Total Seats in IIMs for MBA/PGDM (LATEST): Category-wise IIM Seats & Distribution

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the premier management education institutes in India. Every year, thousands of aspirants compete for a limited number of seats in these prestigious institutions. Understanding the Total Seats in IIMs is crucial for aspirants to strategize their preparation, assess their chances across different categories, and make informed decisions while filling preferences.

Join the Coachify CAT Club WhatsApp Group for real-time discussion, strategies, and tips.
Access the CAT PYQ Zone to practice previous year questions and boost your preparation.
Enroll in our Pre-Recorded CAT 2025 Course for structured learning and progress tracking.

Table of Content

• Total IIM Seats 2025
• Category-wise Total Seats in IIMs 2025
  • General Category Seats
  • OBC Category Seats
  • SC & ST Category Seats
• IIM MBA Admission 2025: Reservation Criteria
• Total Seats in IIMs by Program
• Old vs New IIMs: Seat Distribution
• How Total Seats in IIMs Affect Cutoffs

Total IIM Seats 2025

India currently has 21 IIMs offering around 5,500 seats for MBA/PGDM programs. This number includes flagship PGP/MBA programs and other management courses. The Total Seats in IIMs can change slightly every year due to expansion in intake or the introduction of new IIMs, but the ratio across categories generally remains stable.

Here is a snapshot of total seats in all IIMs for 2025:

Combined Total Seats: ~5,550

This table clearly shows that IIMs vary in intake, with top institutes like Bangalore, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad having the highest seat numbers.

Learn more about General Category Seats in IIMs for MBA.

Category-wise Total Seats in IIMs 2025

Admission to IIMs follows the reservation policy mandated by the Government of India. Seats are reserved for OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD categories. Horizontal reservations exist for PwD candidates across all categories.

Category-wise distribution of IIM seats in 2025:

• OBC: ~800 seats
• SC/ST: ~500+ seats
• EWS & PwD: Remaining seats

This reservation ensures representation for all sections while leaving the general category for aspirants without reservation.

Total No of Seats in IIM for General Category

The general category seats account for roughly 40% of total seats, translating to ~2,200 seats across all IIMs. Institute-wise distribution of general category seats is as follows:

The limited number of general category seats, especially in top IIMs, makes it highly competitive, with cutoffs often touching 99+ percentile for flagship programs.

For focused CAT practice by sections like DILR, VARC, and Quant, explore Coachify resources.

Total No of Seats in IIM for OBC Category

OBC candidates have a reservation of ~27% across all IIMs, translating into roughly 800 seats. Institute-wise OBC seats in 2025:

Understand OBC Certificate Eligibility and Documents for smooth application.

Total No of Seats in IIM for SC & ST Category

SC Category (~15%) and ST Category (~7.5%) seats ensure representation for these groups.

For reservation policy details, check IIM Admission Criteria.

IIM MBA Admission 2025: Reservation Criteria

All IIMs follow a common reservation policy laid down by the Government of India:

This ensures fair representation across social categories while maintaining competitive rigor.

Total Seats in IIMs by Program

The Total Seats in IIMs are distributed across multiple programs:

• PGP/MBA (Flagship): ~5,550 seats – The flagship PGP/MBA program makes up the largest portion of the Total Seats in IIMs, attracting the highest competition due to placements and brand value.
• IPM (Integrated Program in Management): ~1,200 seats – Offered at select IIMs, these seats are part of the Total Seats in IIMs and ideal for high school graduates seeking early management exposure.
• Executive MBA/PGPX: 100–200 seats per institute – Executive seats form a small fraction of the Total Seats in IIMs, catering to professionals with work experience.

Key Insight: Flagship PGP/MBA programs dominate the Total Seats in IIMs, making them the most competitive.

Old vs New IIMs: Seat Distribution

The Total Seats in IIMs are divided between older and newer institutes:

• Old IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong): ~3,000+ seats – These IIMs hold the majority of the Total Seats in IIMs, resulting in high cutoffs.
• New IIMs (Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur, Vishakhapatnam): ~2,500+ seats – Newer IIMs add to the Total Seats in IIMs, offering growing opportunities with slightly lower cutoffs.

Tip: Analyzing Total Seats in IIMs across old and new IIMs helps aspirants target institutes strategically.

For strategic institute targeting, check Best IIM in India 2025.

How Total Seats in IIMs Affect Cutoffs

The Total Seats in IIMs play a key role in cutoffs and admission chances:

• Fewer seats → Higher cutoffs for top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta.
• More seats → Slightly relaxed cutoffs for newer IIMs with increasing intake.
• Reservation categories impact cutoffs, as OBC, SC, ST, and EWS share a portion of the Total Seats in IIMs.

Conclusion: Understanding the Total Seats in IIMs by program, institute type, and category helps aspirants plan applications, predict cutoffs, and improve their chances of admission.

Track previous year CAT papers to estimate cutoffs based on seat distribution.

The Total Seats in IIMs for MBA/PGDM 2025 are ~5,550, with category-wise reservation ensuring fair representation. General category aspirants compete for ~2,200 seats, mainly in old IIMs. Knowing the seat matrix and reservation policy helps aspirants plan applications and prepare strategically.

Stay updated with Coachify:

• Join WhatsApp
• Practice with PYQ Zone
• Enroll in Pre-Recorded CAT Course
• Follow on Telegram & YouTube

For preparation support, check CAT Foundation, Reading Zone, one-to-one counselling, and PDF resources.