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CAT Reservation 2025: Category-wise Seats & Eligibility
If you are targeting the CAT exam, understanding CAT reservation is just as important as understanding the paper pattern.
Category-wise seats are allotted in IIMs and many other B schools, and these rules affect you at every stage – from CAT score shortlisting to the final offer letter.
This page from Mockat is a subpage of our main guide on CAT exam eligibility. It focuses only on CAT reservation criteria so that you can clearly see how many seats are reserved, category wise, and what documents you need to avail reservation benefits.
For the full picture of CAT eligibility criteria – academic rules, age limit, work experience and more – make sure you also read CAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification & Category. Mockat
How CAT Reservation Fits into CAT Exam Eligibility
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to IIMs and many top B schools and MBA colleges in India.
CAT reservation is governed by India's reservation policy, which sets out the legal framework for category-based seat allocation in IIMs and other management institutes.
First, you must satisfy CAT eligibility and the basic eligibility criteria such as bachelor’s degree requirement and required marks in graduation. Only then can you use the CAT reservation policy benefits in CAT 2025 and later during IIM admission.
In simple words, CAT eligibility criteria come first, and the reservation policy comes next. If a candidate does not meet the graduation requirement or other eligibility criteria, they cannot use category benefits even if they belong to SC ST OBC, EWS or PwD candidates.
Official CAT 2025 Reservation Policy Snapshot
The official CAT exam 2025 Eligibility document and Information Bulletin clearly state the legal requirements for reservation in IIMs.
As per India's reservation policy and Government of India rules, the IIM reservation policy for CAT 2025 follows this structure.
Category-wise reservation percentage in IIMs (CAT 2025)
|
Category |
Reservation policy (CAT 2025) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) |
15% of seats are reserved |
Relaxed cut-offs and score thresholds in many institutes |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
7.5% of seats are reserved |
Similar advantages as SC students |
|
Other Backward Classes candidates belonging to the non creamy layer (NC OBC) |
27% of seats are reserved |
Only NC OBC candidates on the central list get OBC reservation |
|
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) |
Up to 10% of seats are reserved |
Requires valid EWS certificate and income certificate |
|
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) |
5% of seats are reserved in each category |
Implemented under the RPwD Act 2016 |
After these reservations apply, the remaining seats are for the general category. Because the PwD quota is horizontal, SC ST PwD, NC OBC PwD and EWS PwD students get a separate reservation of 5% seats within their own categories.
You should always cross-check these numbers with the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in and individual Indian Institute admission brochures, as exact numbers can vary slightly across institutes.
Category-wise CAT Reservation Criteria for CAT exam2025
SC and ST reservation
For Scheduled Caste students, 15% of seats are allotted in IIMs and many other MBA colleges that accept the CAT exam.
For Scheduled Tribe students, 7.5% of seats are allotted. Together, SC ST reservation not only earmarks seats but also leads to lower cut-offs and relaxed composite scores in several top B schools. Each year, IIMs and other institutes publish separate CAT cutoff scores or percentiles for SC and ST candidates, which are typically lower than those for the general category.
SC candidates and ST candidates must upload a valid caste certificate in the exact format given in the official notification, signed by a competent authority.
OBC‑NCL reservation
For the OBC category, 27% of seats are allotted for other backward classes candidates belonging to the non creamy layer.
Only OBC candidates listed in the central list of non‑creamy‑layer groups can get OBC reservation and related reservation benefits in CAT 2025.
Your OBC certificate must mention that you belong to the non creamy layer and must be issued by a competent authority not older than the date specified in the CAT 2025 official notification.
EWS reservation
Up to 10% of seats are reserved for the Economically Weaker Section.
To claim reservation as an economically weaker section candidate, you need a valid EWS certificate and income certificate that prove you satisfy the income and asset limits.
EWS reservation does not change CAT eligibility criteria, but it does change how many seats are available to you at each Indian Institute of Management and other MBA colleges that follow the same reservation criteria.
Reservation for PwD candidates
Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) and related disabilities act provisions, at least 5% of seats are reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities in higher education.
For CAT 2025, PwD candidates with at least 40% benchmark disabilities such as blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability (including cerebral palsy) and conditions like autism and intellectual disability are eligible.
Examples include low vision deaf combinations, hearing locomotor disability and multiple disabilities covered under the disabilities act and the RPwD Act.
PwD candidates must upload a valid disability certificate during CAT registration and carry the original during the CAT exam and IIM admission.
Educational Eligibility, Marks and Age Rules
Bachelor’s degree and professional degree requirement
The basic CAT eligibility for all categories is based on graduation.
You must hold a bachelor's degree of at least three years’ duration from a recognised university or educational institution, or an equivalent professional degree such as CA, CS or ICWA.
Final‑year students in a bachelor's degree or completed professional degree programme can also appear for CAT 2025, subject to later submission of proof.
You can hold a bachelor's degree in any stream, and even multiple bachelor's degree qualifications are fine, as long as they all come from recognised institutes and meet the marks rules for your category in the CAT exam.
Minimum marks required for CAT exam 2025
According to CAT 2025 eligibility criteria, the minimum marks required in graduation are as follows.
|
Category |
Required marks in graduation |
Comment |
|---|---|---|
|
General category candidates, EWS and NC OBC candidates |
50% or equivalent CGPA |
Must meet this for CAT eligibility |
|
SC ST PwD candidates |
45% or equivalent CGPA |
Relaxation because seats are reserved and to support access |
The CAT 2025 Information Bulletin clearly explains how the candidate's CGPA should be converted to percentage when the maximum possible CGPA scale is used by the college.
Age limit and number of attempts
There is no age limit and no age restrictions for appearing in CAT exam 2025.
There is also no cap on the number of attempts, as long as you continue to meet the CAT eligibility criteria every year you apply.
CAT Registration and Documents for Reserved Categories
During CAT registration, you fill the online application form on the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in.
In this CAT application form, you must correctly indicate your category and whether you are a PwD candidate. This is where CAT reservation criteria start getting applied for CAT 2025.
Documents checklist by category
|
Category |
Key documents for CAT registration |
Why needed |
|---|---|---|
|
General category |
Graduation mark sheets, photo ID |
To prove CAT eligibility only |
|
SC / ST |
SC or ST caste certificate in CAT format |
To claim reservation and relaxations |
|
OBC‑NCL |
OBC certificate showing non creamy layer, plus income certificate if asked |
To prove OBC reservation eligibility |
|
EWS |
Valid EWS certificate and income certificate |
To prove status as economically weaker section |
|
PwD |
Disability certificate describing benchmark disabilities |
To access exam accommodations and related support |
If you do not upload the correct document, you may lose your reserved category status and be treated as a general category candidate for CAT 2025 and IIM admission.
Always read the official CAT 2025 notification carefully and check which formats are accepted for caste certificate, EWS certificate, OBC certificate and disability certificates issued by the competent authority.
How CAT Reservation Works in IIM Admission
Once the CAT exam is over, each IIM publishes its own admission process based on CAT score, academic records and interviews.
The IIM reservation policy is applied at every stage, from shortlisting for interviews to preparing the final merit list.
Stages where reservations apply
Most IIM admission policies clearly describe the stages where the reservation policy is used:
-
Shortlisting for WAT / GD and Personal Interview.
-
Allocation of interview slots category wise.
-
Calculation of composite score and final selection stages.
-
Offer of seats as per category‑wise availability.
At each stage, seats are reserved for SC ST OBC, EWS and PwD candidates within the legal requirements of the Government of India.
Other MBA colleges that accept CAT score, especially public institutions and many top B schools, usually follow the same reservation criteria, although some other MBA colleges may have slightly different rules.
Impact of reservation on cut-offs and CAT score targets
Because seats are reserved by category, IIMs publish different category wise cut‑offs.
General category candidates usually need a higher CAT score than SC ST or NC OBC candidates to get interview calls in the most competitive Indian Institute of Management campuses.
PwD candidates, female candidates and students from some academic backgrounds may also get small diversity bonuses in a few institutes, which slightly reduces the CAT score needed for a call.
When you plan your target percentile for CAT 2025, always look at how many seats are reserved in each campus and how the IIM reservation policy is implemented in recent years.
FAQs on CAT Reservation and Eligibility
Does CAT 2025 have any age limit?
No. There is no age limit and no age restrictions for CAT 2025. If you meet the CAT eligibility criteria for graduation, you can appear at any age. Mockat
Do I need to clear separate cut-offs as a reserved category student?
Yes. Even though seats are reserved, most IIMs and top B schools declare separate cut‑offs for SC ST, SC ST PwD, OBC category, EWS and PwD categories, and you must meet these to move ahead in the admission process.
Are reservation rules the same for all institutes?
IIMs strictly follow the Government of India’s reservation policy and the CAT reservation policy. Many MBA colleges and public B schools that use CAT scores follow similar rules, but some private institutes have their own reservation criteria.
Can I change my category after submitting the CAT form?
Usually, you cannot change your category once CAT registration closes. This is why it is essential to select your category correctly, upload the right certificates, and understand how reservations apply before submitting the form.
Quick Reference: Key Terms in CAT 2025 Reservation
When you read the CAT exam brochure for CAT 2025, remember that CAT eligibility criteria decide who can sit for the cat exam, while the CAT reservation rules explain how seats are shared among different categories after results.
For most aspirants the route to the cat exam is a bachelor's degree, and the official text also clarifies how the candidate's CGPA on a given scale is converted to a percentage for checking marks.
You can hold a bachelor's degree in any stream, and even multiple bachelor's degree qualifications are fine, as long as they all come from recognised institutes and meet the marks rules for your category in the CAT exam.
Students from the OBC category should confirm that their community appears in the central list for non creamy layer groups; only then can they fully benefit from the OBC quota in CAT 2025.
The IIM reservation policy and India's reservation policy together explain why cut‑offs are shown category wise, with separate lines for SC ST, SC ST PwD, OBC category, EWS, PwD candidates and general category aspirants.
In the detailed PDFs you will often see the phrase SC ST PwD used to denote candidates who belong to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe groups and are also PwD candidates, so they get both kinds of support.
All these terms appear repeatedly in the CAT exam notification so that there is no confusion between eligibility rules, reservation criteria and the rights of students from different categories.
How Mockat Helps You Use CAT Reservation Smartly
On Mockat.com you will find:
-
Detailed explainer articles on CAT eligibility, CAT reservation policy and IIM reservation policy. Mockat
-
Step‑by‑step guides for CAT 2025 preparation, CAT registration and filling the application form correctly. Mockat
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Strategy articles tailored for SC ST, NC OBC, EWS and PwD candidates, so you can aim realistically for IIM admission and seats in other MBA colleges and top B schools.
Use this CAT reservation guide together with the main CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria page to get a complete picture of how eligibility criteria, reservation policy and the admission process work together for CAT 2025.
