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CAT 2026 Reservation: Check Criteria for OBC, SC, ST, PWD, IIM Reservation
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Content Curator | Updated On - Sep 1, 2026
What's New in CAT Application Process?
CAT 2026 reservation follows the general government reservation rules. You will have to submit the necessary documents to claim your CAT 2026 reservation.
- 15% of the seats under the CAT 2026 reservation policy are reserved for SC candidates, and 7.5% for ST candidates.
- In the CAT 2026 reservation, 27% of the seats are reserved for OBC, 10% for the EWS, and 5% for the PwD students.
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Key Summary
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CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria
CAT reservation criteria for admission to MBA/PGDM courses is prescribed by IIM Indore in the CAT 2026 official brochure. Reservation percentages for various reserved categories have been prescribed as per the guidelines prescribed by the government.
- For OBC/EWS category candidates, the reservation percentage is higher than any other reserved category and is 27%.
- For the SC category, the CAT 2026 reservation percentage is 15%, and for the ST category, it is 7.5%.
- 10% of seats are reserved for EWS category candidates in CAT 2026.
- For PWD candidates, 5% of seats are reserved in each category.
| Category | Abbreviation | Reservation (%) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste | SC | 15% | Vertical |
| Scheduled Tribe | ST | 7.5% | Vertical |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | NC-OBC | 27% | Vertical |
| Economically Weaker Sections | EWS | Up to 10% | Vertical |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | PwBD / PwD | 5% | Horizontal |
Source: Official PDF
CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria- PwD
The CAT 2026 reservation criteria mention the guidelines for a person to be considered for “Person with Benchmark Disability” or PwD. A person must meet at least 40% of the specific eligibility criteria mentioned for CAT 2026 reservation.
| Category Code | Disability Category | Specific Conditions Included |
|---|---|---|
| a | Visual Impairment | Blindness and low vision |
| b | Hearing Impairment | Deaf and hard of hearing |
| c | Locomotor Disability | Locomotor disability, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy |
| d | Mental & Intellectual Disabilities | Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness |
| e | Multiple Disabilities | Combination of multiple disabilities listed in clauses (a) through (d) |
| f | Other Specified Disabilities | Any other 'specified disabilities' mentioned in 'The Schedule' of the RPwD Act 2016 |
Source: Official PDF
CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria- Documents Required
The category for CAT 2026 reservation has to be selected at the time of registration and cannot be changed later on.
- For applying as OBC in the CAT 2026 reservation, the candidate has to present the NC-OBC certificate.
- For applying as SC/ST in the CAT 2026 reservation, the tribe or caste must be listed in the Government of India schedule.
| Category | Required Documents for CAT |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | Valid Caste certificate in prescribed format |
| OBC | Valid OBC certificate renewed for the current financial year |
| EWS | Valid certificate, Income and Asset Certificate |
| PwD | Valid disability certificate with 40% of a specified disability |
Source: Official PDF
CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria- Document Format
To be eligible for the CAT 2026 reservation criteria, candidates have to upload and abide by a certain format.
- Before filling out the application for CAT 2026 reservation, renew the EWS or OBC category certificate.
- No regional language format will be accepted, and the category certificate should be signed by a competent authority.
| Category | Document Format Link |
|---|---|
| NC- OBC Certificate | Check Here |
| EWS Certificate | Check Here |
| SC/ ST Certificate | Check Here |
CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria- Academic Qualification
Students can get the benefit of the CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria only if they meet the following basic criteria.
| Category | CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 |
|---|---|
| General/EWS/NC-OBC | 50% aggregate marks in graduation |
| SC/ST/PwD | 45% aggregate marks in graduation |
Source: Official PDF
CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria- IIM Reservation
IIMs follow a reservation criterion as part of the government rules and the IIM Shortlist Criteria as well.
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 5% |
CAT 2026 Reservation FAQs
Ques. Is there a CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria for IIMs?
Ans. IIMs follow reservation criteria as part of the government rules and IIM Shortlist Criteria as well. 27% is given to the Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL), 15% to the SC, 7,5 to ST, 10% to EWS, and PwD has 5%. All the IIMs follow this policy.
Ques. Is the CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria for PwD different?
Ans. The CAT 2026 reservation criteria mention the guidelines for a person to be considered for “Person with Benchmark Disability” or PwD, with 5% seats for PwD students. Disability categories and specific inclusions are made for candidates applying for PwD. A person must meet at least 40% of the specific eligibility criteria mentioned for CAT 2026 reservation.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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