IIT Bombay MBA Cutoff 2026
The first step toward achieving your goal of entering the Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) MBA program at IIT Bombay requires you to pass the CAT 2025 examination, which serves as your initial evaluation point. The cutoffs for 2026 admissions serve as essential information for MBA aspirants across India because they determine which candidates will receive interview invitations and final admit offers.
The SJMSOM program combines IIT technological education with extensive management expertise to produce top graduates who attain high-paying jobs with an average salary of ₹28-30 LPA while working at companies such as McKinsey and Google. The competition for the program remains extremely intense because approximately 150 seats exist, yet thousands of CAT takers apply to the program, which requires candidates to achieve both high percentiles and maintain a proper balance in their application materials.
This blog unpacks IIT Bombay MBA category wise cut off, sectional cut off 2026, expected IIT Bombay MBA cut off 2026, previous year trends, minimum CAT percentile required, and how cutoffs are decided, using RTI data and expert insights to support your academic approach.
How IIT Bombay MBA Cut-off Is Decided?
The Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management at IIT Bombay establishes its MBA admission criteria through a three-part evaluation method, which assesses candidates based on their CAT results, academic performance, and professional background without setting predetermined passing scores.
Shortlisting Phase
The selection process for Personal Interview (PI) candidates combines three elements, which include 75% of the CAT 2025 overall scaled score, and 20% of the academic profile, which includes Class X at 4% and XII at 6%, and Graduation at 10%, and 5% of work experience.
The selection process gives priority to women applicants because they enhance gender diversity, but they do not receive additional selection advantages. The process evaluates CAT performance through its sectional sections to maintain balance, but it does not reveal specific sectional cutoff requirements.
| Parameter | Weightage |
|---|---|
| CAT Score (Overall) | 75% |
| Academic Profile | 20% |
| Work Experience | 5% |
Final Selection Phase
The final admission decision after PI depends on a composite score, which includes PI results that account for 40 to 50 per cent, CAT results that account for 30 to 40 per cent, academic records that account for 15 to 20 per cent, and work experience that accounts for 5 per cent. The evaluation process functions without gender or diversity weightage since it uses overall merit as its main criterion. The evaluation process favours candidates who demonstrate complete profiles, as shown by RTI data, which indicates that actual shortlist CAT cutoff results are between 92 and 98 for General category candidates.
IIT Bombay MBA Previous Year Cut Off Trends
The 2025 RTI data shows that the PI shortlisting process uses CAT percentiles, which vary according to different categories and genders. The General category had a minimum score of 92.44 for males, while SC candidates reached a total of 67.38. The data shows that General and EWS categories maintain a stable cutoff range between 94 and 98 while reserved categories have lower cutoffs.
| Category | Lowest CAT for PI Shortlist 2025 (Male) | Final Minimum CAT Percentile 2025-27 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 92.44 | 95.55 |
| EWS | 97.36 | 97.23 |
| OBC | 93.28 | 91.43 |
| SC | 72.8 | 75.14 |
| ST | 78.43 | 78.43 |
The General qualifying cutoffs maintain their present levels at 90 overall and 75 sectional, while the actual PI shortlist minimums increased from approximately 90 in 2022 to 92-95 in 2025 because of intensified competition. The SC and ST reserved categories display greater differences because their minimum requirements have slightly advanced. The EWS category frequently matches or surpasses General standards because it has a decreased number of available positions.
Year-Wise Lowest CAT Percentiles
Data from RTI and reports highlight trends in minimum scores for PI calls and final offers (General category focused; reserved lower by 10-20 points).
| Year (Batch) | Lowest PI Shortlist (General) | Lowest Final Admission (General) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-24 | ~90 | 91.25 | Baseline |
| 2023-25 | 94.73 | ~93-95 | Stable-High |
| 2024-26 | 92.44 (Male) | 95.55 | Slight Rise |
| 2025-27 | Expected 93-96 | Expected 95+ | Competitive |
IIT Bombay MBA Category Wise Cut Off
Category-wise cutoffs reflect reservation policies, with General requiring top percentiles. 2025 data shows 1315 General shortlisted, down to 27 ST. PwD cutoffs align closer to ST levels.
| Category | PI Shortlist Numbers 2025 | Final Offers 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 1315 | 188 |
| EWS | 39 | 19 |
| OBC | 251 | 165 |
| SC | 372 | 64 |
| ST | 27 | 20 |
| PwD | - | 17 |
IIT Bombay SJMSOM MBA admissions follow reservation norms with no rigid published cutoffs, but RTI data and trends reveal actual CAT percentiles for PI shortlists and final offers across categories.
Category-Wise Qualifying Cutoffs
Official qualifying thresholds for application remain stable: General/EWS at 90 overall (75 sectional each), NC-OBC 81 (67.5 sectional), SC/ST/PwD 60 (50 sectional). These are minimums to be eligible, not shortlist guarantees.
| Category | Overall Qualifying | Sectional Qualifying |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 90 | 75 (VARC/DILR/QA) |
| NC-OBC | 81 | 67.5 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 60 | 50 |
Actual PI Shortlist & Admission Trends (2025)
RTI reveals real lowest CAT scores called for PI: General males at 92.44, females slightly lower; EWS high at 97+ due to limited seats. Final admits needed 95+ for General, with OBC/SC securing at 91/75 lows.
| Category | Lowest PI Shortlist CAT 2025 | Final Admit Low CAT 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 92.44 (M), ~91 (F) | 95.55 |
| EWS | 97.36 | 97.23 |
| NC-OBC | 93.28 | 91.43 |
| SC | 72.80 | 75.14 |
| ST | 78.43 | 78.43 |
| PwD | ~70-78 | Included in reserved |
General/EWS candidates need 94-98+ for a competitive edge amid 1300+ shortlists. Reserved categories benefit from quotas (SC: 372 shortlisted), but still target 70-90+ for safety. Females get shortlist priority, often 2-3 points lower. Trends hold steady into 2026 expectations.
IIT Bombay MBA Sectional Cut Off 2026
Sectional cutoffs ensure balanced performance across VARC, DILR, and QA. Expected minimums for 2026 mirror 2025 trends at 75-77 for General/EWS in each section. Lower for reserved: 67-69 (NC-OBC), 50-52 (SC/ST/PwD).
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 75-77 | 75-77 | 75-77 |
| NC-OBC | 67-69 | 67-69 | 67-69 |
| SC/ST/PwD | 50-52 | 50-52 | 50-52 |
Expected IIT Bombay MBA Cut Off 2026
For CAT 2025-based 2026 admissions, experts predict slight rises due to competition: General 94-96 overall, EWS 95-98. Reserved: NC-OBC 90-92, SC 74-76, ST 77-79. Minimum qualifying is 90 overall, but PI calls need 98+ for General competitively.
| Category | Expected Overall CAT 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 94-96 |
| EWS | 95-98 |
| NC-OBC | 90-92 |
| SC | 74-76 |
| ST | 77-79 |
| PwD | 78-80 |
Minimum CAT Percentile Required for IIT Bombay MBA Admission 2026
No fixed minimum CAT percentile exists for IIT Bombay SJMSOM MBA admission 2026; eligibility requires a valid CAT 2025 score, but PI shortlisting demands high percentiles via composite evaluation.
Qualifying vs. Realistic Targets
The baseline qualifying cutoff to apply is around 90 overall for General (sectionals 75 each), dropping to 81/67.5 for NC-OBC and 60/50 for SC/ST/PwD. RTI data shows actual PI shortlist lows were higher: General 92.44-95.55, EWS 97+, SC 75+.
| Category | Qualifying Overall | Actual PI Shortlist 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 90 | 92-96 |
| EWS | 90 | 97+ |
| NC-OBC | 81 | 91+ |
| SC | 60 | 72-75 |
| ST/PwD | 60 | 78+ |
Target 94-98+ overall for General to compete, balancing sectionals above 75-80. Strong academics/work ex can offset slightly lower CAT via 20-25% weightage in shortlisting. Reserved candidates with 70-80 have secured calls per trends.
IIT Bombay MBA Cut-off 2026: Conclusion
IIT Bombay MBA Cut Off 2026 is expected to remain highly competitive, with General category candidates needing 94 - 98 percentile in CAT for a strong chance of selection. Sectional performance, academic consistency and work experience play a crucial role beyond just CAT scores.
Aspirants targeting IIT Bombay and its Shailesh J Mehta School of Management should focus on balanced preparation and aim well above qualifying cutoffs to secure PI calls and final admission.
