The completion of CAT 2025 has left many aspirants anxious—especially those worried about sectional performance. In a significant policy shift, IIM Sambalpur has announced that it will remove the sectional cut-off for MBA 2026–28, changing how candidates are shortlisted.
This move prioritises the overall CAT percentile over rigid section-wise thresholds, offering relief to candidates with uneven sectional scores.
- The decision signals a broader trend toward holistic evaluation—where academics, work experience, and interview performance carry meaningful weight alongside CAT. For aspirants, IIM Sambalpur removes sectional cut-offs, reducing exam-day pressure and providing a fairer pathway to PI shortlisting.
As competition intensifies, this update reshapes preparation strategy and expands opportunities for deserving profiles.
What Has Changed in IIM Sambalpur Admission Criteria 2026–28?
IIM Sambalpur has clearly redefined its shortlisting approach for MBA 2026–28 by removing fixed sectional percentile cut-offs at the CAT stage. Earlier, candidates were filtered section by section (VARC, DILR, QA).
Now, the institute evaluates eligibility using the overall CAT percentile, while ensuring basic sectional competence.
What stays important
- Overall CAT performance
- Academic consistency (10th, 12th, graduation)
- Relevant work experience
- Personal Interview (PI) performance
What is removed
- Mandatory sectional percentile thresholds
Key clarification: This change applies only to shortlisting eligibility. Section-wise performance still contributes to the CAT score calculation later in the process.
Snapshot of the Change
| Aspect | Earlier Policy | MBA 2026–28 Policy |
| Sectional cut-offs | Mandatory | Removed |
| Overall CAT percentile | Required | Required |
| Evaluation focus | CAT sections | Holistic profile |
This update aligns with a balanced, profile-driven admission philosophy.
IIM Sambalpur CAT Cut-off 2026: Overall Percentile Explained
For MBA 2026–28 admissions, IIM Sambalpur uses minimum overall CAT percentile cut-offs to decide Stage-1 eligibility. These are qualifying thresholds, not guaranteed PI calls; actual shortlists may require higher percentiles based on competition.
Minimum Overall CAT 2025 Percentile (Eligibility)
| Category | Overall CAT Percentile |
| General | 90 |
| EWS | 80 |
| NC-OBC | 75 |
| SC | 55 |
| ST | 40 |
| DAP | 40 |
Special relaxation:
- General category female candidates, and
- General category male candidates with ≥1 year of relevant work experience
- → eligibility reduces to the 85th percentile.
Important: Meeting the cut-off only makes candidates eligible for shortlisting; profile strength and PI performance remain decisive.
Is There Any Sectional Cut-off in CAT 2025 for IIM Sambalpur?
No. IIM Sambalpur does not apply any sectional percentile cut-off in CAT 2025 for MBA 2026–28 shortlisting. This is the most crucial clarification for aspirants tracking whether IIM Sambalpur will remove the sectional cut-off entirely.
Sectional Requirement (Simple Explanation)
- No minimum percentile in VARC, DILR, or QA
- Each section must have a positive raw score
- Zero or negative score in any section → rejection
This rule ensures basic competence without penalising uneven performance. Candidates who are strong in two sections but average in one remain eligible. Importantly, while sectional percentiles still contribute to CAT score calculation later, they no longer block eligibility at the shortlisting stage.
Comparison with Previous Year Cut-offs: What Changed from 2025–27?
The MBA 2026–28 admission policy marks a clear departure from last year’s approach at IIM Sambalpur. For the 2025–27 batch, candidates had to clear both sectional and overall CAT cut-offs to be shortlisted for GDPI.
A shortfall in even one section led to elimination—regardless of a strong overall score.
Previous Year (2025-27) vs Current Policy
| Category | QA | DILR | VARC | Overall |
| General | 65 | 65 | 65 | 90 |
| EWS | 60 | 60 | 60 | 80 |
| NC-OBC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 75 |
| SC | 40 | 40 | 40 | 55 |
| ST | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
| DAP | 35 | 35 | 35 | 40 |
What’s different now:
- Sectional cut-offs removed for 2026–28
- Overall, the CAT percentile governs eligibility
- Emphasis shifts from elimination to inclusive, profile-based evaluation
This change significantly widens the shortlisting funnel.
How This Change Impacts CAT 2025 Aspirants
IIM Sambalpur’s decision to remove the sectional cut-off directly reshapes outcomes for CAT 2025 aspirants. Earlier, one weak section could nullify an otherwise competitive score. That risk is now eliminated at the eligibility stage.
Who benefits the most
- Candidates with uneven sectional scores
- Non-engineers and humanities graduates
- First-time CAT takers
- Aspirants who avoided risky attempts due to sectional pressure
Practical impact
- More candidates qualify for Stage-1 shortlisting
- Overall, the CAT percentile becomes the primary filter
- Preparation focus shifts from sectional fear to score maximisation
- Greater weight on academics, work experience, and PI readiness
This policy change reduces exam-day stress and rewards balanced preparation, making the IIM Sambalpur MBA 2026–28 more accessible without diluting merit.
IIM Sambalpur’s Holistic Evaluation: What Really Matters Now
With IIM Sambalpur removing sectional cut-offs, the MBA 2026–28 selection framework places stronger emphasis on a holistic evaluation beyond CAT percentiles. After Stage 1, candidates are assessed using a Pre-PI score out of 75, ensuring no single parameter dominates.
Pre-PI Score Components
| Component | Weight |
| CAT Score | 40 |
| Academic Profile (10th, 12th, Graduation) | 10 |
| Work Experience | 20 |
| Gender Diversity | 5 |
Sectional CAT percentiles are still factored into the CAT score calculation, but their influence is balanced rather than eliminatory. Final selection is made out of 100 marks, combining:
- Pre-PI Score (75)
- Personal Interview (25)
This structure ensures candidates with solid profiles and strong interviews can offset moderate CAT performance—aligning with the institute’s inclusive admission philosophy.
What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Focus On Going Forward?
With IIM Sambalpur confirming that it will remove sectional cut-offs, CAT 2026 aspirants must recalibrate their strategy. The priority is no longer sectional perfection but overall competitiveness.
Actionable Focus Areas
- Target a safe overall CAT percentile above the eligibility threshold
- Ensure positive raw scores in VARC, DILR, and QA
- Strengthen academic consistency and relevant work experience
- Begin Personal Interview preparation early
- Maintain balanced preparation across sections—avoid abandoning any area
A moderate CAT score, when paired with a strong profile and interview, can now outperform a higher but unbalanced score.
How Tarkashastra Helps You Convert IIM Calls
With IIM Sambalpur moving to a holistic shortlisting model, converting an IIM call now depends heavily on profile strength and PI performance—not just CAT percentiles. This is where Tarkashastra plays a critical role.
Tarkashastra supports aspirants through:
- Overall CAT score optimisation without sectional panic
- Structured PI preparation aligned with the new IIM evaluation criteria
- One-on-one mentoring to present academics and work experience effectively
- Mock interviews focused on clarity, confidence, and profile justification
As IIM Sambalpur removes sectional cut-off, Tarkashastra helps aspirants capitalise on this change and convert eligibility into final admission.
Conclusion: A More Inclusive IIM Admission Approach
The decision by IIM Sambalpur to remove sectional cut-off for MBA 2026–28 marks a decisive shift toward fairness and holistic evaluation. Aspirants are no longer eliminated for a single weak section; instead, overall performance, profile strength, and interview readiness define success.
This approach reduces unnecessary pressure and rewards balanced preparation. For CAT aspirants, the message is clear: focus on overall excellence, not sectional fear—and prepare strategically for the final selection stages.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Has IIM Sambalpur removed sectional cut-offs for MBA 2026–28?
Yes. IIM Sambalpur has removed sectional percentile cut-offs for CAT while shortlisting candidates for MBA 2026–28 admissions.
2. Is there any sectional requirement at all for IIM Sambalpur MBA admissions?
Yes. Candidates must score a positive raw score in VARC, DILR, and QA. Zero or negative marks in any section lead to rejection.
3. What is the minimum overall CAT percentile for IIM Sambalpur MBA 2026–28?
For General category candidates, the minimum overall CAT percentile is 90. Category-wise cut-offs apply for EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and DAP candidates.
4. Is there any relaxation in the CAT cut-off?
Yes. The General category cut-off is relaxed to the 85th 85th percentile for all female candidates and male candidates with at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
5. Does removing sectional cut-offs guarantee a PI call?
No. Meeting the cut-off only makes a candidate eligible. PI calls depend on competition, profile, and Pre-PI score.
6. Do sectional CAT scores still matter after shortlisting?
Yes. Sectional scores are used in CAT score calculation during the Pre-PI evaluation. Still, they no longer act as elimination criteria.
7. How was the admission process different last year?
For the 2025–27 batch, candidates had to clear both sectional and overall CAT cut-offs to be shortlisted.
8. Who benefits the most from this policy change?
Candidates with uneven sectional performance, non-engineers, first-time CAT takers, and profile-strong aspirants benefit the most.
9. What weightage does CAT carry in IIM Sambalpur’s selection process?
CAT contributes 40 marks in the Pre-PI score (out of 75). Final selection also includes the Personal Interview (25 marks).
10. Does IIM Sambalpur conduct GD or WAT?
No. IIM Sambalpur follows a PI-only selection process for MBA admissions.
