CAT 2026: 8 extra marks for women at IIM Jammu — the gender diversity edge explained
By TUF News Desk · Published 17 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
IIM Jammu gives women and transgender candidates up to 8 marks out of 100 for gender diversity in its 2027-29 MBA selection criteria, according to a Careers360 report published on October 17. It is the heaviest gender weight among the institutes the report covered, and it changes the arithmetic of who stands a better chance of a final offer.
The report compares how the top IIMs count gender in their final merit lists, and the approaches differ sharply from one institute to the next.
How IIM Jammu adds it up
The institute’s final merit list works out to 42% CAT score, 30% personal interview and 28% profile, the report said. The profile slice divides into 10 marks for academic performance across Class 10, Class 12 and graduation, 10 for work experience and up to 8 for gender diversity. Collegedunia’s admission criteria page for the institute carries the same 42-30-10-10-8 split.
That 8 is doing real work. It is worth nearly as much as the full work-experience component (10 marks), so the diversity marks can make up for a thin work history, though not for a large gap in CAT scores. Shortlisting gives women and transgender candidates a break too: the institute’s CAT cutoffs relax by a couple of percentiles for them at the interview-call stage, according to Collegedunia’s criteria tables.
IIM Sirmaur’s version
IIM Sirmaur spreads the weight differently. Its composite score gives 30% to the CAT score, 20% to the personal interview and 10% to the written ability test, with the remaining 40% covering academic performance, work experience and gender diversity, Careers360 reported. The institute’s published criteria award 5 marks to female and transgender candidates on the diversity component.
IIM Mumbai leans on the test
IIM Mumbai, ranked sixth in the NIRF 2025 rankings, puts the biggest premium on the exam itself. Its final composite is 60% CAT marks, 20% personal interview and 20% academic performance and work experience, with no separate diversity component, according to the report. Candidates whose CAT score is their strong suit get the cleanest run here.
The diversity components are designed to improve the gender mix in flagship MBA batches, which is also why the cutoffs ease for female and transgender candidates at the shortlisting stage.
Why the formula matters this season
The funnel is tight this year. About 2.84 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2026, the exam is on November 29, and the 22 IIMs will fill a little over 8,200 seats in the 2027-29 flagship batch. Admit cards go live on November 4 on the official CAT website. Where a woman candidate applies, and how that institute counts her CAT score, shifts her odds before the interview round even starts.
Students comparing schools can start with our guide to choosing a university in India, and those counting the cost of a business school should look at our scholarships guide for Indian university students.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight does IIM Jammu give to gender diversity in admissions?
Up to 8 marks out of 100 in the final composite score. The institute’s formula is 42% CAT score, 30% personal interview and 28% profile, where the profile splits into 10 marks for academics, 10 for work experience and up to 8 for gender diversity.
Does IIM Sirmaur give gender diversity points?
Yes. Its published criteria award 5 marks to female and transgender candidates on the gender diversity component. The composite score is 30% CAT, 20% personal interview, 10% written ability test and 40% academic performance, work experience and gender diversity.
Which IIM gives the most weight to the CAT score itself?
IIM Mumbai. Its final composite is 60% CAT marks, 20% personal interview and 20% academic performance and work experience, with no separate gender diversity component.
When is CAT 2026 and when are admit cards released?
The exam is on November 29, 2026, and admit cards go live on November 4 on the official CAT website.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight does IIM Jammu give to gender diversity in admissions?
Up to 8 marks out of 100 in the final composite score. The institute's formula is 42% CAT score, 30% personal interview and 28% profile, where the profile splits into 10 marks for academics, 10 for work experience and up to 8 for gender diversity.
Does IIM Sirmaur give gender diversity points?
Yes. Its published criteria award 5 marks to female and transgender candidates on the gender diversity component. The composite score is 30% CAT, 20% personal interview, 10% written ability test and 40% academic performance, work experience and gender diversity.
Which IIM gives the most weight to the CAT score itself?
IIM Mumbai. Its final composite is 60% CAT marks, 20% personal interview and 20% academic performance and work experience, with no separate gender diversity component.
When is CAT 2026 and when are admit cards released?
The exam is on November 29, 2026, and admit cards go live on November 4 on the official CAT website.
Sources: Careers360, Collegedunia, Shiksha