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IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026: IIM Lucknow, India's top notch business school, has announced its full selection criteria for the year 2026. This criteria includes MBA, MBA-ABM and MBA-SM programs for the batches 2026-28 and it has CAT 2025 at the central position of the whole process. The IIM Lucknow CAT cut-off 2026 has been set such that it will be the high sectional percentiles - 85 overall for the General category MBA students. This has led to an increase in the level of competition for the few seats available in this reputed institute.
This article explains the IIM Lucknow eligibility criteria 2026, IIM Lucknow Shortlisting Criteria, IIM Lucknow selection weightage and the crucial role of Personal Interview (PI) and Final Merit List for IIM Lucknow, thereby providing CAT toppers with practical insights in this context of increasing cutoffs and changing policies.
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IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026
IIM Lucknow's selection procedure for the batch of 2026-28 strongly relies on the CAT 2025 exam results, which require a minimum of 85 percentile and 90 overall for General category MBA applicants in the three sections (VARC, DILR, QA). The selection process is based on a composite score that assigns 60% to the scaled CAT scores, 10% to Class 12 and graduation marks (normalized by discipline), 10% work experience (for MBA/SM), and diversity factors that can increase the score by up to 5% for academics and 5% for gender.
IIM Lucknow Eligibility Criteria 2026
The candidates are required to achieve the least sectional and overall CAT 2025 percentiles to be eligible for shortlisting, with program and category differences. For MBA, the General category requires 85 percentile in every section (VARC, DILR, QA) and 90 overall, while SC/ST/PwD have less strict standards like 55/50 sectional and 65/60 overall. MBA-SM also requires a minimum of 24 months of work experience by July 31, 2025.
IIM Lucknow CAT Cut-off 2026
These minimum CAT 2025 percentiles serve as the IIM Lucknow CAT cut-off 2026 for initial eligibility before composite score computation. General category aspirants targeting MBA need balanced 85+ sectional scores to stay competitive, aligning with past trends around 90-91 overall. Reserved categories benefit from scaled-down requirements to ensure inclusivity per government policy.
IIM Lucknow MBA Cutoffs
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Total |
| General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| EWS | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| NC-OBC | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Lucknow ABM Cutoffs
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Total |
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| EWS | 72 | 72 | 72 | 77 |
| NC-OBC | 72 | 72 | 72 | 77 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
IIM Lucknow MBA-SM Program
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Total |
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
| EWS | 72 | 72 | 72 | 77 |
| NC-OBC | 72 | 72 | 72 | 77 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 55 |
IIM Lucknow Shortlisting Criteria
For the WAT-PI shortlisting, a composite score from the eligible candidates is used with the scaled CAT score being the most significant at 60% weight. The weights comprise 10% each for HSC percentile (capped formula) and normalized graduation marks by discipline, along with work experience and diversity bonuses. Non-engineering bachelor's or female gender add up to 5-20 points, which are maximized for MBA-ABM agriculture-related fields.
| Component | MBA Weight | MBA-ABM Weight | MBA-SM Weight | Scoring Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scaled CAT Score | 60 | 60 | 60 | (Candidate's CAT / Highest CAT) × 60 |
| HSC Marks | 10 | 10 | 10 | Percentile-based, max 10 |
| Graduation Marks | 10 | 10 | 10 | Normalized by discipline |
| Work Experience | 10 | 0 | 10 | Months beyond threshold ×0.5, capped |
| Diversity (Academic/Gender) | 5+5 | 20*+5* | 5+5 | Non-eng/female bonuses |
IIM Lucknow Selection Weightage
Final merit post-WAT-PI shifts focus to PI at 40%, with CAT at 30% (35% for ABM). Academics and diversity hold 10-15% combined, work experience 5% for MBA/SM, and WAT 10%. Candidates need at least 12/40 in PI to qualify for the final merit list.
| Component | MBA & MBA-SM Weight | MBA-ABM Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | 30 | 35 |
| HSC + Graduation | 5+5 | 5+5 |
| Diversity Factor | 5 | 5 |
| Work Experience | 5 | NA |
| WAT | 10 | 10 |
| Personal Interview (PI) | 40 | 40 |
Personal Interview (PI) & Final Merit List for IIM Lucknow
Shortlisted candidates submit a WAT-PI form post-composite score release on iiml.ac.in. PI performance, verified work experience, and overall scores determine the Personal Interview (PI) & Final Merit List for IIM Lucknow, with reservations applied. Final offers prioritize high PI scorers meeting the 12/40 threshold.
PI Process and Format
Shortlisted candidates (post-composite score, released January 10, 2026) receive WAT-PI calls via email, with slots in February 2026 at centers like Lucknow, Delhi, and Bangalore. WAT lasts 30 minutes (300-word essay on current/business topics), followed by a 20-25 minute PI assessing academics (30% weight), work experience (25%), communication (20%), awareness (15%), and fit (10%). A minimum PI score of 12/40 is mandatory for final merit eligibility.
Final Merit List Calculation
Final offers derive from a 100-point score: PI (40%), CAT 2025 (30%, 35% for ABM), WAT (10%), academics (10% total for HSC/graduation), diversity (5%), and work experience (5% for MBA/SM). Reservations apply post-merit computation; top scorers meeting thresholds receive admits by April-May 2026.
IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026: Conclusion
The knowledge of IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026 requires accuracy while going through CAT 2025 cut-offs, composite shortlisting, and PI superiority, as described in the official policy. The aspirants who are aiming for IIM Lucknow CAT cut-off 2026 must get 85 sectional/90 overall (General MBA) at the minimum and they should maximize their composite scores through academics, work experience, and diversity for the WAT-PI calls which will be released post CAT results.
The effective PI calls are coming from the 95-99+ overall percentiles; the final admits have to be 97-99+ with 12/40 PI minimum. Set your sights on the balanced sectionals right now, submit your forms immediately after the shortlist, and reserve your mocks. With 3,889 calls being made from 12,920 qualifiers, disciplined preparation turns eligibility into admits by May 2026 - IIM Lucknow honors the holistic high-performer.
