CMAT 2026 cutoff for SC students is expected between 75 and 98 percentile, while ST students can expect cutoffs in the 70 to 95 percentile range, depending on the college and seat intake.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026, conducted by NTA, gives reserved category students a meaningful admission advantage. SC and ST students typically need 5 to 10 percentile points less than General category peers to secure a seat at the same B-school. This article breaks down expected CMAT 2026 cutoff percentiles for SC and ST students, lists college-wise figures based on 2024–25 trends, and helps you assess your admission chances.
- CMAT is scored out of 400 marks; all cutoffs are expressed as percentile scores.
- Top B-schools like JBIMS require 99+ percentile for SC and 98+ percentile for ST students.
- Mid-tier CMAT colleges accept SC students from 70–80 percentile and ST students from 60–75 percentile.
- Final CMAT 2026 cutoffs will be published by individual institutes after the official result is declared on cmat.nta.nic.in.
- All cutoffs listed below are expected figures based on 2024–25 trends and will be updated once officially released.
| Direct Link to CMAT 2026 Official Website (ACTIVE) | cmat.nta.nic.in |
CMAT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff Overview
CMAT 2026 cutoffs are announced by individual participating B-schools after NTA releases the official result. Reserved category students benefit from relaxed cutoffs under government reservation norms — typically 5 to 10 percentile points below the General category threshold at the same college. The table below provides an expected cutoff overview for all categories.
| Category | Expected CMAT 2026 Cutoff Range (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| General / UR | 85 – 99.9 |
| OBC-NCL | 80 – 99 |
| EWS | 82 – 99 |
| SC | 75 – 98 |
| ST | 70 – 95 |
| PwD | 60 – 90 |
CMAT 2026 Category-Wise Cutoff Percentile
The CMAT percentile for SC and ST students is calculated using the same NTA normalisation formula applied to all test-takers. Only the admission cutoff threshold differs. Central institutes reserve 15% of seats for SC students and 7.5% for ST students under government reservation norms. The cutoff for these reserved seats is lower than for open-category seats at the same college.
| College Tier | SC Expected Cutoff (Percentile) | ST Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — Premier B-Schools | 95 – 99+ | 90 – 98+ |
| Tier 2 — Good Private Institutes | 80 – 94 | 75 – 89 |
| Tier 3 — Mid-Range Institutes | 65 – 79 | 60 – 74 |
| State Universities and Affiliates | 50 – 64 | 45 – 59 |
Students scoring above 90 percentile in CMAT 2026 under the SC category can target top-20 B-schools. ST students above 85 percentile have strong prospects at the same colleges. Below 70 percentile, options narrow to state-level and niche management institutes.
College-Wise CMAT 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST Students
Each participating college publishes its own cutoff after the CMAT result. The figures below are expected based on CMAT 2024 and 2025 cutoff trends. Use them as a planning benchmark, not a guaranteed threshold.
| College | General Cutoff (Percentile) | SC Cutoff — Expected | ST Cutoff — Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBIMS Mumbai | 99.9+ | 99+ | 98+ |
| SIMSREE Mumbai | 99+ | 97+ | 95+ |
| GIM Goa | 95+ | 90+ | 85+ |
| MFC Delhi | 92+ | 86+ | 80+ |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | 90+ | 85+ | 80+ |
| PUMBA Pune | 90+ | 83+ | 77+ |
| XISS Ranchi | 80+ | 72+ | 65+ |
| BIMTECH Greater Noida | 78+ | 70+ | 65+ |
| IPE Hyderabad | 75+ | 68+ | 62+ |
| IFMR GSB Chennai | 72+ | 65+ | 60+ |
JBIMS and SIMSREE are among the most competitive CMAT-accepting B-schools. Even SC and ST cutoffs at these institutes are very high. Build a diverse college list spanning multiple tiers to improve your overall admission chances.
Factors Affecting CMAT 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST
Several variables shape the CMAT 2026 cutoff for reserved categories. Understanding these helps you judge whether your percentile sits comfortably above the threshold.
- Number of SC and ST applicants: A higher number of reserved-category test-takers generally raises the cutoff for those seats.
- Paper difficulty: An easier paper pushes overall percentiles up, which can slightly raise cutoffs; a harder paper has the reverse effect.
- Seat reservation mandate: Central institutes follow the 15% SC and 7.5% ST mandate; autonomous colleges may set different proportions.
- College intake size: Larger batch sizes tend to produce relatively accessible reserved-category cutoffs.
- GD-PI weightage: Many B-schools combine the CMAT percentile with Group Discussion and Personal Interview scores. A moderate percentile can still yield admission if you excel in these rounds.
- Year-on-year trend stability: CMAT SC and ST cutoffs have been relatively stable over 2023–25, making prior-year figures a reliable planning guide.
Admission Chances for SC and ST Students in CMAT 2026
Your CMAT 2026 percentile determines which colleges are within reach under the SC or ST quota. Use the table below to map your score to realistic options.
| CMAT 2026 Percentile | Admission Chances — SC | Admission Chances — ST |
|---|---|---|
| 99+ percentile | JBIMS, SIMSREE, GIM | JBIMS, SIMSREE, GIM |
| 90 – 98 percentile | GIM, KJ Somaiya, PUMBA, MFC Delhi | KJ Somaiya, PUMBA, MFC Delhi |
| 80 – 89 percentile | XISS, BIMTECH, IPE, IFMR GSB | GIM, KJ Somaiya, PUMBA |
| 70 – 79 percentile | Mid-tier B-schools and state universities | XISS, BIMTECH, IPE, IFMR GSB |
| 60 – 69 percentile | State-level affiliates and niche institutes | Mid-tier B-schools and state universities |
| Below 60 percentile | Very limited; consider retaking CMAT | State-level affiliates only |
SC students scoring above 90 percentile and ST students scoring above 85 percentile in CMAT 2026 have strong chances at well-ranked B-schools. Students near the borderline should prepare thoroughly for GD-PI rounds to strengthen their overall profile.
CMAT 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected CMAT 2026 cutoff percentile for SC students?
Ans. Based on 2024–25 trends, SC students can expect cutoffs between 75 and 98 percentile. Top B-schools like JBIMS may require 99+ percentile even for SC seats, while mid-tier colleges accept from 65 to 75 percentile.
Ques. What is the expected CMAT 2026 cutoff percentile for ST students?
Ans. ST students can expect CMAT 2026 cutoffs in the 70 to 95 percentile range. Premier institutes typically require 90+ percentile for ST category, while mid-range B-schools accept 60 to 75 percentile for ST.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC and ST in CMAT-accepting colleges?
Ans. Under central government reservation norms, 15% of seats are reserved for SC students and 7.5% for ST students in centrally funded institutes. Autonomous and state-level B-schools may follow different policies.
Ques. Is the CMAT 2026 SC and ST cutoff the same across all colleges?
Ans. No. Each participating college sets its own cutoff for each category. CMAT SC and ST cutoffs vary by college reputation, batch size, number of applicants, and the GD-PI selection process.
Ques. When will the official CMAT 2026 cutoffs for SC and ST be released?
Ans. Individual B-schools release their cutoffs after NTA publishes the CMAT 2026 result on cmat.nta.nic.in. Cutoffs typically appear alongside or shortly after the merit list.
Ques. Can SC and ST students with below 70 percentile get admission through CMAT 2026?
Ans. Yes, but options are limited. SC students below 70 percentile can apply to state-level B-schools and niche institutes. ST students below 60 percentile have very few options and should focus on GD-PI performance and explore state-quota seats.
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