The expected IIM CAP 2026 closing percentile for General category students at IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur ranges from 92 to 97 percentile, based on trends from the 2024 and 2025 admission cycles.
IIM CAP (Common Admission Process) is a joint admission process conducted by select new-generation Indian Institutes of Management for their two-year MBA and PGP programmes. IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur are three consistent CAP participants. For General category students, the cutoff operates at two distinct levels: a minimum shortlisting percentile that determines eligibility for the Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT-PI) round, and a closing percentile that reflects the CAT score of the last student to receive an admission offer.
- Expected minimum overall CAT percentile at IIM Bodhgaya 2026 (General): 90 percentile
- Expected minimum overall CAT percentile at IIM Jammu 2026 (General): 90 percentile
- Expected minimum overall CAT percentile at IIM Sirmaur 2026 (General): 85 percentile
- Expected closing percentile at IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu (General): 95–97 percentile
- Expected closing percentile at IIM Sirmaur (General): 92–94 percentile
- Sectional cutoffs in VARC, DILR and QA apply at all three institutes in addition to the overall percentile threshold
What Is IIM CAP 2026
IIM CAP is a centralised WAT-PI process co-organised by newer IIMs established after 2010. Students who clear the minimum CAT percentile cutoffs set by each participating IIM receive a shortlist call for the WAT-PI round. IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur conduct this process jointly, meaning a single WAT-PI cycle can result in shortlists across all three institutes. The final admission offer is based on a composite score that typically includes CAT percentile, WAT-PI performance, academic record and work experience. The exact weightage assigned to each component varies by institute and is published in the official admission policy document each year.
IIM CAP 2026 Expected Cutoff for General Category
The tables below present expected IIM CAP 2026 cutoffs for General category students at IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur, based on 2024 and 2025 admission cycle data. These figures are expected and subject to change once each institute publishes its official shortlisting criteria.
IIM CAP 2026 Expected Minimum Shortlisting Percentile: General Category
| Institute | Overall CAT Percentile | VARC Percentile | DILR Percentile | QA Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bodhgaya | 90 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Jammu | 90 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 85 | 75 | 70 | 70 |
IIM CAP 2026 Expected Closing Percentile: General Category
| Institute | Expected Closing CAT Percentile (General Category) |
|---|---|
| IIM Bodhgaya | 95–97 |
| IIM Jammu | 95–97 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 92–94 |
Previous Year IIM CAP Cutoff Trends
Reviewing minimum shortlisting cutoffs from the 2024 and 2025 cycles confirms the consistency of percentile requirements at IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur for General category students.
IIM CAP 2025 Minimum Shortlisting Cutoff (CAT 2024): General Category
| Institute | Overall | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bodhgaya | 90 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Jammu | 90 | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 85 | 75 | 70 | 70 |
IIM CAP 2024 Minimum Shortlisting Cutoff (CAT 2023): General Category
| Institute | Overall | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bodhgaya | 90 | 80 | 75 | 70 |
| IIM Jammu | 90 | 80 | 75 | 70 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 85 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
The data shows that IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu have held a stable overall cutoff of 90 percentile for General category students across both cycles, while IIM Sirmaur has maintained a slightly lower threshold of 85 percentile. The QA sectional cutoff at IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu rose from 70 to 75 between the 2024 and 2025 cycles, reflecting a minor tightening of criteria.
Minimum Shortlisting Percentile vs Closing Percentile
Students targeting IIM CAP 2026 should understand the critical difference between the minimum shortlisting cutoff and the closing percentile. These are two separate thresholds with very different practical implications:
| Aspect | Minimum Shortlisting Cutoff | Closing Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Minimum CAT percentile to receive a WAT-PI invitation | CAT percentile of the last student to receive an admission offer |
| Purpose | Determines interview eligibility | Reflects actual seat-level competition after WAT-PI |
| Typical range at IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu (General) | 90 percentile | 95–97 percentile |
| Typical range at IIM Sirmaur (General) | 85 percentile | 92–94 percentile |
| Published by | Participating IIM before shortlist release | Derived from final merit and seat-allotment data |
Clearing the minimum cutoff of 90 at IIM Bodhgaya or IIM Jammu secures a WAT-PI invitation but does not guarantee admission. The gap between the shortlisting floor (90) and the expected closing percentile (95–97) is typically 5–7 percentile points for General category students. A strong WAT-PI score combined with a competitive academic profile is essential to convert an interview call into a seat offer.
Factors Affecting IIM CAP 2026 Cutoff
Several variables determine whether the IIM CAP 2026 General category cutoff shifts upward or downward relative to the 2025 cycle:
- CAT 2025 difficulty level: A harder paper compresses the score distribution. If overall difficulty was high, students cluster more tightly around percentile bands, making marginal differences in raw score more consequential near the cutoff.
- Total applicant pool: A higher number of CAT 2025 registrations increases competition for the same number of General category seats across all three institutes.
- Seat intake changes: Any increase in batch size at IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu or IIM Sirmaur can lower the closing percentile marginally by expanding the admission pool.
- WAT-PI composite weightage: Institutes that assign greater weight to WAT-PI scores widen the gap between the shortlisting floor and the closing percentile since a lower-percentile student with an outstanding interview can displace a higher-percentile student who performs poorly in WAT-PI.
- Academic diversity and gender norms: Some IIMs factor academic background diversity and gender balance into selection, which can influence the effective cutoff for General category male engineering graduates specifically.
IIM CAP 2026 General Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected IIM CAP 2026 cutoff for General category at IIM Bodhgaya?
Ans. Based on 2025 admission cycle trends, the expected minimum shortlisting cutoff at IIM Bodhgaya for General category is 90 overall CAT percentile with sectional cutoffs of 80 in VARC and 75 each in DILR and QA. The closing percentile is expected in the 95–97 percentile range after WAT-PI composite scoring.
Ques. What is the expected closing percentile at IIM Sirmaur for General category in IIM CAP 2026?
Ans. Based on 2024 and 2025 trends, the expected closing percentile at IIM Sirmaur for General category in IIM CAP 2026 is approximately 92–94 percentile. The minimum shortlisting cutoff is expected to be 85 overall percentile with sectional cutoffs of 75 in VARC and 70 each in DILR and QA.
Ques. Do IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur impose sectional CAT cutoffs for General category?
Ans. Yes. All three institutes require students to meet minimum percentile thresholds in each CAT section including VARC, DILR and QA in addition to the overall cutoff. Failing to clear even one sectional threshold disqualifies a student from the shortlist regardless of how high the overall score is.
Ques. What is the difference between the minimum shortlisting cutoff and the closing percentile at IIM CAP institutes?
Ans. The minimum shortlisting cutoff is the floor CAT percentile to receive a WAT-PI invitation. The closing percentile is the actual CAT score of the last student admitted after the full composite evaluation covering WAT-PI performance, academic record and work experience. At IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu the gap is typically 5–7 percentile points for General category students.
Ques. Which factors can push the IIM CAP 2026 General category closing percentile higher?
Ans. The closing percentile tends to rise when CAT 2025 had a lower difficulty level (inflating overall scores), when more students appear for CAT or when batch sizes at the three institutes remain unchanged. Strong WAT-PI competition across the shortlisted pool also effectively raises the threshold at which final offers are made.
Ques. When will the official IIM CAP 2026 minimum shortlisting cutoffs be published?
Ans. Each participating institute publishes its official minimum shortlisting criteria on its own website, typically between January and February of the admission year, shortly before the WAT-PI shortlists are released. Students should check the official IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur admission pages for confirmed figures.








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