Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT is a management aptitude test conducted by the IIMs primarily to evaluate and shortlist candidates for the post graduate programme. It is a computer-based exam and a candidate has to register and apply following due process to take this exam conducted once a year.

IIMs are considered India’s premier national institutes providing quality education in management and research. IIMs primarily offer post graduate, doctoral and executive education programmes. The flagship programme of IIMs, is the two-year post-graduate programme. These two year programmes are residential in nature. The Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) is a fulltime doctoral level programme in management and research equivalent to Ph.D. degree. The Executive Post Graduate programmes are targeted for working professionals.

Admission to the two year post graduate programmes in IIMs are on merit, based on a rigorous selection process comprising of Personal Interview, Written Ability Test/Group Discussions, and scores in the Common Admission Test which is commonly known as CAT. As per Government of India norms, IIMs reserve 15% seats for SC candidates, 7.5% seats for ST candidates and 27% seats for NC-OBC candidates. 5% seats are also reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. IIMs also provide scholarships to deserving students who need financial support.