1. INTRODUCTION
Master in Business Administration (MBA) programme is a two-year full-time residential course. MBA is IIMN’s flagship programme popularly known as Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP). This document describes the admission process, including the shortlisting and selection criteria for the MBA 2025-271 batch at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur).
2. NUMBER OF SEATS AND RESERVATION
The batch size for MBA 2025-27 will be 360 students2 . Table 1 shows the category-wise reservation and seats available.
Table 1. Number of seats and category-wise reservation3
| Category | Reservation (%) | Seats per category |
|---|---|---|
| General | – | 128 |
| EWS | 10 | 36 |
| NC-OBC | 27 | 97 |
| SC | 15 | 54 |
| ST | 7.5 | 27 |
| DAP (Horizontal Reservation) | 5 | 18 |
| Total Seats | 360 | |
1 IIM Nagpur reserves the right to change the shortlisting and selection criteria as deemed necessary.
2 The intake might be revised before the admission process begins. In such a scenario, appropriate changes will be made based on the revised intake.
3 No change in category can be made at any point during the admissions process.
3. ADMISSION PROCESS
The admission process at IIM Nagpur for the MBA (2025-27) will be carried out in 3 stages. It will consider the candidate’s performance in Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024, Past Academic Performance (PAP), Work Experience (WE), Gender Diversity (GDI), performance in Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT). The details are mentioned in the following sections.
3.1 Stages in the process
- Stage 1: Candidates who have appeared for CAT 2024 will be first screened for eligibility as per the CAT cut-offs decided by the CAP consortium. Candidates who clear the CAT cut-off would be intimated by email and asked to fill an application form for CAP.
- Stage 2: Candidates who meet the CAT cut-offs and have filled the application form for CAP in the CAP portal will move to Stage 2, where offline PI and WAT will be conducted. The exact dates for PI and WAT will be communicated by the coordinating institute for CAP 2025 on behalf of all eight participating IIMs in CAP.
- Stage 3: Candidates who appear for the PI and WAT will be considered for this stage, where the Final Score (FS) will be calculated. Admission offers will be sent to the candidates based on their FS.
3.2. Description of the stages
3.2.1. Stage 1: Eligibility criteria for admission to MBA 2025-27
The CAT cut-offs shown in Table 2 will be used for selecting eligible candidates for all subsequent stages. The CAT 2024 score is the single criterion used as the basis for arriving at the shortlist in this stage. Only candidates with positive scores (>0) in all sections of the CAT will be considered for the admission process.
The candidates who appeared for CAT 2024 and meet the cut-offs shown in Table 2 would be receiving an email/communication from CAP coordinating IIM. Candidates who would like to pursue their candidature for admission to MBA at IIM Nagpur must fill the application form for CAP 2025 before the deadline.
Table 2. CAT 2024 sectional cut offs for different categories
| Category | Section 1 (VARC) | Section 2 (DILR) | Section 3 (QA) | Overall |
| General | 75 | 75 | 75 | 95 |
| EWS | 55 | 55 | 55 | 81 |
| NC-OBC | 52 | 52 | 52 | 81 |
| SC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 66 |
| ST | 25 | 25 | 30 | 42 |
| DAP | 25 | 25 | 30 | 42 |
Note:
1. VARC=Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, DILR=Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; QA=Quantitative Ability.
2. These cut-offs are only for shortlisting during Stage 1 and not for the final admission offers for which scores could be much higher.
The shortlisted candidates need to submit a detailed application, including details and copies of all mark sheets (10th, 12th /Diploma and graduation, semester-wise / year-wise marks in Bachelors’ degree, etc., copies of work experience certificates (if applicable), certificate of disability (if applicable), Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe / Other Backward Class – Non-Creamy layer certificate, EWS certificate (if applicable).
Only those candidates who submit the completed application by the deadline in CAP portal will be considered for the next stage of the admission process.
Candidates will be required to flag the discrepancies, if any, before the deadline for filling up the application form. A discrepancy is defined as any missing data or a mismatch between the actual data and the data submitted at the time of CAT 2024.
3.2.2. Stage 2: Selection of the Candidates for PI process and WAT process
Only those candidates who meet the minimum CAT 2024 percentile requirements and have filled the CAP 2025 application form by the stipulated date will be considered in Stage 2 of the admission process.
Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT).
Candidates who have submitted the application form, have been shortlisted for PI and WAT in Stage 2, and have confirmed their interest in appearing for the PI and WAT will be required to appear for a PI and WAT to be conducted by CAP on the given time slot. The interviews are likely to be scheduled in Feb-March 2025.
For the computation of Final Score (FS), an applicant’s holistic profile is considered involving CAT score, PI score, WAT score, Past Academic Performance (PAP) score, Work experience rating (WE) and Gender Diversity (GDI).
3.2.3. Stage 3: Final Selection of the Candidates
After the completion of PI and WAT process, the Final Score (FS) of the candidate will be calculated as follows:
FS = (0.40*CAT Score) + (0.20*PI Score) + (0.05*WAT) + (0.10*PAP Score) +(0.15*WE Score) + (0.10*GDI Score)
a. CAT (CAT) Score
The candidate’s CAT score, as mentioned below, will be used towards calculating the Final Score (FS).
CAT score= (Total CAT Score obtained by the candidate / Max total CAT Score+)*10
+This is the maximum CAT score among the candidates who were eligible for admission process in IIMN as per the stage 1 criteria.
b. Personal Interview (PI) Score and Written Ability Test (WAT) Score
The performance of the candidates in the personal interview and Written ability test will be considered towards calculating the Final Score (FS). The score will be rescaled between 0 to 10.
c. Past Academic Performance (PAP)
Here, we evaluate the applicants’ academic performance (marks obtained) in the 10th Standard Examination, 12th standard examination, UG examination. The eligible applicants, as identified above, will be assigned rating scores ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ (See Table 3.1-3.3) based on the percentage of marks obtained in their 10 th standard,12 th standard and UG examinations, respectively.
Table 3.1. Past Academic Performance (PAP) – 10th Rating Score
| Percent score in 10th Std.Exam | Rating Score (A) |
|---|---|
| <= 55 | 1 |
| >55 and <= 60 | 3 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 4 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 | 9 |
| > 90 | 10 |
Table 3.2. Past Academic Performance (PAP) – 12th Rating Score
| Percent score in 12th Std.Exam | Rating Score (B) |
|---|---|
| <= 55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 3 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 4 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 | 9 |
| > 90 | 10 |
Table 3.3. Past Academic Performance (PAP) – UG Rating Score
| Percent score in UG Exam | Rating Score (C) |
|---|---|
| <= 55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 3 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 5 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 6 |
| > 80 and <= 90 | 9 |
| > 90 | 10 |
PAP Score for the candidate will be calculated as follows:
PAP = (0.02 *A+0.03*B+0.05*C)
d. Work Experience (WE) Score
The total number of months of work experience completed (as of January 31, 2025) will be considered to assign WE score as per Table 3.4. Only full-time and paid experience after graduation will be considered. Part-time/Project/Internship/CA Articleship/Training/ Pre-graduation work experience/ work experience which involves payment as stipend will not be counted as work experience. The training period as a part of the job will be considered work experience.
For work experience in multiple organizations, all the durations (months and days) will be added to arrive at the total experience. For example, if the total work experience is 13 months and 25 days, it will be considered 13 months. A valid proof of the date of appointment, date of relieving/ work experience certificate, and proof of payment/salary will have to be submitted at the time of the registration for the program. Work experience for employment involving cash payment of salary will not be considered. Candidates having work experience in the family business need to submit valid proofs of the existence of the business, association, and role of the individual in the business and proof of payment during the period of work experience.
Table 3.4. Work Experience (WE): Rating Scores
| Experience (in months) | Rating Score (WE) |
|---|---|
| x<6 | 0 |
| 6<=x<12 | 5 |
| 12<=x<18 | 9 |
| 18<=x<=24 | 10 |
| 25<=x<30 | 7 |
| 30<=x<36 | 3 |
| x>=36 | 0 |
e. Gender Diversity (GDI) Score
A gender diversity score of 10 points will be awarded based on the candidate’s gender (0 for male, 10 for female, and 10 for transgender candidates).
The selection at the end of Stage 3 will strictly be based on the ranks of the candidates computed separately for each category (General/EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST/DAP) based on their Final Scores (FS). The numbers selected in different categories will be in proportions mandated by the law.
3.2.4: How category wise merit list is prepared?
Provisional offers will be issued based on Final score. The selection at the end of Stage 3 will strictly be based on the ranks computed separately for each category (General/EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST/DAP) based on their Final Scores (FS). The numbers selected in different categories will be as per GOI policy.
4. OFFER AND ADMISSION
The selected candidates will receive provisional admission offers by email. To confirm the acceptance of the offer, the candidate has to pay an offer acceptance fee of Rs. 1,00,000, which will be subsequently adjusted towards Term I fees.
Due to the number of applications and the changes in admission criteria, Expression Of Interest (EOI) with commitment fee is proposed for waitlisted candidates. This commitment fee of Rs 50,000 is required to obtain confirmation from serious candidates who are keen in receiving admission offers and want to be in the waiting list throughout the process. A candidate should communicate EOI within stipulated deadline and by paying the refundable commitment fee. The candidate can withdraw this EOI anytime and receive a full refund without any deductions.
Admissions Office will send email regarding document verification and might ask for additional documents and/or clarifications. It is candidate’s responsibility to provide necessary information/documents within the stipulated deadline and engage in admissions process. The verification of documents will be done from the application period. It is the responsibility of the candidates to check the eligibility criteria before applying. If a candidate is found ineligible at any stage during the document check, the candidature and admission offer will be cancelled.
Any discrepancy found in document verification might lead to change in FS. In case of discrepancy and a subsequent change in FS, the candidate’s eligibility across the stages will be evaluated all over again. In case the candidate is not clearing any of the stages with the revised score, the provisional offer made to the candidate will be withdrawn. In such a case, the acceptance fee received from the candidate will be refunded after deducting the administrative charges.
5. WITHDRAWAL AND CANCELLATION PROCESS
The withdrawal/cancellation of admission offer can happen in multiple ways:
5.1. Before Term 1 Registration:
- 1. Once the offer acceptance fee is received by the stipulated date (mentioned in the offer email), the provisional admission is confirmed. Failure to submit payment by the specified date will result in the cancellation of the provisional admission.
- 2. For candidates withdrawing anytime on or before the registration Rs. 1000/- administrative charges will be deducted and the remaining fees will be refunded.
- 3. Admission will be cancelled if a candidate fails to register at IIM Nagpur on the specified date and time for registration.
- 4. Candidates have to pay the remaining amount of the Term 1 fee on or before the registration date or as specified in the offer letter. The deadline for the same will be communicated to candidates who have accepted the offer. Failure to submit the Term 1 fee payment by the stipulated deadline date (Term 1 fee payment deadline), will result in the cancellation of the provisional admission.
- 5. Candidates who withdraw from the program will be subject to deductions based on the timing of withdrawal.
-
- A. Withdrawal on/before registration (Tentative-29th June): ₹1,000 deducted
- B. Withdrawal by 10th day since registration (Tenative-8th July): ₹75,000 deducted
- C. Withdrawal on/after 11th day (Tentative-9th July): Term-1 fee deducted
-
Case 1: Immediate Withdrawal
– If a candidate withdraws before registration then Rs. 1000 will be deducted
– If a candidate registers for the program and withdraw immediately after registration then 75K will be deducted
Case 2: Withdrawal within 10 Days
– If a candidate registers and then withdraw within 10 days from the date of registration then 75K will be deducted (this is applicable from day of registration till 10th day)
Case 3: Withdrawal after 10 Days
– If candidate withdraws after the 10th day of registration then full Term-1 fee will be deducted.
* Dates are tentative
5.2. After registration:
- 1. Term 1 will commence with the registration and inauguration, followed by orientation. Fees will be collected before the registration for Term 1 and at the beginning of each subsequent term.
- 2. If any candidate withdraws after commencement of classes , only caution deposit will be refunded irrespective of when the withdrawal request is submitted.
5.3 The admission of a candidate stands cancelled if they provide any false information at any step in the admissions process. No claim for refund of the fee paid will be entertained in this case.
Note: This policy is applicable to the candidates during term 1.
Note:
- All or any dispute/s or differences arising out of admission process/ procedure, withdrawal, admission policy, admission cancellation procedure, cancellation policies, refund policies shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of Courts/ Forums/Commission at Nagpur alone.
- Any dispute concerning admissions to the MBA Batch of 2025-27 would be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts within the territorial jurisdiction of the city of Nagpur, Maharashtra only.
- IIM Nagpur is established as an autonomous institute sets its own policies and governed by IIM Act 2017.
IIM Nagpur reserves the right to change the admission policy including refund, shortlisting and selection criteria as deemed necessary.