Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 Admission - Eligibility & Reservation Details

Opening Overview

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have published the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 eligibility and reservation guidelines for admission to management programmes. Candidates must ensure they meet the minimum academic criteria and upload valid category certificates (if applicable) during registration.

Admission Details Table

Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC / ST / PwBD), awarded by:

  • Any University / educational institution incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India, or
  • Declared as a deemed University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or
  • An equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

• Final year candidates of Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification and candidates who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.

  • If selected, such candidates can join provisionally only after submitting a certificate from the Principal/Registrar (issued on or before the date stipulated by the respective IIM) confirming completion of all requirements for obtaining the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification.

• Candidates applying for CAT 2026 should fulfill any one of the following conditions:

  1. Completed Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks.
  2. Completed professional degree CA / CS / ICWA (CMA) / Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with required percentage.
  3. In the final year of Bachelor’s degree with required percentage.

• Minimum marks requirement:

  • SC / ST / PwBD: minimum 45%
  • General / EWS / NC-OBC: minimum 50%

Marks / CGPA Conversion Rules

• The percentage of marks will be calculated based on the practice followed by the candidate’s respective University/Institution.
• For grades/CGPA, conversion to percentage will be as per the procedure certified by the University/Institution.
• If the University/Institution confirms there is no scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, equivalence will be established by:
  • (Candidate’s CGPA / Maximum possible CGPA) × 100

Reservation Policy

• SC: 15% seats reserved
• ST: 7.5% seats reserved
• NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27% seats reserved
• EWS: up to 10% seats reserved
• Reservation eligibility will be based on the Central Government list applicable as on the last date of CAT registration.
• No subsequent changes in the list/category will be effective for CAT 2026 and any subsequent IIM selection process.
• For updated state-wise OBC central list and creamy layer information, candidates may refer to the NCBC website.

PwBD Reservation (RPwD Act 2016)

• As per The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act 2016), 5% seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
• “Person with Benchmark Disability” means a person with not less than 40% (forty percent) of a specified disability, as certified by the certifying authority.
• Categories of specified disabilities include: a) Blindness and low vision b) Deaf and hard of hearing c) Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) f) Other specified disabilities mentioned in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016

Important Instructions for Reserved Category Candidates

• Candidates must carefully check eligibility requirements before applying.
• IIMs may verify eligibility at various stages of the selection process.
• Mere fulfillment of minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee shortlisting by IIMs.
• Candidates must maintain a valid and unique email ID and mobile number throughout the selection process.
• No change in category will be entertained after CAT registration. Candidates should fill the category details carefully.

Category Certificate Requirements (SC / ST / NC-OBC / EWS / PwBD)

• SC/ST candidates:

  • The caste/tribe must be listed in the Government of India schedule.
  • The certificate submitted to IIM should be in the Government of India approved format and clearly mention:
    • Name of caste/tribe
    • Whether SC or ST
    • District and State/UT of ordinary residence
    • Appropriate Government of India schedule under which the caste/tribe is approved

• A copy of the SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwBD certificate(s) must be uploaded during CAT application registration.

  • Failure to upload the certificate copy will result in rejection of CAT registration.

• Certificate(s) must be produced and a photocopy submitted at the time of interviews, and also submitted at the time of joining the programme at any IIM.

  • Failure to do so during the post-CAT selection process will result in the candidate not being considered under the reserved category.

• PwBD candidates are encouraged to apply for a UDID card and upload it during the application.