IIM Shortlist 2026
Besides individual invitations from prestigious Old IIMs like Ahmedabad and Calcutta, newer institutes resort to common methods-CAP (Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Nagpur, Sirmaur), SAP (supplementary PI-only for select IIMs), and JAP (Raipur-led for Ranchi, Trichy, Kashipur), to faster and easier candidates' evaluation through unified WAT/PI rounds commencing late January.
This comprehensive guide reveals IIM-wise admission call dates for 2026, eligibility cutoffs (98-99 for top-tiers), selection criteria combining CAT, academics, work experience, gender/diversity factors, and practical steps to trace callers amidst non-IIM competition from SIBM and FMS. As PIs start this week, it is advisable to proactively follow the official portals to ensure that no opportunities are lost in this high-stakes competition for India's best MBA colleges.
Download IIM Call & Shortlist Dates PDF
IIM-wise Shortlist Release Date
IIM colleges have started rolling out interview calls to the candidates with Old IIMs leading in early January and common processes like IIM JAP has also released the interview calls on 5th January. Dates below integrate latest updates as of January 6, 2026; check portals for real-time status.
Old IIMs Shortlist 2026
Premier IIMs (A/B/C/L/K/I) release first waves based on 98+ CAT cutoffs.
| B-School | Shortlist Date |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 8 Jan |
| IIM Bangalore | 15 Jan |
| IIM Calcutta | 6 Jan |
| IIM Lucknow | 6 Jan |
| IIM Kozhikode | 15 Jan |
| IIM Indore | 14 Jan |
| IIM Mumbai | 17 Feb |
| IIM Shillong | 17 Jan |
| IIM CAP | 14 Jan |
| IIM Visakhapatnam (Stage 1) | 10 Jan |
New IIMs Shortlist 2026
Mid-tier IIMs (96+ cutoffs) shortlist via individual or JAP.
| New IIMs | Shortlist release date |
| IIM Shillong | 17th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Rohtak | 15th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Raipur | 5th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Ranchi | 5th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Tiruchirappali | 5th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Kashipur | 5th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Udaipur | 14th Jan 2026 |
Baby IIMs Shortlist 2026
Baby IIMs funnel through CAP and individual application forms that they release and send mails for registration
| College | Shortlist Release date |
| IIM Vishakhapatnam | 6th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Jammu | 14th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Nagpur | 14th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Amritsar | 7th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 14th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 14th Jan 2026 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 14th Jan 2026 |
Non-IIM Shortlisting Dates 2026
The expected shortlisting dates for the non IIM colleges are given in the table below:
| SIBM Pune | 20 Jan |
| SCMHRD | 16 Jan |
| NMIMS | 18 Jan |
| MDI Gurgaon | 24 Jan |
| IIFT Delhi | 8 Feb |
| IIT Delhi | 12 Feb |
| SAP IIMs (Registration) | 13 Feb |
| IIT Bombay | 13 Feb |
| MICA | 14 Feb |
| IIT Madras | 18 Feb |
| IIT Kanpur | 18 Feb |
| IIT Roorkee | 6 March |
| SPJIMR (Score Based) | 10 Jan |
| FMS Delhi | 18 March |
| TISS Mumbai | 26 Feb |
How to Check the Shortlist for IIM 2026
Checking IIM shortlist status for 2026 requires monitoring of official portals and mails, as most IIMs send individual emails and rely on candidate logins post-CAT 2025. Process varies slightly by IIM category (Old/New/Baby) and common platforms (CAP/JAP/SAP), but follows a standard login-based verification.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Check Mails: As IIMs send the email to the selected candidates. If your percentile is good and you have not received the mail then check spam.
- Check Common Process Portals:
- IIM CAP: cap2026.iimbg.ac.in (post Jan 14 registration).
- IIM JAP: iimraipur.ac.in/jap (early Jan).
- IIM SAP: Separate post-CAP (Feb).
- Dashboard Download: View status, download call letter/PDF; check spam for any emails.
Websites by Category
| Category | Websites | Login Credentials |
| Old IIMs | iimcal.ac.in, iiml.ac.in/admission | CAT ID + Password |
| New IIMs | iimshillong.ac.in, iimmumbai.ac.in | Email + CAT/Application ID |
| Baby IIMs/CAP | iimv.ac.in, iimj.ac.in | CAT ID + DOB |
| JAP | iimraipur.ac.in (lead) | Common JAP login |
Pro tip: Bookmark sites, set Google Alerts for "IIM [name] shortlist 2026," and use predictors on Cracku for estimates if no call by expected dates. Respond to forms immediately to avoid disqualification.
Application Submission & Final PI Shortlist
Shortlisted log in to submit details (awards, ex-certificates); some IIMs add AR score. Final PI list (top 2x seats) announced 3-7 days later via portals, no email guarantees.
Common Processes Integration
- CAP/JAP: Single app post-individual eligibility; common PI, institute-specific merit.
- SAP: Post-CAP backup PI-only for ~Feb unfilled seats.
No fixed percentiles published; actual calls 1-2 points above minima due to ties/competition. Track via CAT portal + IIM sites; conversions depend on PI (30-50% final weight).
IIM Shortlisting Criteria 2026
There are different criteria for different IIM based on the popularity and rankings. But the common criteria falls in this range:
| Stage | Details |
| Eligibility Criteria | Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree with 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or equivalent CGPA. Final-year students can apply with a provisional certificate. Age: No specific upper age limit, minimum 19 years. |
| CAT 2025 | Sections: QA (Quantitative Ability), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension). Cut-offs: Varies by IIM, typically between 85-95 percentile. |
| Weightage for Final Selection | |
| CAT Score | 40-60% (varies by IIM) |
| WAT (Written Ability Test) | 10-20% |
| PI (Personal Interview) | 30-50% |
| Academic Performance | 10-15% (10th, 12th, and undergrad marks) |
| Work Experience | 5-10% (if applicable) |
IIM Shortlist 2026: Conclusion
The IIM Shortlist 2026 competition after CAT 2025 not only gives rewards to the highest percentiles (98+ for Old IIMs, 90+ for CAP/JAP) but also to the well-rounded profiles who multidisciplinary standouts in academics, work experience, and diversity factors that compose the scores. From the coming-of-age calls of Old IIMs (Calcutta Jan 6, Ahmedabad Jan 8) to the simultaneous assessment of New/Baby IIMs through CAP (Jan 30), JAP, and SAP - candidates should keep a close watch on the portals like iimcat.ac.in and institute sites while making timely submissions of their applications.
WAT/PI preparation mastery now sets the stage for the conversion of the shortlist, as the ultimate merit is 30-50% dependent on these rounds amid the fierce competition for ~7,700 seats available across 22 IIMs.
Stay proactive, your top B-school admit is just a shortlist away!
