• CAT Category wise Seats and Cutoffs
• CAT Cutoffs Open Category (Non Engineers)
• CAT Cutoffs for PwD Students
• CAT Cutoffs, Seats for OBC in IIMs and Non IIMs
• CAT Cutoffs for GEF (General Engineer Female)
• CAT Cutoffs for BA BCom Commerce
• CAT & IIM Cutoffs for BBA BMS Graduates
• CAT Cutoffs for GEM (General Engineer Male)
• CAT Cutoffs for EWS
• CAT Cutoffs, Seats for ST in IIMs and Non IIMs
• CAT Cutoffs, Seats for SC in IIMs and Non IIMs

Reservation in the CAT Exam: Understanding Category-Based Admission to IIMs

Reservation plays an important role in the admission process of the Common Admission Test (CAT) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). However, students should understand one important distinction: CAT itself is only an entrance examination. Reservation primarily affects the admission process of the IIMs and other participating institutes, rather than the CAT score or percentile calculation.Reservation Categories in IIM Admissions

The IIMs follow the reservation policy prescribed by the Government of India. Broadly, seats are reserved for candidates belonging to different categories:- Scheduled Caste (SC): 15%- Scheduled Tribe (ST): 7.5%- Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (NC-OBC): 27%- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD): 5%The PwD reservation is generally horizontal, which means it operates across categories such as General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC and ST.Does Reservation Change Your CAT Percentile?No. The CAT percentile calculation is not different for different categories.For example, if two candidates obtain the same normalized CAT score, their percentile does not change simply because one belongs to the General category and the other belongs to the SC, ST, NC-OBC or EWS category.The difference becomes important during the shortlisting and admission process.Different CAT Cut-offs

Each IIM announces its own admission policy. The minimum CAT percentile required to become eligible for consideration may therefore differ according to category.For example, an IIM may prescribe a higher qualifying percentile for General-category candidates and comparatively lower qualifying percentiles for candidates from reserved categories.However, students must not confuse the minimum qualifying cut-off with the percentile actually required to receive an interview call.Clearing the published minimum cut-off does not guarantee an interview call or admission.Reservation Does Not Mean Automatic Admission

A common misconception is that belonging to a reserved category guarantees admission to an IIM. This is incorrect.

Candidates still have to:1. Appear for CAT and meet the required sectional and overall cut-offs.2. Satisfy the eligibility and category requirements.3. Get shortlisted by the respective IIM.4. Perform well in the Personal Interview and other selection stages.5. Achieve the required final composite score.Therefore, competition continues to exist within every category.

Why Category Certificates Matter

Candidates claiming reservation benefits must possess the required valid documents. This is particularly important for NC-OBC, EWS, SC, ST and PwD candidates.Students should carefully check the CAT and individual IIM admission guidelines regarding the required certificate format, validity period and submission deadlines. A candidate may face problems during admission if the required category documents are missing, invalid or not in the prescribed format.

Final Takeaway

The easiest way to understand reservation in CAT admissions is:CAT Score → CAT Percentile → Category-wise Shortlisting → IIM Selection Process → Final AdmissionReservation does not give extra marks in CAT and does not directly increase a candidate’s percentile. Instead, it influences seat allocation, qualifying cut-offs, shortlisting and admission opportunities under the Government of India’s reservation framework.For aspirants, the best strategy remains the same regardless of category: aim for the highest possible CAT score rather than merely targeting the minimum category cut-off. A stronger CAT percentile provides access to more IIMs and significantly improves the chances of receiving interview calls and ultimately converting a top B-school.