IIM Waitlist Movement 2026: Dates, Process, Category-wise Movement

Students awaiting a response from the IIMs, the IIM waitlist movement 2026 is a significant factor in final admissions. Every year, almost 2.5 lakh students apply for courses such as PGDM, PGP, and MBA at top IIMs in India . But with just about 7,500 seats available in 2026, it is no surprise that not all of them get seats in the first round. After the initial admission offers are released, a few students accept their seats, but a percentage of them don’t. That is when the waitlist comes into action. If students are on that list, your hope relies on someone else leaving their seat, which starts the IIM waitlist movement 2026. It is a stressful time, but learning how it works, particularly by examining past trends, can relieve you and prepare you for what's coming.

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IIM Waitlist Movement 2026 Dates

Here are the tentative release dates for the different IIM waitlist movement 2026 based on previous years’ trends:

What is the IIM Waitlist Process 2026?

Most students receive offers from multiple IIMs and other top institutions and choose one among the rest. The pace of the IIM waitlist movement 2026 depends on a variety of factors, such as:

• Total Number of Waitlisted Students: If there are too many students waitlisted, the process slows down.
• How Many Students Take the First Offer: The more students who take their seats immediately, the less opportunity there is for the waitlist to advance. But if lots of them turn it down, your odds are better.
• Differences based on Program and Category: All IIMs and programs (such as MBA, PGPX, etc.) deal with their waitlist individually. Your category (General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, etc.) also matters a lot to how quickly the list is progressing and how many seats may be available for you.

Also Read: IIM CAP 2026: Result (Soon), PI/WAT (Concluded), Cutoffs, Colleges

Category-Wise IIM Waitlist Movement

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If students are waitlisted at an IIM, you will begin noticing updates in stages between May and July 2026. Remember, the pace of the IIM waitlist movement 2026 depends on the rank of the institute. The following are the expected IIM waitlist movement trends for different categories:

Factors Influencing IIM Waitlist 2026

• Acceptance by Top Scorers: Many CAT toppers usually secure seats at leading IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta. Once they confirm their admission, lower-ranked IIMs see fewer high scorers in their pool, which naturally slows down their waitlist movement.
• Seat Intake Capacity: IIMs with a larger number of seats (such as IIM Indore and Kozhikode, which offer over 500 seats each) tend to have more active waitlist movements, as withdrawals create more opportunities for waitlisted candidates.
• Alternative Admission Options: A significant number of students choose other premier B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, or ISB Hyderabad, leading to withdrawals from IIMs and triggering further waitlist rounds.
• Category-based Movement: Each reservation category, General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD, has its own cutoff and merit list. Waitlist movement often differs across these categories depending on candidate availability and acceptance rates.
• Location and ROI Preferences: Many candidates factor in proximity to their hometown and overall return on investment. Institutes with a better ROI or location advantage generally witness more withdrawals from other IIMs, indirectly affecting waitlist trends.

Important Tips for IIM Waitlisted Students

If students  are on the IIM waitlist, here's what students  can do to remain prepared and boost their chances:

• Maintain a Positive Attitude: It is completely natural to feel a little down when students are waitlisted. But do not give up hope; a lot can still go right. Remaining confident and positive can make a difference in how they approach the situation.
• Have your Documents Ready Ahead of Time: Get ahead of the game by keeping all examinees' important documents in order. Make sure the CAT scorecard, academic transcripts and recommendation letters are ready, just in case they receive the call.
• Stay Connected with the Admissions Staff: Send them a courteous email or call them to tell them about your interest in admissions. It is helpful to stay in their memory without being too persistent.
• Be Ready to Act Fast: If students are offered a job, you may have little time to respond. Be prepared in your mind and in reality to act spontaneously, as others on the list are waiting as well.

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Top IIMs rarely have much movement, just because candidates from most often take their offers. The lower-ranked IIMs, however, have a lot of waitlist movement. That's largely because candidates often opt for top management colleges in India after getting in. Additionally, your category also comes into play. If students fall under categories such as SC, ST, or OBC, there's normally more movement on the IIM waitlists, which provides them with a greater chance as the rounds continue.

If you have any doubts regarding the IIM waitlist movement 2026, you can ask questions in our Q&A zone . Besides this, those interested in admission into any top MBA colleges in India can fill out our Common Application Form . Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more articles on IIMs and MBA admission in India.

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