CAT 2026 Update: IIM Ahmedabad Revises MBA Admission Criteria for 2027-29
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: CAT 2026 Percentile Now Key for Shortlisting, Check New Criteria
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has revised its admission criteria for the PGP 2027-29 batch. Under the updated policy, the CAT 2026 percentile will be used for shortlisting candidates for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI), replacing the earlier use of the normalised CAT score at this stage.
The institute has also announced category-wise minimum overall and sectional CAT 2026 percentile requirements for candidates seeking admission to the two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management.
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: New CAT Criteria
As per the revised admission policy, candidates will be shortlisted for the AWT and PI based on their CAT 2026 performance along with other components of their application profile.
The minimum CAT percentile requirements vary according to the candidate’s category and benchmark disability status.
CAT 2026 Minimum Cut-Off for Candidates Without Benchmark Disability
| Category | Overall Percentile | VARC | DILR | QA |
| General/EWS | 95 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| SC | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| ST | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
CAT 2026 Cut-Off for Candidates With Benchmark Disability
| Category | Overall Percentile | VARC | DILR | QA |
| General/EWS | 85 | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| SC | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| ST | 65 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Process 2027
The admission process will broadly be conducted in two stages.
In the first stage, candidates who meet the prescribed eligibility and CAT percentile requirements will be considered for shortlisting for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview.
IIM Ahmedabad will also consider candidates’ academic and other profile-related factors during the shortlisting process.
The Raw Application Rating includes factors such as:
- Class 10 performance
- Class 12 performance
- Undergraduate academic record
- Gender
- Full-time work experience
Meeting the minimum CAT percentile alone does not guarantee that a candidate will receive an AWT or PI call.
Final Selection: AWT and PI Weightage
Candidates who appear for both the AWT and Personal Interview will be evaluated for final selection through the Final Composite Score (FCS).
The Personal Interview carries the highest weightage in the final selection process.
| Selection Component | Weightage |
| Personal Interview (PI) | 50% |
| Analytical Writing Test (AWT) | 10% |
| Normalised Composite Score | 40% |
Therefore, candidates should not focus only on their CAT percentile. Performance in the interview, writing test, academic record and other components will also play an important role in the final admission process.
What Does the New CAT Rule Mean for Aspirants?
The revised admission policy makes the CAT 2026 percentile an important factor during the initial shortlisting stage.
However, candidates should note that achieving the minimum percentile does not automatically guarantee an invitation for the AWT and PI or final admission to IIM Ahmedabad.
The institute will consider multiple aspects of a candidate’s profile before making the final selection.
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: Key Highlights
- Programme: Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP)
- Batch: 2027-29
- Entrance Exam: CAT 2026
- Shortlisting: CAT 2026 percentile + application profile
- AWT: Analytical Writing Test
- PI: Personal Interview
- Final Selection: Final Composite Score
- PI Weightage: 50%
- AWT Weightage: 10%
- Normalised Composite Score: 40%
Note: Candidates should refer to the official IIM Ahmedabad admission policy for the complete eligibility requirements, shortlisting methodology and any subsequent updates.