IIM Indore RTI Data 2025 | 92.92% CAT Cutoff Analysis

IIM Indore stands as one of India's premier management institutes, celebrated for its unique selection methodology that emphasizes past academic performance alongside CAT scores. Based on comprehensive Right to Information (RTI) data spanning the past decade (2014-2026), this analysis reveals critical trends in admission standards, category-wise cutoffs, and batch composition that aspirants must understand.

Key Highlights:

• General Category Minimum CAT Percentile (2024-26): 92.92%
• Latest Batch (2025-27, CAT 2024): 92.43%
• Historical Range (2014-2026): 90.13% to 97.50%
• Overall Admission Rate: Less than 0.2% from total applicants
• Interview Call Rate: Approximately 2% of applicants
• Female Student Percentage: 27% (improving diversity)
• Non-Engineer Representation: 40% of the batch 

Critical Numbers You Must Know

Minimum CAT Percentile by Category (2024-26 Batch)

Reality Check: These are final admission percentiles, not interview call percentiles. The actual percentile required for an interview call is significantly higher (typically 95%+ for the General category).

10-Year Trend Analysis (2014-2026)

Historical Data: First 6 Years (2014-16 to 2019-21)

Historical Data: Recent 6 Years (2020-22 to 2025-27)

Understanding the Trend

Major Pattern #1: The 2014-2016 Anomaly

IIM Indore's inaugural batch (2014-16) had an exceptional cutoff of 95%ile for General category students. This reflected the institute's initial positioning as an ultra-exclusive institution. However, this was unsustainable and faced criticism for limiting diversity.

Key Learning: The 2015 shift was a deliberate institutional strategy aimed at balancing selectivity with accessibility.

Major Pattern #2: The 2017-2019 Spike

Batches 2018-20 and 2019-21 witnessed dramatic jumps to 97%ile. This wasn't due to increased standards but rather:

• Harder CAT exams: CAT 2017 and 2018 were particularly difficult, resulting in lower percentage conversions
• Competitive applicant pool: Higher quality applications increased the minimum cutoff
• Selection methodology: IIM Indore's past academic weightage (59%) meant fewer candidates qualified overall

Major Pattern #3: The Recent Stabilization (2020-2026)

Since 2020, the General category has settled around the 90-93%ile, showing predictability. The last two years (92.92% and 92.43%) suggest a target around 92%ile.

Strategic Interpretation: IIM Indore has found its equilibrium between maintaining elite status and building diverse batches.

Category-Wise Deep Dive

General vs. Reserved Category Gap Analysis

Critical Insight: EWS cutoffs are sometimes HIGHER than General, indicating a highly competitive applicant pool within this category. Do not assume EWS provides easier admission.

NC-OBC: The Consistent Category

The NC-OBC category shows remarkable consistency:

• 10-Year Average: 80.33%ile
• Range: 80.17% to 81.26% (less than 1.1 percentile point variation)
• Predictability: Highest among all categories

This stability makes NC-OBC cutoffs the most reliable predictor for future years.

SC and ST: High Volatility

Why the Volatility? Smaller applicant pools in SC/ST categories mean year-to-year variation in candidate quality is more pronounced.

What These Numbers Really Mean

The Shortlisting vs. Final Admission Distinction

Critical Clarification: The percentiles shown are FINAL ADMISSION CUTOFFS, not interview call cutoffs.

Typical Conversion Rates (2024-26):

• Total Applicants: 255,377
• Shortlisted for Interview: 5,109 (2%)
• Final Offers: 489 (0.19% of total applicants)
• Interview-to-Offer Conversion: 9.6%

This means if you score exactly 92.92%ile (General), you might not even get an interview call. The interview shortlisting threshold is typically 95%+ for the General category.

Why Does IIM Indore Emphasize Past Academics?

IIM Indore allocates 59% weightage to 10th and 12th board performance during shortlisting. This means:

Scenario A: 93%ile CAT + 45% average board marks = Likely NO call
Scenario B: 91%ile CAT + 92% average board marks = Likely YES call

This explains why some candidates with lower CAT scores get admitted, while higher CAT scorers don't even receive calls.

The Composite Score Formula

For final selection (post-interview):

• Personal Interview: 50%
• CAT Score: 25%
• 10th Marks (Z-score adjusted): 12.5%
• 12th Marks (Z-score adjusted): 12.5%

Implication: Even if you score 99%ile in CAT, a poor PI performance can eliminate you. Conversely, a strong PI can overcome a slightly lower CAT score.

Batch Composition and Diversity

IIM Indore PGP 2024-26 Class Profile

Academic Background Diversity (PGP 2024-26)

Key Takeaway: While engineering dominates, IIM Indore actively recruits from non-technical backgrounds, making it relatively more diverse than peer institutions.

Selection Criteria at Different Stages

Stage 1: Initial Shortlisting (For Interview Call)

What This Means: To get shortlisted, you need strong board performance (35-40% weightage combined) PLUS a good CAT score (35%).

Stage 2: Final Selection (Post-WAT-PI)

Strategic Shift: Interview performance becomes DOMINANT (50%) after you clear the call. A strong PI can overcome a slightly lower CAT percentile.

Composite Score Breakdown

Minimum Composite Score for Final Admission (2024-26)

Note: These are normalized Z-scores. The actual calculation involves complex normalization across all components to ensure fairness across different years and difficulty levels.

Real-World Scenarios

Scenario A: General Category Candidate

Profile:

• CAT Score: 93%ile
• 10th Marks: 88%
• 12th Marks: 85%
• Work Experience: 1 year

Analysis:

• Shortlisting Score: Likely CALL (CAT strong + decent boards)
• Interview Call Probability: 70-80%
• Final Admission Probability: 30-40% (depends entirely on PI performance)

Key Success Factor: Exceptional PI performance is essential

Scenario B: General Category Candidate

Profile:

• CAT Score: 91%ile
• 10th Marks: 95%
• 12th Marks: 93%
• Work Experience: 2 years

Analysis:

• Shortlisting Score: Likely CALL (exceptional boards compensate for lower CAT)
• Interview Call Probability: 85-95%
• Final Admission Probability: 40-50% (past academics help significantly)

Key Success Factor: Consistency in academics provides a buffer

Scenario C: SC Category Candidate

Profile:

• CAT Score: 65%ile
• 10th Marks: 80%
• 12th Marks: 78%
• Work Experience: 0 years

Analysis:

• Shortlisting Score: Likely CALL (at/near cutoff but reserved category helps)
• Interview Call Probability: 90%+ (category advantage significant)
• Final Admission Probability: 50-70% (affirmative action + meeting threshold)

Key Success Factor: Strong PI performance could guarantee admission

Waitlist Movement and Second Round Admissions

Waitlist Statistics (2024-26 Batch)

Strategy Implication: Waitlist movement is limited. Don't expect significant second-round additions. Focus on the final round performance.

How IIM Indore Compares to Other Top IIMs

Minimum CAT Percentile Comparison (2024-26)

IIM Indore's Unique Position: Most emphasis on 10th/12th performance. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Strong board performers get an extra edge, but weak boards almost disqualify, regardless of CAT.

Insights and Patterns

Insight #1: The Academic Consistency Premium

IIM Indore rewards students with consistent academic performance from 10th grade onwards. A student with:

• 10th: 92%, 12th: 90%, Graduation: 8.5 CGPA, CAT: 91%ile
  ...is often ranked higher than a student with:
• 10th: 75%, 12th: 72%, Graduation: 9 CGPA, CAT: 93%ile

Insight #2: The Reserved Category Advantage Peaks at PI

For SC/ST candidates, the affirmative action advantage is strongest at the interview call stage (larger gap). Post-PI, the advantage narrows as interview performance becomes more critical.

Insight #3: EWS is More Competitive Than You Think

EWS cutoffs are often similar to or higher than the General category. This suggests:

• Smaller EWS applicant pool
• Higher average quality within EWS applications
• Increased competition within this category

Insight #4: Gender Diversity is Improving

Female representation increased from 25% to 27% in recent batches. However, this still indicates admission barriers. Analysis suggests women face similar percentile requirements but may have slightly lower final offer rates.

Insight #5: Non-Engineer Representation is Strong

40% non-engineer representation is above average for top IIMs. This reflects IIM Indore's strategic push for diversity beyond technical backgrounds.

Predictive Analysis for 2026-28 Batch (CAT 2025)

Expected Minimum CAT Percentiles (CAT 2025 → 2026-28 Batch Admission)

Confidence Assessment:

• HIGH: NC-OBC (consistent historical data)
• MEDIUM: General, EWS, SC (reasonable patterns but variations possible)
• LOW: ST, PwD (small applicant pools create unpredictability)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is 90%ile enough for IIM Indore?

A: It depends on your board marks. A 90%ile with 92%+ boards in 10th/12th might get a call. But 90%ile with 80% boards almost certainly won't. Minimum required: 92%ile CAT + 85%+ boards for realistic call probability.

Q2: How important is work experience?

A: Not crucial. 46% of the batch are freshers. IIM Indore doesn't explicitly weigh work experience during shortlisting. However, 1-3 years of relevant experience can provide intangible advantages in PI evaluation.

Q3: Can I get in with low CAT but excellent boards?

A: Possibly, but difficult. The lowest General category admission was 80.44%ile (at IIM Ahmedabad, not Indore). For Indore, 90%ile is a realistic minimum even with excellent boards. Exception: Reserved categories have more flexibility.

Q4: What's the difference between the interview call cutoff and the final admission cutoff?

A: Huge. Interview call cutoff is typically 95%+ for General. Final admission cutoff (shown in RTI data) is 92.92% because many shortlisted candidates don't succeed in the PI round.

Q5: Can I improve my CAT percentile after scoring?

A: No. CAT scores are final. However, you can improve your profile strength through statements, work experience, or academic achievements. Some institutes allow retakes, but IIM Indore uses the most recent CAT score.

Q6: How are Z-scores calculated for board marks?

A: Z-score = (Your Marks - Category Average) / Standard Deviation. This normalizes different board systems (CBSE, State, ICSE) to make comparisons fair.

Q7: Is there an interview call cutoff that's publicly available?

A: IIM Indore doesn't publish a single interview call cutoff. Shortlisting uses a composite score (35% CAT + 39% 10th + 20% 12th + 6% diversity). You should aim for 95%+ CAT with decent boards to be safe.

Q8: What percentage of interviewed candidates get offers?

A: Approximately 9-10%. Of 5,109 interviewed (2024-26), only 489 received final offers. This is the highest rejection rate post-PI among top IIMs.

Strategic Recommendations for Aspirants

For General Category (Target: 92-99%ile)

Tier 1 (95%+): Nearly guaranteed interview call; strong final offer probability (40-50%)

• Focus: PI preparation; maintain board mark narrative

Tier 2 (93-95%): Good call probability (70-80%); moderate final offer probability (25-35%)

• Focus: Board marks must be strong (88%+); PI preparation critical

Tier 3 (90-93%): Call possible if boards are excellent (90%+); low final offer probability (10-20%)

• Focus: Board marks essential; PI must be outstanding

Not Recommended (<90%): Minimal call probability; focus on other IIMs

For NC-OBC (Target: 80-82%ile)

NC-OBC has the most predictable cutoff. An 80-81%ile with decent boards (75%+) provides good call probability.

Strategy: Less emphasis on CAT than the General category. Board performance still matters, but is weighted lower.

For SC/ST (Target: 50-70%ile)

High variability means targeting the middle of the range is prudent.

Strategy: Call probability is higher than General due to affirmative action. Focus on a strong PI to convert the call to an offer.

Final Verdict

IIM Indore's unique emphasis on past academics makes it stand out among top IIMs. For aspirants with consistent academic records and strong board marks, IIM Indore offers a credible pathway even with slightly lower CAT scores. However, the ultra-low admission rate (0.19%) means exceptional performance across all metrics is required.

The Bottom Line:

• Without 90%ile CAT: Admission is highly unlikely
• With 92%ile CAT + 85%+ boards: Realistic call probability
• With 95%ile CAT: Strong final admission probability
• Reserved categories: 10-15 percentile points lower, but still highly competitive

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