CAT Cutoff For EWS Category: IIM Percentiles, Admission Criteria & Trends 2026
From a qualifying percentile of 70 for some newer IIMs to an actual final percentile exceeding 98 for IIM Ahmedabad, the CAT Cutoff For EWS Category demonstrates a wide range across top management institutes. This cutoff is the minimum percentile required for Economically Weaker Section candidates to be shortlisted for admission to MBA programs at IIMs and other premier B-schools. While the official CAT 2026 cutoffs are yet to be released, data from the 2025 admission cycle indicates competitive thresholds, often with specific sectional requirements.
CAT Cutoff For EWS Category 2026: Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The following table outlines the key dates for the CAT 2025 examination, which is crucial for admissions to the 2026-28 batch. The 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
| Event | Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 27 |
| Application Start | August 1 |
| Application Close | September 13 |
| Admit Card Release | November 5 |
| Exam Date | November 30 |
| Result Announcement | December 24 |
Top IIMs CAT 2025 Qualifying Cutoffs: General, EWS, OBC, SC & ST Percentiles
The table below details the minimum CAT 2025 percentiles required for Personal Interview (PI) shortlisting across various categories for leading IIMs for the 2026-28 PGP batch. The 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
| IIM | Category | Overall Percentile (2025) | VARC Sectional (2025) | DILR Sectional (2025) | QA Sectional (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 95 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | EWS | 95 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | NC-OBC | 90 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | SC | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | ST | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 85 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Bangalore | EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore | NC-OBC | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore | SC | 70 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| IIM Bangalore | ST | 65 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Calcutta | General | 85 | 80 | 80 | 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | EWS | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | NC-OBC | 75 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | SC | 70 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Calcutta | ST | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Lucknow | General | 90 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | EWS | 82 | 77 | 77 | 77 |
| IIM Lucknow | NC-OBC | 82 | 77 | 77 | 77 |
| IIM Lucknow | SC | 70 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow | ST | 60 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| IIM Kozhikode | General | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Kozhikode | EWS | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Kozhikode | NC-OBC | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| IIM Kozhikode | SC | 65 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Kozhikode | ST | 55 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| IIM Indore | General | 90 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Indore | EWS | 90 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Indore | NC-OBC | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Indore | SC | 60 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Indore | ST | 45 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
CAT Cutoff Trends: EWS & General Percentiles 2023 vs 2024 vs 2025
This section analyzes the CAT cutoff trends for EWS and General categories across prominent IIMs over recent years, reflecting shifts in admission competitiveness. The 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
| IIM | Category | 2023 Percentile (CAT 2022) | 2024 Percentile (CAT 2023) | 2025 Percentile (CAT 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | EWS (Actual) | 98.94 (2022-24 batch) | 98.94 (2023-25 batch) | 98.20 (2024-26 batch) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | General (Actual) | 93.90 (2022-24 batch) | 93.76 (2024-26 batch) | 95+ (Expected) |
| IIM Indore | General (Final Admission) | 92.92 (2024-26 batch) | 92.43 (2025-27 batch) | 92-93 (Expected) |
| IIM Kozhikode | EWS (Final Offer) | — | — | 82.26 (2025) |
CAT Cutoff For EWS Category 2026 Counselling Schedule: Registration, Choice Filling & Seat Allotment Dates
The CAT 2025 counselling process for IIM admissions typically begins after the result declaration, with each IIM conducting its own selection rounds. The 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
| Event | Tentative Dates (2026) |
|---|---|
| IIMs Shortlisting for WAT/PI | February – April |
| WAT/PI Rounds | February – April |
| Final Admission Offers | May |
| Document Verification & Seat Confirmation | May – June |
FAQs
Q: When will the CAT 2026 cutoff for EWS category be officially released?
A: The official CAT 2026 cutoffs for the EWS category, along with other categories, are typically released by individual IIMs after the CAT 2026 exam results are declared, which is expected around December 2026 or January 2027.
Q: What is considered a safe CAT 2025 percentile for EWS candidates aiming for top IIMs?
A: For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, a safe CAT 2025 percentile for EWS candidates is generally in the range of 90-95+ percentiles for final admission, though qualifying cutoffs for interviews can be lower.
Q: Are CAT EWS cutoffs generally lower than those for the General category?
A: Yes, CAT EWS cutoffs are generally lower than the General category cutoffs for most IIMs, reflecting the reservation policy for Economically Weaker Sections. However, for some top IIMs like Ahmedabad, the actual EWS cutoffs can still be very high, sometimes even exceeding General category qualifying cutoffs.
Q: Do IIMs have sectional cutoffs for EWS candidates in the CAT exam?
A: Yes, most IIMs require EWS candidates to clear both the overall CAT cutoff and specific sectional cutoffs for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) to be considered for shortlisting.
Q: What factors influence the CAT cutoff for the EWS category?
A: The CAT cutoff for the EWS category is influenced by several factors, including the overall difficulty level of the CAT exam, the total number of candidates who appeared, the number of EWS candidates, the number of seats reserved for EWS, and the admission policies of individual IIMs.
Q: What is the reservation policy for EWS candidates in IIMs?
A: According to government-mandated policy, up to 10% of seats in Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are reserved for candidates belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
