CAT 2023 Reservation Policy for OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD at IIMs

Tiyasa Khanra

Updated On: December 22, 2023 10:40 am IST | CAT

IIMs follow the central government reservation policy based on CAT 2023 percentile obtained by students. Find all about the CAT 2023 reservation policy for OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD at IIMs here.
 
Seat Reservation Policy at IIMs

Reservation Policy at IIMs: For MBA admission to the IIMs, one must qualify for the CAT exam. As far as seat reservation policy is concerned, IIMs follow the central government reservation policy. Candidates must be aware that IIMs publish separate CAT cutoff lists for each category, after the CAT results, which were released on December 21, 2023. The registration will be dismissed if the candidate fails to provide proof of their reservation category at any point during the selection process.

As per the seat reservation policy at IIMs, 15% of seats are reserved for students from the Scheduled Caste (SC), while 7.5% of seats are reserved for students from the Scheduled Tribe (ST). Candidates from the Other Backward Class (OBC) category who belong to the non-creamy layer have a reserve of 27%. Additionally, candidates from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category have a reservation of 10%. If you have appeared for the CAT exam and are seeking admission into IIMs, check the reservation policy for the OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD categories here.

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Reservation Policy at IIMs

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) offer reservations to members of the underprivileged community, much like every other college in India. This is being done to support those with talent who lack the resources to finish their education. A candidate with a lower percentile can also be admitted into India's top business schools owing to the reservation policy.

However, candidates who are eligible for reservation under various categories must understand that fulfilling the reservation policy does not guarantee admission to IIMs. The candidates must have a prescribed CAT eligibility criterion along with the minimum level of performance in the CAT 2023 and subsequent rounds of the admission process. The reservation policies followed by IIMs are listed below: 

  • The IIMs reserve 15% of its seats for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27% for Other Backward Classes belonging to the "non-creamy" layer (NC-OBC). Candidates from the EWS category have a reservation of 10%.

  • The only categories taken into consideration for reservation are those listed in the Central Government List on the final day of CAT registration.

  • IIMs set aside 3% of the seats for Persons with Disabilities (PwD).

  • The three types of disabilities that are taken into account for reservations are poor vision blindness, hearing impairment, and locomotor disability or cerebral palsy. 

  • Candidates who exhibit at least 40% of the above-mentioned disabilities will be considered for reservation.

Category-Wise Reservation of Seats in IIMs

Category

Percentage of Seats Reserved

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)

27%

SC

15%

ST

7.5%

PwD

5%

EWS

10%

CAT Reservation Policy

Also ReadMBA Admission Process 2024

NoteCandidates who wish to seek admission as per the reservation policies must upload the category or disability certificate at the time of CAT registration. 

Reservation Policy at IIMs: Who is Included Under the EWS category?

The following individuals are covered under the EWS category:

  • Only those whose family has a gross annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh and those who are considered to be ineligible for the SC, ST, and OBC reservation schemes are designated as EWS for reservation.
  • An Income and Asset Certificate issued by a Competent Authority must be presented to receive the advantage of reservation under the EWS category.

Officials with the Power to Issue an "Income and Asset Certificate"

Here is a list of the authorities who are qualified to issue an "Income and Asset Certificate":

  • Collector, District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, First Class Stipendiary Magistrate, Taluka Magistrate, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Executive Magistrate
  • The Chief Presidency Magistrate, Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate, Presidency Magistrate 
  • Revenue Officer not at a lower rank than that of Tehsildar.
  • Sub-divisional Officer of the region where the candidate and/or his family dwell.

Who is Ineligible for EWS Reservations Offered by IIMs?

No matter how much money their family makes, candidates who fall within any of the following categories are not eligible for the EWS quota:

  • Candidates whose families have agricultural lands of 5 acres or more.
  • Candidates who have their own residential apartment that is at least 1,000 square feet.
  • Candidates with parents who own a residential plot in certain municipalities that are at least 100 square yards.
  • Candidates whose parents reside outside of eminent municipalities and who possess a residential plot of 200 square yards or more.

Reservation Policy at IIMs: Who is Offered Reservation Under Person with Benchmark Disability (PwD) Category?

A Person with Benchmark Disability is a person with not less than 40% of specified disability as specified in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Check all the disabilities that fall under the PwD category.

  • Blindness and low vision
  • Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d)
  • Deaf and hard of hearing
  • Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness
  • Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
  • Other 'specified disabilities' mentioned in 'The Schedule' of the RPwD Act 2016 

Also Read:

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Reservation Requirements for Differently Abled Candidates 

Candidates taking the exam must be aware of the CAT reservation requirements:

  • In IIMs, 3% of the seats are reserved for different abled candidates.
  • Differently abled candidates must have a graduate degree with a minimum aggregate of 45%.
  • Differently abled candidates (such as those who are blind or have a locomotor disability) will be given a wheelchair at the exam location.
  • Differently abled candidates who fall under the low vision category are allowed to bring a scribe with them. Scribes are not subject to any specified requirements.

Documents Required for CAT Reservation for SC/ ST Category

Candidates belonging to the SC/ ST category will have to submit the caste certificate along with some other documents. These documents must comprise some information provided below.

  • Whether the candidate belongs to the Scheduled tribe or Scheduled caste category
  • Union Territory or District and the State of the ordinary residence
  • Name of the belonging caste or tribe of the candidate.
  • Signatures of required authorities

Also ReadCAT Score vs Percentile 2023

Certificates & Forms Required for Reservation at IIMs

All required documents for reservations in CAT 2023 are provided below. At the time of the interview, candidates must also present the original certificate in the specified format:

  • SC-ST Certificate
  • NC-OBC Certificate
  • DA/PwD Certificate
  • Format for Final Year Certificate
  • Format for Candidate Identification Affidavit

Reservation Policy at IIMs: Necessary Details of Reservation at IIMs

Before completing the CAT application form, candidates must read all guidelines thoroughly.

  • Prior to filling out the application, those who wish to avail of the reservation facilities must first confirm their eligibility. 
  • Candidates who fall under one of the following categories: SC, ST, PWD, or OBC must fill out a separate caste certificate. 
  • To demonstrate their eligibility, candidates must also attach their caste certificate in addition to filling out the required information. The certificates must be signed by the competent authorities.
  • Candidates who fall under the category of Physically Handicapped individuals must present a disability certificate that has been duly signed by a licensed physician. 
  • The disability certificate must include a statement on the degree of the disability. Furthermore, a brief explanation of the disability should be included on the certificate.

Key Information for Candidates in Reserved Category

The following key information applies to SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD:

  • Candidates must have been included in the Government of India schedule if they fall under the SC/ST category.

  • Candidates will be allowed to submit caste or category certificates only in the formats specified by the government.

  • The following should be included in the specified format:

    • Name of the caste or tribe

    • Whether the candidate is from an SC or ST background

    • The candidate's native district, state, or union territory of residence

  • An appropriate Government of India schedule under which the caste or tribe of the candidate has been recognized as SC or ST.

  • When registering for CAT, upload the certificates.

  • A copy of the certificates will be needed while conducting interviews.

However, there is a disadvantage to the reservation policy. Many deserving students are denied admission to the preferred IIMs as a result of the reservation policy simply because they fall under the general category. The selection process for candidates for an IIM is extremely rigorous, yet, owing to the reservations, some individuals pass the process only for the sake of it. These students are not deserving enough to attend these colleges, which lowers the standard of the batch. The students who enter through reservations are unable to compete with the rest of the class and students who were admitted to the institution based on merit, and this affects the decorum of the classes.

Also Read:


If you have further queries related to CAT 2023, you ask questions on our QnA zone. You can even check our CAT College Predictor 2023 and CAT 2023 Percentile Predictor to get an idea of your results based on your performance in the CAT 2023 exam. For admissions-related inquiries, fill out our Common Application Form (CAF) or call 1800-572-9877 to talk to the experts.

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FAQs

When was reservation introduced in the IIMs?

Reservation at IIMs was introduced in 2006. Since all IIMs were founded in accordance with the law, which includes the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act of 2006, they are required to abide by its provisions. On the final day of CAT registration, only those categories that were on the Central Government List were taken into account for reservations.

How many IIM seats are reserved?

Different numbers of IIM seats are reserved for different categories. The reservation guidelines that IIMs follow are as follows: 

  • 15% of seats at the IIMs are set aside for Scheduled Castes (SC)
  • 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST)
  • 27% for Other Backward Classes from the "non-creamy" layer (NC-OBC).

How many OBC seats are there at IIM?

809 OBC seats are there at IIMs out of the total number of seats at the IIMs.There are a total of 3,491 seats available for open allocation; 538 seats are for people of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST); and the rest seats are for People with Disabilities (EWS and PwD).

What cutoff percentile is required for OBC in CAT for IIM admission?

The cutoff percentile required by OBC candidates for IIM admission is 95% percentile. Different CAT percentile requirements apply to different groups and academic backgrounds. A 99.9+%ile in the General category, a 95%ile in the OBC category, and a 90%ile in the SC/ST category are required by IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta.

What is the CAT eligibility criteria for the scribe for PwD candidates?

There are no particular CAT eligibility criteria for the scribe for PwD candidates. However, candidates who want to take the CAT exam need to submit a scribe affidavit certifying that they will be appearing as the scribe for a specific candidate.

What is the validity of NC-OBC certificate for CAT reservation?

The validity of an NC-OBC certificate for CAT reservation is generally 1 year. Students are recommended to procure a fresh and updated NC-OBC certificate if they have already held an NC-OBC certificate for more than a year.

What is the format for the SC/ST certificate that must be used for CAT reservation?

The format for the SC/ST certificate that must be used for CAT reservation is the one that is provided on the official CAT website. The SC/ST certificate format is available on the official CAT website for all reserved category candidates to use. It is recommended that reservation documents for CAT must be provided in the official format only by all candidates.

Is there reservation for defence/army soldiers for IIM admission?

No, there is no reservation for defence/army soldiers for IIM admission. Although there is a special course designed just for army officers that only takes a limited number of officers, there is no similar reservation for army personnel in the regular IIM courses. Most bookings are made according to the individual's category, which includes OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PWD, and so forth.

What are the details that reserved category students must submit during CAT registration?

Reserved category students must upload the Caste Certificate that was granted by the Indian government during CAT registration. The following needs to be stated explicitly on the certificate:

  • Name of the caste/tribe
  • Whether the candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe
  • District and the State or Union Territory of the candidate’s ordinary residence
  • The appropriate category under which the candidate’s caste/tribe is approved by it is Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

What are the documents required by reserved category students for CAT registration?

The documents required by reserved category students for CAT registration include the following. The original certificates must be presented in the specified form at the time of personal interview.

  • SC-ST Certificate
  • NC-OBC Certificate
  • DA/PwD Certificate
  • Format for Final Year Certificate
  • Format for Candidate Identification Affidavit

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