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 2026-28¹ batch at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIM Nagpur).
2. NUMBER OF SEATS AND RESERVATION
The batch size for MBA 2026-28 will be 340 students². Table 1 shows the category-wise reservation³ and seats available.
Table 1. Number of seats and category-wise reservation
| Category | Reservation (%) | Seats per category |
|---|---|---|
| General | – | 120 |
| EWS | 10 | 34 |
| NC-OBC | 27 | 92 |
| SC | 15 | 51 |
| ST | 7.5 | 26 |
| DAP (Horizontal Reservation) | 5 | 17 |
| Total Seats | 340 | |
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 (2026-28) will be carried out in 3 stages. It will consider the candidate’s performance in Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, Past Academic Performance (PAP), Work Experience (WE), Gender Diversity (GDI), and performance in Personal Interview (PI) Process. The details are mentioned in the following sections.
3.1 Stages in the process
- Stage 1: Candidates who have appeared for CAT 2025 will be first screened for eligibility as per the CAT cut-offs decided by the IIM Nagpur. Candidates who clear the IIM Nagpur CAT cut-off would be intimated by email and asked to fill an application form for IIM Nagpur.
- Stage 2: Candidates who meet the CAT cut-offs and have filled the application form for IIM Nagpur within the deadline will move to Stage 2, where Shortlisting Score (SS) will be calculated for all such candidates. An SS-based shortlist will be generated to call candidates for Stage 3- Personal Interview (PI) Process.
- Stage 3: Candidates who appear for the PI process 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 2026-28
The CAT cut-offs as given in Table 2 will be used for selecting eligible candidates for all subsequent stages. The CAT 2025 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 2025 and meet the cut-offs as given in Table 2 would be receiving an email/communication from IIM Nagpur. Candidates who would like to pursue their candidature further for admission to MBA at IIM Nagpur must fill the application form before the deadline.
Table 2. CAT 2025 Sectional & Overall cut offs for different categories
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 95 |
| EWS | 55 | 55 | 55 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 85 |
| SC | 40 | 40 | 40 | 65 |
| ST | 30 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| DAP | 25 | 25 | 25 | 40 |
The Interested 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 will be considered for the next stage of the admission process. Please note that this registration is a pre-interview requirement and does not mean you have been shortlisted or received an interview call.
Candidates will also be required to flag the discrepancies, if any, in 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 2025.
3.2.2. Stage 2: Selection of Candidates for PI Process
Only those candidates who meet the minimum CAT 2025 percentile requirements and have filled the IIM Nagpur application form by the stipulated date will be considered in Stage 2 of the admission process.The shortlisting of the candidates will be based on the candidate’s CAT 2025 score and profile (profile includes 10th, 12th, graduation,work experience and gender diversity details as provided in CAT application form). Only the candidates who meet the criteria will be invited to take part in the Personal Interview (PI).
Invited candidates are required to complete the online application form, confirm their participation in the Personal Interview (PI) process, and provide their preferred PI locations. The PI will be conducted at Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and IIM Nagpur campus, with sessions scheduled in both forenoon and afternoon slots. Candidates must indicate a minimum of three different PI centers in order of their preferences; however, the final allocation of the PI centre will be communicated later and will remain the sole discretion of the Institute based on the availability of slots in different venues.
Personal Interview (PI) Process :
Candidates who have submitted the application form by the stipulated deadline and have been shortlisted for PI process in Stage 2 will be required to appear for a PI to be conducted by IIM Nagpur on the given date and time slot at the allocated venues.
Extempore: As part of the Personal Interview, candidates may be required to participate in a brief extempore round. The panel will provide a topic, followed by a short preparation time and a limited speaking duration.
3.2.3 Stage 3: Final Selection of the Candidates
After the completion of the PI process, the Final Score (FS) of each candidate shall be computed as per the following weighted formula:
|
Final Score (FS) = 45% CAT Score + 25% PI Score + 6% PAP + 9% Work Experience + 5% Academic Diversity + 10% Gender Diversity |
where each component is suitably normalized.
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) Process
The performance of the candidates in the Personal Interview (PI), including Extempore, will contribute 25% to the Final Score (FS).
This PI score will be converted to a 0–10 scale before being used in the FS.
c. Past Academic Performance (PAP) Score
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 10th standard,12th 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=1% of Rating A + 2% of Rating B + 3% of Rating C
* The percentage of marks obtained in Classes X and XII would be calculated based on the aggregate marks of all subjects that appear in the marks sheet or grade sheet, irrespective of whether the respective board considers them for the percentage calculation
d. Work Experience (WE) Score
The total number of months of work experience completed (as of January 31, 2026) will be considered to assign a WE score as per Table 3.4. Only full-time and paid experience after graduation will be considered.Part-time/Projects/Internships/Pre-CA/CA/ICWA(CMA)/CS Articleship/Training/Fellowship/unpaid work experience in any organization or institute/ Pre-graduation work experience which involves payment as stipend, jobs paid through cash or through UPI apps (Paytm, Google Pay, etc.) will not be counted as work experience. The training period as a part of the job will be considered work experience.
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.
Documentation for Self-Employment:
For self-employment, partnership, or self-owned start-up, full-time work experience will be counted only if the candidate submits: Income tax returns for the relevant years of employment, or the assessment year preceding the year of CAT registration, and Any two or more of the following documents (as applicable):
- Registered partnership deed
- MCA/RoC firm registration certificate
- GST registration of the firm
- PAN card of the firm
- Audited statements of account for at least two continuous financial years
- Bank account statement of the firm
- Statutory auditor appointment letter
- Purchase/work orders for the claimed period
- MSME certificate (if applicable)
- DIPP Certificate of Recognition (if applicable)
At least one of the submitted documents must clearly mention: The firm’s name, and firm’s registration number, The candidate’s name as Promoter/Director.
The other document must mention either: The firm’s name, or firm’s registration number.
The later date appearing in these two documents will be treated as the start date of self-employment for work-experience calculation. Both dates used to determine the start of self-employment must be after the date of award of the candidate’s graduation (qualifying degree).
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. Academic Diversity (ADI)
An academic diversity score (ADI) out of 10 will be calculated based on the candidate’s Bachelor’s Degree. 10 points will be awarded if the candidate has Non-Engineering Bachelor’s Degree.
f. 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, an Expression of Interest (EOI) with a commitment fee was proposed for waitlisted candidates.
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.
Please note that admission offers will be sent only through admissions-do-not-reply@iimnagpur.ac.in. No communication regarding the offer for admission will be made through any other means such as calls or any other email ID.
5. WITHDRAWAL AND CANCELLATION PROCESS
The withdrawal/cancellation of admission offer can happen in multiple ways:
5.1. Before Term 1 Registration:
- 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.
- For candidates withdrawing anytime on or before the registration Rs. 1000/- administrative charges will be deducted and the remaining fees will be refunded.
- Admission will be cancelled if a candidate fails to register at IIM Nagpur on the specified date and time for registration and the entire amount of the offer acceptance fees/Term fee paid will be forfeited.
- 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 and the entire amount of the offer acceptance fees/Term fee paid will be forfeited.
- Candidates who wish to withdraw from the program will be subject to deductions based on the timing of the withdrawal request
A. Withdrawal on or before Registration (Before July 12, 2026, 9:00 AM): A processing fee of ₹1,000 will be deducted, and the remaining amount of the fees paid will be refunded.
B. Withdrawal After Registration & Term -1 (July 12, 2026, 9:00 AM onwards): If a candidate withdraws after the registration date and time, the Offer Acceptance Fee and the Term 1 Fee will be forfeited in full. In such cases, only the caution deposit will be refunded, regardless of when the withdrawal request is submitted. All such withdrawal requests must be processed through the PGP office.
5.2. After registration:
- Commencent of the MBA programme begins with Registration & start of Term 1 classes. Fees will be collected before the registration for Term 1 and at the beginning of each subsequent term.
- If any candidate withdraws after registration date only caution deposit will be refunded irrespective of when the withdrawal request is submitted. All other fees (Offer Acceptance and Term 1 fees) are non-refundable regardless of when the request is submitted.
- Withdrawal after registration are managed by PGP office. For further assistance, please reach out to the PGP office at incharge-academic@iimnagpur.ac.in for guidance on the formal process.
5.3. Admission will be cancelled immediately if a candidate provides false information, suppresses facts, or engages in fraud at any stage of the process.
In cases of disqualification due to fraud or misrepresentation, no claims for fee refunds will be entertained.
Note: This policy is applicable to the candidates during term 1.
Important Information
- All candidates are advised to check their CAT registered emails regularly and visit the IIM Nagpur portal for updates on admission-related activities.
- Originals of all certificates (academic/reservation/work experience/professional) must be produced for verification during PI. Any candidate failing to produce any relevant original certificates mentioned will be disqualified from attending the PI process.
- All communication regarding MBA admissions at IIM Nagpur will solely occur through the admissions office of IIM Nagpur. The admissions office does not authorise any other individual or organisation to manage MBA admissions on its behalf. Any candidate attempting to gain admission through fraud will be disqualified from the process immediately.
- Any misrepresentation or suppression of information by a candidate at any stage during the admissions process or later will lead to immediate disqualification of the candidate from IIM Nagpur.
Notes:
- 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 2026-28 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.