IPMAT 2026 OBC Expected Cutoff: PI Shortlist Threshold and Merit Score Range

The expected IPMAT 2026 OBC category cutoff for PI shortlisting falls in the range of 115 to 135 marks out of 400, based on previous year trends from IIM Indore.

IIM Indore releases the IPMAT cutoff in two stages — a sectional cutoff you must clear in each of the three sections, and an overall cutoff that determines who is shortlisted for the Personal Interview. For OBC-NCL students, the thresholds are lower than the General category by roughly 20–30 marks overall, reflecting the 27% OBC reservation in the IPM batch. The result and PI shortlist are expected in June 2026.

• IPMAT 2026 total marks: 400 — QA MCQ (160 marks), QA Short Answer (80 marks), Verbal Ability MCQ (160 marks).
• OBC overall cutoff for PI shortlist is expected at 115–135 marks based on 2024 and 2025 trends.
• Sectional cutoffs for OBC are expected at 30–36 (QA MCQ), 16–20 (QA SA), and 36–42 (VA MCQ).
• The final merit score range for OBC students who clear PI is expected at 120–145 composite points.
• A valid OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate is mandatory to claim the relaxed cutoff — creamy-layer certificates are not accepted.

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IPMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff Overview

IIM Indore is expected to announce the IPMAT 2026 result and PI shortlist in June 2026. The cutoff for OBC-NCL students is computed after normalising scores across all exam slots. You must cross both sectional and overall thresholds to appear in the PI shortlist. The table below shows the expected category-wise overall cutoff for PI shortlisting in IPMAT 2026.

All figures are expected values based on 2024 and 2025 trends. Actual cutoffs will be released by IIM Indore after IPMAT 2026 results are declared.

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Previous Year IPMAT OBC Cutoffs

Tracking previous year OBC cutoffs helps you benchmark your preparation. The OBC threshold has shown a gradual upward trend as the number of applicants for IIM Indore’s IPM programme grows each year. Use these figures to set a realistic score target for 2026.

Figures above are indicative and based on available trend data. IIM Indore shortlists students using a combination of sectional and overall thresholds rather than a single published cutoff number.

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Expected Sectional Cutoffs for OBC in IPMAT 2026

You must clear each section’s cutoff independently. Falling short in even one section disqualifies you from PI shortlisting regardless of your overall total. IPMAT 2026 has three sections and the expected OBC cutoffs for each are listed below.

Each correct MCQ answer carries 4 marks with a -1 penalty for wrong answers. Short Answer questions carry 4 marks each with no negative marking. The total marks for IPMAT 2026 is 400. Plan your attempt strategy section-by-section to ensure you safely clear every threshold.

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OBC vs General Category Cutoff Comparison

The gap between OBC and General category cutoffs has typically ranged from 20 to 30 marks overall, consistent with the reservation norms. The table below compares how the two categories have fared in recent years alongside the 2026 projection.

OBC students must carry a valid OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate at the time of document verification. A creamy-layer OBC certificate is not accepted — you will be considered under the General category if your certificate does not satisfy the NCL criteria, and the General cutoff will apply to your score.

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Factors Affecting IPMAT 2026 OBC Cutoff

Several variables determine where the OBC cutoff lands each cycle:

• Number of OBC applicants: A larger OBC-NCL applicant pool raises competition and can push the threshold upward.
• Paper difficulty: A tougher QA or VA section lowers overall scores across the board and typically brings the cutoff down.
• IPM batch size: If IIM Indore expands the IPM intake, more OBC students may be shortlisted, which can ease the effective threshold slightly.
• Normalisation methodology: IIM Indore normalises scores across slots to correct for difficulty variations between sets.
• Competition from multiple IPM programmes: As more institutions use IPMAT scores, total applicants grow and the overall competitive standard rises.

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IPMAT 2026 Final Merit Score Calculation for OBC

Clearing the PI shortlist cutoff earns you a seat in the Personal Interview round. IIM Indore then computes a composite final merit score to draw up the offer list. The approximate component-wise weightage is as follows:

For OBC students, the final merit score needed to receive an admission offer is expected in the range of 120–145 composite points based on 2024 trends. A strong PI performance can offset a marginally lower IPMAT score, given the PI carries 30% of the composite. IIM Indore typically announces the final offer list in July–August 2026 after PI rounds conclude.

Focus areas for the PI typically include current affairs, general management awareness, your academic background, and your statement of purpose. OBC students who clear both sectional and overall cutoffs should use the time between shortlisting and PI to prepare these areas in detail.