
Some of the top Tier 1 MBA colleges in India 2026 are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIT Delhi, XLRI, and more. To get admission to these colleges, students will be required to sit for MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, etc. By taking admission to these top-tier MBA colleges in India, students can stand a chance to study from experienced faculty members, get exposure to excellent placement prospects, and world-class infrastructure.

The NIRF Management Ranking 2025 has been released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, on September 4, 2025. The top 5 institutes leading the list include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIT Delhi, and IIM Lucknow. Some of the important parameters considered while preparing the NIRF management ranking 2025 are Research and Professional Practice (RP), Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), Graduation Outcomes (GO), and Peer Perception. Scroll down and find out the full list of top NIRF 2025 management colleges.

MBA admission 2025-26 is ongoing in many colleges in India. The admission process for many colleges accepting CAT scores has begun or will begin after the CAT 2025 results are declared in December 2025. If you are seeking admission to top MBA colleges in India, you need to appear for entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAH MBA CET, TS ICET, TANCET, etc. Upon meeting the required cutoff, you will be called for counselling that includes group discussion, personal interview, or written ability test. Candidates are allotted seats in the colleges based on their academic qualifications, entrance exam scores, and performance in the selection rounds. Some of the eminent colleges offering admission to MBA courses include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, ISB Hyderabad, IMT Ghaziabad, etc., among others. Not all the business schools in India follow the same admission process, and different components determine the eligibility. Check out the details about MBA admission 2025-26 in the article below.
Also Read: List of Top 10 MBA Specialisations in 2025

The CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM Mumbai is expected to be around 97 percentile for the General category as per the previous year trends. Since IIM Mumbai is a top-ranked B-school (formerly NITIE Mumbai), the CAT cutoff for MBA admission at this institute will be high. It must be noted that there are two cutoffs for IIMs: qualifying and call cutoff which will vary from one category to another. The qualifying CAT 2024 cutoff for IIM Mumbai is 85 percentile for the Open or General category while 75 percentile for the categories of NC-OBC and EWS. The B-school also requires you to meet the cutoffs for each CAT section including VARC, Quant and DILR.

The IIM Mumbai MBA selection criteria 2025 have been officially announced online, as per which, admissions will be based on the CAT 2024 exam only. The minimum CAT percentile requirement for Stage 1 is 85 and above for the General category. IIM Mumbai MBA application form is now out for all interested and eligible students can apply by January 31, 2025. IIM Mumbai offers an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and an MBA in Sustainability Management. To be eligible for the courses, you will have to hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized educational institution, with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. You can also apply if you are in the final year of graduation.
Also Read: Minimum Percentile in CAT 2024 to Get into IIM


CMAT Normalization Process 2026: The CMAT 2026 exam will be held in two shifts, and the final scores will undergo a normalisation process to ensure fairness for all test-takers. Since each shift may have a different difficulty level, the normalisation method adjusts scores so that candidates are neither advantaged nor disadvantaged. In simple terms, if one paper is easier, marks for that shift may be adjusted slightly downward, while candidates who faced a tougher paper may see an upward adjustment. This process is based on a statistical formula used by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to maintain score equity across shifts. Understanding how CMAT 2026 normalisation works is essential if you’re planning to apply to MBA or PGDM programs using CMAT 2026 scores.

If your CMAT 2026 percentile/score is not as high as you expected, there are still several good MBA colleges where you can secure admission. Institutes such as Indira School of Business Studies (ISBS) Pune, Asia Pacific Institute of Management Delhi, ITS Institute of Management Greater Noida, Prestige Institute of Management Gwalior, Galgotias Business School Greater Noida, and DIT University Dehradun accept CMAT 2026 scores in the 40 to 60 percentile range.

Searching for the top MBA colleges in India accepting CMAT scores in 2026? The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is among India’s leading entrance exams for management aspirants. Conducted once every year by the National Testing Agency (NTA), it serves as a gateway to over 1,300 business schools across the country. Each year, more than 75,000 students appear for the exam to secure admission to top institutions. In 2026, reputed colleges such as Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, BIMTECH, Taxila Business School, and KIIT School of Management continue to accept CMAT scores. On average, candidates graduating from the top CMAT 2026 participating colleges earn around INR 9 lakh per annum, reflecting strong placement records. Among the best PGDM options, Jamnalal Bajaj, KJ Somaiya, BIMTECH, Taxila, and Jaipuria Institute of Management consistently hold high academic and placement standards for CMAT-qualified students. The final selection will be based on marks obtained in CMAT 2026 and performance in Group Discussions, Written Ability Tests, and Personal Interviews.

CMAT Passing Marks 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has not defined any official passing marks for the CMAT 2026 exam. However, the general CMAT cutoff 2026 has been regarded as 120 out of 400, and any candidate who scores more than or equal to 120 out of 400 gets qualified and can go through the further selection process by respective colleges. Candidates who score above this range can participate in group discussions, personal interviews, or counselling sessions conducted by various institutions. If you aim for top-tier B-schools offering MBA or PGDM programs, a CMAT score between 250 and 300 is usually competitive. Leading institutes such as JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, and Great Lakes Institute of Management often shortlist candidates with scores above 280. This guide covers essential details about CMAT 2026, including its minimum qualifying marks, marking scheme, and top management colleges accepting CMAT scores for the upcoming admission cycle.
Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Pune (Maharashtra)
Pune (Maharashtra)
Pune (Maharashtra)
Pune (Maharashtra)