List of IIMs in India 2026: Rank Wise List, Fees, Seats, Categories & Placements

 There are 22 Indian Institutes of Management in India, and students often look for a simple list of IIMs without getting a clear answer on which IIM belongs to which category, their rankings, their costs and how their placement outcomes differ.

That matters because all the IIMs share the same broad brand and accept CAT for their flagship MBA/PGP admission process, but they are not the same. Each IIM is autonomous and decides its own fee, intake, admission criteria, cut-offs and selection weightages. Copied markdown

“Old vs new” is not the best way to read the list of IIMs in India. Students should look at:

• NIRF Ranking Fees
• MBA/PGP admissions
• Outcomes of placement
• Entry requirements
• Weightages of work-experience and academics
• Specialisms in the program

Number of IIMs in India

India has 22 IIMs. With the addition of IIM Guwahati, the total number of IIMs in India has increased from 21 to 22. Earlier in 2023, IIM Mumbai joined the IIM system after conversion of NITIE.

The total intake for MBA/PGP across the 22 IIMs is around 7,700 seats, although the intake numbers may differ across admission cycles.  

Complete List of All IIMs in India

The intake figures above are useful for comparison, but some are approximate and can vary batch by batch.  

Old, New and Baby IIMs: What Are These Categories?

The different generations of institutes are understood by students with the help of “Old IIMs", “New IIMs", and “Baby IIMs". These are the usual categories rather than an official classification.

Old / BLACK IIMs

BLACKI stands for:

Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Indore.

These are some of the oldest IIMs and typically witness the highest competition, recruiter depth and alumni networks. Markdown Pasted

Second Generation / New IIMs

This group typically includes:

Shillong, Rohtak, Ranchi, Raipur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur and Kashipur.

Several of these institutes have been around for over a decade, so judging them as “new” can be misleading.

Third-generation IIMs (Baby IIMs)

This group typically includes:

Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Sirmaur and Visakhapatnam

IIM Guwahati is even newer and is best dealt with separately, as its first MBA batch is just starting its journey. Markdown pasted

Which IIMs are the Most Ranked in the IIM Ranking List 2026?

The latest official NIRF Management ranking has IIM Bangalore at Rank 1, IIM Ahmedabad at Rank 2 and IIM Calcutta at Rank 3. IIM Lucknow Ranks 4 and IIM Udaipur Ranks 5: NIRF India

Rankings are helpful, but they shouldn’t be your sole decision-making tool. NIRF looks at multiple dimensions, whereas an MBA aspirant may care more about placements, fees, program fit, geography and admission probability. NIRF India Ranking

IIM Fees: MBA Fees & Expenses

Fees of IIMs vary widely. Program fees in the reference data range from about ₹17.90 lakh at IIM Rohtak to ₹27.50 lakh at IIM Ahmedabad. markdown pasted

Some examples:

Please note that each institute updates its fee data separately. Always verify the batch year.

Which IIM Offers the Best Placement?

There is no useful answer based on just the “highest package. Average CTC, median CTC and fee together is a better comparison.

For example, the compiled placement data states that average CTCs were about ₹36 lakh at IIM Calcutta, ₹35.35 lakh at IIM Bangalore, ₹35.22 lakh at IIM Ahmedabad and ₹33.20 lakh at IIM Lucknow. However, these numbers are from different placement batches and reporting formats and thus cannot be compared without context. Pasted markdown

Median salary is often more useful than one exceptionally high offer for students because it gives a better idea of the outcome for the broader batch.

How Do You Get Admission into an IIM?

CAT is the main entry test for the flagship MBA/PGP programs. After CAT, institutes have their own shortlisting and final-selection formulas.

The process usually includes:

• CAT exam
• Meeting the sectional and overall cut-offs for the institute
• Shortlisting on the basis of CAT, academics, work experience or diversity
• Interview process at the institute or WAT/PI
• Composite score final

The key point is that there is no one common IIM admission formula. What is a good profile for one IIM might not be for another. Copied markdown

How to Choose the Right IIM?

Don’t make your preference list just on the basis of the IIM ranking list. Think about four practical questions:

• Does this IIM reward the strongest part of my profile?
• Is the fee reasonable given its median location?
• Is there a programme/specialisation I want?
• What are my chances of being admitted?

Some institutes, for example, give more weightage to CAT, and some, academics, work experience or personal interviews. "I'm going to take a break from this process for a while. I'll see if I can think of any new ideas while I'm at it. I'll be back soon."

Sometimes, an IIM that is lower in the order of merit but matches your profile, budget, and career objectives may be a better choice than blindly following the order of merit.