IIM Calls for OBC, EWS and SC Candidates: What CAT Percentile Gets What (2026 Guide)

"I am NC-OBC. What percentile do I need for an IIM call?" is one of the most common questions after CAT, and most answers online either give only the minimum cutoff or only the General-category number. Here is both: the minimum percentile each category needs to be considered, the realistic percentile that gets a call, and which colleges become possible at each level for NC-OBC, EWS, SC and ST candidates.

The Short Answer

Reserved-category candidates need a lower percentile than General candidates at every IIM, but the size of the gap depends on the category and on the IIM. For the top three IIMs, NC-OBC candidates typically need about 96 or higher for a realistic call, EWS candidates about 97 or higher, and SC candidates about 88 or higher. At the newer IIMs and the CAP IIMs, the gap is much bigger, so an NC-OBC candidate at 82 or an SC candidate at 60 can still be considered. Use these as planning estimates, because IIMs do not publish safe call percentiles, and the 2026 numbers will move with the paper.

Read this first. There are two different numbers. The minimum cutoff is the lowest percentile that makes you eligible to be considered. The realistic call percentile is what people actually needed to get an interview call, and it is almost always higher. Do not treat the minimum as a target.

Minimum Cutoffs at the Top IIMs

These are the minimum cutoffs for the 2026-28 batch cycle. The sectional percentile is needed in each of VARC, DILR and QA.

IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Bangalore

IIM Calcutta

These numbers are the floor, and they change from cycle to cycle, so check the latest admissions notification of each IIM.

Realistic Call Percentiles at the Top IIMs

Because very few candidates at the minimum get a call, these estimates matter more. They are planning ranges, not published numbers.

These ranges assume a strong profile: good academics, a balanced score and work experience if available. An NC-OBC candidate at 96 with a weak profile will see fewer calls than one with a strong profile, and the sectional cutoffs still apply.

Other IIMs: IIM L, K, I and Mumbai

These IIMs do not publish category-wise call percentiles, so the figures below are estimates built from the general call ranges and the usual category gap.

For SC and ST candidates, the figures are lower again, usually by several percentile, and depend on the year. Check each IIM's own criteria.

Newer IIMs and CAP IIMs

This is where reserved-category candidates get the largest advantage.

Some individual minimum cutoffs from recent cycles:

IIM Rohtak is one of the places where EWS and General percentiles are close, and NC-OBC is much lower. Read our guide to IIM CAP for how the common process works.

Other Colleges

FMS is a central university with reservation, so category candidates get a lower call range. SPJIMR and MDI do not publish category reservations in the same way, so we advise planning as General for those. Please confirm on their admissions pages.

What Percentile Gets What: A Quick Planner

This is our judgement, assuming a decent profile.

What Else Decides Your Call

• Valid certificate. NC-OBC candidates need a non-creamy-layer certificate, and EWS candidates need an EWS certificate that is valid for the cycle. Missing or outdated certificates are a common reason for losing the category benefit.
• Sectional cutoffs. The reserved-category sectional cutoffs are lower, but missing one still ends your shortlisting, even at a very high overall percentile.
• Academics and work experience. They count for several IIMs and can offset a slightly lower percentile. Our guide to female vs male engineer percentiles and engineer vs non-engineer cutoffs show how profile changes the band.
• Gender and background. Women and non-engineers receive diversity points on top of the category benefit at several IIMs.
• Interview and writing test. At the top IIMs, they carry most of the final score. See our guide to the mistakes to avoid in the last six weeks before CAT 2026.

What We Do Not Know Yet

• IIMs do not publish safe call percentiles, and the ranges above are estimates that differ between sources.
• CAT 2026 cutoffs depend on the paper's difficulty and the number of test-takers, and the minimum cutoffs can change when each IIM publishes its criteria.
• Category-wise call figures for IIM L, K, I and Mumbai are not published, so the ranges here are estimates.
• Selection weights and reservation rules change from cycle to cycle, so confirm them on each IIM's admissions page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentile does an NC-OBC candidate need for IIM Ahmedabad? The minimum is 90 overall with 80 in each section, but a realistic call usually needs about 96 or higher with a strong profile.

What percentile does an EWS candidate need for IIM A, B or C? About 97 or higher for a realistic call. At IIM Ahmedabad the minimum for EWS is the same as General, 95.

Can an SC candidate get an IIM A, B or C call at 88 percentile? It is possible with a strong profile, since the estimated call range is about 88 or higher, but the minimum is 85 at IIM Ahmedabad and 70 at Bangalore and Calcutta.

Which IIMs give the biggest advantage to reserved categories? The newer IIMs, the baby IIMs and the CAP IIMs, because CAT carries more weight and the category gap is large.

Do I need a non-creamy-layer certificate? Yes, for NC-OBC candidates, and it should be valid for the admission cycle. Check each IIM's requirement.

Do sectional cutoffs apply to reserved categories? Yes. They are lower than the General cutoffs, but failing one can end your shortlisting.

Does FMS give a category benefit? Yes. FMS is a central university with reservation, and the estimated call range is lower for NC-OBC, SC and ST candidates.

Should reserved-category candidates apply to SPJIMR and MDI? Yes, if you would join, but plan as a General candidate, since they do not publish category reservation in the same way.

Final Word

Reserved-category status gives you a real advantage, but the size of it depends on the IIM, so build your list with stretch, target and safe colleges and do not treat the minimum cutoff as a target. Keep your certificates current, protect your sectional scores and prepare the interview as seriously as CAT. Cutoffs and rules change every year, so confirm the latest criteria on each IIM's official admissions page before you apply.