The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, a premier business school, has updated its admission criteria for the MBA 2026-28 academic cycle. This includes lowering the required Common Admission Test (CAT) cut-offs and increasing the weightage of CAT scores in the final selection process. The institute plans to admit approximately 300 students this year, reflecting a potential expansion of its incoming batch.
CAT Cut-off Reductions
IIM Jammu has reduced the overall CAT cut-off percentile for shortlisting candidates for the personal interview across all categories. For General category candidates, the overall CAT cut-off is now 91 percentile, a decrease from the previous 95. This adjustment aims to broaden the applicant pool for MBA admissions.
The institute clarified that its admission policy, including CAT cut-offs, may be modified at any time before the selection process concludes.
New Selection Criteria and Weightage
Prospective candidates must clear CAT 2025 to be considered for the personal interview process. The final merit list for admission will now allocate 42% weightage to CAT scores, a significant increase from previous cycles. The personal interview (PI) accounts for 30% of the total score, while profile scores contribute the remaining 28%.
Profile Score Details
Profile scores are determined by academic performance, work experience, and gender diversity. Academic evaluation includes Class 10 (2 marks), Class 12 (3 marks), and graduation (5 marks), totaling 10 marks. Work experience carries a weight of 10 marks. An additional 8 marks are awarded for gender diversity, supporting a more diverse cohort.
Only full-time, salaried work experience acquired after graduation is valid. Experience gained without salary, through internships, apprenticeships, or part-time jobs, will not be considered. Work experience paid in cash or without formal salary records is also invalid for scoring purposes.
Detailed CAT Cut-offs for MBA 2026
Beyond the overall percentile, candidates must achieve minimum sectional cut-offs in all three CAT sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The new cut-offs reflect reductions ranging from 4 to 12 percentile points compared to the previous year, with the steepest drops noted for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
| Category | Gender | VARC Percentile | DILR Percentile | QA Percentile | Overall Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Male | 72 | 72 | 72 | 91 |
| Female | 71 | 71 | 71 | 89 | |
| Transgender | 71 | 71 | 71 | 89 | |
| EWS | Male | 48 | 48 | 48 | 74 |
| Female | 47 | 47 | 47 | 72 | |
| Transgender | 47 | 47 | 47 | 72 | |
| NC-OBC | Male | 48 | 48 | 48 | 74 |
| Female | 47 | 47 | 47 | 72 | |
| Transgender | 47 | 47 | 47 | 72 | |
| SC | Male | 42 | 42 | 42 | 54 |
| Female | 41 | 41 | 41 | 52 | |
| Transgender | 41 | 41 | 41 | 52 | |
| ST | Male | 24 | 24 | 29 | 32 |
| Female | 23 | 23 | 28 | 30 | |
| Transgender | 23 | 23 | 28 | 30 | |
| PwD | Male | 24 | 24 | 29 | 32 |
| Female | 23 | 23 | 28 | 30 | |
| Transgender | 23 | 23 | 28 | 30 |
Final Selection Process
Final admission offers for the IIM Jammu MBA 2026-28 program will be based solely on a comprehensive merit list. This list aggregates scores from the CAT, the personal interview, and the candidate’s calculated profile score, ensuring a holistic evaluation of applicants.
| Selection Component | Max Score | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| CAT Scores | 42 | 42% |
| Personal Interview (PI) | 30 | 30% |
| Profile Score | 28 | 28% |
| Academic Performance | 10 | |
| Work Experience | 10 | |
| Gender Diversity | 8 |
Fee Structure and Important Dates
Candidates offered admission must pay a seat acceptance fee of Rs 50,000 . This amount will be adjusted against the first term’s tuition fees upon joining the program. A refund of the acceptance fee, less a Rs 1,000 processing charge, is available for candidates withdrawing on or before June 21, 2026 .
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 admit cards were issued on November 12 for 2.95 lakh candidates. The MBA entrance examination is scheduled for November 30 , conducted in three separate slots.