IIM website.
If shortlisted, complete any institute-specific registration if required.
Attend the Personal Interview (PI) and other selection stages.
Wait for the final result and seat offer.
Students must prepare these documents:
CAT 2025 scorecard
Graduation mark sheets
Photo ID (Aadhaar / Passport / Driving licence)
Passport-size photo
Work experience certificate (if applicable)
These documents are checked during the counselling and final admission process.
The selection process for IIM Admission 2026 begins with the CAT 2025 score. Based on scores and expected cutoffs, students are shortlisted for the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT). Final admission is based on CAT scores, PI/WAT performance, academic record, work experience, and diversity factors.
CAT 2025 results declared → Shortlisting
PI/WAT rounds (Jan–Mar 2026)
Final merit list → Admission offer
Seat confirmation after document verification
The table below shows IIM 2026 Personal Interview (PI) shortlist dates. These are tentative dates from the reference:
Here are the important IIM PI dates that are expected for IIM Admission 2026:
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IIM Name |
PI Shortlist Date 2026 (Tentative) |
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IIM Ahmedabad |
Jan 8, 2026 |
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IIM Calcutta |
Jan 7, 2026 |
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IIM Bangalore |
2nd week of Jan 2026 |
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IIM Lucknow |
2nd week of Jan 2026 |
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IIM Udaipur |
Jan 30, 2026 |
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IIM Sambalpur |
Feb 23, 2026 |
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IIM Visakhapatnam |
Mar 6–10, 2026 |
Dates are based on past reports and trends.
The IIM Admission 2026 Cutoff is decided mainly based on CAT 2025 performance. Each IIM releases its own minimum percentile requirement for shortlisting candidates for the Personal Interview (PI) round. These cutoffs are different for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories. Following details shows the expected overall CAT percentile cutoffs for top IIMs.
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IIM Admission 2026 Cutoff (Expected) |
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IIM Name |
General |
EWS |
OBC |
SC |
ST |
PwD |
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IIM Ahmedabad |
95 |
90 |
85 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
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IIM Bangalore |
90 |
85 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
65 |
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IIM Calcutta |
85 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
65 |
60 |
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IIM Lucknow |
90 |
85 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
65 |
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IIM Indore |
90 |
85 |
80 |
75 |
70 |
65 |
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IIM Kozhikode |
85 |
80 |
75 |
65 |
55 |
45 |
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IIM Shillong |
75 |
70 |
65 |
55 |
45 |
35 |
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New & Baby IIMs (via CAP) |
70–75 |
65–70 |
60–65 |
50–55 |
40–45 |
30–35 |
Important Note:
These cutoffs are qualifying cutoffs for shortlisting and not final admission cutoffs.
Meeting the cutoff does not guarantee selection. Final admission depends on PI performance, academic record, work experience, and diversity factors.
Actual cutoffs may change slightly based on CAT difficulty level and number of applicants.
If you want, I can now add category-wise sectional cutoff tables or IIM CAP 2026 cutoff details
After interviews, IIMs declare their results between April and May 2026. These dates are expected from past patterns:
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IIM Name |
Result Date (Tentative) |
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IIM Ahmedabad |
April 1–2, 2026 |
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IIM Lucknow |
May 5, 2026 |
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IIM Bangalore |
April 21, 2026 |
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IIM Indore |
May 10, 2026 |
These results finalize who gets the seat in the MBA programme.
For some newer IIMs, there is a Common Admission Process (CAP 2026). It runs between February 17 and March 15, 2026. This is a single interview process for participating IIMs like Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Sirmaur, and Nagpur (participation may change).
IIMs offer modern infrastructure such as:
Big libraries
Computer labs
Lecture rooms with projectors
Hostels
Cafeterias
These facilities help students learn and live comfortably on campus.
IIMs are ranked among the best management colleges in India. Companies prefer IIM graduates, and these institutes are known for quality education, strong placements, and excellent industry connections.
IIM graduates get job offers from top companies in finance, consulting, IT, marketing, and management. Final placement results for 2026 are expected to be shared after the admission process is over. A strong CAT score and interview performance are key to getting higher packages.