IIM Calcutta RTI Data 2025 | 92.4% CAT Cutoff Analysis
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IIM Calcutta RTI Data 2025 | 92.4% CAT Cutoff Analysis

17 Jan 2026

IIM Calcutta – RTI Data 2024–26: Minimum CAT Percentile, Admission Stats & 10-Year Analysis

Executive Summary

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), established in 1961, is one of India’s oldest and most prestigious management institutions and a core member of the tier-1 IIM cluster. Unlike newer IIMs that have expanded rapidly, IIM Calcutta has followed a controlled and quality-centric growth strategy, maintaining a stable batch size while consistently enforcing stringent admission standards.

The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) batch size has remained largely stable at around 450–460 students over the last decade, reflecting IIM Calcutta’s focus on academic rigor, faculty bandwidth, and placement quality rather than scale-driven expansion.

Key Headline Metrics (2024–26):

Minimum CAT Percentile (General – lowest admitted): ~91–92 percentile
• Final Offer Rate: ~0.20–0.25% (among the lowest across all IIMs)
• Total Applications: ~240,000+ CAT applicants listing IIM Calcutta
• Final Batch Size: ~460 students
• Non-Engineer Representation: ~30–32%
• Female Representation: ~28–30%
• Selection Approach: CAT-centric shortlisting with high sectional cutoffs and PI-driven final merit

IIM Calcutta is distinguished within the IIM ecosystem by its strong dependence on CAT performance, particularly in quantitative and analytical sections. While personal interviews and academic consistency play an important role, CAT scores act as a de-facto gatekeeper, making the institute far less flexible than composite-heavy IIMs like Shillong or Indore.

This positions IIM Calcutta in sharp contrast to newer IIMs that allow greater compensation through interviews and diversity factors. With effective CAT thresholds above 90 percentile, IIM Calcutta remains one of the most competitive and academically intense management programs in India.


Part A: IIM Calcutta — Batch Size Evolution & Growth Trajectory

Unlike newer IIMs that have expanded aggressively, IIM Calcutta has followed a controlled, quality-first growth trajectory over the last two decades. As a legacy tier-1 institute, its focus has remained on maintaining academic rigor, faculty–student ratios, and placement outcomes, rather than rapid capacity expansion.

PGP Batch Size Evolution (10+ Years)

Academic Year

Batch Size

Growth Rate

Notes

2008–10

~360

Baseline

Mature batch size for legacy IIM

2012–14

~420

+17%

Moderate intake expansion

2014–16

~430

+2%

Controlled growth

2016–18

~440

+2%

Capacity optimization

2018–20

~450

+2%

Infrastructure-aligned expansion

2020–22

~462

+3%

Post-pandemic stabilization

2021–23

~462

0%

Intake frozen to maintain quality

2022–24

~462

0%

Stable cohort size

2023–25

~462

0%

Sustained plateau

2024–26

~460

Stabilized

Current steady-state intake

 

Critical Observation

Post-2021 marked a rapid scale-up phase, IIM Calcutta shows no sharp inflection point in batch size growth. Instead, the institute reached its optimal operating scale well before 2015 and has since maintained a stable intake of ~460 students.

This stability reflects institutional confidence in existing infrastructure, faculty strength, and placement absorption capacity, as well as a deliberate decision to prioritize selectivity over accessibility. The absence of aggressive expansion also explains why IIM Calcutta continues to enforce very high CAT percentiles despite increasing applicant volumes year after year.

Part B: Admission Statistics & Application Trends — IIM Calcutta

2024–26 Batch (Current) — Preliminary / Estimated Data

Metric

General/Others

EWS

SC

ST

PwD

Total

Final Admissions Offered

~800

~120

~150

~60

~20

~1,150

Batch Size (Estimated)

~330

~55

~60

~12

~8

~460

Conversion Rate

<0.3%

<0.25%

Note: IIM Calcutta typically issues 2.4–2.6× offers relative to final intake due to high overlap with IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore.

2023–25 Batch (RTI-Based / Consolidated Estimates)

Category

Applications

Shortlisted for PI

Final Admissions

Offer Rate

General/Others

~200,000

~3,600

~720

~0.36%

EWS

~15,000

~420

~110

~0.73%

SC

~18,000

~520

~150

~0.83%

ST

~6,000

~210

~70

~1.17%

TOTAL

~239,000

~4,750

~1,050

~0.44%


Key Insights

• Extremely High Competition: IIM Calcutta receives one of the largest and strongest applicant pools among all IIMs, with ~2.4 lakh CAT applicants indicating IIM C.

• Ultra-Selective Funnel: Only ~2.0% of applicants are shortlisted for PI, and the final offer rate falls below 0.5%, making IIM Calcutta more selective than most newer IIMs.

• General Category Pressure: Despite accounting for ~84% of applications, General category candidates face sub-0.4% offer rates, reflecting intense competition even among 95+ percentile scorers.

• Reserved Category Relative Advantage: SC/ST/EWS categories show higher relative conversion rates (0.7–1.2%), driven by smaller applicant pools — though absolute competition remains extremely high.

• Waitlist Dynamics: Due to overlap with IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore, waitlist movement is significant, with only ~40–45% of offers converting into final enrollments.

2022–24 Batch Profile Snapshot (Diversity Context)

Metric

Value

Significance

Batch Size

~462

Stable intake

Female Representation

~29%

Gradual improvement, still male-skewed

Gender Distribution

~330 Male / ~132 Female

Persistent gender imbalance vs new IIMs

 

Part C: CAT Cutoffs & Minimum Percentile Requirements — Decade-Long Analysis (IIM Calcutta)

Sectional Cutoff Structure (Consistent Since 2018–20)

Category

VARC

DILR

QA

Mandatory Notes

General/Others

80

80

75

Hard elimination in all sections

EWS

75

75

70

Slight relaxation vs General

SC

70

70

65

Consistent for multiple years

ST/DA (Differently Abled)

65

65

60

Lowest threshold; inclusive access

Structural Insight:
These sectional minimums function as absolute elimination criteria. Missing even one sectional cutoff results in automatic disqualification, irrespective of overall CAT percentile. IIM Calcutta enforces sectional balance strictly, particularly in DILR and QA, reflecting its analytical orientation.

Minimum CAT Percentile for Final Admission (10-Year Comparison)

Batch

General

EWS

SC

ST

Methodology

2024–26

~91–92 (est.)

~88–89

~82–84

~75–78

CAT-dominant composite; full RTI data pending

2023–25

~92.4

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

Not disclosed

RTI-based lowest admitted estimate

2022–24

~93

Higher competition cycle

2021–23

~91–92

Post-pandemic normalization

2019–21

~94+

Peak competition era

2018–20

~93+

CAT-centric selection

 

Critical Finding

IIM Calcutta does not formally publish an “overall CAT cutoff”, but in practice operates with a very high de-facto minimum CAT percentile. The ~92.4 percentile (General, 2023–25) represents the lowest admitted candidate, not a declared cutoff — yet admissions below this level are statistically rare.

Unlike composite-heavy IIMs, CAT performance at IIM Calcutta is the primary gatekeeper, with limited scope for compensation through interviews or profile factors.

Implication

Candidates generally require 90+ overall CAT percentile to remain competitive. Admission below this level is possible only if:

• All sectional cutoffs are comfortably cleared, especially DILR and QA
• Academic background is consistently strong (85–90%+ in 10th, 12th, and graduation)
• Personal Interview performance is exceptional (≈48% weight in final selection)
• Profile strength (analytical work experience, academic rigor) reinforces CAT performance

Bottom Line:
For IIM Calcutta, CAT is not a qualifier but a differentiator. Unlike newer IIMs, candidates with sub-90 CAT percentiles face extremely low admission probability, regardless of interview performance.

Part D: Selection Criteria Weightage Evolution (2018–2026) — IIM Calcutta

Current Selection Process (2025–27 Batch)

Phase 1: Shortlisting for Personal Interview

Component

Weightage

Details

CAT Score

56%

Dominant shortlisting factor; strict sectional cutoffs apply

Academic Performance Score

20%

Consolidated academic consistency

Work Experience

8%

Months and relevance of professional experience

Academic Diversity

10%

Non-engineer & non-traditional backgrounds

Gender Diversity

6%

Incentive for improving gender balance

Note: Unlike some newer IIMs, IIM Calcutta places strong emphasis on CAT performance even at the shortlisting stage, with limited compensation from profile components.

Phase 2: Final Merit List (Post-Interview)

Component

Weightage

Details

Personal Interview Performance

48%

Communication, analytical depth, leadership assessment

CAT Score

40%

Retained strong significance post-interview

Academic Rating

8%

Class 10, 12, and graduation performance

Diversity Factors

4%

Gender and academic diversity combined

 

Composite Final Score Formula

Composite Final Score =
0.48 × PI + 0.40 × CAT + 0.08 × Academics + 0.04 × Diversity

Evolution from 2018–26 (Selection Philosophy Shift)

Change

Previous (2015–2021)

Current (2021–26)

Impact

CAT Dominance

High but balanced

Very high across all stages

Reinforced CAT as primary gatekeeper

Group Discussion (GD)

Included in final score

Eliminated

Streamlined interview process

PI Weightage

~50% of final score

48%

PI remains decisive but CAT retained

Academic Weight

Moderate

Reduced to 8%

Performance consistency valued, not decisive

Diversity Weightage

Minimal

Explicit but capped (4%)

Encourages diversity without diluting merit

Final Formula

Multi-layered

CAT + PI dominant

Clear merit-based ranking

 

Key Insight

IIM Calcutta’s selection framework has evolved toward a highly CAT-centric and analytically driven model. While interviews remain crucial for final conversion, CAT performance continues to dominate both shortlisting and final merit, leaving limited room for profile-based compensation.

This structure ensures consistency, academic rigor, and analytical excellence, aligning with IIM Calcutta’s positioning as one of India’s most competitive management institutes.

 

Part E: Waitlist Movement & Final Class Composition — IIM Calcutta

Waitlist Data (2023–25 Batch — RTI-Based / Consolidated Estimates)

Category

Offers Made

Waitlist Positions

Final Enrolled

Acceptance Rate

General/Others

~720

~210

~330

~45.8%

EWS

~110

~65

~55

~50.0%

SC

~150

~90

~60

~40.0%

ST

~70

~35

~12

~17.1%

PwD

~20

~10

~3

~15.0%

TOTAL

~1,070

~410

~460

~43.0%

 

Analysis

IIM Calcutta typically issues more than twice the number of offers relative to its final intake, reflecting heavy multi-offer overlap with IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and top global MBA programs.

The overall offer-to-enrolment ratio of ~43% is significantly lower than newer IIMs, indicating that a large proportion of candidates use IIM Calcutta offers as leverage or backup while finalizing decisions among top-tier institutes.

General category candidates show the highest absolute acceptance volume, but acceptance rates remain moderate due to competing offers from other elite programs.

Class Composition by Category (2023–25 Final Batch)

Category

Final Enrolled

% of Batch

Notes

General/Others

~330

~71.7%

Dominant representation

EWS

~55

~12.0%

Stable welfare segment

SC

~60

~13.0%

Constitutionally aligned intake

ST

~12

~2.6%

Smallest reserved segment

PwD

~3

~0.7%

Limited but present representation

TOTAL

~460

100%

Final batch strength

 

 

Key Insight

Unlike newer IIMs where waitlist conversion rates often exceed 65–70%, IIM Calcutta operates with a structurally lower acceptance rate due to its positioning at the very top of the MBA hierarchy. The waitlist plays a critical role in achieving category balance, especially in SC, ST, and PwD segments, where multiple rounds of movement are common.

This pattern underscores IIM Calcutta’s elite-tier dynamics:
high offer volumes, moderate acceptance ratios, and final cohorts shaped significantly by waitlist churn.

Part F: Gender Diversity Transformation (2022–2025) — IIM Calcutta

Year

Batch Size

Male (%)

Female (%)

Female Count

Key Milestone

2025

~460

~71%

~29%

~134

Marginal improvement

2024

~462

~72%

~28%

~129

Stagnant gender mix

2023

~462

~73%

~27%

~125

Slow upward trend

2022

~460

~75%

~25%

~115

Male-skewed baseline

 

Transformation Insight

IIM Calcutta has demonstrated incremental but slow progress in improving gender diversity over the 2022–2025 period. Female representation increased modestly from ~25% in 2022 to ~29% in 2025, reflecting a gradual rebalancing rather than a structural shift.

Unlike newer IIMs that deploy aggressive gender diversity incentives, IIM Calcutta’s CAT-dominant selection framework and high analytical cutoffs inherently limit rapid diversification. While diversity weightage exists, it is capped and secondary to merit-based filters, resulting in measured, linear gains rather than step-change transformation.

Net Outcome:
A ~16% relative increase in female representation over three years, signaling institutional intent toward improvement, but within the constraints of elite-tier selectivity and intense
competition.

Part G: Academic Background & Sectoral Diversity — IIM Calcutta

Field

Count

% of Batch

Industry Implications

Engineering

~320

~69.5%

Core analytical & quantitative talent pool

Commerce/Management

~85

~18.5%

Finance, consulting, accounting pathways

Professional (CA/CS/ICWA)

~25

~5.5%

High pre-MBA financial credentials

Arts & Humanities

~22

~4.8%

Limited humanities representation

Science

~6

~1.3%

Pure science backgrounds

Medicine

~2

~0.4%

Extremely rare medical backgrounds

TOTAL

~460

100%

~30% non-engineers

Strategic Positioning

With ~30% non-engineer representation, IIM Calcutta maintains moderate academic diversity compared to other IIMs. However, the cohort remains engineering-dominant, reflecting the institute’s strong emphasis on quantitative aptitude, analytical rigor, and CAT performance, particularly in DILR and QA sections.

The relatively lower intake from Arts, Science, and Medicine underscores IIM Calcutta’s positioning as a data-driven, analytics-heavy management program, where non-engineers face significantly higher competitive thresholds.

Work Experience Profile (2023–25 Batch)

Experience Bracket

Count

% of Batch

Significance

Freshers (0 months)

~90

~19.5%

Limited fresher intake

1–6 months

~15

~3.3%

Minimal experience

7–12 months

~25

~5.4%

Early professionals

13–24 months

~160

~34.8%

Modal category

25–36 months

~110

~23.9%

Preferred experience band

37–48 months

~45

~9.8%

Mid-career professionals

49–60+ months

~15

~3.3%

Senior professionals

TOTAL

~460

100%

Experience diversity

 

Key Finding

Approximately 80% of the batch possesses prior work experience, with the modal category at 13–24 months, indicating a clear institutional preference for candidates with 1–2 years of professional exposure. Compared to newer IIMs, fresher intake is significantly lower, reinforcing IIM Calcutta’s preference for workplace maturity and analytical problem-solving experience.

This experience-heavy cohort aligns with IIM Calcutta’s academic intensity and case-based pedagogy, where professional context and structured thinking materially enhance classroom contribution.

Part H: Composite Score Cutoffs for Final Admission — IIM Calcutta

Normalized Composite Scores by Category (2023–25)

Category

Min. Composite Score

Scale

Interpretation

General/Others

~0.78

0–1.0

Extremely high competitive threshold

EWS

~0.70

0–1.0

High threshold

SC

~0.64

0–1.0

Moderately high threshold

ST

~0.56

0–1.0

Reduced but still competitive

PwD

~0.48

0–1.0

Lowest threshold; limited flexibility

 

Methodology

These normalized composite scores are derived from the final merit calculation incorporating:

• Personal Interview (PI): ~48% weight
• CAT Score: ~40% weight
• Academic Metrics (Class 10 / 12 / Graduation): ~8% weight
• Diversity Factors (Gender + Academic): ~4% weight

Insight

The 0.48–0.78 composite score range (range ≈ 0.30) indicates limited category-wise flexibility compared to newer IIMs. While reserved category thresholds are lower, the absolute bar remains high across all categories, reflecting IIM Calcutta’s CAT-centric and merit-intensive selection framework.

A General category candidate typically requires a composite score close to 0.78, driven primarily by very strong CAT performance and above-average PI scores. Even ST and PwD candidates face composite cutoffs that exceed the General-category thresholds of several newer IIMs, underscoring the institute’s overall competitiveness.

Key Takeaway:
IIM Calcutta’s composite scoring system prioritizes excellence over access. Category-based relaxation exists, but only within a narrow competitive band, ensuring that academic and analytical rigor remains consistently high across the cohort.

 

Part I: Comparative Analysis — Key 10-Year Trends (IIM Calcutta)

Trend 1: Structural Consistency in Sectional Cutoffs

IIM Calcutta has maintained a high and structurally consistent sectional cutoff framework for more than a decade. Since 2018–20, the institute has enforced 80–80–75 (VARC–DILR–QA) sectional thresholds for the General category, with proportionate relaxations for reserved categories.

Rather than altering sectional cutoffs, IIM Calcutta has fine-tuned weightage allocation across CAT, PI, and profile components, ensuring stability in eligibility while preserving flexibility only at the margin. This approach reflects the institute’s confidence in sectional balance as a non-negotiable indicator of managerial aptitude, particularly analytical ability.

Trend 2: Stable Batch Size Without Quality Dilution

Period

Batch Size

CAGR

Placement (Avg. Package)

Inference

2015–17

~430

~₹23–24 LPA

Mature intake phase

2023–25

~462

~0.7%

~₹27–28 LPA

Quality preserved

2024–26

~460

0%

~₹27–29 LPA (expected)

Stable equilibrium

Critical Validation:
Despite negligible batch size growth over the last decade, placement outcomes have improved steadily, indicating that IIM Calcutta’s strategy focuses on value creation per student rather than scale expansion. The absence of aggressive intake growth has protected classroom quality and placement outcomes.

Trend 3: Application Volume Growth with Extreme Selectivity

Metric

2023–25

Implication

Applications Received

~240,000+

Large, high-quality applicant pool

Final Offer Rate

~0.20–0.25%

Among the lowest in India

Shortlist Rate

~2.0%

Highly compressed funnel

Insight:
IIM Calcutta’s final offer rate remains among the most selective in Indian management education, driven by intense overlap with IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Even without expanding batch size, the institute continues to attract one of the deepest applicant pools, reinforcing its elite positioning.

Trend 4: Academic Profile Stability Over Diversity Acceleration

Metric

IIM Calcutta

Positioning

Non-Engineers %

~30%

Moderate academic diversity

Female Representation

~29% (2025)

Gradual improvement

Work Experience Modal

13–24 months

Experience-heavy cohort

IIM Calcutta has prioritized academic rigor and analytical consistency over rapid diversification. While diversity indicators show gradual improvement, they remain secondary to CAT performance and interview outcomes, resulting in stable cohort composition year after year.

Overall 10-Year Insight

Over the last decade, IIM Calcutta has demonstrated remarkable structural stability across sectional cutoffs, batch size, and selection philosophy. Rather than adapting to accessibility-driven trends, the institute has reinforced its meritocratic, CAT-centric model, ensuring consistent academic quality and strong placement outcomes.

This long-term consistency has solidified IIM Calcutta’s position as one of India’s most analytically rigorous and selective MBA programs.

Part J: Critical Observations & Selection Mechanics — IIM Calcutta

Observation 1: De-facto Overall CAT Cutoff — CAT-Dominant Composite Approach

IIM Calcutta does not formally publish a mandatory “overall CAT cutoff”, but in practice operates with a very high de-facto minimum CAT percentile. Instead of flexibility through composite compensation, CAT performance acts as the primary gatekeeper throughout the process.

Key mechanics:

Sectional cutoffs remain absolute: Missing even one sectional cutoff (especially DILR or QA) results in automatic elimination, regardless of overall percentile

Overall CAT rigidity: Candidates admitted below ~92 percentile (General, 2023–25) are statistical outliers, not the norm

Limited compensation mechanism: Strong academics or work experience can support a strong CAT score but cannot offset a weak one

Mathematical Expression (Illustrative):

Final Score = 0.48 × PI + 0.40 × CAT + 0.08 × Academics + 0.04 × Diversity

An applicant with 92 CAT percentile, 88% academic average, and strong PI (0.85) could achieve:

Final Score = 0.48(0.85) + 0.40(0.92) + 0.08(0.88) + 0.04(0.70)
= 0.408 + 0.368 + 0.070 + 0.028
= 0.874

This comfortably exceeds the ~0.78 General composite threshold, demonstrating that CAT strength is non-negotiable, while PI acts as a multiplier—not a compensator.

Observation 2: Sectional Cutoffs as Absolute Elimination Criteria

Scenario

Outcome

General: 79 VARC, 81 DILR, 74 QA (overall 96)

REJECTED — QA below 75

General: 80 VARC, 80 DILR, 75 QA (overall 95)

SHORTLISTED — clears all sectionals

ST: 64 VARC, 66 DILR, 59 QA (overall 82)

REJECTED — QA below 60

Strict Enforcement:
Sectional cutoffs at IIM Calcutta allow zero tolerance. High overall percentiles cannot compensate for a single weak section, reinforcing the institute’s emphasis on balanced analytical competence.

Observation 3: RTI Data Availability & Transparency Pattern

Period

Data Status

Accessibility

2020–26

Largely available

RTI-backed, structured disclosures

2015–2019

Partially fragmented

Selective disclosure

Pre-2015

Limited

Sparse public documentation

Context:
As a legacy IIM, IIM Calcutta has historically disclosed less granular admission data than newer IIMs. While post-2020 RTI responses have improved transparency around cutoffs and shortlists, detailed composite score distributions remain limited, constraining long-term quantitative analysis.

Observation 4: Category-Wise Conversion Efficiency

Category

Applications

Offers

Conversion %

Implication

General

~200,000

~720

~0.36%

Extremely competitive

EWS

~15,000

~110

~0.73%

~2× General

SC

~18,000

~150

~0.83%

Higher relative access

ST

~6,000

~70

~1.17%

Highest relative conversion


Key Finding

While reserved category conversion rates are 2–3× higher than the General category, the absolute dominance of General-category applications (≈84% of total) ensures that the largest share of final admits remains General.

However, unlike composite-heavy IIMs, even reserved-category candidates at IIM Calcutta face extremely high CAT and PI thresholds, reinforcing that relative advantage does not imply low absolute competition.

Part K: Key Takeaways for Aspirants — IIM Calcutta

CAT Score Strategy

Recommendation

Rationale

Action

Achieve 80+ in each section (General)

Sectional cutoffs are hard eliminations

Prioritise sectional balance, especially DILR & QA

Target 95+ overall percentile

~92–93 is lowest admitted; buffer required

Aim for 95–99 percentile safety zone

Reserved Category Adjustments

SC: ~70+ each; ST: ~65+ each

Set category-appropriate sectional targets

 

Profile Strength Multipliers

Factor

Weight

Strategy

Academic Performance

~8% in final score

Maintain strong academic consistency (85–90%+)

Work Experience

Meaningful PI impact

Target 1–3 years in analytical / structured roles

Non-Engineer Background

Limited diversity weight

Competes at higher CAT thresholds

Gender

~4% diversity weight

Female candidates gain marginal advantage

 

Interview Preparation (Critical)

Element

Importance

Preparation Focus

PI Weightage

~48% of final score

Primary differentiator post-shortlist

Communication Skills

Core assessment

Structured, logical articulation

Domain Knowledge

Strongly expected

Deep clarity on academics & work experience

Behavioural Traits

Evaluation criterion

Analytical thinking, leadership maturity

 

Insight

At IIM Calcutta, CAT performance determines eligibility, while the Personal Interview determines ranking. Unlike composite-heavy IIMs, PI cannot meaningfully compensate for a weak CAT score. A candidate below ~92 percentile (General) faces very low conversion probability, regardless of interview quality.

Bottom Line:
IIM Calcutta is best suited for aspirants who are CAT-strong first and profile-strong second. Treat CAT as a prerequisite, not a qualifier, and prepare for PI as a ranking lever, not a rescue mechanism.

Part L: Placement Outcomes & Quality Validation — IIM Calcutta

2024 Placement Summary

Metric

Value

Peer Comparison

Highest Package

₹1.15–1.20 Cr+

Among the highest across all IIMs

Average Package

~₹35 LPA

Top-tier positioning

Median Package

~₹33 LPA

Strong central tendency

Recruiter Participation

190+ companies

Widest recruiter base among IIMs

Placement Rate

~100%

Consistently full placements

 

Quality Validation

IIM Calcutta’s placement outcomes validate its highly selective, CAT-centric admission model. With one of the highest average and median packages in India, the institute consistently delivers elite career outcomes across consulting, finance, general management, and technology roles.

Unlike institutes that rely on intake expansion or composite flexibility, IIM Calcutta’s stable batch size and stringent selection thresholds have resulted in superior value per student. The strong alignment between admission rigor and placement performance reinforces the institute’s emphasis on analytical excellence, academic depth, and interview-driven differentiation.

Bottom Line:
IIM Calcutta’s placement metrics confirm that extreme selectivity translates into elite outcomes. High CAT cutoffs, strict sectional enforcement, and rigorous interviews collectively ensure that graduate quality remains consistently world-class.

Part M: Comparative Benchmarking vs. Peer IIMs (2024–26) — IIM Calcutta Perspective

IIM

Min CAT % (Gen)

Overall Approach

Non-Engineers %

Female %

Batch Size

Ahmedabad

93.76%

Rigid overall cutoff

~40%

~25%

400+

Bangalore

91.97%

Strict sectional + overall

~35%

~30%

450+

Calcutta

~91–92%

CAT-dominant, stringent standards

~30–32%

~28–30%

~460

Mumbai

85–90% (est.)

Moderate composite

~38%

~32%

~350

Kozhikode

~85–88%

Composite with diversity weight

~35–38%

~35–40%

~480

Indore

70–75% (est.)

Accessible composite

~42%

~45–48%

~280

 

Strategic Positioning

IIM Calcutta is firmly positioned within the top tier of Indian management education, alongside IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore. Its defining characteristics are:

  • High de-facto CAT cutoffs (~91–92 percentile) despite no formally declared overall cutoff
  • Strong emphasis on sectional balance, especially DILR and QA
  • CAT-dominant selection philosophy, with limited compensation through profile or diversity factors
  • Stable batch size (~460) prioritizing quality over scale

While newer IIMs and some second-generation IIMs have adopted accessibility- and diversity-driven composite models, IIM Calcutta has deliberately retained a merit-first, analytically rigorous framework. This results in lower diversity metrics relative to peers, but consistently delivers elite academic and placement outcomes.

Bottom Line:
IIM Calcutta competes not on accessibility, but on depth of competition, analytical rigor, and outcome quality, reinforcing its status as one of India’s most selective and academically intense MBA programs.

Part N: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — IIM Calcutta

 

Q1: What is the minimum CAT percentile required for admission to IIM Calcutta?

A:
IIM Calcutta does not officially declare a single “overall CAT cutoff”, but in practice operates with a very high de-facto minimum percentile.

  • General Category:
    • Sectional cutoffs (approx.): VARC 80, DILR 80, QA 75 (mandatory)
    • Lowest admitted overall CAT percentile (2023–25): ~92.4 percentile
  • SC Category: ~70 percentile in each section
  • ST/DA Category: ~65 percentile in each section

Key Distinction:
At IIM Calcutta, sectional cutoffs are absolute eliminations, and overall CAT flexibility is extremely limited compared to newer IIMs.

 

Q2: Can I get admitted to IIM Calcutta with a 85–90 percentile overall CAT score?

A:
For General category candidates, this is statistically extremely unlikely.

Reasons:

  • Sectional cutoffs are high (especially DILR & QA)
  • Historical RTI trends show lowest General admits around 92–93 percentile
  • Profile or interview performance cannot compensate meaningfully for a weak CAT score

Exception:
Reserved category candidates may have lower overall percentiles due to relaxed sectionals, but absolute competition remains very high.

Bottom Line:
For General category aspirants, 90 percentile is not competitive at IIM Calcutta.

 

Q3: How much weightage does work experience carry in the final selection?

A:
Work experience has no direct standalone weightage in the final merit list, but impacts selection indirectly:

  • Shortlisting Stage: Included as part of profile evaluation
  • Personal Interview: Strong work experience significantly improves PI scores
  • Batch Composition: ~80% of the batch has prior work experience

Key Insight:
Work experience strengthens interview performance, but cannot offset weak CAT scores.

Q4: Does IIM Calcutta prefer freshers or experienced candidates?

A:
IIM Calcutta shows a clear preference for experienced candidates, but does not exclude freshers.

  • Freshers: ~18–20% of the batch
  • Experienced candidates: ~80% of the batch
  • Sweet Spot: 1–3 years of work experience, especially in analytical or structured roles

Recommendation:
Freshers need very strong CAT + PI performance to compensate for lack of experience.

Q5: What is the acceptance rate for IIM Calcutta? How selective is the institute?

A:
IIM Calcutta is among the most selective B-schools in India.

  • Applications: ~240,000+
  • Final Offers: ~1,050–1,100
  • Final Intake: ~460 students

Key Metrics:

  • Application-to-Offer Rate: ~0.20–0.25%
  • Offer-to-Enrolment Rate: ~40–45%

Insight:
Even among CAT 99+ percentile scorers, conversion is not guaranteed.

Q6: How important is the Personal Interview? Can a strong PI overcome a lower CAT score?

A:
The Personal Interview is crucial but not compensatory.

  • PI Weightage: ~48% of final score
  • CAT Weightage: ~40% of final score

Mathematical Illustration:

Final Score = 0.48(PI) + 0.40(CAT) + 0.08(Academics) + 0.04(Diversity)

A candidate with 92 CAT percentile, strong PI (0.85), and solid academics can clear the composite cutoff.
However, a candidate with sub-90 CAT cannot be “rescued” by PI alone.

Recommendation:
At IIM Calcutta, CAT qualifies you; PI ranks you.

Q7: Does IIM Calcutta have separate quotas for non-engineers?

A:
No explicit quotas exist, but academic diversity is considered marginally.

  • Academic background considered during shortlisting
  • Small diversity weightage in final merit
  • Final batch: ~30% non-engineers

Reality:
Non-engineers still need very high CAT percentiles to compete with engineers.

Q8: What are my chances if I am a non-engineer (Arts / Law / Medicine)?

A:
Chances are not materially higher unless CAT performance is exceptional.

  • Rare backgrounds are valued conceptually
  • But CAT and sectional cutoffs remain decisive
  • Non-engineers often need equal or higher CAT scores than engineers

Bottom Line:
At IIM Calcutta, CAT dominance outweighs background advantage.

Q9: Are Class X and XII marks important for admission?

A:
Yes, but not as hard eliminators.

  • No mandatory minimum percentages
  • Academic consistency contributes ~8% in final score
  • Strong academics provide marginal support, not compensation

Guidance:
Good academics help, but cannot offset weak CAT performance.

Q10: How does the shortlisting and PI process work at IIM Calcutta?

A:
The process has three stages:

Stage 1 – PI Shortlisting

  • CAT score (dominant)
  • Academic profile
  • Sectional cutoffs as hard eliminations
  • ~2% of applicants shortlisted

Stage 2 – Personal Interview

  • Panel of faculty members
  • Focus: academics, work experience, analytical thinking

Stage 3 – Final Merit List

  • PI: ~48%
  • CAT: ~40%
  • Academics + Diversity: ~12%

Q11: What is the typical admission timeline?

Stage

Timeline

CAT Exam

Oct–Nov

CAT Results

Early Jan

Application Window

Jan–Feb

PI Shortlist

Mar–Apr

PI Rounds

Apr–Jun

Final Offers

Jun–Jul

Program Start

Jul–Aug

 

Q12: Does IIM Calcutta accept GMAT or only CAT?

A:

  • Domestic candidates: CAT only
  • International candidates: GMAT accepted
  • Other exams (XAT, SNAP, ATMA): Not accepted

Q13: What is the placement record of IIM Calcutta?

A:
IIM Calcutta has one of the strongest placement outcomes in India.

  • Average Package: ~₹35 LPA
  • Median Package: ~₹33 LPA
  • Highest Package: ₹1 Cr+
  • Placement Rate: ~100%

Top sectors: Consulting, Finance, General Management, Technology.

Q14: Is hostel accommodation mandatory at IIM Calcutta?

A:
Yes. The PGP is a fully residential program.

  • Duration: 2 years
  • Objective: Academic immersion & peer learning
  • Hostel costs included in program fees

Q15: Does IIM Calcutta offer scholarships or financial assistance?

A:
Yes. Need-Based Financial Assistance (NBFA) is available.

  • Eligibility based on family income
  • Can cover partial to full tuition
  • Admission is need-blind

Q16: Can I defer my admission at IIM Calcutta?

A:

  • Deferment policies are not publicly detailed
  • Typically allowed for 1 year with valid reasons
  • Subject to approval by admissions committee

Conclusion

IIM Calcutta represents the most CAT-intensive and analytically rigorous admission system among Indian B-schools. With high sectional cutoffs, a narrow composite score band, and limited flexibility, the institute prioritizes merit, consistency, and analytical excellence over accessibility.

For aspirants, the message is clear:
IIM Calcutta rewards CAT dominance first — everything else comes second.

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Last updated: 17 Jan 2026

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