CMAT 2026 SC and ST Expected Cutoff: Minimum Percentile for Top Colleges

CMAT 2026 SC and ST expected cutoff ranges from 60 to 95 percentile across top MBA colleges, with SC students requiring approximately 75 to 95 percentile and ST students needing 60 to 90 percentile at leading institutes based on 2025 trends.

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on a 500-mark scale across five sections, uses percentile scores for MBA admissions at more than 1,000 AICTE-approved institutes. SC and ST students compete in reserved-category merit lists prepared separately from the general merit list. The cutoff percentile for each category is determined after the final rank list is published based on the number of applicants and available seats.

• CMAT 2026 SC cutoff (expected): 75 to 95 percentile depending on the institute.
• CMAT 2026 ST cutoff (expected): 60 to 90 percentile depending on the institute.
• SC and ST students typically receive a 10 to 25 percentile relaxation compared to general category cutoffs at the same colleges.
• Maharashtra DTE maintains separate CMAT-based SC and ST merit lists for state MBA admissions including JBIMS and SIMSREE.
• On CMAT’s 500-mark scale, scoring above 200 marks puts SC and ST students in a competitive range for mid-tier institutes.

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CMAT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff Overview

CMAT is scored out of 500 marks across five sections: Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Institutes use final percentile scores to shortlist students for MBA and PGDM programs. SC and ST students appear on reserved-category merit lists, which are generated separately from the general merit list, giving them access to reserved seats with lower percentile requirements.

Key details for SC and ST students applying through CMAT 2026:

• SC reservation: 15% of total seats at central and many state institutions.
• ST reservation: 7.5% of total seats at central institutions (varies by state).
• Maharashtra DTE generates category-wise merit lists from CMAT percentile scores for JBIMS, SIMSREE and all other state-allotted institutes.
• Many private institutes also follow SC and ST reservation norms prescribed by their respective state governments.

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CMAT 2026 Expected Cutoff for SC Students

Based on CMAT 2025 admission trends, SC students targeting top CMAT colleges should aim for a minimum of 80 to 95 percentile. For mid-tier and reputed private institutes, 65 to 80 percentile is competitive in the SC category. The table below shows expected closing percentiles for SC students at select institutes.

All figures above are expected cutoffs based on CMAT 2025 closing percentiles. Actual cutoffs will vary once individual colleges publish their official admission lists.

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CMAT 2026 Expected Cutoff for ST Students

ST students can expect a relaxation of 5 to 10 percentile points below SC cutoffs at most institutes. The ST applicant pool is generally smaller with fewer reserved seats at 7.5%, which means students with relatively lower percentiles can also qualify for top institutes under the ST category.

These are expected figures based on CMAT 2025 admission trends. Actual ST cutoffs will be published by each institution after their respective admission rounds close.

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Previous Year CMAT SC and ST Cutoff Trends

Reviewing past cutoffs helps SC and ST students set realistic targets for 2026. The table below shows closing percentiles for SC and ST categories at select colleges from the CMAT 2024 and CMAT 2025 admission cycles, based on data reported by respective institutions.

The trend shows a gradual 1 to 3 percentile increase year on year as more students appear for CMAT. SC and ST students should account for this upward trend when shortlisting colleges for 2026 admissions.

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Factors Affecting CMAT 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST

Several variables determine how SC and ST cutoffs settle each year. Understanding these helps you set a realistic target percentile before applying:

• Total number of applicants: A higher number of test-takers increases competition and can push cutoffs upward slightly even for reserved categories.
• Paper difficulty level: An easier CMAT paper results in higher overall scores, which raises percentile cutoffs across all categories.
• Seat intake in each category: Colleges that increase SC or ST seat intake in a given year may see category cutoffs dip slightly.
• State-level merit lists: Maharashtra DTE and similar bodies generate their own merit lists; SC and ST cutoffs at these colleges depend on how many students in that category applied to that state pool.
• Institute-specific selection criteria: Some colleges evaluate GD and PI performance, academic record or work experience alongside CMAT percentile, which affects the effective minimum percentile required for admission.