CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria, Reservations & Category Rules
Detailed guide to minimum graduation percentage (50% General/OBC, 45% SC/ST/PwD), final-year undergraduate rules, government reservations, and IIM diversity criteria.
Executive Briefing & Key Takeaways
Official Benchmark & Strategic Decision Snapshot
Minimum 50% aggregate in graduation (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Professional degrees (CA, CS, ICWA) with 50% marks are fully eligible.
Final-year undergraduate students can apply and sit for CAT 2026; graduation certificates must be submitted upon joining.
Work experience is zero-weighted for CAT exam eligibility, but earns 5–15% bonus composite points in IIM shortlists.
Key Facts & Action Items
Central Government Category Reservation Quotas in IIMs
Seat reservations mandated across all 21 Indian Institutes of Management:
| Category | Quota Percentage | Minimum Graduation % | Key Certificate Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Category | Open Seats | 50.0% | Standard graduation degree certificate |
| NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 27.0% | 50.0% | Central NC-OBC certificate issued after April 1, 2026 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15.0% | 45.0% | State/Central competent authority caste certificate |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10.0% | 50.0% | Central EWS income certificate issued after April 1, 2026 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% | 45.0% | Competent authority tribe certificate |
| PwD (Benchmark Disabilities) | 5.0% (Horizontal) | 45.0% | Disability certificate (min 40% benchmark disability) |
Explore CAT 2026 Intelligence Guides & Tools
ThinkCAT HubFrequently Asked Questions
Can final-year college students apply for CAT 2026?
Yes, students in the final year of their undergraduate degree (or awaiting final semester results) are fully eligible to apply and appear for CAT 2026.
What if I have active backlogs or supplementary exams in graduation?
You can appear for CAT 2026, but all backlogs must be cleared and final degree certification submitted with the required aggregate (50% General/OBC, 45% SC/ST) before the commencement of the IIM academic session in June/July 2027.
What certificates are required for NC-OBC and EWS reservation?
NC-OBC and EWS certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026 by a competent government authority (Tehsildar/District Magistrate) strictly following the central government format.
Does work experience increase CAT exam marks?
No, CAT raw scores are purely based on your exam performance. However, top IIMs allocate 5% to 15% weightage to relevant full-time work experience (optimal at 24–36 months) when calculating final interview shortlisting Composite Scores.
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