The reservation of IIM seats for the ST and SC categories is done as per the reservation policy for backward classes in the education institutes. The Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste have been assigned 7.5% and 15% of the total IIM seats through the CAT exam under the reservation quota. It is done to make sure the extent of high-quality education penetrates the lower strata of society. IIMs also are prioritizing candidates that bring the diversity factor into it.
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Approximately 538 seats are reserved in IIMs for the ST and SC categories which is about 22.5%. The percentage-wise distribution of total IIM seats across different categories is given in the table below.
Category | Distribution of IIM Seats |
40.5% | |
27% | |
IIM Seats for ST and SC Category | 7.5% and 15% |
PwD and EWS | 10% |
Check out the Total Seats in IIM for MBA/PGDM
IIMs across the nation have different numbers of seats reserved for the ST and SC category candidates. The number of seats for the ST and SC category candidates in different IIMs is mentioned in the table below.
Name of the IIM | Total IIM Seats | IIM seats for the SC Category | IIM seats for the ST Category |
398 | 58 | 29 | |
412 | 57 | 29 | |
462 | 69 | 37 | |
436 | 63 | 32 | |
450 | 68 | 34 | |
525 | 56 | 28 | |
240 | 18 | 9 | |
240 | 18 | 9 | |
120 | 20 | 10 | |
210 | 15 | 8 | |
210 | 18 | 10 | |
210 | 18 | 10 | |
120 | 20 | 10 | |
150 | 28 | 10 | |
120 | 18 | 9 | |
180 | 18 | 10 | |
170 | 9 | 5 | |
240 | 18 | 10 | |
550 | 82 | 41 |
The selection criteria for IIMs is purely merit-based. Candidates across all categories need to qualify for the IIM CAT cutoff for applying to the prestigious IIMs. The CAT cutoff for different IIMs for the ST and SC category is given in the table below.
Name of the IIM | CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM seats for SC Category (Expected) | CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM seats for ST Category (Expected) |
70 | 60 | |
70 | 65 | |
70 | 65 | |
65 | 60 | |
60 | 50 | |
65 | 55 | |
55 | 40 | |
60 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
45 | 35 | |
54 | 40 | |
54 | 40 | |
60 | 50 | |
54 | 40 | |
55 | 30 | |
70 | 65 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
IIMs have a prescribed SC ST quota for the SC and ST category candidates. 15% and 7.5% of the total IIM seats are reserved for the candidates from SC and ST categories.
IIMs have a total of 538 seats reserved for the SC and ST category candidates. The number of reserved seats for a particular IIM varies depending on the batch size and total seat matrix.
The IIM cutoff for SC and ST candidates ranges between 50-70 CAT percentile. This is the qualifying cutoff at which the candidate is eligible to apply. The selection is based on the overall assessment of the candidate’s profile.
IIM has different scholarship programs for different candidates. SC category candidates studying in IIMs are also eligible for a scholarship of up to 1.5 Lakh in the second year.
On Question asked by student community
Hey there,
For NIT Hamirpur MBA, the General-category CAT cutoff is not a fixed official percentile. NIT Hamirpur's 2026–27 admission process gives CAT a 10/10 weightage in the test component, followed by an interview; it accepts CAT, CMAT and MAT.
As a practical target, 80+ percentile is worth considering, while
If by B-category you mean management/private quota MBBS seats, the cutoff is very different from government-quota MBBS.
In Tamil Nadu, management-quota MBBS seats are available in self-financing/private medical colleges through the state counselling process. The closing rank varies significantly between colleges and counselling rounds. The 2025 counselling data shows that
Hello Student,
With a CAT 2025 percentile of 98.25, you have a good chance of receiving calls from several IIMs, particularly newer IIMs. However, IIM Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Calcutta , and Lucknow generally require higher percentiles for General-category candidates. Calls also depend on sectional percentiles, academics, work experience, and
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, you can access CAT preparation resources, including mock tests, practice questions, previous-year papers, and study material. Explore the CAT preparation resources and test series using the link below:
https://www.careers360.com/mba/download/ebooks-and-sample-papers?exam=45
Hope this Helps!
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