CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026: Iims & Top MBA Colleges, Percentile Trends & Exam Dates
CAT Cutoff Category Wise for top IIMs remained consistently high, with the General category often requiring 99+ percentile in 2025, a slight increase from the 98-99 percentile range seen in 2024 for many premier institutes. This CAT Cutoff Category Wise is the minimum percentile threshold set by IIMs and other leading B-schools for shortlisting candidates for their MBA/PGDM programs, typically ranging from 99+ for General to 35-70 for SC/ST categories in 2025. The official CAT 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 schedule outlines key dates for notification, application, and the examination itself, with official cutoffs to follow post-result.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 26, 2026 |
| Application Start | August 1, 2026 |
| Application Close | September 20, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | November 12, 2026 |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Announcement | December 2026 / January 2027 |
CAT 2025 Category-wise Cutoff: General, OBC, SC, ST & EWS Percentiles for Top IIMs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The CAT 2025 category-wise cutoff percentiles for various IIMs demonstrate the varying thresholds for different reservation categories.
| Category | Top IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) | Tier-2 IIMs (Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode) | Newer IIMs (Amritsar, Nagpur, Trichy, etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 99+ Percentile | 95-99 Percentile | 90-95 Percentile |
| NC-OBC | 90-95 Percentile (Final Call) | 80-90 Percentile | 75-85 Percentile |
| EWS | 95+ Percentile (Final Call) | 80-90 Percentile | 75-85 Percentile |
| SC | 75-92 Percentile (Final Call) | 65-80 Percentile | 55-70 Percentile |
| ST | 65-80 Percentile (Final Call) | 55-70 Percentile | 35-50 Percentile |
| PwD | 60-75 Percentile (Final Call) | 50-65 Percentile | 50-60 Percentile |
CAT Cutoff Trends: Overall Percentiles 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025 for IIMs (Latest — 2026 awaited)
Analyzing CAT overall percentile trends for the General category reveals consistent high cutoffs for premier IIMs over recent years.
| IIM | 2025 (General Category Overall Percentile) | 2024 (General Category Overall Percentile) | 2023 (General Category Overall Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 99+ | 99+ | 99+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 97-99 | 97-99 | 97-99 |
| IIM Indore | 97-99 | 97-99 | 97-99 |
CAT Cutoff Category Wise 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates
The CAT 2026 counselling process, following the exam results, involves several stages from shortlisting to final seat allotment.
| Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Counselling Registration (IIMs) | January 2027 |
| Shortlisting for WAT/PI | February – April 2027 |
| WAT/PI Rounds | February – April 2027 |
| Final Admission Offers | May 2027 |
FAQs
Q: When is the CAT 2026 notification expected?
A: The CAT 2026 notification is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026, typically around July 26.
Q: What is the expected CAT 2026 exam date?
A: Based on historical trends, the CAT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026.
Q: What is the CAT cutoff category wise for top IIMs in 2025?
A: For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, the General category cutoff was typically 99+ percentile in 2025, while reserved categories like SC/ST had significantly lower cutoffs, ranging from 35-70 percentile.
Q: Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs?
A: Yes, most IIMs require candidates to clear both overall and sectional cutoffs in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections.
Q: What is the difference between qualifying and final CAT cutoffs?
A: Qualifying cutoffs are the minimum eligibility criteria set by IIMs for shortlisting candidates for further rounds (WAT/PI), while final cutoffs are the actual higher percentiles at which interview calls are made, depending on the applicant pool and competition.
Q: When will CAT 2026 results be announced?
A: The CAT 2026 results are expected to be announced in the third week of December 2026 or the first week of January 2027.
Where can I check the CAT 2026 category-wise cutoffs?
You can check the category-wise CAT 2026 cutoffs at Shiksha.com. These resources often provide IIM-wise cutoffs for various categories like General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and DAP candidates.
How do CAT 2026 category-wise cutoffs impact my admission chances?
The category-wise cutoff is the minimum percentile you need to clear to get a call from top IIMs and other MBA colleges. It is used to shortlist candidates for subsequent admission rounds, such as PI shortlisting.
What types of CAT 2026 cutoffs should I be aware of?
You should be aware of overall, sectional, and category-wise cutoffs for IIMs and other top MBA colleges. These include specific percentiles for General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and DAP candidates.
Do CAT cutoffs vary for different IIMs and B-schools in 2026?
Yes, all IIM colleges have different CAT cutoffs category-wise. Other non-IIM B-schools and associated colleges also have varying cutoffs, which you should use to shortlist realistic target colleges.
Can I check previous years' CAT cutoffs along with 2026 data?
Yes, along with the 2026 CAT cut off, you can also check last year's (2025) cutoff of the CAT exam. Reviewing previous years' cut-off marks helps understand how scores vary based on exam difficulty.
