IIM Jammu Releases MBA Admission Policy for 2026-28 CAT Weightage Reduced to 42%

With the CAT 2025 results expected in January 2026, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu has officially released its MBA Admission Policy for the 2026–28 batch.

As per the revised criteria, the CAT 2025 score will now carry a reduced weightage of 42% (down from 45%), while the Personal Interview (PI) and Profile Score will contribute 30 marks each toward the final composite score.

For the MBA program, general-category students must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), meet the institute’s qualifying cut-off, and may also apply while in their final year of graduation.

The institute expects a batch size of approximately 300 students and has designed its selection criteria to focus on balanced evaluation, academic diversity, and structured shortlisting for the upcoming admission cycle.

Check:

• IIM Jammu: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

IIM Jammu MBA Admission Criteria 2026-28: Component-Wise Weightage Breakdown

The final selection is based on three components with clearly defined weightages:

Also Read:

• IIM Jammu Course Admissions 2026

CAT Score (42 marks)

• The CAT score component is calculated as: 0.42 × Absolute CAT Percentile = Maximum 42 marks
• For example, a candidate with 95 percentile would receive: 0.42 × 95 = 39.9 marks out of 42.

Personal Interview (30 marks)

The Personal Interview carries 30% weightage, allowing candidates to show their communication skills, analytical thinking, leadership potential, and overall suitability for the MBA program.

Profile Score (28 marks)

The profile component is divided into three sub-categories:

1. Academic Profile: 10 marks

• 10th Standard: 2 marks
• 12th Standard: 3 marks
• Graduation: 5 marks

Source: IIM JAMMU Official Admission Policy

2. Work Experience: 10 marks

Source: IIM JAMMU Official Admission Policy

3. Gender Diversity: 8 marks

Source: IIM JAMMU Official Admission Policy

Also Read:

• Top MBA Colleges with Low Fees in India
• CAT Scholarship: Check Scholarships Offered by IIMs

Source: IIM JAMMU Official Admission Policy

Also Read:

• CAT 2025 Reservation for OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD

Ques. Is work experience mandatory for admission?

Ques. Do articleship count as work experience?

Ques. Are internships during an MBA considered?

Comparison of IIM Jammu Admission Criteria: Key Changes from the Previous Year

• Lower CAT Cutoffs: General category cutoff reduced to 91 percentile from last year's 95 percentile.
• Adjusted CAT Weightage: CAT score weightage set at 42%, down from the previous 40-45% range.
• Higher Profile Importance: Profile weightage increased to 28% from earlier 25%.
• Larger Batch Size: Expected intake expanded to approximately 300 students from around 250 previously.

Check:

• CAT Diversity at IIM: Benefits for Non-Engineers and Female candidates

Ques. How are sectional cutoffs used?

Ques. Will lower academic scores disqualify me?

Ques. When will personal interviews be conducted?

Changes at Other IIM Campuses

IIM Jammu is not alone in revising its admission criteria. Several other IIMs have made similar changes in their 2025-27 and 2026-28 batches.

IIM Kozhikode

• IIM Kozhikode has increased the combined weightage for academic and gender diversity from 10% to 15%, showing greater commitment to creating a balanced student group.

IIM Bangalore

For the 2025-27 batch, IIM Bangalore has introduced a multi-component evaluation system in the post-PI stage:

• CAT score: 25%
• Personal Interview: 40%
• Written Ability Test (WAT): 10%
• Academic records and work experience: 25%

IIM Calcutta

IIM Calcutta's 2026-28 batch selection criteria include:

• CAT score: 30%
• Personal Interview: 48%
• Written Ability Test: 8%
• Academic diversity: 6%
• Work experience: 8%

The 48% weightage for the Personal Interview makes it the most crucial component, giving importance to the face-to-face interview of candidates.

What does this change mean for the Student?

These changes show a fundamental shift in how IIMs evaluate MBA candidates. While a strong CAT score is required for initial cutoff selection, candidates with well-rounded profiles now have better chances of securing admission. Work experience, academic consistency, extracurricular achievements, and diversity factors will play significant roles.

Candidates preparing for IIM admissions should focus on:

• Building a strong overall profile: Beyond CAT preparation, invest time in developing leadership skills, gaining relevant work experience, and engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities.
• Maintaining academic consistency: Your undergraduate and school performance will be evaluated more carefully now.
• Preparing for Personal Interviews: With increased weightage on PIs, thorough preparation for interview rounds becomes critical.
• Understanding specific criteria: Each IIM has its own unique weightage system, so research the specific requirements of your target institutes.

CAT 2025 Cutoff Percentiles for PI Shortlisting

IIM Jammu has announced detailed cutoff percentiles across categories and sections. The institute evaluates candidates on three CAT sections plus overall percentile.

Important Note: These cutoffs may be adjusted higher or lower after the CAT 2025 results are declared, depending on the number of candidates required for each category.

Also Read:

• CAT Cutoff Category wise, IIM Percentile
• CAT Result: Direct Link, Check Toppers List

Ques. Can IIM Jammu change these cutoffs after CAT results?