The prestigious Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai) has officially rolled out its admission policy for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme for the batch of 2026-28. Aspiring candidates aiming for a seat at this top-tier B-school must navigate a selection process anchored by the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, followed by a multi-stage evaluation.
Eligibility Criteria and Academic Requirements
To be eligible for the two-year, full-time, residential MBA programme, applicants must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. The institute offers a relaxation to 45% for candidates from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories. The undergraduate degree must entail at least three years of study after completing higher secondary education and must be awarded by an institution recognised under Indian law or by the Ministry of Education.
Students currently in their final year or awaiting results can also apply. However, they must provide a provisional certificate and, if selected, complete all degree requirements by June 30, 2026. Final mark sheets and degree certificates are mandatory for submission by December 31, 2026, failing which provisional admission stands cancelled.
Shortlisting via CAT 2025 and Final Selection Breakdown
The first critical hurdle is the CAT 2025. IIM Mumbai will shortlist candidates based on both sectional and overall percentile cut-offs. Merely meeting the minimum thresholds does not guarantee progression to the next round.
The institute has published the minimum CAT 2025 percentile requirements for shortlisting different categories:
- Open Category: 80 (VARC), 80 (DILR), 75 (QA), 85 (Overall)
- NC-OBC & EWS: 70 (VARC), 65 (DILR), 65 (QA), 75 (Overall)
- SC: 65 (VARC), 60 (DILR), 60 (QA), 70 (Overall)
- ST: 55 (VARC), 55 (DILR), 55 (QA), 65 (Overall)
- PwD: 45 (VARC), 45 (DILR), 45 (QA), 55 (Overall)
Candidates who clear this stage will be called for a Personal Interview (PI). The final selection will be based on a composite score calculated with the following tentative weightage: CAT 2025 score (60%), Personal Interview performance (20%), and Academic Performance & Work Experience (20%).
Scoring Academic Records, Work Experience, and Reservation Policy
Academic performance will be evaluated based on marks in Class 10, Class 12, and the bachelor's degree, each with specific rating scales. Work experience, calculated as on December 31, 2025, will be scored. Experience less than 12 months gets a zero score, while experience beyond 36 months is capped at a maximum value.
The institute will also assess candidates with professional qualifications like CA, CMA, CS, and FIAI based on their aggregate marks in those examinations. Bachelor's degrees are classified into six academic disciplines for evaluation purposes.
IIM Mumbai's seat reservation policy adheres to Government of India norms: 27% for NC-OBC, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, up to 10% for EWS, and 5% for PwD candidates. Claimants must meet all eligibility and minimum performance criteria in CAT and PI.
The institute reserves the right to verify documents and modify the policy if necessary. It also emphasises that meeting the minimum eligibility conditions does not assure final selection. This comprehensive policy sets the roadmap for aspiring managers targeting the IIM Mumbai MBA batch of 2026-28.
