The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has revised the admission policy for its two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), or MBA, for the 2027-29 batch. The revised framework will apply to candidates appearing for CAT 2026 and introduces a key change in the way applicants are shortlisted for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI).
IIMA Ahmedabad Revises MBA Admissions Policy for 2027-29
Under the new policy, IIMA will use the CAT 2026 overall percentile instead of the normalised CAT score as a component of the shortlisting process. The institute will continue to consider candidates’ academic performance and other profile-based factors along with CAT performance.
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027-29: CAT 2026 Cut-Off
Candidates first need to meet the minimum overall and sectional CAT 2026 percentile requirements prescribed by IIMA. However, securing the qualifying percentile alone does not guarantee an invitation for the AWT and PI.
| Category | Overall Percentile | Sectional Percentile |
| General/EWS | 95 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
| SC | 85 | 75 |
| ST | 75 | 65 |
| General/EWS PwD | 85 | 75 |
| NC-OBC PwD | 80 | 75 |
| SC PwD | 75 | 65 |
| ST PwD | 65 | 55 |
The CAT cut-offs for the 2027-29 admission cycle remain at the same levels reported for the previous cycle, although the shortlisting methodology has been revised.
CAT Percentile Gets 65% Weightage
For AWT-PI shortlisting, the revised system combines two major components: 65% weightage for CAT 2026 and 35% for the normalised Application Rating (AR).
The Application Rating considers academic performance in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation, along with eligible work experience and gender diversity. Under the revised policy, candidates’ academic performance is evaluated using a common rating scale, while undergraduate programmes are classified into 20 disciplines. The raw composite score is then normalised within the candidate’s undergraduate discipline.
This replaces the earlier ACRC-based two-stage shortlisting structure. The change means that the candidate’s CAT percentile, academic profile and undergraduate discipline will all play an important role in determining the AWT-PI shortlist.
IIM Ahmedabad Final Selection Criteria
Candidates shortlisted for the next stage will have to appear for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview. The final admission decision will use a three-part Final Composite Score.
| Component | Weightage |
| Personal Interview | 50% |
| Analytical Writing Test | 10% |
| Normalised Composite Score | 40% |
The normalised composite score incorporates the CAT and Application Rating components used during shortlisting. Thus, performance in the PI and AWT remains critical even after a candidate clears the initial CAT percentile requirements.
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Eligibility 2027-29
For the two-year PGP, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. The minimum requirement is 45% for candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwD categories. Final-year bachelor’s degree students can also apply subject to the conditions specified by IIMA.
IIMA has indicated that the AWT-PI shortlist is tentatively expected in January 2027, following the CAT 2026 result. The institute’s official admissions page states that the PGP selection process for domestic applicants uses CAT followed by AWT and PI for shortlisted candidates.
For CAT 2026 aspirants targeting IIM Ahmedabad, the revised policy makes it important to focus not only on achieving a high percentile but also on maintaining a strong academic and overall profile.
