IIM Indore 2026 selection criteria changed: The admission criteria for the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at IIM Indore have undergone major changes for the 2026-28 batch, and these updates directly impact how aspirants should plan their CAT preparation and overall profile strategy.
If you are targeting IIM Indore, understanding these updates is crucial because the institute has significantly reshaped how it evaluates candidates, especially in the shortlisting stage.
This blog breaks down what has changed, stage-wise selection details, old vs new comparison, and what these changes mean for you as an aspirant in a simple way.
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IIM Indore 2026 Selection Criteria Changed – Latest Updates
IIM Indore has always followed a unique and distinct selection model. For many years, the institute gave unusually high weightage to Class 10 marks, making it difficult for students with average 10th performance to get shortlisted despite high CAT scores.
But now, for 2026-28 admissions, the institute has completely rebalanced its selection criteria to give a more holistic evaluation.
IIM Indore Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2025 Applicants
- A candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognised university or an institution approved under the UGC Act.
- Candidates in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree or those who have completed their degree requirements and are awaiting results are also eligible to apply.
Stage-Wise Selection Process for IIM Indore 2026-28
IIM Indore follows a three-stage selection process. Here’s the complete breakdown:
Stage 1: Minimum CAT Cutoffs + Eligibility
To be considered for Stage 2, candidates need to meet minimum sectional and overall CAT percentiles.
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| EWS | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
| ST | 40 | 40 | 40 | 45 |
| PwD | 40 | 40 | 40 | 45 |
Stage 2: Shortlisting for Personal Interview (PI)
This is where major changes have been made.
Shortlisting Composite Score (2026-28):
| Components | Weightage |
| 10th Standard/SSC | 10* [Zcandidate-Zmin/Zmax-Zmin] |
| 12th Standard/HSC | 25* [Zcandidate-Zmin/Zmax-Zmin] |
| CAT 2025 Sectional Score | VARC: 16 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝐴𝑅𝐶/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝐴𝑅𝐶]
DILR: 16 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 DILR/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 DILR] QA: 23 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 QA/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 QA] |
| Diversity Factor (DF) | 7 |
| Work Experience (WE) | 3 |
| Composite Score | = Sum of the above Scores |
Total = 100 marks
Normalization & Special Cases
- All marks are normalized using Z-scores.
- For candidates with “Pass/Promoted” grades (COVID years), the weight of missing components is redistributed proportionately among the available components.
Note: Candidates shortlisted for PI will be informed in January 2026. Since, PI plays a major role in the final selection, candidates should prepare for it seriously. You can also check this detailed guide on how to ace the CAT PI for additional tips.
Stage 3: Final Selection
In the final merit list, the emphasis shifts toward Personal Interview performance.
Final Composite Score (FCS):
| Components | Score |
| 10th Standard/SSC | 5* [Zcandidate-Zmin/Zmax-Zmin] |
| 12th Standard/HSC | 5* [Zcandidate-Zmin/Zmax-Zmin] |
| CAT 2025 Sectional Score | VARC: 20 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝐴𝑅𝐶/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝐴𝑅𝐶]
DILR: 10 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 DILR/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 DILR] QA: 10 * [𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒’𝑠 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 QA/𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 QA] |
| PI Score | 45* [Zcandidate-Zmin/Zmax-Zmin] |
| Diversity Factor | 5 |
| Final Composite Score | = Sum of the above Scores |
Total = 100
Key Highlight
PI carries the highest weight (45%), meaning your communication skills, clarity of goals, confidence, and personality matter a lot.
To explore how these steps fit into the broader journey of securing admission in India’s top MBA colleges, you may also refer to a complete guide on MBA admissions.
Reservation Policies – IIM Indore Selection Criteria
IIM Indore follows the Government of India’s mandated reservation policy to ensure fair and inclusive access to management education. The institute allocates seats across various categories as per the official guidelines.
| Category | Reservation Criteria |
| NC-OBC | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwD | 5% |
Why IIM Indore May Have Made These Changes
While no official explanation is provided, the changes suggest:
- A move away from extreme dependence on 10th marks
- A push for balanced academic and CAT performance
- Inclusion of work experience to enrich classroom perspectives
- Motivation to bring structural clarity and fairness in admissions
Overall, the new criteria promote a more holistic and inclusive selection process.
IIM Indore Placements
IIM Indore has maintained a strong placement record, with over 150 recruiters participating in the 2024 PGP and IPM placements. The highest package offered was INR 100 LPA, while the average package stood at INR 25.68 LPA, with consulting and finance sectors leading the offers.
For more details on placement trends and sector-wise offers, you can refer to this guide on IIM Indore placements.
IIM Indore Selection Criteria Changes: Conclusion
The revised IIM Indore PGP selection criteria for the 2026-28 batch mark a significant shift in how aspirants will be evaluated. With reduced weight on Class 10, increased importance of Class 12 and CAT performance, inclusion of work experience, and sustained emphasis on PI, the new system creates a fairer and more balanced evaluation framework.
For aspirants, this means focusing not only on CAT preparation but also on communication skills, clarity of goals, and consistent academic performance. If you approach the process with a balanced strategy, these changes can actually work in your favor.
For insights on CAT 2025 difficulty level, sectional trends, and overall analysis, you can refer to the CAT 2025 Exam Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the minimum CAT cutoffs required to be eligible for IIM Indore PGP 2026-28?
A: Candidates must meet both sectional and overall CAT percentile cutoffs- 80/80/80 and 90 overall for General, with proportionate relaxations for reserved categories.
Q: How does IIM Indore calculate the shortlisting composite score?
A: The shortlisting score is calculated using Class 10 marks, Class 12 marks, CAT section-wise scores, diversity factor, and work experience, all normalised through Z-scores.
Q: Is work experience mandatory for applying to IIM Indore PGP?
A: No. Work experience is not mandatory. However, applicants with experience can earn up to 3 marks in the shortlisting stage.
Q: How important is the Personal Interview (PI) in the final selection?
A: The PI carries the highest weight (45%) in the final merit list, making it a crucial component for securing admission.
Q: Are candidates with “Pass/Promoted” marks in Class 10 or 12 eligible?
A: Yes. If a candidate received “Pass/Promoted” grades due to exceptional circumstances (e.g., COVID years), IIM Indore will redistribute weights proportionately among the remaining components.
