IIM CAP 2026, Who, What and Why it is important?

The Common Admission Process (CAP) 2025 is a unified selection procedure for CAT 2025 qualifiers seeking admission to multiple newer IIMs (typically 8 may be 7 this year baby IIMs like Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Kashipur, Ranchi, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur). Coordinated by one IIM (e.g., IIM Bodh Gaya in 2025), IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur moved out of CAP 2025. The chances are high that IIM Udaipur will move out of CAP 2025 this year

What is IIM CAP 2026?

IIM CAP (Common Admission Process) is a centralized selection for newer IIMs (Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, Sirmaur, Trichy, Udaipur) using CAT scores for PGP/MBA admission. Shortlisted candidates attend a single WAT/PI round; each IIM finalizes offers independently

it streamlines interviews through a single-window PI (Personal Interview) round, eliminating the need for multiple separate calls. Candidates must have a valid CAT 2025 score meeting common sectional and overall cutoffs.

IIM CAP 2026, Who, What and Why it is important?

IIM CAP 2026 Key Dates

Event	Tentative Dates
CAT 2025 Results	Third week December 2025
CAP Shortlisting	Late January 2026
CAP Application/Registration	January 14-23, 2026
PI/WAT Rounds	February 17 – March 22, 2026
Final Results/Offers	April 20 – May 10, 2026

IIM CAP 2026 Eligibility and Cutoffs

Eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD) and a valid CAT 2025 score. Shortlisting uses common CAT cutoffs: around 95 overall percentile for General (80 sectional in VARC/DILR/QA), 90 for EWS, 85 for NC-OBC, 70 for SC, and 60 for ST.

Top IIM CAT 2024 Cut off

IIM	General Overall	EWS/NC-OBC	SC	ST/PwD
Ahmedabad	99-100	95-98	80	70
Bangalore	99-100	95-98	80	70
Calcutta	99	95	80	70

Process Steps

Shortlisting: Participating IIMs share CAT 2025 shortlists with the CAP coordinator based on scores, academics, and profile factors; notifications via CAP portal.
Registration: Shortlisted candidates register on the CAP portal (no extra fee for most IIMs), book slots, and prepare documents like CAT scorecard, marksheets, category certificates.
WAT/PI Round: Single online/in-person Written Ability Test (WAT) and PI assessing communication, career goals, academics, and current affairs.
Score Calculation and Offers: CAP scores from PI sent to all IIMs; each prepares final merit lists using their criteria (CAT 50-60%, PI/WAT 20-30%, academics/work experience/diversity). Offers issued separately (April-May 2026).

Timeline (Tentative for 2025-26)

CAT 2025 results: Early January 2026
CAP shortlists/registration: Mid-January
WAT-PI: February-March 2026
Final offers: April-May 2026

Eight IIMs participate in CAP 2025, coordinated by IIM Bodh Gaya: Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), and Udaipur. These newer IIMs use CAP to conduct a shared WAT and PI round for CAT 2025 shortlisted candidates.
Seat Intake
Total seats across participating IIMs exceed 2,300-2,600, with shortlisting of around 27,000 candidates. Specific proposed intakes for recent batches include:

IIM	Seats (Approx.)
IIM Bodh Gaya	150
IIM Jammu	240-270
IIM Kashipur	240
IIM Nagpur	150-180
IIM Ranchi	180
IIM Sirmaur	120-150
IIM Trichy	140
IIM Udaipur	150-180

Category	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
General	75	75	75	95
EWS	55	55	55	81
NC-OBC	52	52	52	81
SC	45	45	45	66
ST	25	25	25	42
PwD	25	25	25	42

IIM-Specific Cutoffs

Individual IIMs under CAP apply these minimums but may use higher internal cutoffs (often ~95 overall for General in PGP) based on their criteria. No significant variations by program (mainly PGP/MBA); all align to the common process.

IIM	General Overall (Expected)
Bodh Gaya	95
Jammu	95
Kashipur	95
Nagpur	95
Ranchi	95
Sirmaur	95
Trichy	95
Udaipur	95

IIM CAP 2026 Weightage

IIM	CAT Score	PI/WAT	Profile/Academics/Work Exp/Diversity
Bodh Gaya	50%	20%	30%
Jammu	40%	30%	30%
Kashipur	33%	25%	42%
Nagpur	50%	25%	25%
Ranchi	40%	30%	30%
Sirmaur	45%	25%	30%
Trichy	50%	25%	25%
Udaipur	60%	15%	25%

IIM CAP 2026 Admission FAQs

When the IIM CAP registration opens?

The registration process for IIM CAP opens in January generally after the CAT 2025 result.

Why I should register for IIM CAP 2026?

You must check your percentage in the CAT score 2025 if you are not able to get admission in a Top IIM you must look out for IIM CAP

What has been the placement of these IIM CAP insitute?

The placement wise these institutes fared better, it does not lessen the importance of IIM in the market packages could be little lesser but performce is one hundred percent

Is CAP online or offline process?

CAP 2025 is an offline process. It will be in major cities, such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow and a few other cities.

Can I select the city for PI/WAT appearance? How do I select the date-slot for my PI/WAT?

Yes candidates can choose the cities for their PI/WAT, this will happen after the closure of application form.they will get the option of selecting a date slot for that only. If there is no vacant seat for the first preferred city, they will get such options for the second preferred city, and so on.

Is the correction possible If I have filled in my 10th/12th/Graduation percentage wrongly in the CAT-2025?

The candidates details are extracted from the CAT 2025 registration. Yes IIM CAP gives the advantage to the candidates to correct their details.The details for Bachelor/Master/Professional’s Degree and Work Experience will be submitted fresh.

How to split the Dual degree or integrated degree Marks while entering the details in Application form?

For dual/integrated degrees (e.g., BTech+MTech or BTech+MSc) with distinct Bachelor’s and Master’s components, enter details separately in the respective Bachelor’s and Master’s sections of the CAP form. If the institute/university does not clearly separate these components, logically divide the program between Bachelor’s and Master’s as appropriate and input accordingly.

What is computing formula for class X,XII and Diploma marks while entering in the IIM CAP 2026

For SSC/10th and HSC/12th/Diploma percentage calculation, use total marks of all subjects shown in the mark sheet/grade sheet, regardless of board rules (as specified in CAT application).
Maximum Marks: Sum of max marks for all subjects (e.g., 5 subjects × 100 = 500).
Total Marks Obtained: Sum of actual marks scored in all subjects (e.g., 450)application form?

How to submit the category certificate for CAP-2026 registration?

Candidates may submit any valid NC-OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwD certificate in the issuing authority’s format. If needed, download the sample format from the CAP website’s ‘Download Formats’ section on the landing page. Prefer uploading PDFs of digitally issued certificates.

IIM CAP 2026, Who, What and Why it is important?