IIM Bangalore 2026 Admission Process: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore stood at #2 in the 2025 NIRF management rankings. The college released the admission process for the 2026-2028 batch. IIM Bangalore is known for the highest placement packages, infrastructure, and industrial connections. If you are aspiring for IIM Bangalore, then make sure to follow the admission portal. The IIM Bangalore 2025 admission process will be based on CAT 2025 scores and many other parameters that we will check in the following discussion. If you are preparing for CAT 2025, then you must go through this blog so that you won’t miss any chance of getting into your dream B-school.
IIM Bangalore 2026 Admission Process
The IIM Bangalore admission process follows a structured two-stage system. The first stage shortlists candidates based on CAT 2025 performance and academic records. The second stage includes a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI).
Key Highlights of Admission Process:
- Eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).
- Professional qualifications like CA, CS, ICWA, or FIAI are also accepted.
- A CAT 2025 score is mandatory.
- Candidates must submit reference letters, academic transcripts, and work experience proofs.
- Selection happens in two stages: Pre-PI and Post-PI evaluation.
IIM Bangalore PGP Admission Process PDF
IIM Bangalore has released the official admission document for the 2026–28 batch. The detailed PDF includes eligibility, evaluation methods, and weightage systems. Candidates should download and carefully review the official IIM Bangalore PGP 2026 Admissions PDF before applying.
IIM Bangalore 2026 Admission Changes
IIM Bangalore introduced a few changes to ensure a balanced selection process. Work experience is now given quality-based weightage. The Written Ability Test (WAT) remains a critical component.
| Change | Description |
| Work Experience | Scaled from 10 points in the pre-PI to 5 points in the post-PI stage |
| Professional Courses | Candidates with CA/CS/ICWA degrees are now considered with normalized scores |
| Gender Diversity | Female candidates receive an additional 5 points in the pre-PI stage |
| Direct PI Eligibility | Top 10 candidates in each academic category get automatic PI calls |
IIM Bangalore PGP Admission Criteria 2026
Stage 1
Candidates are shortlisted based on CAT 2025 scores, with minimum cutoffs in all sections.
A pre-PI score is calculated using various factors such as CAT score, academic score, work experience etc.
The top candidates by category and scores move forward to the PI/WAT stage, which is stage 2.
| Component | Weight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| CAT (55 total) | 55 | VARC = 19, DILR = 21, QA = 15 |
| 10th Board Score | 10 | Normalized; adjusted if missing (COVID cases) |
| 12th Board Score | 10 | Normalized; adjusted if missing (COVID cases) |
| Bachelor’s Degree Score | 10 | Normalized; incomplete/ongoing accepted; adjusted if missing (COVID cases) |
| Work Experience | 10 | Formula: 10x/36 if 0 < x < 36; =10 if x ≥ 36; internships/apprenticeships excluded |
| Professional Course (CA/ICWA/CS) | 10 | Final year completed only; normalized; max of Work Ex or Professional Course considered |
| Gender Diversity | 5 | Only used at pre-PI stage |
| Standardization Formula | – | Max[0, min{wt, wt/2 + ((val – mean)/sd) * wt/6}] |
| Automatic PI Qualification | – | Top 10 in CAT, adjusted bachelor’s score (commerce/arts/science), and professional course score |
Note: Only candidates securing the minimum sectional cutoffs in CAT 2025 will be shortlisted for stage one.
Stage 2
Shortlisted candidates appear for a Personal Interview and Written Ability Test, along with recalibrated CAT (25), academics, and work experience. Work experience is adjusted based on both duration and quality as rated by the interview panel.
Final admission offers are made strictly on the basis of the post-PI composite score.
| Component | Weight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Interview (PI) | 40 | Evaluated by interview panel |
| Written Ability Test (WAT) | 10 | 30 min note; evaluated on content & style |
| CAT (25 total) | 25 | VARC = 8.75, DILR = 10, QA = 6.25 |
| 10th Board Score | 5 | Normalized |
| 12th Board Score | 5 | Normalized |
| Bachelor’s Degree Score | 5 | Normalized |
| Work Experience / Professional Course | 10 | Pre-PI work ex score scaled from 10 → 5, then multiplied by quality score (0.25–2 scale) given by PI panel |
| Final Offer | – | Based strictly on Post-PI composite score |
Step-by-Step Selection Process for IIM Bangalore MBA 2026
The selection process is carried out in two stages:
Stage 1 (Shortlisting):
- Candidates meeting CAT 2025 sectional cutoffs are shortlisted.
- A pre-PI score is calculated using CAT, academics, work experience, and gender diversity.
- Top 10 performers in each category also get direct PI calls.
Stage 2 (PI & WAT):
- Shortlisted candidates appear for WAT and PI on the same day.
- WAT evaluates writing skills and logical flow.
- PI evaluates communication, personality, and overall suitability.
- Final selection is based on post-PI composite scores.
| Stage | Process | Components Considered |
| Stage 1 | Shortlisting | CAT 2025, 10th, 12th, Bachelor’s, Work Experience, Gender Diversity |
| Stage 2 | Final Selection | PI (40), WAT (10), CAT (25), Academics (15), Work Experience/Professional (10) |
How to Apply for IIM Bangalore MBA 2026
The application process is completely online and requires several mandatory documents. Candidates must also provide two references during application.
Application Steps:
- Register for CAT 2025 and select IIM Bangalore in preferences.
- Fill in personal, academic, and professional details.
- Upload required documents.
- Provide reference details and submit online references.
- Pay the application fee and submit the final form.
CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM Bangalore PGP Program
CAT 2025 cutoffs will determine the first shortlist for the PGP program. Based on previous years, cutoffs are expected to be high for general candidates.
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall Percentile |
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
Note: Candidates must achieve both sectional and overall cutoffs for consideration.
IIM Bangalore Reservation 2025
The seats are reserved for SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer), EWS, and PwD candidates. These reservations apply during both the shortlisting and final admission stages. General category candidates compete for open seats, while others compete within their respective categories.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwD) | 5% |
IIM Bangalore 2026 Admission Process: Conclusion
The IIM Bangalore 2026 admission process emphasizes both academic excellence and holistic evaluation. The combination of CAT scores, academic background, professional achievements, and interview performance makes the process highly competitive. Aspiring students should prepare for each stage carefully to maximize their chances of securing admission to India’s leading business school.
