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Indian Institute of Management (IIM) MBA admission process comprises students undertaking the annual CAT exam. In other words, aspirants who wish to pursue an MBA degree by taking admission in any of the reputed IIMs must first qualify for their CAT exams. The CAT exam is administered annually every year during the month of November.
Individuals who are able to qualify for their CAT Exam will have to secure eligible scores in the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) to get selected for admission into IIM’s MBA programmes. Read the article to know more about IIM MBA admissions 2025.
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IIM MBA Admission Dates
The result for the CAT 2025 exam, which will be conducted on 30th November, will be tentatively announced in the initial weeks of January 2026. Candidates who qualify for the CAT exam will be further called for the WAT-GD-PI rounds during the months of February-April 2025. The final admission results will be issued by the end of May 2026.
Refer to the following table to go through the crucial IIM MBA admission-related dates:
| Events | Dates |
| CAT Exam 2025 | 30th November 2025 |
| CAT Exam Registration Window 2025 | 1st Week of August- 3rd Week of September 2025 |
| CAT Result 2025 | 1st Week of January 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT GD/PI Rounds | February-April 2026 (Tentative) |
| IIM Admission (Final) | May to June 2026 (Tentative) |
IIM MBA Entrance Exam 2025
Candidates who aspire to enrol in IIM’s MBA programmes in 2026 must take the CAT 2025 Exam. The registration window for the CAT 2025 Exam will remain open between the first week of August and the third week of September 2025. Those who wish to apply for the said exam must do so within the mentioned dates. The exam is conducted in a CBT mode and primarily comprises three sections, namely Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI). The application fee for IIM MBA admission through CAT is INR 2500/- for General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories, and ₹1,250 for SC, ST, and PwD categories.
The CAT exam itself will be administered in three slots. Aspirants preparing for the exam must cover topics from sections such as VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. The total duration of the CAT 2025 exam will be 120 minutes. Other important details of the CAT exam that you must know before deciding to apply for admissions in IIMs for MBA.
| Name of Institution | Indian Institute of Management |
| Course | MBA |
| IIM MBA Salary | INR 20-25 LPA (Average) |
| IIM MBA Eligibility Criteria | Qualified for Class 10+2 with an aggregate of 50% for Gen. Category |
| IIM MBA Selection Process | CAT Written Exam, WAT-GD-PI Rounds |
| IIM MBA Fees | INR 17- INR 27 Lakhs |
| Campus | 21 |
Also Read: 60+ IIM Scholarships for MBA Applicants
IIM MBA Admission & Selection Criteria 2025
IIM MBA Admission Process is the same for all IIM campuses across the nation. IIMs that have been established after 2010 incorporate a different admission process known as the Common Admission Process called CAP. However, even for these campuses, the selection process remains the same. Individuals aspiring to get admission into IIM’s MBA courses must first qualify for the CAT Exams. Once qualified, individuals will be required to clear the WAT/GD/PI rounds with eligible scores to get selected for admission. The final selection stage entails the shortlisting of candidates based on their acquired scores in all of the aforementioned areas. Based on the candidate’s merit and acquired scores, IIM releases admission offers every year.
Apart from the main CAT exam, WAT and PI rounds carry a substantial amount of weightage for one’s selection in IIM’s MBA courses. Authorities select candidates (final) on the basis of their CAT scores, academic records, prior work experience, WAT, and PI scores. The PI rounds are usually held during the month of February.
Eligibility Criteria for IIM MBA Admissions
Candidates aspiring to pursue an MBA degree from any of the IIMs must meet the following set of prerequisites. Have a look.
- Individuals must hold professional degree certificates such as CA/CS/ICWA with an aggregate of 50 per cent and 45 per cent for general and SC/ST/PWD candidates, respectively.
- Graduation marks and percentage obtained by the candidate would be calculated based on the practice followed by the University/Institution from which they have obtained the degree.
- The conversion of CGPA and grades into percentile marks is done adhering to the procedural norms prescribed by the institution of the candidate where he/she acquired their bachelor’s degree.
Also Read: IIM Short-Term Courses
Selection Parameters and Weightage for IIM MBA Admission 2025
IIM MBA aspirants must go through the data tabulated below to understand the weightage allotted to different domains and areas during the final selection process. It must be taken into account that CAT scores hold only 40% of weightage, whereas academic records from the school/college level hold 50% weightage in the final selection.
| Selection Parameter | Weightage |
| CAT Exam Score | 40% |
| HSC (Higher Secondary) Score | 30% |
| Graduation Score | 20% |
| Diversity of Gender and Work Experience | 10% |
Also Read: How to Get Admission to IIM Without CAT?
IIM Executive MBA Admission
IIM’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) is a one-year full-time programme for working professionals who wish to pursue their education in the field of management without having to leave their jobs. These online/remote courses are aimed at professionals who cannot afford to leave their jobs for their education.
IIM Executive MBA programs are considered for admission by experienced professionals (typically 5–15 years of work experience) who aim to:
- Advance their careers into senior leadership roles
- Switch industries or functions (e.g., from tech to strategy)
- Gain formal management education
- Expand business knowledge for entrepreneurship
- Strengthen their network with peers and IIM alumni
- Return to India after working abroad with an elite degree
IIM Executive MBA Eligibility Criteria
Working Professionals who have a spectacular work record for more than five years can apply for such a programme. Refer to the following data to go through the eligibility criteria who want to take admission in IIM Executive MBA:
- Individuals should have completed their Bachelor’s Degree from any notable institution with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
- Candidates must hold valid GMAT exam/GRE scores.
- Must have work experience of more than five years.
IIM Executive MBA Admission Fees and Duration
Working professionals who wish to pursue and take admission for the executive MBA course from the top IIMs must refer to the following data to go through the course fees and duration.
| IIM | Course Fees For the Executive MBA Programme | Duration (Years) |
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 31.5 Lakhs | 4 |
| IIM Bangalore | INR 20 Lakhs | 5 |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 31 Lakhs | 5 |
| IIM Lucknow | INR 11 – 31 Lakhs | 3-5 |
| IIM Indore | INR 17.6 – INR 22 Lakhs | 5 |
| IIM Kozhikode | INR 14.70 Lakhs | 3 |
| IIM Udaipur | INR 22.75 Lakhs | 3 |
| IIM Vishakhapatnam | INR 10.8 Lakhs | 3 |
The MBA admission process at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is simple but competitive, designed to select the best candidates for its prestigious programs. Students aspiring to pursue an IIM MBA must first pass the Common Admission Test (CAT), which consists of Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Students who qualify move on to rounds of the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). The final selection is based on a mix of CAT scores (40% weighting), academic performance in high school and college (50%), and gender diversity or work experience (10%).
FAQs on IIM MBA Admission
To get an MBA admission in IIM, you must clear the CAT exam with a high percentile. Based on your score, academic record, and work experience, you’ll be shortlisted for WAT (Written Ability Test) and PI (Personal Interview). Final selection is based on overall performance and IIM-specific criteria.
Aside from their CAT scores, candidates are evaluated on the entirety of their profile, including academic records, professional experience, extracurricular achievements, and so on.
The IIM admission cycle commenced in MAY 2026 and will remain open until the month of August 2026. Aspirants intending to get admission into IIM in 2026 must undertake and qualify for the CAT 2025 Exam.
IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Rohtak, IIM Jammu, and IIM Indore are known for selecting candidates on the basis of their JIPMAT scores. Those who do not intend to take the CAT exam can therefore apply to these IIM branches.
To be eligible for IIM’s regular MBA, you need a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks and must take the CAT exam. For the Executive MBA, you need a degree, a minimum 5 years of work experience, and a valid CAT, GMAT, or GRE score, depending on the IIM.
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