IIM Bangalore RTI Data 2024-26: Minimum CAT Percentile & Admission Stats

The minimum CAT percentile required for admission to IIM Bangalore's PGP program for the 2024-26 batch is 91.97 percentile for General category candidates. However, this represents only one layer of the holistic admission process. While CAT accounts for 55% of the initial shortlisting score, academic performance, work experience, and personal interview performance play equally crucial roles in final selection. The minimum percentile varies significantly by category, ranging from 74.52 percentile (ST) to 91.97 percentile (General).

IIM Bangalore, ranked as the second-best business school in India by the NIRF 2024 rankings, maintains one of the most competitive admission processes in the country. Based on Right to Information (RTI) data filed by various sources and official IIM Bangalore disclosures, this comprehensive analysis presents real-time and historical admission data spanning the past decade, revealing critical insights into the institute's evolving selection criteria and benchmark standards.

IIM Bangalore 2024-26 Batch: Minimum CAT Percentile by Category

Part 1: IIM Bangalore RTI Data - 5 Years (2020-2026)

Note: The 2020-22 batch showed an unusual dip in the General category minimum percentile (80.44), likely due to the CAT 2019 exam format changes and the specific candidate pool quality. The 2022-24 batch (86.18) also showed a lower benchmark before stabilizing at 91.97 for 2023-25 and 2024-26 batches.

Part 2: Historical RTI Data - 10 Years (2013-2026)

10-Year Trend Analysis for General Category

Detailed Analysis & Insights

The significant dip in the 2020-22 batch minimum percentiles warrants special attention:

• CAT Exam Format Change: CAT 2019 underwent significant changes in exam pattern and difficulty level

• Candidate Pool: The quality and composition of applicants varied significantly

• Compensation Effect: While the minimum percentile decreased, IIM Bangalore likely maintained admission quality through enhanced emphasis on academic profile, work experience, and interview performance

• Recovery Pattern: The subsequent years (2021-23, 2022-24) show a systematic recovery, eventually stabilizing at previous levels

4. Category-wise Gap Analysis (2024-26 Batch)

The spread between categories reveals the extent of positive action in admissions:

This gap structure reflects the Constitutional provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes while maintaining merit-based selection.

5. Work Experience Profile

The 2024-26 batch data reveals:

• Minimum work experience: 1 month

• Average work experience: 27 months (2.25 years)

• Batch composition: Approximately 29% freshers with zero work experience

This indicates IIM Bangalore actively recruits both fresher and experienced candidates, though the average suggests a preference for candidates with some professional exposure.

6. Academic Background Distribution

For the 2024-26 PGP batch (total 507 admitted):

Engineers dominate with 75% of the batch, but IIM Bangalore has been actively increasing diversity, with 25% non-engineers in recent years.

7. Admission Metrics & Conversion Rates

The extremely low conversion rate (less than 1%) highlights the exclusivity of IIM Bangalore admission. Only 2 out of every 300 applicants finally join the program.

8. Selection Criteria Weightage Evolution

IIM Bangalore's selection criteria have evolved significantly:

Pre-PI Stage (Shortlisting):

• CAT Score: 55% (previously 40% in 2017-2019)

• Academics (10th, 12th, Graduation): 30%

• Work Experience: 10%

• Gender Diversity: 5%

Post-PI Stage (Final Admission):

• Personal Interview: 40%

• CAT Score: 25%

• Academics: 15%

• Work Experience: 10%

• Written Ability Test (WAT): 10%

This evolution shows increasing emphasis on CAT performance at shortlisting, balanced by substantial weightage to interview performance in final selection.

9. Gender Diversity

The 2024-26 batch composition:

• Female: ~28% (approximately 142 students)

• Male: ~72% (approximately 365 students)

IIM Bangalore has been progressively increasing female representation through dedicated gender diversity weightage in the selection criteria.

10. Interesting Trends & Anomalies

Highest Standard: The 2013-15 batch's 92.97 percentile minimum represents the gold standard of competitiveness at IIM Bangalore.

Most Inclusive Year: The 2020-22 batch with 80.44 percentile minimum (General category) was the most accessible year in the past decade, though subsequent years have returned to stricter standards.

EWS Category Stability: EWS candidates have consistently performed at near-General category levels (90+ percentile in recent batches), suggesting the EWS category attracts highly competitive candidates.

Reserved Category Improvement: ST category minimum percentile has improved from 65.85 to 74.52 in just 3 years (2020-2024), indicating strengthening merit standards across all categories.

Sectional CAT Cutoff (2024-26 Batch)

For General category candidates shortlisted for interview:

All three sections maintain approximately 80 percentile minimum, though an overall aggregate of 93.66+ is necessary for consideration.

How Minimum Percentile Translates to Final Selection

Important Caveat: Achieving the minimum CAT percentile does NOT guarantee admission. The 2024-26 data reveals the actual conversion dynamics:

• Interview Shortlists Generated: 707 General candidates (with an average 99.32 percentile)

• Final Offers Made: 250 General candidates

• Conversion Rate: 35.4% (approximately 1 in 3 candidates shortlisted)

This means candidates with the minimum 91.97 percentile are very unlikely to convert without exceptional academic credentials, work experience, and interview performance.

Safe Zone Percentiles by Category

Based on historical trends and current data, here are estimated "safe zone" percentiles that significantly increase admission chances:

Takeaways for Aspirants

1. General Category Reality: Target 95+ percentile for realistic shortlisting chances at IIM Bangalore

2. Category Advantage: Reserved category candidates benefit from a 6-18 percentile point advantage

3. Holistic Evaluation: CAT score is just the entry ticket; academics and interview performance are decisive

4. Work Experience Value: Average 27-month experience indicates significant value in candidate profiles

5. Profile Diversity: 25% non-engineers show increasing openness beyond engineering backgrounds

6. Consistency: Recent years (2023-26) show stable benchmarks, suggesting current standards will likely persist

Most Searched FAQs: IIM Bangalore RTI Data 2024-26

Here are the top 8 frequently searched questions related to IIM Bangalore admission statistics, based on common MBA aspirant queries and RTI data trends:

1. What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM Bangalore General category?

The lowest CAT percentile for General category admission in the 2024-26 batch is 91.97 percentile. This represents the minimum benchmark from RTI data, though candidates typically need 95+ percentile for realistic shortlisting chances. Historical data shows this has stabilized from 80.44 (2020-22) to 91.97 in recent years.

2. What are IIM Bangalore CAT cutoffs for reserved categories (2024-26)?

Category-wise minimum percentiles for the 2024-26 batch are: EWS: 90.16, NC-OBC: 82.65, SC: 75.12, ST: 74.52, and PwD: 83.53. Reserved categories show a 6-18 percentile gap compared to General, reflecting reservation policies while maintaining merit standards.

3. How many students got selected at IIM Bangalore from total applicants (2024-26)?

Out of 263,369 PGP applicants, only 1,780 (0.68%) received interview calls, 626 got admission offers (0.24%), and 507 finally joined. This <1% conversion rate makes IIM Bangalore one of India's most selective programs.

4. What is the lowest CAT percentile ever recorded for IIM Bangalore General admission?

The absolute lowest was 80.44 percentile for the 2020-22 batch (CAT 2019), an anomaly due to exam format changes. The highest was 92.97 (2013-15 batch), showing decade-long fluctuations before recent stabilization at 91.97.

5. What percentage of IIM Bangalore batch are freshers and non-engineers?

Approximately 29% are freshers (0 months work experience) with average work experience at 27 months. Non-engineers constitute ~25% of the 2024-26 batch (Engineering: 75%, Commerce: 5%, Arts/Science: 6%, Professional courses: 5%, Medicine: 1%).

6. What is the IIM Bangalore selection criteria weightage (CAT vs Interview)?

Pre-PI shortlisting: CAT (55%), Academics (30%), Work Ex (10%), Gender Diversity (5%). Final selection: Interview (40%), CAT (25%), Academics (15%), Work Ex (10%), WAT (10%). CAT weightage has increased from 40% (pre-2020) to 55%.

7. How much does gender diversity affect IIM Bangalore admission?

IIM Bangalore allocates 5% weightage to gender diversity in shortlisting, resulting in ~28% female representation (142 females vs 365 males in 2024-26 batch). This has progressively increased from ~20% in earlier years.

8. What are safe CAT percentiles for IIM Bangalore admission by category?

Safe zones (high conversion probability): General (95-97+), EWS (92-94), NC-OBC (87-90), SC (82-85), ST (80-83). Minimum percentiles guarantee only eligibility—strong academics and PI performance are crucial for conversion (~35% interview-to-offer )

Conclusion