IIM Raipur is set to coordinate the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026 for MBA admissions, marking a significant shift towards a unified and streamlined admission procedure for multiple Indian Institutes of Management. This collaborative effort includes IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Tiruchirappalli. The initiative aims to simplify the application process for aspiring management students while ensuring greater transparency, operational efficiency, and fairness in the selection process.
The JAP 2026 process distinguishes itself by conducting only Personal Interviews (PI). Unlike the IIM CAP process, JAP 2026 will not include a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), or extempore. This allows candidates to focus their preparation specifically on the personal interview round.
Following the release of the CAT 2025 results, candidates who meet the minimum academic and CAT-related criteria will be required to register through the official JAP 2026 portal. This registration is mandatory for consideration in subsequent stages. Shortlisting for the Personal Interview (PI) round will be based on the pool of registered candidates, with category-wise and institute-specific cut-offs to be announced separately by each participating IIM. These cut-off marks are expected to be revealed at a later date.
The Personal Interview stage is tentatively scheduled to take place between February and March 2026. Shortlisted candidates will receive detailed communication regarding their interview schedules, criteria, and related procedures through official channels. IIM Raipur, as the coordinating institution, will oversee the entire process to ensure consistency and transparency and will serve as the primary point of contact for updates regarding JAP 2026.
Professor Sanjeev Prashar, Director-in-charge of IIM Raipur, expressed his honor that IIM Raipur has been entrusted with coordinating JAP 2026. He also announced the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026, fostering collaboration among four premier IIMs.
The selection process involves multiple stages. Candidates will be initially shortlisted based on their performance in CAT 2025 and their academic consistency. Those shortlisted will then attend a single common interview for all four participating IIMs. Each IIM will prepare its own final merit list using its unique weightage for CAT scores, PI performance, academic profile, work experience, and diversity.
To be eligible for JAP 2026, candidates must have appeared for the CAT 2025 exam and secured the minimum required percentile. They must also hold a Bachelor's Degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories). Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply. The minimum qualifying CAT 2025 percentile requirements are: General: 90 Overall (75 Sectional); EWS / NC-OBC: 75 Overall (60 Sectional); SC: 50 Overall (45 Sectional); ST / PwD: 30 Overall (25 Sectional).
There is no separate application fee for JAP 2026 registration. Candidates who have already paid the CAT 2025 registration fee and opted for these four IIMs are eligible to register on the common portal without any additional cost.
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official websites of the participating IIMs for updates and further announcements related to JAP 2026. The registration portal for JAP 2026 has been activated on December 26, 2025.
