CAT 2026 reservation policy guarantees 59.5% of IIM seats for reserved categories — SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, and EWS 10% — with an additional 5% horizontal quota for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), as mandated by the Government of India for all centrally funded institutions.

Conducted by IIM Indore, CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, with the admit card expected on November 4, 2026.

  • Reserved category students need a minimum of 45% marks in their qualifying degree; General, EWS, and NC-OBC students need 50%
  • Application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC students; ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD students — a 50% concession
  • CAT imposes no age limit and no cap on total attempts — students may sit for the exam every year
  • NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026
  • EWS certificates must be valid for the 2026–27 academic year
  • Category cannot be changed once CAT 2026 registration is submitted

Read on for a complete breakdown of CAT 2026 reservation percentages, eligibility conditions per category, required documents, qualifying percentile cutoffs at top IIMs, and frequently asked questions.

Key Summary:

In this Article, we have discussed about CAT Reservation Criteria 2026, including category-wise seat percentages, fee concessions, qualifying mark relaxations, document requirements, and IIM-wise cutoff guidance.

  • CAT 2026 follows central government reservation norms: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, and PwBD 5% horizontal
  • SC, ST, and PwBD students pay ₹1,350 registration fee; General, EWS, and OBC-NCL students pay ₹2,700
  • SC, ST, and PwBD students need 45% in their qualifying degree; General/EWS/OBC-NCL need 50%
  • Reserved category shortlisting percentiles at IIMs are typically 10–30 percentile points lower than the General category cutoff

What is CAT 2026 Reservation?

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to Post Graduate Programmes (PGP/MBA) at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1,200 other business schools across India. Reservation in CAT refers to the policy by which a fixed percentage of seats at IIMs and other centrally funded institutions are set aside for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL), Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).

This reservation is mandated by the Government of India under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution and applies uniformly to all 20 IIMs and other centrally funded institutes admitting students through CAT 2026.

Non-IIM business schools and state-level management institutes accepting CAT scores follow the reservation policies of their respective state governments or institutional bodies.

Admission Structure at IIMs — Central vs State

Unlike JEE or NEET, which split seats between an All India Quota (AIQ) and a State Quota, IIMs admit all students through a single centralised merit pool. All IIM seats follow central government reservation norms; there is no separate state quota within IIMs.

Institution Type Examples Reservation Norms
IIMs (all 20) IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, and 14 others Central Government norms (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%)
Central Government B-Schools FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon (central funded), NITIE Mumbai Central Government norms apply; verify per institution
State Government B-Schools JBIMS Mumbai, Sydenham Mumbai, DMS Anna University Respective state reservation policy applies
Private / Deemed Universities XLRI Jamshedpur, SP Jain Mumbai, NMIMS Institutional policy; no mandatory reservation requirement

Disclaimer: Reservation benefits are applicable only when claiming a reserved category seat at a centrally funded institution. Selecting the wrong category at registration leads to permanent disqualification. Always verify your eligibility before submitting the CAT form.

CAT 2026 Reservation List

The table below shows all recognised reservation categories for CAT 2026, the percentage of seats reserved, and the type of reservation (vertical or horizontal).

Category Abbreviation Seat Reservation (%) Type Remarks
Scheduled Caste SC 15% Vertical Central list of SCs notified by Government of India
Scheduled Tribe ST 7.5% Vertical Central list of STs notified by Government of India
Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer OBC-NCL 27% Vertical Central OBC list; creamy layer excluded (parental income ≤ ₹8 lakh/year)
Economically Weaker Section EWS 10% Vertical Introduced via 103rd Constitutional Amendment (2019); excludes SC/ST/OBC students
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities PwBD / PwD 5% Horizontal Applied within each vertical category; minimum 40% disability required
General / Unreserved UR ~40.5% Open Open to all; reserved category students who clear the General merit list can also be allocated here

The 5% PwBD reservation is horizontal — it operates within each vertical category’s seat pool, not as a separate sixth category. A PwBD student belonging to SC is counted from the SC quota (15%), not from a standalone 5% PwBD pool.

CAT 2026 Category-Wise Reservation

General / Unreserved (UR) Category

Parameter Details
Seat Share ~40.5% of total IIM seats
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 50% aggregate (or equivalent CGPA)
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹2,700
Qualifying Percentile — Indicative 95–99+ percentile (varies by IIM)
Age Limit No upper or lower age limit
Attempt Limit No limit; one attempt per year per cycle
Certificate Required Degree certificate / marksheet of qualifying exam only

Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

Parameter Details
Seat Share 10% of total IIM seats
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 50% aggregate in qualifying degree
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹2,700 (same as General; no concession for EWS)
Income Criterion Annual family income below ₹8 lakh; must also meet asset criteria
Certificate Validity EWS certificate valid for 2026–27 (based on FY 2025–26 income)
Qualifying Percentile — Indicative 88–95+ percentile (varies by IIM)
Certificate Required Income and Asset Certificate in prescribed Government of India format
Age / Attempt Limit No limit

EWS students must NOT belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories to claim this reservation. The EWS category is exclusively for General category students who meet the income and asset criteria set by the Government of India.

Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)

Parameter Details
Seat Share 27% of total IIM seats
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 50% aggregate in qualifying degree
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹2,700 (same as General; no concession for OBC-NCL)
Qualifying Percentile — Indicative 85–90+ percentile (varies by IIM)
Creamy Layer Exclusion Annual parental income must be below ₹8 lakh to qualify as Non-Creamy Layer
Certificate Issuance Date Must be issued on or after April 1, 2026
Central List Requirement Community must appear in the Central Government OBC list — state-only OBC listing is not sufficient
Age / Attempt Limit No limit

OBC-NCL certificates must be in the prescribed central format and issued by a competent government authority. A community listed only in the state OBC list but not in the central OBC list does not qualify for OBC-NCL reservation at IIMs.

Scheduled Caste (SC)

Parameter Details
Seat Share 15% of total IIM seats
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 45% aggregate (relaxed by 5% from the 50% General requirement)
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹1,350 (50% concession)
Qualifying Percentile — Indicative 70–85+ percentile (varies by IIM)
Central List Requirement Caste must be in the Central Government SC list for the state/UT of residence
Certificate Format Government of India prescribed format; must include caste name, SC confirmation, district, and State/UT of ordinary residence
Age / Attempt Limit No limit

Scheduled Tribe (ST)

Parameter Details
Seat Share 7.5% of total IIM seats
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 45% aggregate (relaxed by 5% from the 50% General requirement)
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹1,350 (50% concession)
Qualifying Percentile — Indicative 60–75+ percentile (varies by IIM)
Central List Requirement Tribe must be in the Central Government ST list for the state/UT of residence
Certificate Format Government of India prescribed format; must include tribe name, ST confirmation, district, and State/UT of ordinary residence
Age / Attempt Limit No limit

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)

Parameter Details
Seat Share 5% horizontal — applied within each vertical category’s seat pool
Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks 45% aggregate (relaxed by 5% from the 50% General requirement)
CAT 2026 Registration Fee ₹1,350 (50% concession)
Disability Threshold Minimum 40% benchmark disability as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016
Specified Disabilities Visual impairment, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, neurological conditions, and others listed in Schedule to the RPwD Act 2016
Scribe / Compensatory Time May be provided to eligible PwBD students — refer to the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin on iimcat.ac.in for details
Certificate Issuing Authority Medical Board or Government hospital (state or central)
Age / Attempt Limit No limit

PwBD students may avail both their vertical category reservation (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/General) AND the horizontal PwBD quota simultaneously. The 5% is calculated within each vertical category, not as a separate overall pool above the other categories.

CAT 2026 Reservation for Girls / Women

The Government of India has not prescribed a specific percentage reservation for women or girls in CAT 2026 or at IIMs. However, IIMs recognise the importance of gender diversity and several of them include a gender diversity component during their shortlisting and final selection process.

There is no separate women’s quota or female-specific reservation percentage in CAT 2026 or at any IIM.

Aspect Details
Central Reservation for Women Not applicable — no gender-based seat reservation exists for CAT or IIM admissions
Gender Diversity Credit Several IIMs (including IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore) award additional diversity points to female applicants during shortlisting and PI scoring
Registration Fee No separate concession for women; SC/ST/PwBD women pay ₹1,350; all other women pay ₹2,700
Qualifying Degree Marks No separate relaxation in minimum marks for women — General/EWS/OBC-NCL women need 50%; SC/ST/PwBD women need 45%
Effective Outcome Gender diversity weightage in shortlisting improves admission chances for female students at top IIMs, particularly those with historically low women intake

Female students who also belong to SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, or PwBD categories can claim reserved seats under those categories and simultaneously benefit from gender diversity scoring at IIMs that apply it.

CAT 2026 Reservation Cutoff (Qualifying Percentile)

CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and has not yet been conducted as of today. The qualifying percentile cutoffs below are indicative figures based on historical shortlisting patterns. Each IIM will release its official CAT 2026 qualifying cutoffs in its PGP admission brochure after the exam results are declared in January 2027.

Students must clear both the overall CAT percentile and the section-wise cutoff (VARC, DILR, and QA) — missing any one section disqualifies a student from IIM shortlisting even with a high overall score.

Expected CAT 2026 Qualifying Percentile — IIM-Wise

IIM General EWS NC-OBC SC ST PwBD
IIM Ahmedabad 99+ 95+ 90+ 85+ 75+ 70+
IIM Bangalore 99+ 95+ 90+ 85+ 75+ 70+
IIM Calcutta 99+ 95+ 90+ 85+ 75+ 70+
IIM Lucknow 97+ 92+ 87+ 80+ 70+ 65+
IIM Kozhikode 95+ 88+ 85+ 78+ 67+ 65+
IIM Indore 95+ 88+ 85+ 78+ 67+ 65+
IIM Shillong 90+ 80+ 78+ 70+ 60+ 55+
Newer IIMs (indicative average) 85+ 75+ 72+ 60+ 50+ 50+

Note: The percentile figures above are indicative estimates based on historical CAT shortlisting data from previous years. Actual CAT 2026 cutoffs will be released by individual IIMs in their official admission brochures after the exam on November 29, 2026. These are not official figures — do not treat them as confirmed cutoffs.

Qualifying Marks Relaxation in Degree

The eligibility relaxation in qualifying degree marks for reserved categories is a separate criterion from the CAT percentile cutoff. Both conditions must be satisfied independently.

Category Minimum Qualifying Degree Marks
General 50% aggregate (or equivalent CGPA)
EWS 50% aggregate
NC-OBC 50% aggregate
SC 45% aggregate (5% relaxation)
ST 45% aggregate (5% relaxation)
PwBD 45% aggregate (5% relaxation)

CAT 2026 Reservation for NRI / International Students

CAT 2026 does not have a designated NRI (Non-Resident Indian) or foreign national reservation category. NRI students who hold Indian citizenship and are listed under SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/General categories in their domicile state may apply through those respective categories. Students with foreign passports — including OCI holders and foreign nationals — are typically directed to apply through the separate international admission routes offered by individual IIMs.

IIMs offer supernumerary seats for foreign nationals, filled via GMAT scores through a separate admissions process — not through CAT.

Applicant Type CAT Eligibility Reservation Benefit Remarks
Indian Citizen (NRI residing abroad) Eligible for CAT 2026 Applicable as per their SC/ST/OBC/EWS/General category Must hold a qualifying degree from a recognised university; category certificate rules apply
OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Eligible for CAT 2026 Treated as General category (no SC/ST/OBC reservation benefits unless specifically notified) Verify with iimcat.ac.in for the current 2026 cycle policy
Foreign National Not applicable for CAT (separate GMAT-based route) Supernumerary seats at individual IIMs (e.g. approximately 10% additional seats at IIM Ahmedabad) Apply through individual IIM international admission portals
PIO (Person of Indian Origin) Check iimcat.ac.in for current policy Generally treated as General category; no category-based reservation Confirm with the conducting IIM (IIM Indore for 2026)

CAT 2026 Reservation Percentage — Complete Summary

The table below consolidates the seat reservation percentage, registration fee, and qualifying marks requirement for every category in CAT 2026, making it easy to compare benefits at a glance.

Category Reservation (%) Registration Fee (₹) Min. Qualifying Marks (%)
General / Unreserved (UR) ~40.5% 2,700 50%
EWS (Economically Weaker Section) 10% 2,700 50%
OBC-NCL (Non-Creamy Layer) 27% 2,700 50%
SC (Scheduled Caste) 15% 1,350 45%
ST (Scheduled Tribe) 7.5% 1,350 45%
PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) 5% (horizontal) 1,350 45%

SC, ST, and PwBD students receive a 50% concession on the CAT 2026 registration fee, paying ₹1,350 instead of the standard ₹2,700. EWS and OBC-NCL students pay the full ₹2,700 — there is no fee concession for these categories at the CAT registration stage.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria by Category

The eligibility conditions for CAT 2026 are broadly the same across all categories. The two key relaxations for SC/ST/PwBD are the minimum qualifying degree marks (45% instead of 50%) and the registration fee (₹1,350 instead of ₹2,700). CAT imposes no age limit and no limit on total attempts for any category.

Eligibility Criterion General / EWS / OBC-NCL SC / ST PwBD
Qualifying Degree Bachelor’s degree (any discipline) from a recognised university — minimum 3-year duration
Minimum Aggregate Marks 50% 45% 45%
Final-Year Students Eligible to apply provisionally; degree must be completed before joining an IIM programme
Age Limit No minimum or maximum age limit
Number of Attempts No limit; one attempt per year
Registration Fee ₹2,700 ₹1,350 ₹1,350
Nationality Indian nationals (foreign nationals apply via separate international admission route)

Seat Allotment at IIMs — How Reservation Applies

After CAT scores are released, each IIM independently shortlists students for WAT (Written Ability Test) or GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview). Final seat allotment is made from category-wise merit lists, ensuring reserved seats go to the designated category. Clearing the CAT qualifying cutoff is only the first filter; the composite score at each IIM determines the final offer.

Selection Stage Component Reservation Applicability
CAT Score (Exam) Written test percentile Category-wise qualifying cutoff applied; separate shortlisting lists per category
WAT / GD Writing ability / Group discussion Category-wise pools maintained; some IIMs include diversity score here
Personal Interview (PI) Face-to-face interview Evaluated within category-wise merit list
Final Offer of Admission Composite score (CAT + Academic + Work Ex + WAT + PI) Seat offered from respective category quota; unfilled reserved seats may be transferred per GoI norms

Documents Required for CAT 2026 Reservation

Students claiming a reserved category must upload valid supporting documents at the time of CAT 2026 registration. Missing or mismatched documents lead to disqualification at the interview or joining stage. Upload certificates carefully — no changes are permitted after submission.

Category Required Document(s) Key Conditions
SC Caste Certificate in Government of India prescribed format Must name the caste, confirm SC status, mention district and State/UT of ordinary residence; issued by a competent authority (SDM, Tehsildar, or equivalent)
ST Tribe Certificate in Government of India prescribed format Same requirements as SC; tribe must appear in the Central GoI ST schedule for that state/UT
OBC-NCL OBC-NCL Certificate in Central Government prescribed format Must be issued on or after April 1, 2026; must explicitly state "Non-Creamy Layer"; community must be in the Central OBC list (not just state list)
EWS Income and Asset Certificate (EWS) in GoI format Valid for 2026–27 academic year; based on family income for FY 2025–26; issued by SDM, Tehsildar, or equivalent competent authority
PwBD Disability Certificate in prescribed format Must show benchmark disability of ≥ 40%; issued by a Medical Board or Government hospital; must specify type and percentage of disability per RPwD Act 2016
General No category certificate required Only qualifying degree marksheet and valid photo ID required at registration

Category cannot be changed after CAT 2026 registration submission under any circumstances. Upload accurate, valid certificates before submitting the form. If you receive a fresh certificate after submission, it cannot be used to change your registered category. Submitting forged documents is a criminal offence and results in permanent disqualification.

Documents at Interview and Joining Stage

At the IIM interview stage and at the time of final joining, you will need to present original certificates and submit photocopies. For OBC-NCL, the certificate must typically be recent — many IIMs require it to be within 3–6 months of the interview date. Check each IIM’s individual admission brochure for the exact recency requirement, as it varies across institutes.

Colleges Accepting CAT 2026 — Reservation Overview

CAT scores are accepted by all 20 IIMs and over 1,200 B-schools across India. Reservation norms vary significantly by institution type — central funding determines whether central government norms apply.

College Type Examples Reservation Policy
IIMs (20 institutes) IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong, Rohtak, Ranchi, Raipur, Udaipur, Tiruchirappalli, Kashipur, Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Visakhapatnam, Jammu Central Government norms (SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC-NCL 27%, EWS 10%, PwBD 5%)
Central Government B-Schools FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon (central-funded), NITIE Mumbai, IIT Business Schools Central Government norms apply; verify per individual institution
State Government B-Schools JBIMS Mumbai, Sydenham Mumbai, DMS Anna University, PUMBA Pune Respective state reservation policy applies (varies by state)
Deemed / Private Universities XLRI Jamshedpur, SP Jain Mumbai, NMIMS, Great Lakes, IMT Ghaziabad Institutional policy; no mandatory reservation unless receiving central government funding

Private and Deemed Universities — Key Notes

Aspect Details
Reservation Obligation Private and deemed universities are not legally required to follow central government reservation norms unless they receive central government funding.
Voluntary Diversity Initiatives Many private B-schools voluntarily include SC/ST/OBC/EWS students through diversity scholarships, need-based fee waivers, or reserved seats in their individual prospectus — check each institution separately.
CAT Fee Concession Scope The ₹1,350 fee concession applies only to the CAT 2026 registration itself. Tuition fee concessions, scholarships, or seat reservations at private B-schools are entirely institution-specific and independent of the CAT fee structure.
State B-School Reservation State government B-schools may have domicile requirements in addition to the state’s category reservation. Students must verify both category and domicile eligibility when applying to state-level institutes.

CAT 2026 Reservation — Important Points to Remember

  • Category Lock: Your category cannot be changed after CAT 2026 registration is submitted. Select the correct category and upload a valid certificate before submitting the form.
  • OBC-NCL Certificate Freshness: The certificate must be issued on or after April 1, 2026. Certificates issued before this date are not accepted even if the community is validly in the central OBC list.
  • EWS Certificate Validity: The EWS certificate must be valid for the 2026–27 academic year, based on family income for FY 2025–26. Certificates from earlier financial years are not valid for CAT 2026.
  • PwBD Horizontal Quota: The 5% PwBD reservation is horizontal — it operates within each vertical category’s pool (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/General), not as a standalone category above all others.
  • Sectional Cutoffs: Students must clear both section-wise (VARC, DILR, QA) and overall CAT percentile cutoffs at IIMs. Failing any one sectional cutoff disqualifies a student regardless of the overall percentile.
  • Central List Requirement: OBC and SC/ST reservations at IIMs are based on the Central Government list — not state lists. Being listed only in a state OBC/SC/ST list does not confer central reservation benefits at IIMs.
  • Document Verification: Original reservation certificates must be presented at the IIM interview stage. Discrepancies between uploaded copies and originals result in disqualification from the entire admission process.
  • No Age or Attempt Limit: CAT imposes no upper age limit and no lifetime attempt limit for any category. Students may appear for CAT every year without restriction.

FAQs on CAT 2026 Reservation

Ques. What is the reservation percentage for OBC-NCL in CAT 2026?

Ans. OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer) students get 27% of seats reserved at all IIMs and other centrally funded institutions that admit students through CAT 2026. This is a uniform central government norm. Creamy layer OBC students — those whose annual parental income exceeds ₹8 lakh — do not qualify for this reservation and must apply under the General category.

Ques. Is there any age relaxation for reserved category students in CAT 2026?

Ans. CAT 2026 has no upper or lower age limit for any category — General, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, or PwBD. Because there is no age restriction to begin with, the concept of age relaxation does not apply to CAT. This differentiates CAT from government recruitment exams like UPSC or SSC, which impose age limits with corresponding category-wise relaxations.

Ques. What is the registration fee for SC/ST students in CAT 2026?

Ans. SC, ST, and PwBD students pay a registration fee of ₹1,350 for CAT 2026 — exactly 50% of the ₹2,700 charged to General, EWS, and NC-OBC students. This concession applies at the CAT registration stage itself; it is not a tuition fee waiver at IIMs. EWS and OBC-NCL students do not receive a registration fee concession and pay ₹2,700 along with General category students.

Ques. What is the minimum percentage for SC/ST students to apply for CAT 2026?

Ans. SC, ST, and PwBD students need a minimum of 45% aggregate marks in their qualifying degree (Bachelor’s). For General, EWS, and NC-OBC students, the minimum is 50%. This 5% relaxation applies only to the degree qualification requirement — it does not change the CAT exam format or the IIM shortlisting percentile cutoff. Final-year students may apply provisionally and must complete their degree before joining any IIM programme.

Ques. Is the OBC-NCL certificate issued last year valid for CAT 2026?

Ans. No. The OBC-NCL certificate for CAT 2026 must be issued on or after April 1, 2026, from a competent government authority. Certificates issued before April 1, 2026 will not be accepted at IIMs, even if your community is validly in the central OBC list. You must obtain a fresh certificate if your existing one predates April 1, 2026.

Ques. Does CAT 2026 have a reservation for NRI students?

Ans. CAT 2026 does not have a separate NRI reservation category. NRI students holding Indian citizenship apply through the regular CAT process under their applicable category (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/General). Foreign nationals and OCI card holders are typically directed to apply through the separate international admission routes offered by individual IIMs, which use GMAT scores rather than CAT. Check iimcat.ac.in or the relevant IIM’s admissions page for the latest policy on NRI and OCI applications for the 2026 cycle.

Ques. What happens if I accidentally select the wrong category during CAT 2026 registration?

Ans. Category selection in CAT 2026 is permanent and cannot be changed after the form is submitted. If you register under the wrong category, you forfeit any applicable reservation benefit for the entire 2026–27 admission cycle. At the IIM interview stage, if your uploaded certificate does not match the declared category, you will be disqualified from the process. Select your category carefully and upload the correct, valid certificate before submitting your CAT 2026 application.

Ques. How many attempts are allowed for SC/ST students in CAT?

Ans. There is no upper limit on the number of CAT attempts for any category, including SC and ST students. CAT is conducted once per year, so students can attempt it every year without any lifetime cap. There is no special attempt relaxation for reserved categories because there is no attempt limit to begin with — this applies equally to General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwBD students.

Ques. Can a PwBD student from SC category claim both SC and PwBD reservation in CAT 2026?

Ans. Yes. A student who is both SC and PwBD can claim both benefits simultaneously. The PwBD quota (5%) is horizontal — it is applied within the SC quota (15%), not as a separate category above it. This means the student is counted from the SC seat pool and additionally benefits from the PwBD horizontal quota within that pool, along with the 45% qualifying marks threshold and the ₹1,350 registration fee concession.

Disclaimer: The reservation figures and eligibility conditions mentioned in this article are based on Government of India norms and the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin. Always verify the latest details at the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) and the admission brochures of individual IIMs before applying. Reservation benefits are subject to submission of valid, correctly formatted documents. The indicative percentile cutoffs for IIMs are historical estimates and do not represent official CAT 2026 qualifying cutoffs — actual cutoffs will be released by each IIM after the CAT 2026 result is declared.