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.
If you're dreaming of studying at IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) — India’s most elite B-school — one question always comes up:
“What is the minimum CAT percentile required to convert IIM A?”
Contrary to popular belief, the answer is not always “99+ percentile.”
Thanks to RTI data from 2022, 2023, and 2024, we now have clear evidence that the real picture is more nuanced.
In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know to crack IIM A — from percentile trends, profile composition, and work ex to placements, scholarships, and institute highlights.
About IIM Ahmedabad
Founded in 1961 by Vikram Sarabhai and Kasturbhai Lalbhai, IIM Ahmedabad is a symbol of academic brilliance, leadership, and global recognition. Its red-brick campus, designed by Louis Kahn, has become iconic in Indian education history.
|
Parameter |
Details |
|
Established |
1961 |
|
Location |
Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
|
Campus Size |
102 Acres |
|
Programs |
PGP, FABM, PGPX, PhD |
|
Annual Fees (PGP) |
₹27 Lakhs |
|
Placement Avg (PGP) |
₹32.79 LPA |
|
Website |
Programs Offered
IIM A offers a range of MBA and doctoral programs:
- PGP – Post Graduate Programme in Management (Flagship MBA)
- PGP-FABM – Food & Agribusiness Management
- PGPX – Executive MBA (1 year)
- PhD in Management
- ePGP & ePGD-ABA – Online MBA/Analytics Program
Campus Infrastructure & Architecture
Designed by world-renowned architect Louis Kahn, the campus is iconic for its red brickwork, large circles and geometric shapes, wide arches, and open courtyards.
Highlights:
- Vikram Sarabhai Library – 1.93+ lakh books, 24,000+ journals, 100+ databases
- 33 Fully-Furnished Dorms – With washing machines, refrigerators, study desks
- Heritage Buildings – UNESCO award for cultural conservation (Library 2019)
- Student Clubs, Auditoriums, Incubation Centres – Innovation and learning spaces
Admissions: CAT 2025, Selection Criteria & RTI Data (PGP 2024–26)
IIMA uses a composite scoring system for both shortlisting and final selection.
Pre-PI Composite Score:
- CAT Score: 65% weightage
- 10th, 12th, Graduation scores: normalized based on stream
- Work Experience & Diversity: bonus points
Post-PI Final Selection Weightage:
- PI: 50%
- CAT: 25%
- Academics + WAT + WorkEx: Remaining 25%
IIM Ahmedabad RTI Insights (PGP) – 2022, 2023, 2024
Comparison of Minimum Percentiles (PGP) – RTI 2022 to 2024
|
Category |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
General |
93.90 |
87.10 |
80.44 |
|
EWS |
98.94 |
99.39 |
95.40 |
|
NC-OBC |
87.87 |
86.50 |
75.05 |
|
SC |
76.90 |
82.86 |
73.68 |
|
ST |
60.01 |
72.40 |
63.02 |
|
PwD |
81.81 |
70.67 |
76.82 |
Insight: IIM A has shown greater flexibility for diverse and academically strong profiles. Strong WAT-PI + non-engineering background = higher chances even at lower CAT percentiles
Post-PI Composite Score Cutoffs (2024 RTI)
|
Category |
PGP |
FABM |
|
General |
0.639 |
0.655 |
|
EWS |
0.520 |
0.680 |
|
NC-OBC |
0.511 |
0.626 |
|
SC |
0.442 |
0.433 |
|
ST |
0.389 |
0.436 |
|
PwD |
0.316 |
0.427 |
Your WAT-PI matters more than your CAT score in the final admission offer.
Batch Profile & Academic Background (2024–26)
Work Experience Distribution
|
Work Ex (Months) |
No. of Students |
|
0 (Freshers) |
119 |
|
1–12 |
40 |
|
13–24 |
97 |
|
25–48 |
130 |
|
49+ |
18 |
29% of the batch are freshers.
Educational Background
|
Field |
Students |
|
Engineering |
248 |
|
Commerce/Management |
80 |
|
Arts |
38 |
|
Science |
9 |
|
CA/CS/ICWA |
25 |
|
Medicine |
4 |
40% of students are non-engineers — showing IIMA’s push for academic diversity.
Waitlist Movement 2024 (PGP & FABM)
|
Category |
PGP Waitlist |
FABM Waitlist |
|
General |
27 |
11 |
|
EWS |
0 |
1 |
|
NC-OBC |
9 |
3 |
|
SC |
6 |
1 |
|
ST |
2 |
1 |
|
PwD |
1 |
0 |
Yes, there is movement in the waitlist. Stay hopeful and stay prepared.
Placement Highlights – 2022
|
Metric |
Value |
|
Average CTC |
₹32.79 LPA |
|
Median CTC |
₹36.2 LPA |
|
Highest Domestic CTC |
₹75.2 LPA |
|
Highest International CTC |
₹1.14 Cr |
|
Placement Rate |
100% |
Top recruiters include BCG, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, TAS, HUL, Flipkart, and more.
Scholarships Offered
- Need-based scholarships (based on income)
- Merit scholarships
- Corporate-sponsored scholarships (e.g., OPJ, Aditya Birla)
- Government schemes for SC/ST/OBC/EWS
Students can apply during admissions or within Year 1.
Notable Alumni
|
Name |
Role |
|
Raghuram Rajan |
Ex-RBI Governor |
|
Ajay Banga |
CEO, Mastercard |
|
Sanjeev Bikhchandani |
Founder, Naukri.com |
|
Shikha Sharma |
Former CEO, Axis Bank |
|
K.V. Kamath |
Former Chairman, Infosys |
|
Arvind Subramanian |
Ex-CEA, GoI |
|
Mallika Sarabhai |
Dancer & Social Activist |
Final Takeaway – What Should You Aim For?
|
Category |
Safe CAT Target |
|
General |
99.6+ |
|
EWS |
98.5+ |
|
NC-OBC |
95+ |
|
SC |
85+ |
|
ST |
80+ |
|
PwD |
75+ |
Even if your score is lower — don’t give up. Your WAT/PI performance and overall profile play a massive role.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on IIM Ahmedabad Admissions
Q1. What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM Ahmedabad?
Based on RTI data, the minimum CAT percentile for the General category has gone as low as 80.44 (2024). However, to be on the safer side, most General category students should target 99.6+ percentile. Lower percentiles can still convert if the profile and WAT-PI performance are strong.
Q2. Does IIM Ahmedabad shortlist only 99+ percentile candidates?
No. Contrary to the myth, IIMA has shortlisted candidates even below 90 percentile (General, NC-OBC, SC categories) if they had strong academics, diversity, or excellent PI performance.
Q3. How is the composite score calculated at IIM Ahmedabad?
IIMA uses a two-step composite score system:
-
Pre-PI: CAT (65%), Academics, Diversity, Work Ex
-
Post-PI: PI (50%), CAT (25%), Academics + WAT + WorkEx (25%)
This ensures that CAT is not the only deciding factor.
Q4. What is the role of work experience in IIM Ahmedabad admissions?
Work experience carries weight in the composite score and can add up to 10% value. However, freshers also have strong chances — in the 2024–26 batch, 29% of students were freshers.
Q5. What is the batch profile of IIM Ahmedabad?
For the 2024–26 batch:
-
40% are non-engineers (Commerce, Arts, CA, Medicine, etc.)
-
119 freshers with no work experience
-
Majority from Engineering + Commerce streams
This reflects IIMA’s push for diversity.
Q6. Does the IIM Ahmedabad waitlist move?
Yes. RTI 2024 shows waitlist movement across categories:
-
General: 27 (PGP)
-
NC-OBC: 9
-
SC: 6
-
ST: 2
This means if you are on the waitlist, you still have a realistic chance.
Q7. What are the average placements at IIM Ahmedabad?
The average CTC in 2022 was ₹32.79 LPA, with the highest domestic package at ₹75.2 LPA and the highest international offer at ₹1.14 Crore. Consulting, Finance, and E-commerce firms are among the top recruiters.
Q8. What scholarships are available at IIM Ahmedabad?
IIMA offers:
-
Need-based scholarships (income criteria)
-
Merit-based awards
-
Corporate scholarships (Aditya Birla, OPJ, etc.)
-
Government schemes for SC/ST/OBC/EWS students
Q9. Who are some notable alumni of IIM Ahmedabad?
Some well-known alumni include Raghuram Rajan (Ex-RBI Governor), Ajay Banga (CEO, Mastercard), Sanjeev Bikhchandani (Founder, Naukri.com), and Shikha Sharma (Former CEO, Axis Bank).
Q10. What CAT percentile should I target for a safe call from IIM Ahmedabad?
As per expert analysis:
-
General: 99.6+
-
EWS: 98.5+
-
NC-OBC: 95+
-
SC: 85+
-
ST: 80+
-
PwD: 75+
Even with a lower CAT percentile, a strong WAT/PI performance can help you convert.
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