IIM Ahmedabad RTI data: EWS joiners needed 97.82 percentile, above General's 92.20

By TUF News Desk · Published 25 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

An EWS candidate needed a higher CAT percentile than a General category candidate to join IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP 2026-28 batch. That is the most unexpected number in the institute’s RTI admission data, reported by JagranJosh and Cracku this week.

The lowest CAT percentile among EWS candidates who joined was 97.82. For General category joiners, the lowest was 92.20. The gap cuts against the usual assumption about reserved category floors, and reflects how small and competitive the EWS pool is at the top end.

Who got the interview call

The RTI figures show 1,325 candidates shortlisted for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview. The General category accounted for 581 of those calls, followed by NC-OBC with 336, SC with 186, ST with 109, EWS with 63 and PwD with 50.

The lowest CAT percentile among shortlisted candidates also varied by category:

Clearing the published cutoff was only the entry ticket. Shortlisting compares candidates within their academic discipline and category, so a percentile above the cutoff did not by itself secure a call.

Who actually joined

Of the 1,325 shortlisted candidates, 415 joined the batch. The General category contributed 179 joiners, NC-OBC 107, SC 61, ST 31, EWS 20 and PwD 17.

The joined floors sit below the shortlist floors in most categories, because the final selection weighs the writing test and interview alongside the CAT score and the application rating. A candidate who entered the interview round with a lower percentile could still convert the call with a strong performance there. The EWS line moved the other way, which points to how few EWS seats were in play and how strong the EWS candidates who took them were.

Why the EWS floor sits so high

IIM Ahmedabad does not shortlist on CAT percentile alone. Academic consistency across school and graduation, work experience and diversity factors all feed into the composite used for calls, and the final decision adds the writing test and interview to that mix. In a small category pool, a handful of very strong profiles can push the lowest successful percentile up, even while the published minimum cutoff for EWS matches the General cutoff at 95 overall.

For CAT 2026 candidates, the practical reading is plain. A percentile in the mid-90s keeps a General category candidate in the conversation, but it does not settle anything. School and graduation marks, work experience and interview performance still decide who converts a call, and the EWS numbers show that no category offers an easy route in. Candidates weighing their options can read our guide to choosing a university in India alongside the percentile tables, and our scholarships guide covers funding routes for students who do get in.

CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026. Candidates can check the selection process on the official IIM Ahmedabad admissions page before the exam.

Frequently asked questions

How many candidates were shortlisted for IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2026-28 interviews?

1,325 candidates were shortlisted for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview, including 581 from the General category and 336 from NC-OBC.

How many candidates joined IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP 2026-28 batch?

415 candidates joined, including 179 from the General category, 107 from NC-OBC and 61 from SC.

What was the lowest CAT percentile among EWS candidates who joined?

97.82, which was higher than the lowest percentile among General category joiners, at 92.20.

Does clearing the CAT cutoff guarantee an IIM Ahmedabad interview call?

No. Shortlisting also weighs academic record, work experience and other profile factors, so candidates above the cutoff can still miss out on a call.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: JagranJosh, Cracku, CATMock