CAT 2026: IIMs Report Changing PGP Batch Profiles
Indore: New student intake data from some of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) show a heightened degree of variance in the profiles of postgraduate management classrooms, primarily with regards to the representation of women, the academic and professional backgrounds of students, and the work experience of students, if any.
As of the 2026-28 Post Graduate Programme (PGP) batches, data suggest that the intake at IIM Indore is just over 50% women. Other IIMs, notably IIM Bangalore, also report large intakes of women students. Students who have work experience make up a large portion of the incoming class at IIM Ahmedabad. While the data offer insights into the make up of management student admissions at some of the more prestigious business schools in the country, they also illustrate that there are numerous factors beyond the CAT, including gender, academic and professional backgrounds that help determine student admissions at the various IIMs.
IIM-Wise Female Representation in PGP 2026-28
The available data reflects variations in gender composition in the incoming classes at four IIMs.
|
Indian Institute of Management |
Female representation |
|
IIM Indore |
54.4% |
|
IIM Bangalore |
42% |
|
IIM Shillong |
34.9% |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
30.92% |
Among the reported PGP cohorts for 2026-28, IIM Indore had the highest female representation, with women forming the majority of the incoming class. IIM Bangalore had 42% women in its new PGP batch, while IIM Shillong and IIM Ahmedabad had 34.9% and 30.92% women respectively, in their new batches.
These data can be read as institute-specific intake data. By themselves, they do not show uniform trends across all IIMs, nor do they represent the reasons for the variations.
IIM Ahmedabad: Nearly 77% of PGP Students Have Work Experience
The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) admitted 414 students to its PGP batch for 2026-28. In accordance with published data, women comprised 30.92% of the batch, while men comprised 69.08% of the batch. Engineers comprised 60.87% of the batch, while non-engineers comprised 39.13% of the batch. Prior work experience is another important variable. The average work experience of students in the batch was 24 months, and 77% of the batch had prior work experience.
This data paints a picture of the type of professional exposure represented in the classroom for individuals considering an MBA after a few years of working experience. However, this should not be interpreted as a generalized situation: IIM Ahmedabad's admission policy states that the policy is not aimed at a specific type of profile.
IIM Bangalore Reports 42% Female Representation
There are 541 students in the PGP batch 2026-28 at IIM Bangalore. Of these, 42% are women. The batch also has a significant presence of engineers, of which 67% of the batch is made up of. The remaining are from commerce, science and the arts and humanities. The average work experience is reported to be 27 months, and the average age of the students is 25 years. The management program at IIM Bangalore is typically quite competitive, and it looks like this batch will be no different.
For applicants, this probably means that a strong academic profile, coupled with strong work experience will probably increase their chances of getting admitted. For the applicants, the more telling point is probably that management classrooms can be made up of individuals with all kinds of academic backgrounds and career profiles.
IIM Indore: Women Form a Majority of the PGP Batch
The 2026-28 batch of the flagship PGP program at IIM Indore has an intake of 487 students, of which 265 are women and 222 are men. This means that women make up around 54.4% of this batch. The batch is also academically diverse. Of the 487 students, 224 are engineers and 263 are non-engineers. Other reported statistics state that 209 of the students have prior work experience and the remaining 278 are freshers. The presence of both experienced candidates and freshers in a cohort can create opportunities for peer learning.
CAT 2026: Exam and Admission Information
The CAT 2026 test is scheduled on 29th November 2026, and is conducted by IIM Indore. Registrations closed on 15th September 2026. CAT scores are used by IIMs and other business schools for their selection processes. Post examination, schools may release shortlists and define their own selection processes.
Applicants should refer to the official CAT website for examination related information and should visit the official school websites for program specific eligibility, selection criteria, and process information. For information regarding IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP admission process and other related information, please refer the official website.
Final Thoughts
Based on the 2026-28 PGP intakes, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore reported similar professional work experience for incoming students, while IIM Indore reported having more women students, and IIM Shillong reported having more men students. IIM Ahmedabad reported prior work experience for approximately 77% of its incoming students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the female representation in IIM PGP batches for 2026-28?
Reported figures for female representation for 2026-28 batches at IIM Indore is 54.4%, IIM Bangalore is 42%, IIM Shillong is 34.9% and IIM Ahmedabad is 30.92%.
Q2. What was the highest female representation among the four institutes covered?
IIM Indore has reported the highest representation for 2026-28 batches at 54.4%.
Q3. What was the intake for IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP batch for 2026-28?
IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP batch 2026-28 has 414 students.
Q4. What is the percentage of students in IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP batch for 2026-28 with work experience?
77% of the 2026-28 batch at IIM Ahmedabad has work experience with an average work experience of 24 months.
Q5. What is the average work experience of the students at IIM Bangalore’s PGP batch?
The reported average work experience for IIM Bangalore’s PGP 2026–28 batch is 27 months.
Q6. Can fresh graduates apply for the IIM PGP programmes?
Yes, as per the information available, both fresh graduates as well as professionals with work experience can apply for the IIM PGP programmes.
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