The Common Admission Test or CAT is a national entrance examination for admission to the IIMs and other leading business schools in India. To support the reserved category students, the CAT reservation plays a crucial role in the process of admissions. The CAT 2025 reservation for current year is expected to be as follows:
Scheduled Caste (SC): 15%, Scheduled Tribe (ST): 7.5%, Other Backward Classes (OBC - Non-Creamy Layer): 27% and more.
The IIMs adhere to these Reservation policies from the moment they shortlist candidates for interviewing to the moment they make the final admissions to MBA and PGDM. The current reserved classes are SC (Scheduled Castes), ST (Scheduled Tribes), OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes, Non Creamy Layer), EWS (Economically Weaker Section), and PwD (Persons with Disabilities). All categories have a reserved percentage of seats in IIMs as per the previous Government of India rules.
But all students have to undergo the same exam procedure. The CAT reservation policy of the candidates with reserved classes is not available until the results of the exam are declared. Students must meet the CAT Eligibility Criteria as per GOI to avails all benefits of reservation policies. All the applicants who ask for a reservation must upload valid and updated certificates while applying for CAT, while applying for admissions, and whenever asked. To learn more about the reservation policy of the CAT exam, kindly refer to the following.
Reservation Policy of CAT Exam
The following table contains complete CAT reservation criteria for the current academic year.
Category | Reservation Percentage |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.50% |
Other Backward Classes (OBC – NCL) | 27% |
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 10% |
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 5% |
General (Unreserved) | Remaining Seats |
CAT Reservation Eligibility Criteria - Category Wise
Students are provided with eligibility criteria to avail reservation policy below.
1. Scheduled Caste (SC)
- The candidates should be of a Scheduled Caste included in the official SC list of the Government of India.
- A valid certificate from a competent authority to prove SC status is necessary.
- Certificate must be in the format of the central government (not state specific alone).
2. Scheduled Tribe (ST)
- The applicants should be of a Scheduled Tribe recognized by the Government of India.
- A valid ST certificate in the prescribed format should be uploaded.
- The certificate should be given by an authority competent, normally a District Magistrate or above.
3. Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL)
- Candidates should be of the Non-Creamy Layer of the OBC category.
- A current OBC-NCL certificate (within the last year as per CAT notification year) should be submitted.
- Certificates should be in central government format.
- Creamy Layer OBC candidates are excluded from the reservation.
4. Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
- Should not belong to SC/ST/OBC categories.
- The total income of the family should be below ₹8 lakh per annum.
- Families should not possess high-value assets such as high-value agricultural land or housing properties above limits prescribed by the government.
- A proper EWS certificate from a competent authority is required.
5. Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
Candidates having any kind of disability as described in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 are entitled.
- Disabilities qualifying for consideration:
→Vision impairment
→Hearing impairment
→Locomotor disability
→Mental illness, etc.
- A valid PwD certificate issued by a medical authority is mandatory.
- Candidates may opt for a scribe and other help, as per rule.
Also Check: How Many Students are Expected to Register for the CAT Exam this Year?
Documents Required to Avail CAT Reservation Policy
Students looking to get benefits through the CAT reservation criteria, will have to submit all the required documents mentioned below.
Category | Required Document(s) |
SC | Valid SC certificate (Central Govt. format) issued by a competent authority |
ST | Valid ST certificate (Central Govt. format) issued by a competent authority |
OBC–NCL | OBC–NCL certificate issued after April 1, 2024 (Central Govt. format only) |
EWS | Valid EWS certificate issued by a competent authority (as per Govt. of India norms) |
PwD | Disability certificate (minimum 40% disability), issued by a recognized medical board |
Fee Structure for Reservation in CAT Exam 2025
Students can gain an idea about CAT fee structure for reserved category students below.
- SC- Scheduled Caste: INR 1250
- ST- Scheduled Tribe: INR 1250
- PwD- Persons with Disabilities: INR 1250
- NC-OBC - Non-Creamy Other Backward Caste: INR 2500
- Economically weaker section: INR 2500
Also Check: How to Select Courses During IIM CAT Registration?
