What Is IIM JAP 2026?
The Indian Institutes of Management Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Tiruchirappalli have come together to start the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026 for MBA admissions on September 9th 2025. IIM Raipur will lead and manage the admission process for all four IIM colleges, the institute said in a press release.
This joint effort shows their commitment to doing things efficiently, using resources well, and making the admission process clear and easy for students, while keeping the high standards of the IIMs.
What Is IIM Joint Admission Process?
The IIM Joint Admission Process (JAP) is a unified admission procedure introduced by 4 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to streamline MBA admissions. Launched for the 2026 academic year by IIMs Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Tiruchirappalli, JAP allows candidates to apply to all four institutions through a single process after the CAT results are announced.
Coordinated by IIM Raipur, this collaborative effort simplifies the selection process, promotes transparency, and ensures a student-centric approach by reducing redundancy and improving efficiency in evaluating applicants.
IIMs Participating in the Joint Admission Process
The following Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are participating in the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026:
- IIM Kashipur
- IIM Raipur (Coordinating Institute)
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)
These four IIMs have come together to offer a streamlined and unified admission process for MBA aspirants, enhancing efficiency and ease of application after the CAT exam.
IIM JAP 2025 Eligibility and Shortlisting Criteria
Since JAP 2025 wasn't formally introduced, the process aligns with the Common Admission Process (CAP 2025), coordinated by IIM Bodh Gaya. It includes a group of newer IIMs such as Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy, Jammu, Sirmaur, etc.
Difference Between IIM CAP and IIM JAP
The IIM Common Admission Process (CAP) and the newly introduced Joint Admission Process (JAP) are two distinct approaches adopted by various Indian Institutes of Management to streamline MBA admissions. While both aim to simplify the selection process for candidates, they differ significantly in scope, coordination, and structure. Here's a quick comparison to understand how CAP and JAP operate:
Feature | IIM CAP (Common Admission Process) | IIM JAP (Joint Admission Process) |
Full Form | Common Admission Process | Joint Admission Process |
Launched In | Ongoing since the early 2010s | Introduced in 2025 for 2026 admissions |
Purpose | To streamline WAT-PI for multiple new IIMs | To unify the entire admission process, not just WAT-PI |
Scope | Only WAT & PI are conducted jointly | Shortlisting + WAT + PI are all coordinated |
Application Process | Don’t need to apply separately, CAP participating IIMs will call according to the cutoffs. | Here all 4 participating IIMs will call for JAP 2026 according to their separate cutoffs. |
CAT Weightage | CAT used for shortlisting; WAT-PI handled by CAP coordinating IIM | CAT + Composite score used jointly for shortlisting & selection |
Participating IIMs (2025) | Bodh Gaya, Kashipur, Udaipur, Trichy, Ranchi, Jammu, Sirmaur, Nagpur, etc. | Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy |
Coordinating Institute (2025) | IIM Bodh Gaya | IIM Raipur |
WAT/PI Mode | Offline (in CAP 2025) | Likely offline (details for JAP 2026 pending) |
Candidate Convenience | Simplifies the interview process only | Simplifies entire admission journey from shortlisting to offer |
Goal | Save resources and avoid WAT-PI duplication | Create a fully integrated, transparent, student-focused system |
*Note: It is possible that these IIMs will not get included in the IIM CAP process. But, it is just a speculation.
Minimum Eligibility for Shortlisting (CAP 2025 norms)
Participating institutes generally follow sectional and overall CAT percentile thresholds for shortlisting, mirroring IIM Udaipur’s criteria:
Category | VRC | DILR | QA | Overall |
General | 75 | 75 | 75 | 95 |
EWS | 55 | 55 | 55 | 81 |
NC‑OBC | 52 | 52 | 52 | 81 |
SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 66 |
ST | 25 | 25 | 30 | 42 |
DAP | 25 | 25 | 30 | 42 |
*Note: JAP IIMs will release the separate selection process and separate cutoffs for 2026 admissions. Stay tuned with us. We will update any new information that we will get from the officials.
What Is IIM JAP 2026? Conclusion
IIM JAP 2026 marks a major step toward simplifying MBA admissions for aspirants. With IIM Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, and Trichy joining hands, the process eliminates duplicate steps and creates a transparent, student-friendly admission journey. By covering shortlisting, WAT, and PI in one unified process, it reduces stress for candidates while maintaining the rigorous standards of the IIMs.
For MBA aspirants appearing in CAT 2025, this means a smoother application experience and greater clarity in selection. While the exact cutoffs and selection criteria will be released soon, the JAP initiative is already seen as a progressive move that enhances efficiency and fairness in management education admissions.
