CAT Reservation: Seats, Marks and Fees

The CAT bulletin sets out the reservation percentages used for IIM admissions. Reservation, the minimum qualifying-degree marks and the exam fee are separate rules. NC-OBC and EWS candidates still need 50% qualifying marks and pay the standard CAT fee.

For General candidates, the qualifying minimum is 50% and the exam fee is INR 2,700. Meeting the category and academic conditions does not guarantee an IIM interview: programme-specific minimum performance and selection requirements still apply. The CAT eligibility guide explains the accepted degree and professional routes.

SC, ST and NC-OBC Certificate Rules

An SC/ST caste or tribe must appear in the applicable Government of India schedule. The certificate must state the caste/tribe name, whether the candidate belongs to SC or ST, ordinary-residence district and state/Union Territory, and the relevant Government of India schedule. It must be issued by a competent authority in the approved format.

For NC-OBC, the Central Government list at the CAT registration deadline is binding. The certificate must identify the caste and caste number, state non-creamy-layer status and be issued on or after 1 April 2026. A state OBC entry alone does not establish eligibility under the central list.

The official FAQ accepts qualifying existing certificates in a format similar to the CAT template; candidates do not need a fresh template simply because the layout differs. The stated content, validity, competent authority and Hindi/English language requirements still apply. Category certificates are PDF uploads.

EWS Income, Asset and Certificate Conditions

The EWS certificate must be issued on or after 1 April 2026, valid for 2026-27, and based on the applicable 2025-26 income period. It must confirm gross annual family income below INR 8 lakh and that the candidate's caste is not recognised under SC, ST or OBC in the Central List.

Income includes salary, agriculture, business, profession and other sources. The family must also not own or possess any of these assets:

For this purpose, family includes the applicant, parents, siblings below 18, spouse and children below 18. Property held by the family in different places is combined for the asset test. Income below INR 8 lakh by itself is therefore not enough if an asset exclusion applies.

The certificate must be issued by a competent authority and be in Hindi or English. Its validity year matters: a certificate referring only to an earlier year is not the standard current certificate required for CAT 2026.

PwBD Reservation and Examination Assistance

CAT states 5% reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. Benchmark disability is at least 40% of a specified disability under the stated statutory definition, certified by the competent authority. It is not a percentage of marks or a self-declared condition.

A valid disability certificate is uploaded during application. It must meet the applicable RPwD Act conditions, be issued by the competent authority and be in Hindi or English; a photograph is required on the certificate where applicable. The bulletin encourages applicants to obtain and upload a UDID card.

PwBD candidates receive 40 additional minutes for the standard two-hour CAT, with the extra time shared equally across the three sections. Wheelchair support and the inbuilt magnifying screen are requested through the application where relevant. Candidates requiring a scribe arrange one themselves and carry the prescribed scribe affidavit.

The official FAQ requires the scribe's qualification to be one step below the candidate's. The scribe must bring valid identity proof and a passport-size photograph and sign the educational-qualification declaration at the venue. These assistance arrangements are different from the seat-reservation percentage.

Certificate Renewal, Verification and Category Changes

Applicants unable to renew an older NC-OBC/EWS certificate in time for reasons beyond their control could use the prescribed exceptional arrangement. The upload required the older certificate, signed undertaking and renewal-application proof. If the authority's acknowledgement, communication or screenshot was unavailable, a copy of the submitted application could be used as the proof.

The undertaking commits a shortlisted candidate to producing the valid renewed certificate. Failure to produce it can lead to cancellation by the concerned IIM. The CAT document requirements distinguish this bundle from ordinary certificate uploads.

Category certificates are checked again at interview and joining. The eligibility document requires the certificate to be shown and a photocopy submitted at interview, followed by submission at joining. A missing valid certificate can remove consideration under the claimed reserved category.

Category cannot be changed after CAT registration. The 5-6 October correction window covered photograph, signature and test state/city preferences, not category. For an academic certificate query, the contact is cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in or +91 731 2439402.

1. Reservation, Marks and Fee
2. SC/ST and NC-OBC Proof
3. EWS Income and Asset Limits

1. PwBD Certificate and Test Support
2. Renewal and Verification Stages