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Aspiring for admission into an IIM is a major goal for MBA candidates in India. Preparing for the CAT exam demands consistent, year-round effort to clear cutoffs and secure a seat in the prestigious MBA/PGDM programs offered by these central government-run business schools. Despite their dedication, many candidates are unable to get admission to an IIM. Some candidates, even after being placed on the IIM waitlist movement, ultimately do not get a seat.
Many students successfully qualify and clear the WAT-GD/PI rounds at IIMs, but due to their final composite scores falling short compared to others, they unfortunately miss out on admission.
IIM Selection Process
India is home to 21 IIMs, each consistently ranked among the top 100 business schools by NIRF. The selection process at these institutes is highly competitive and comprehensive. Apart from achieving a strong CAT score, candidates must also present an impressive overall profile. Most IIMs offer final admission based on the performance of the candidates in Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. However, some institutes like IIM Ahmedabad have replaced the GD round with a combination of Personal Interview (PI) and Academic Writing Test (AWT), alongside other criteria.The admission process for the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at IIMs follows a structured approach:
- Initial screening is done based on CAT exam scores, including sectional and overall cutoff ranks.
- Shortlisted candidates are then required to participate in AWT/WAT, GD, and Personal Interview rounds.
- The final admission decision depends on category-wise shortlisting and the candidate’s Final Composite Score (FCS).
Also Check: CAT Mock Test 2025
What is waitlist movement in IIM?
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students compete for admission to MBA programs at the IIMs. With a total seat capacity of around 4,000 across all 20 IIMs, only a limited number of candidates can be admitted. After the initial selection list is announced, there is often a group of candidates who remain on a waitlist, waiting for any selected candidate to decline their seat. When a seat is vacated, it is then offered to the next eligible candidate on the IIM waitlist.
The IIM waitlist reflects the number of seats that become available for waitlisted candidates. Applicants often wait anxiously for IIM waitlist movement, especially at top institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, where admission chances improve as seats are released. Recently, the IIM waitlist movement at baby IIMs has also gained attention.
Waitlist movement at IIMs and other top MBA colleges varies based on categories. It tends to be highly competitive and strict for the general category, while reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC, and PwD may experience somewhat relaxed criteria.
Unlike many other IIMs, IIM Lucknow waitlist movement is released in the form of a merit list. The Institute releases a list of candidates if the previously admitted candidates drop out, creating a vacant seat.
IIM Last Year Waitlist Movement
IIM Waitlist Movement is generally conveyed by the official websites. Although candidates can check the IIM last year waitlist movement to get an idea of the category-wise vacant seats and the waitlist movement trends.
IIM Ahmedabad Waitlist Movement
IIM Ahmedabad waitlist movement plays a crucial role in shaping the final admissions of the candidates each year. Check the IIM waitlist for the previous years in the table given below.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 27 | 1 |
| EWS | 2 | 3 |
| OBC | 14 | 5 |
| SC | 19 | 11 |
| ST | 9 | 0 |
| PwD | 7 | 6 |
IIM Bangalore Waitlist Movement
IIM Bangalore waitlist movement is a key indicator for aspirants getting final MBA admissions. Candidates can check the given IIM waitlist for the previous years to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 67 | 33 |
| EWS | 15 | 0 |
| NC OBC | 16 | 20 |
| SC | 40 | 37 |
| ST | 08 | 4 |
| PWD | 02 | – |
IIM Calcutta Waitlist Movement
IIM Calcutta waitlist movement is closely observed by candidates aiming for a top-tier MBA seat. As a member of the elite IIM Trinity (ABC), its waitlist trends often influence decisions across other premier institutes.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 117 | 173 |
| EWS | 12 | 18 |
| NC OBC | 94 | 121 |
| SC | 50 | 79 |
| ST | 46 | 48 |
| PWD | 0 | 0 |
Also Check: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
IIM Kozikhode Waitlist Movement
Candidates can check the given IIM Kozhikode waitlist movement for the previous years to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | IIM Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | to be updated | 174 |
| EWS | to be updated | 28 |
| NC OBC | to be updated | 110 |
| SC | to be updated | 35 |
| ST | to be updated | 22 |
| PWD | to be updated | 21 |
IIM Indore Waitlist Movement
IIM Indore waitlist movement provides valuable insights for aspirants targeting the top six IIMs. Known for significant fluctuations each year, its trends often reflect shifting preferences among candidates balancing options like IIM Kozhikode and IIM Lucknow.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | IIM Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 820 | 604 |
| EWS | 87 | 57 |
| NC OBC | 492 | 381 |
| SC | 300 | 197 |
| ST | 132 | 93 |
| PWD | 68 | – |
IIM Ranchi Waitlist Movement
IIM Ranchi waitlist movement is important for candidates targeting the newer generation IIMs. With a steady rise in preference, IIM waitlist trends often indicate shifting choices among Tier-1.5 and Tier-2 B-schools.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 1180 | 1120 |
| EWS | 180 | 160 |
| NC OBC | 410 | 380 |
| SC | 440 | 410 |
| ST | 150 | 130 |
| PWD | 135 | 120 |
IIM Trichy Waitlist Movement
Candidates can check the given IIM Trichy waitlist movement for the previous years to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | IIM Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 279 | 3581 |
| EWS | 11 | 1039 |
| NC OBC | 53 | 2311 |
| SC | 96 | 1244 |
| ST | 48 | 217 |
| PWD | – | 66 |
IIM Udaipur Waitlist Movement
IIM Udaipur waitlist movement reflects its growing popularity among the new IIMs, driven by strong academics and global recognition. Checking out the waitlist trends helps candidates assess their chances and compare options across similar-tier B-schools.
| Category | IIM Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 268 | 545 |
| EWS | – | 16 |
| NC OBC | – | 288 |
| SC | – | 130 |
| ST | – | 0 |
| PWD | – | 0 |
IIM Kashipur Waitlist Movement
IIM Kashipur waitlist movement offers insights into admission trends among the newer IIMs. Given below in the table is the previous year’s IIM waitlist for various categories.
| Category | IIM Waitlist Movement 2024-26 | Waitlist Movement 2023-25 |
| General | 2899 | 0 |
| EWS | 300 | 70 |
| NC OBC | 1115 | 475 |
| SC | 720 | 480 |
| ST | 450 | 69 |
| PWD | 243 | 0 |
IIM Nagpur Waitlist Movement
Candidates can check the given IIM Nagpur waitlist movement for the previous years to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | Waitlist Movement 2024-26 |
| General | 996 |
| EWS | 256 |
| NC OBC | 647 |
| SC | 364 |
| ST | 276 |
| PWD | 175 |
IIM Shillong Waitlist Movement
IIM Shillong waitlist movement is vital for candidates interested in getting a seat in the top newer IIMs. The institute often sees a dynamic waitlist trend each admission cycle.
| Category | 2023-25 Movement | 2024-26 Expected Movement |
| General | 646 | 30-60 ranks approx. |
| EWS | 79 | — |
| OBC/NC-OBC | 646 | 15-25 ranks approx. |
| SC | 91 | 10-20 ranks approx. |
| ST | 0 | 5-10 ranks approx. |
| PwD | 5 | — |
IIM Raipur Waitlist Movement
IIM Raipur waitlist movement is closely watched by aspirants targeting the newer IIMs with strong industry connections and a growing reputation. Check out the previous year’s category-wise waitlist movement for IIMs.
| Category | 2023-25 Movement |
| General | 900+ |
| EWS | 120+ |
| OBC/NC-OBC | 350+ |
| SC | 300+ |
| ST | 100+ |
| PwD | 70+ |
IIM Mumbai Waitlist Movement
Candidates can check the given IIM Mumbai waitlist movement for the previous years to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | 2023-25 Movement | 2024-26 Expected Movement |
| General | ~350 | 370-400 |
| EWS | — | 45-55 |
| OBC/NC-OBC | — | 230-260 |
| SC | — | 120-150 |
| ST | — | 35-45 |
| PwD | — | 75-90 |
IIM Lucknow Waitlist Movement
Candidates can check the given IIM Lucknow waitlist movement for the previous year to get an idea of the waitlist movement trend.
| Category | 2023-25 Movement |
| General | ~116 |
| EWS | 13 |
| OBC/NC-OBC | 77 |
| SC | 30 |
| ST | 16 |
| PwD | 8 |
Non-IIM Waitlist Movement 2025
The non-IIM waitlist movement 2025 in the business schools presents crucial opportunities for candidates who were initially waitlisted. This movement happens when selected candidates decline their admission offers, opening seats for waitlisted aspirants. The major non-IIMs like FMS, IIFT, and XLRI show distinct patterns in their waitlist movements, often influenced by category-wise seat allocation and past trends.
| Institute/Program | General | EWS | NC-OBC | SC | ST | PWD |
| FMS (Delhi) | 196 | 30 | 95 | 44 | 21 | 10 |
| IIFT (Kolkata to Delhi transition rounds) – Total over rounds | 173 (26+66+71+36) | 0 | 70 (10+33+27+0) | 41 (10+12+22+7) | 3 | 2 |
| DFS MBA Finance, DU | 2424 | 678 | 1513 | 893 | 462 | 100 |
| DBE MBA Business Economics, DU | 3404 | 1065 | 2851 | 1370 | 68 | 18 |
| XLRI (Expected seats movement) | BM Jamshedpur: 100 | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLRI (Delhi BM) | 400 (expected) | — | — | — | — | — |
| XLRI (Jamshedpur HRM) | 200 (expected) | — | — | — | — | — |
Important List For IIM Waitlisted Students
If you find yourself on the IIM waitlist, here are some steps you can take to stay prepared and improve your chances:
Be Prepared to Respond Quickly: Offers from the waitlist might come with tight deadlines. Stay mentally and practically ready to make swift decisions, as other candidates are also waiting for their turn.
Keep a Positive Mindset: It’s natural to feel disappointed when waitlisted, but don’t lose hope. Many opportunities can still arise, and maintaining confidence and optimism will help you handle the situation better.
Organize Your Documents in Advance: Stay ahead by arranging all necessary paperwork like your CAT scorecard, academic transcripts, and recommendation letters. Having these ready will allow you to respond quickly if called.
Maintain Contact with Admissions: Politely reach out to the admissions team via email or phone to express your continued interest. Staying on their radar, without being overly persistent, can work in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is waitlist movement in IIM?
The IIM waitlist consists of candidates who have qualified but have not been offered admission initially due to limited seats. If selected candidates decline their seats, waitlisted candidates move up in order based on their ranks and are offered admission during the IIM waitlist movement.
2. When does the IIM waitlist movement 2025 usually begin?
Typically, the IIM waitlist movement starts soon after the initial selection lists are released, around May-June, and can continue through the summer months as seats get vacated.
3. Is the IIM waitlist movement 2025 the same for all IIMs?
No, the waitlist movement varies across different IIMs depending on seat availability, category-wise reservations, and candidate decisions. Some IIMs may have multiple rounds, while others have limited or no waitlist movement.
4. Â Can candidates from the General category expect different waitlist movement compared to reserved categories in the IIM waitlist?
Yes, waitlist movement tends to be more stringent in the General category. Reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC, and PwD generally see more movement due to relaxed cutoffs and reservation policies.
5. What should candidates do while waiting for the IIM waitlist movement 2025?
Candidates should stay positive, keep their documents ready, maintain communication with the admission office, and be prepared to respond quickly to any admission offer during the waitlist movement.
