CAT 2026 IIM Seat Matrix: Estimated Institute-Wise and Category-Wise Seats

CAT 2026 IIM Seat Matrix: MBA aspirants preparing for CAT 2026 can use estimated institute-wise and category-wise seat figures to understand the approximate scale of competition across the Indian Institutes of Management.

However, an important clarification is necessary:

The widely circulated CAT 2026 category-wise table is an estimate based on institutional data and reservation assumptions, not an official consolidated seat matrix jointly published by all IIMs.

Why the Distinction Matters

IIMs independently publish admission policies, batch sizes and selection criteria.

Actual final intake can change due to:

• Programme capacity
• Supernumerary seats
• Reservation implementation
• PwD provisions
• Institution-specific decisions

Estimated Core/Flagship Intake

IIM	Estimated Core Intake	Approx. Gross Batch Size
IIM Ahmedabad	399	415
IIM Bangalore	505	525
IIM Calcutta	479	479
IIM Lucknow	582	583
IIM Kozhikode	486	495
IIM Indore	488	489
IIM Mumbai	307	309
IIM Shillong	391	450
IIM Udaipur	355	366
IIM Raipur	330	340
IIM Tiruchirappalli	489	502
IIM Ranchi	170	220
IIM Rohtak	349	350
IIM Kashipur	309	311
IIM Nagpur	323	340
IIM Visakhapatnam	347	347
IIM Amritsar	260	260
IIM Bodh Gaya	180	210
IIM Jammu	290	290
IIM Sambalpur	308	308
IIM Sirmaur	170	230
IIM Guwahati	70	70

Reservation Categories

The estimate applies Government of India reservation proportions as a planning framework, including:

• General
• EWS
• NC-OBC
• SC
• ST
• PwD provisions where applicable

Do Not Treat Estimated Category Numbers as Admission Guarantees

A candidate's admission opportunity depends on much more than total seat numbers.

IIM selection can consider:

• CAT percentile
• Sectional percentile
• Academic record
• Work experience
• Gender/academic diversity components
• Personal interview
• Institution-specific criteria

CAT 2026 Exam

The current CAT 2026 schedule lists:

• Registration closing: September 15, 2026 at 5 PM
• Admit card: November 4
• Exam: November 29

Official Link

CAT:
https://iimcat.ac.in/

FAQs

Is this an official consolidated IIM seat matrix?
No. The widely circulated table is an estimate and should be used for planning rather than treated as final official intake.

Which IIM has one of the largest estimated flagship intakes?
IIM Lucknow is among the largest in the cited estimate.

Should candidates verify individual IIM policies?
Yes.

Conclusion

Estimated IIM seat data can help CAT candidates understand the scale of competition, but admission decisions should be based on official programme-specific policies released by each IIM rather than a third-party consolidated estimate alone.