CAT 2026 Reservation: Category Quotas and the Cutoff Dates

CAT 2026 reserves 15% of seats for SC candidates, 7.5% for ST, 27% for NC-OBC, up to 10% for EWS and 5% for PwBD candidates. Those are the legal quotas the IIMs follow. But a reserved seat only helps if your certificate is valid on the right date. The notification sets firm cutoffs for NC-OBC and EWS. Here's how the reservation works and the paperwork that makes or breaks it.

CAT 2026 reservation at a glance

The category-wise reservation, in full

The quotas come from law and apply across the IIMs.

As per the legal requirements, 15% of seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribe candidates. Other Backward Classes candidates in the non-creamy layer get 27%. Economically Weaker Sections candidates get up to 10%. Persons with Benchmark Disabilities get 5%, under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

One point is worth knowing. The applicable Central Government list as on the last date of CAT registration is what binds. If a caste or class is added or removed after that date, it won't change your CAT 2026 status.

The certificate dates that decide everything

For NC-OBC and EWS, the issue and assessment dates are strict.

This is the single most common way a reserved-category application goes wrong. People upload last year's OBC certificate and assume it's fine. For CAT 2026 it isn't. The non-creamy-layer certificate has to be issued on or after 1 April 2026. If yours is older, start the renewal today, because a government office will not rush for you and the form closes on 15 September.

If your new certificate isn't ready in time

The notification gives you a backup route.

If you applied for a valid NC-OBC or EWS certificate on or after 1 April 2026 but haven't received it by registration, you can still apply. Upload a single PDF containing the Undertaking for NC-OBC/EWS Certificate from the CAT website, your older certificate from before 1 April 2026 and a copy of the acknowledgement showing you've applied. Leave one of those out and you can be disqualified from the entire process. So put all three in before you submit.

What an SC or ST certificate must show

The certificate has to be in the Government of India format and name the right schedule.

If you belong to the SC or ST category, your caste or tribe must appear in the Government of India schedule. The certificate you submit should clearly state the name of the caste or tribe, whether it's Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, your district and state or union territory of ordinary residence and the Government of India schedule under which your caste or tribe is recognised. Upload it at registration. A missing certificate means your form is rejected.

Who counts as a Person with Benchmark Disability

A benchmark disability is 40% or more of a specified disability, as certified.

The RPwD Act 2016 defines a Person with Benchmark Disability as someone with not less than 40% of a specified disability, where that disability hasn't been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority. The specified categories are blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy, plus autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness. It also covers multiple disabilities from those groups and other disabilities listed in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016. PwBD candidates are also encouraged to apply for a UDID card and upload it.

A reserved seat still needs a real score

Reservation lowers the bar, it doesn't remove it.

Two things are true at once. The IIMs aim to admit SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates in the proportions the law sets. And every one of those candidates still has to meet the minimum eligibility and clear a minimum level of performance to enter the selection process. The graduation requirement is 45% instead of 50%. Category cutoffs on the CAT score sit lower than the general cutoffs, but they aren't zero.

I've mentored reserved-category students who assumed the quota did the work and eased off. It doesn't. Treat the reservation as a fair adjustment, then prepare as if it weren't there. One last rule from the notification: no change in category is allowed after you register, so pick the right one carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reservation percentage for CAT 2026?

It's 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for NC-OBC, up to 10% for EWS and 5% for PwBD candidates. These are the legal quotas the IIMs apply.

My NC-OBC certificate is from before April 2026. Is it valid?

No. For CAT 2026 the NC-OBC certificate must be issued on or after 1 April 2026. If you've applied for a new one but don't have it yet, you can upload an undertaking, the older certificate and proof of application in a single PDF.

What is the EWS certificate requirement for CAT 2026?

The EWS certificate must be valid for 2026-27 and specifically assessed for the financial year 2025-26. Upload it at registration.

Can I change my category after registering?

No. The notification states that no change in category is entertained after CAT registration, so choose carefully before you submit.

Do reserved-category candidates get a lower percentage requirement?

Yes. The graduation cutoff is 45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, against 50% for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates.

Does meeting the reservation quota guarantee admission?

No. Reserved-category candidates still have to meet the minimum eligibility and a minimum level of performance to be considered. The quota sets aside seats, it doesn't hand them out.