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The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has released its updated selection criteria for the PGP 2026-28 batch, introducing one of the biggest changes in its admission process in recent years. The institute has significantly increased the CAT percentile requirements, modified the exceptional performer shortlisting process, and restructured the academic category-based selection while maintaining almost the same number of interview calls.
The most noticeable update is the increase in the general category CAT cutoff from the 80th percentile to the 95th percentile, making the initial screening much more competitive. However, despite this stricter screening, IIM Ahmedabad has kept the total AWT-PI calls almost unchanged, indicating a stronger emphasis on selecting high-quality candidates rather than increasing interview volume.
If you're preparing for CAT 2026, here's everything you need to know about the latest IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026 and how these changes could impact your chances of receiving an interview call.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026
The IIM Ahmedabad admission process continues to follow a multi-stage selection procedure, but the institute has made significant revisions to the eligibility criteria used for shortlisting candidates.
The selection process consists of:
- Preliminary Screening
- Stage 1: Selection of Exceptional Performers
- Stage 2: Category-wise Shortlisting
- Analytical Writing Test (AWT)
- Personal Interview (PI)
- Final Merit List
IIM Ahmedabad New Admission Process
Although the overall admission framework remains similar, several important modifications have been introduced.
Preliminary Screening
Every applicant is first screened using minimum CAT percentile requirements. Only candidates satisfying both sectional and overall percentile cutoffs become eligible for further evaluation.
Minimum Cut-offs of CAT-2025 Percentile Ranks for Different Categories:
CAT 2025 Percentile Ranks | ||||
Category | Non-PwD | PwD | ||
Overall Percentile | Sectional Percentile | Overall Percentile | Sectional Percentile | |
General, EWS | 95 | 85 | 85 | 75 |
NC-OBC | 90 | 80 | 80 | 70 |
SC | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 |
ST | 75 | 65 | 65 | 55 |
Number of candidates across different categories eligible to be considered for subsequent stages as per above Table are given below:
Category | CAT Shortlists in Preliminary Screening |
General | 6106 |
EWS | 328 |
NC-OBC | 1529 |
SC | 584 |
ST | 208 |
PwD | 83 |
Total | 8838 |
Unlike previous years, the first stage of screening has become considerably stricter due to higher CAT percentile requirements.
IIM Ahmedabad Changes as Compared to Previous Year
Parameter | 2025-2027 | 2026-2028 |
General CAT Overall Cutoff | 80 | 95 |
General Sectional Cutoff | 70 | 85 |
Composite Score Weightage | 35% AR + 65% CAT | No Change |
Total Interview Calls | 1312 | 1308 |
The revised criteria show that IIM Ahmedabad now prefers a smaller but stronger applicant pool before moving candidates to the interview stage.
Other reserved categories have also witnessed a substantial increase in minimum CAT cutoffs.
Stage 1: Exceptional Performer Selection
IIM Ahmedabad continues to shortlist exceptional performers across different academic categories. However, one major structural change is that Academic Category AC-2 has been removed from the ACRC (Academic Category Rating Committee) group, leaving only AC-1 (Part-II), AC-3, AC-4, and AC-5 under this stage.
Stage 2: Category-wise Selection
After removing candidates selected in Stage 1, IIM Ahmedabad prepares category-wise merit lists using a composite score (CS).
The institute has increased the number of shortlisted candidates in several categories despite raising CAT cutoffs, ensuring that deserving candidates continue to receive interview opportunities.
IIM Ahmedabad Sectional Cutoff Changes
One of the biggest announcements in the latest admission policy is the sharp increase in CAT cutoff percentiles.
Category | Overall (2025) | Overall (2026) | Sectional (2025) | Sectional (2026) |
General/EWS | 80 | 95 | 70 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 75 | 90 | 65 | 80 |
SC | 70 | 85 | 60 | 75 |
ST | 60 | 75 | 50 | 65 |
This increase immediately reduced the number of candidates eligible for further consideration.
For example:
- Eligible General candidates dropped from 24,123 to 6,106
- Total eligible CAT candidates reduced from 33,630 to 8,838
This represents a reduction of nearly 74% in the preliminary pool.
The higher cutoffs indicate that IIM Ahmedabad intends to shortlist only candidates with exceptionally strong CAT performance before considering academics and other parameters.
IIM Ahmedabad Academic Diversity Changes
Academic diversity remains one of the important aspects of IIM Ahmedabad's admission policy.
Change in Academic Categories
A notable revision is the movement of Academic Category AC-2.
Earlier:
- AC-2 was evaluated under the ACRC group.
Now:
- AC-2 has shifted to the Non-ACRC selection process.
This change provides a different pathway for applicants belonging to this academic category during the shortlisting process.
Academic Score Requirements
The minimum academic requirements for 10th and 12th standard remain unchanged.
Stream | General | NC-OBC | SC | ST |
Science | 80 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
Commerce | 77 | 72 | 67 | 62 |
Arts & Humanities | 75 | 70 | 64 | 59 |
These thresholds continue to play an important role in evaluating candidates during Stage 1.
IIM Ahmedabad Interview Shortlist Criteria
Receiving an interview call from IIM Ahmedabad depends on much more than just CAT percentile.
Candidates are evaluated on:
- CAT performance
- Academic profile
- Graduation marks
- Academic Rating (AR)
- Composite Score
- Category-wise merit ranking
After the preliminary screening, candidates satisfying all academic requirements are ranked based on their Composite Score before interview calls are issued.
The institute has announced the following Stage 2 interview shortlists:
Category | Candidates Shortlisted |
General | 193 |
EWS | 56 |
NC-OBC | 174 |
SC | 99 |
ST | 69 |
Despite the stricter CAT cutoffs, the number of interview calls has remained almost unchanged compared to the previous admission cycle.
Composite Score Calculation in IIM Ahmedabad 2026
The Composite Score continues to play a decisive role in Stage 2 shortlisting.
The formula remains unchanged:
Composite Score = 35% Normalized Academic Rating + 65% Normalized CAT Score
The only notable update is the normalization benchmark.
- Average Academic Rating (Top 50 Candidates)
- 2025: 37
- 2026: 38
This minor change slightly affects score normalization while maintaining the same weightage between academics and CAT performance.
This indicates that IIM Ahmedabad continues to reward candidates who perform consistently across academics and CAT rather than relying solely on examination scores.
IIM Ahmedabad Interview Shortlist Criteria
The latest shortlisting process suggests that simply crossing the minimum CAT percentile may no longer be sufficient.
Candidates with:
- Strong academic consistency
- Excellent CAT performance
- Higher Academic Rating
- Better Composite Score
are more likely to receive interview calls.
Applicants should therefore focus on maximizing CAT performance while also understanding how their academic profile contributes to the Composite Score.
How Will These Changes Affect CAT 2026 Aspirants?
The revised admission policy will impact aspirants differently depending on their academic background.
For General Category Students
The competition has become considerably tougher due to the increase in CAT cutoffs. A percentile above 99 is likely to provide a stronger position for further evaluation, though interview calls continue to depend on the complete profile rather than CAT alone.
For Non-Engineers
Academic diversity remains an important component of IIM Ahmedabad's selection philosophy. Candidates from commerce, arts, and other non-engineering backgrounds continue to benefit from academic categorization during the shortlisting process. IIM Ahmedabad categorizes candidates in different academic categories based on their academic background and further evaluates them in their respective academic category only.
For Freshers
Fresh graduates with excellent academic records and strong CAT scores remain competitive candidates because Academic Rating continues to receive significant weight. Candidates with good academic score history in 10th, 12th and graduation in their respective Academic Category can actually bypass the heavy CAT competition by getting shortlisted in Stage 1 of the interview shortlist meant for Academically Exceptional Candidates in their respective Academic Categories.
For Candidates with Work Experience
Work experience is evaluated during the overall admission process, but the first shortlist continues to rely heavily on CAT performance, academics, and Composite Score. So even though a good work experience helps with the profile, for clearing preliminary screening one has to score well in CAT in sectionals as well as overall.
Why Did IIM Ahmedabad Increase CAT Cutoffs?
Although the institute has not officially explained the reason, the data itself provides some clear insights.
First, increasing CAT cutoffs reduced the eligible candidate pool from 33,630 to 8,838, allowing the admissions committee to focus on candidates with stronger test performance.
Second, despite this drastic reduction, the total number of AWT-PI calls changed only marginally from 1,312 to 1,308. This suggests that IIM Ahmedabad intends to maintain a similar interview intake while improving the overall quality of shortlisted candidates.
From an aspirant's perspective, the message is clear: meeting the minimum CAT cutoff is no longer enough. A strong CAT percentile, consistent academic performance, and a competitive Composite Score will together determine the chances of securing an interview call.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Changes: Conclusion
The IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026 marks a significant shift in the institute's admission strategy. Higher CAT cutoffs, changes in academic category evaluation, and a continued emphasis on Composite Score indicate that the institute is focusing on a smaller but more competitive applicant pool.
For CAT 2026 aspirants, this means that preparation should go beyond aiming for the minimum qualifying percentile. Building a strong overall profile with excellent CAT performance, consistent academics, and awareness of the revised shortlisting process will be essential for improving the chances of receiving an IIM Ahmedabad interview call.
