OBC students can expect a CMAT 2026 cutoff ranging from 70 to 99.5 percentile depending on the college, with JBIMS Mumbai requiring 99.5+ percentile even for OBC category applicants.
CMAT 2026 results are expected in July 2026, after which individual colleges will announce their OBC category closing percentiles. Based on CMAT 2025 and previous years’ data, OBC students typically receive a 5–10 percentile relaxation over the General category cutoff at most CMAT-accepting MBA colleges. The exam is conducted by NTA and scored out of 400 marks, with scores converted into percentiles for admission purposes.
- OBC cutoff relaxation: Typically 5–10 percentile lower than the General category cutoff at most colleges.
- Highest OBC cutoff: JBIMS Mumbai expects 99.5+ percentile for OBC students based on 2025 trends.
- Minimum OBC cutoff: Many mid-tier CMAT colleges accept OBC students at 68–75 percentile.
- OBC reservation: Government norms mandate 27% of total MBA seats for OBC students at all CMAT-accepting institutes.
- Score benchmark: A CMAT score of 220–260 out of 400 typically places OBC students in a strong position for reputed colleges.
| Direct Link to CMAT 2026 Official Website — cmat.nta.nic.in |
CMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff Overview
The CMAT 2026 cutoff for OBC students is the minimum percentile required by a college to shortlist OBC applicants for GD-PI rounds and final admission. NTA releases CMAT scores as percentiles; there is no single national OBC cutoff. Each college sets its own threshold based on available OBC seats, total applicants, and institute-specific policies. The table below summarises key parameters for OBC students in CMAT 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Name | Common Management Admission Test (CMAT 2026) |
| Total Marks | 400 (100 questions × 4 marks each) |
| OBC Seat Reservation | 27% of total seats at all CMAT-accepting institutes |
| OBC Cutoff Relaxation | 5–10 percentile below General category cutoff (college-specific) |
| Expected Result Date | July 2026 |
| Certificate Required | Valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate from competent authority |
| Official Website | cmat.nta.nic.in |
CMAT 2026 Expected OBC Cutoff Percentile
Based on CMAT 2023, 2024, and 2025 closing percentile data, the table below shows what percentile band OBC students should target to be competitive at each college tier in 2026. These are expected figures based on previous year trends.
| OBC Percentile Range (Expected) | College Tier | Sample Institutes |
|---|---|---|
| 99.5 and above | Tier 1 – Elite | JBIMS Mumbai |
| 93–99.4 | Tier 1 – Top | Goa Institute of Management, Sydenham Mumbai |
| 85–92 | Tier 2 – Good | KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, PUMBA Pune |
| 75–84 | Tier 2 – Moderate | IMT Nagpur, XISS Ranchi, Indus Business Academy |
| 65–74 | Tier 3 | Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune, IIMS Pune |
| Below 65 | Tier 3 – Lower | Various state-level CMAT-accepting MBA programs |
OBC students scoring in the 85–92 percentile range have access to a strong set of reputed MBA programs, making this a practical target for most aspirants.
CMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff for Top MBA Colleges
The table below lists expected CMAT 2026 OBC cutoffs at the most popular CMAT-accepting MBA colleges. All figures are expected and based on CMAT 2025 and 2024 official closing percentiles.
| College | General Cutoff — Expected 2026 | OBC Cutoff — Expected 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.90+ | 99.50+ |
| Goa Institute of Management | 96–98 | 93–95 |
| Sydenham Institute of Management, Mumbai | 93–95 | 90–92 |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai | 90–93 | 87–90 |
| PUMBA, Pune | 88–91 | 83–87 |
| IMT Nagpur | 83–87 | 78–82 |
| XISS Ranchi | 80–85 | 75–80 |
| Indus Business Academy, Bengaluru | 75–80 | 70–75 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune | 72–78 | 68–73 |
| IIMS Pune | 70–75 | 65–70 |
These are expected OBC cutoffs for CMAT 2026 based on 2025 trends. Official cutoffs will be announced by each college separately after CMAT 2026 results are declared.
Previous Year CMAT OBC Cutoff Trends
Analysing previous year OBC closing percentiles is the most reliable way to set your target. The data below shows a steady upward trend of 1–2 percentile per year at most institutes, reflecting growing competition for OBC seats.
| College | CMAT 2024 OBC Cutoff (Percentile) | CMAT 2025 OBC Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.48 | 99.52 |
| Goa Institute of Management | 92.50 | 93.80 |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | 86.00 | 87.50 |
| PUMBA, Pune | 82.00 | 84.00 |
| IMT Nagpur | 77.00 | 79.50 |
| XISS Ranchi | 74.00 | 76.00 |
| Indus Business Academy | 69.00 | 71.50 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune | 66.00 | 68.50 |
The consistent year-on-year rise means OBC students targeting 2026 admissions should plan for a percentile 2–3 points higher than the 2025 closing figures at their preferred college.
Factors Affecting CMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff
The OBC cutoff is not fixed in advance. Several variables determine where it lands after results are declared. Knowing these helps you interpret your score more accurately.
- Total OBC applicants: A larger pool of OBC test-takers increases competition and pushes the cutoff higher.
- Paper difficulty: A tougher CMAT 2026 paper leads to lower raw scores, which can moderate the final percentile cutoff.
- OBC seats per college: Government norms fix 27% of seats for OBC students. Fewer total seats at a college means a higher OBC cutoff.
- GD-PI weightage: Colleges that assign significant weight to GD-PI performance can have an effective cutoff different from the published CMAT percentile threshold.
- Year-on-year demand: Colleges that gain rankings or media visibility attract more applicants, which pushes OBC cutoffs upward in the following cycle.
- Non-creamy layer certificate validity: Only OBC students with a valid non-creamy layer certificate issued in the current financial year are eligible for the reserved category cutoff; others are treated under General category.
CMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CMAT 2026 OBC cutoff percentile at top colleges?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, OBC students can expect cutoffs ranging from 99.5+ percentile at JBIMS Mumbai to 68–73 percentile at mid-tier institutes like Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune. Most reputed colleges fall in the 80–95 percentile range for OBC category.
Ques. How much percentile relaxation do OBC students get over General category in CMAT?
Ans. OBC students typically receive a 5–10 percentile relaxation compared to General category cutoffs. The exact relaxation differs by college and is not mandated to be uniform across all institutes.
Ques. When will official CMAT 2026 OBC cutoffs be released?
Ans. Official OBC cutoffs will be released by individual colleges after CMAT 2026 results are declared, expected in July 2026. There is no single date; each college publishes its cutoff independently on its own admission portal.
Ques. What CMAT score should OBC students target to secure admission in a good MBA college?
Ans. CMAT is scored out of 400 marks. OBC students aiming for reputed CMAT-accepting colleges should target a score of 220–270, which typically translates to a percentile of 83–93. For elite institutes like JBIMS, even OBC students need a score above 310.
Ques. Is the CMAT OBC cutoff the same across all MBA colleges?
Ans. No, each college sets its own OBC cutoff independently. There is no single national OBC cutoff for CMAT. The cutoff depends on the number of OBC applicants, available seats, and the college’s overall admission criteria.
Ques. What documents do OBC students need to claim the reserved category cutoff in CMAT admissions?
Ans. OBC students must submit a valid OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued by a competent state authority. The certificate must typically be issued in the current financial year. You will need to submit it during the college’s document verification and counselling process.
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