The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the most prestigious destinations for MBA aspirants in India. Every year, lakhs of students compete for a limited number of seats, making the general category seats in IIMs for MBA one of the toughest challenges in management education. With category-wise reservations and a fixed intake per program, aspirants in the general category often face the highest cut-offs and toughest competition.
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Total Seats in IIMs for MBA – Category Wise 2025
Every IIM follows reservation norms as per the Government of India. Out of the total seats available in MBA/PGP programs, seats are distributed among categories like General, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD.
Here’s the overall category-wise percentage distribution:
| Category |
Percentage of Seats |
Remarks |
| General |
~40–45% |
Varies by IIM, forms the largest share |
| OBC-NCL |
27% |
Reservation for non-creamy layer OBC candidates |
| SC |
15% |
Reserved for Scheduled Castes |
| ST |
7.5% |
Reserved for Scheduled Tribes |
| EWS |
10% |
For Economically Weaker Section within General category |
| PwD |
5% (across categories) |
Horizontal reservation applicable to all categories |
This distribution directly affects the availability of seats for the general category.
Related: IIM Admission Criteria 2025 – Category-wise Eligibility & Weightages
IIM Seats General Category 2025 – Institute-Wise Data
The general category seats in IIMs for MBA vary across institutes depending on intake. Below is a detailed list for some of the top IIMs.
Check related insights: IIM Average Package 2025, Salary Trends, ROI Comparison.
IIM Seats for General Category vs Reserved Category
The reservation system at IIMs ensures diversity but also means fewer seats are available for general category applicants despite significantly higher demand. For example, in a batch intake of 500 students, only about 200–220 seats go to the general category, while the remaining are distributed among OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD categories.
This directly results in higher competition for IIMs for MBA among general applicants, where even a small percentile difference can decide admission into a top IIM. With lakhs of aspirants competing, the fight for limited general seats becomes extremely intense.
Read next: CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Detailed Comparison with Previous Year Trends.
IIM CAP General Category Cutoff 2025
The Common Admission Process (CAP) is conducted jointly for the newer IIMs. The cutoff for the general category in CAP 2025 is expected to remain in the 92–95 percentile range.
However, when it comes to older IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, the bar is much higher — general category cutoffs often exceed the 99 percentile mark. This makes it essential for general aspirants to aim for near-perfect performance in CAT 2025 to secure a seat.
Useful practice resources:
IIM Seats by Programme – General Category (PGP Seats)
IIMs for MBA offer multiple programs designed for different student profiles:
- PGP/MBA (Flagship 2-Year Program): The largest share of seats, where most general category aspirants compete.
- PGPX (Executive MBA – 1 Year): Targeted at working professionals with experience, seat allocation still follows the reservation formula.
- IPM (Integrated Program in Management – 5 Years): For students right after Class 12, combining undergraduate + postgraduate management education.
Across all these programs, the general category seats are proportionally distributed as per government norms, which keeps the intake for open-category students limited and highly competitive.
ROI Angle – General Seats vs Placements
Although general category aspirants face higher cutoffs and limited seats, the return on investment (ROI) offered by IIMs for MBA remains one of the strongest in India.
- Top IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta): Average placements range between ₹28–35 LPA, with consulting, finance, and product management roles leading.
- Newer IIMs (Udaipur, Trichy, Raipur, etc.): Still deliver impressive outcomes, with average packages of ₹15–18 LPA, making them highly attractive despite lower brand legacy.
Considering that the IIM MBA fee is around ₹20–25 lakhs, the placement packages ensure that the payback period is relatively short — usually within 1–2 years of graduation. This makes pursuing IIMs for MBA a strong value proposition, especially for general category candidates who invest significant effort to clear higher cutoffs.
Must-read: IIM MBA Fees 2025: Fee Structure, Scholarships, ROI & Comparison.
Securing a seat in the general category at IIMs for MBA is undoubtedly one of the toughest challenges in management education. With limited seats, high cutoffs, and intense competition, the journey demands consistent preparation and strategic effort. However, the ROI through placements, industry exposure, and global recognition makes it worth the effort. For serious aspirants, an IIM MBA remains a life-changing career investment.
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