Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
IIM Shillong MBA (PGP) Admission 2026–28: Complete Admission Policy Explained
The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at IIM Shillong is a two-year full-time residential MBA programme. Admission to the PGP 2026–28 batch follows a two-phase selection process, focusing on CAT performance, academic consistency, work experience, diversity and personal interview performance. The institute uses a transparent, data-driven approach to shortlist and finally select candidates.
Stay updated with the latest MBA college admission news, shortlist updates, interview schedules, and application deadlines by visiting- https://profile.catking.in/bschools-admission-updates
Overview of the Admission Process
The admission process is conducted in two phases:
-
Phase 1: Shortlisting of candidates for the Personal Interview (PI)
-
Phase 2: Preparation of the final merit list and admission offers
Each phase has clearly defined eligibility rules, cutoffs and weightages.
Phase 1: Shortlisting for Personal Interview
CAT Eligibility and Sectional Cutoffs
Only candidates who have opted for IIM Shillong during CAT registration are considered. To qualify for shortlisting, candidates must meet minimum sectional percentile requirements in CAT 2025.
Minimum CAT Sectional Percentiles:
-
DA / ST: 50 percentile in VARC, DILR and QA
-
SC: 60 percentile in VARC, DILR and QA
-
EWS / Others: 75 percentile in VARC, DILR and QA
Candidates must clear all three sections to be eligible for further evaluation.
Composite Score Calculation
After clearing sectional cutoffs, a Composite Score is calculated using:
-
CAT 2025 Overall Percentile – 65% weightage
-
Normalized Application Rating Score (NARS) – 35% weightage
Application Rating Score (ARS) Components
The ARS evaluates a candidate’s profile using four parameters:
Academic Scores
-
Class 10 marks
-
Class 12 marks
-
Graduation marks
Higher percentages receive higher scores, with maximum points awarded for scores above 95%.
Work Experience Scoring
Work experience is scored based on months of experience:
-
12–24 months receives the highest weight
-
Less than 7 months or more than 42 months receives zero score
ARS = Class 10 + Class 12 + Graduation + Work Experience
The ARS is then normalized to derive NARS.
Academic Discipline-Wise Shortlisting
Candidates are grouped based on their graduation discipline (Engineering, Commerce, Arts, Science, Medicine, etc.). Each discipline receives PI calls proportionate to the number of CAT applicants from that discipline, ensuring academic diversity.
Category-Wise Distribution
From the total PI calls:
-
10% EWS
-
7.5% ST
-
15% SC
-
67.5% Others
Additionally, 5% of PI calls are reserved for Differently Abled candidates.
Phase 2: Final Merit List and Admission Offer
Personal Interview Cutoffs
Candidates must meet minimum PI performance thresholds:
-
DA / ST: 20%
-
SC: 25%
-
EWS / Others: 30%
Candidates failing to meet PI cutoffs are eliminated from final consideration.
Final Score Weightage
The Overall Score used for final ranking is calculated as:
-
CAT 2025 Score: 40%
-
Personal Interview: 40%
-
Application Rating Score: 10%
-
Gender Diversity Score: 10%
Gender diversity points are awarded to candidates from genders that are under-represented in CAT 2025.
Final Selection and Waitlist
-
Candidates are ranked based on the overall score
-
Admission offers are made strictly in rank order
-
A waitlist is maintained and multiple offer rounds may occur
-
Final lowest admission score is published after completion of admissions
Important Academic and Documentation Rules
-
Graduation must be completed by 31 December 2026
-
All subjects in Class 10 and 12 marksheets must be included while calculating percentages
-
Grade-only marksheets require official equivalence certificates
-
Admission criteria may be modified based on CAT applicant trends
Why IIM Shillong’s Admission Policy Stands Out
-
High emphasis on academic consistency
-
Balanced importance to CAT and interview performance
-
Strong focus on academic and gender diversity
-
Transparent and data-backed shortlisting methodology
This makes IIM Shillong one of the most profile-sensitive IIMs among both old and new institutions.
Expected CAT Percentile Requirements (Category-wise)
Based on official sectional eligibility and historical competitiveness, aspirants should target the following safe CAT percentile ranges:
| Category | Minimum Sectional Percentile (All Sections) | Safe Overall CAT Percentile Target |
|---|---|---|
| General / Others | 75 | 95+ |
| EWS | 75 | 93+ |
| SC | 60 | 88+ |
| ST | 50 | 80+ |
| DA | 50 | 80+ |
Clearing all three sections (VARC, DILR, QA) is mandatory to enter Phase 1 of shortlisting.
Conclusion
The IIM Shillong PGP Admission Process 2026–28 is rigorous, structured and holistic. Success requires more than a high CAT percentile—it demands consistent academics, strategic CAT preparation and strong interview performance. Aspirants targeting IIM Shillong must prepare with a clear understanding of sectional cutoffs, composite score calculation and final weightage to maximize their chances of conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CAT mandatory for IIM Shillong MBA?
Yes. Only CAT 2025 scores are accepted for admission to the PGP 2026–28 batch.
Does IIM Shillong consider sectional cutoffs?
Yes. Candidates must clear minimum sectional percentiles in VARC, DILR, and QA.
Is work experience compulsory?
No. Work experience is not mandatory but adds value to the Application Rating Score.
Is there a Written Ability Test (WAT)?
No separate WAT score is used. The Personal Interview is the primary evaluation stage.
Does IIM Shillong release a fixed cutoff percentile?
No. Admission is based on composite and overall scores, not a fixed cutoff.
Comments are disabled for now