If you are preparing for CAT 2026 and aiming for the top six IIMs, the question you keep asking is simple: what is the IIM BLACKI cutoff 2027, and how high must your percentile be? The honest answer has layers. There is a minimum cutoff that decides whether you are even considered, a real cutoff that decides who gets an interview call, and a final cutoff that decides who gets an offer. This guide separates them, gives you the latest numbers for IIM Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Indore, and tells you plainly where an IIM has not yet published its 2027-29 rules.
Quick answer (General category, minimum CAT percentile)
- IIM Ahmedabad: 95 overall, 85 sectional (2027-29 policy, official)
- IIM Bangalore: 85 overall (2027-29 policy, reported 7 Oct 2026)
- IIM Calcutta: 85 overall (2027-29 policy, reported 9 Oct 2026)
- IIM Lucknow: 90 overall (last published, 2026-28; 2027-29 not yet found)
- IIM Kozhikode: 85 overall (last published, 2026-28)
- IIM Indore: 90 overall (last published, 2026-28; 2027-29 not yet published)
- CAT 2026 date: Sunday, 29 November 2026
What Does BLACKI Mean in “IIM BLACKI Cutoff”?
BLACKI is the shorthand MBA aspirants use for six older IIMs: Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Indore. When people search for the BLACKI IIM cutoff, they usually mean the minimum CAT percentile each of these institutes sets for a shot at the interview stage. The “2027” in the keyword refers to the 2027-29 MBA batch, which uses CAT 2026 scores.
IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027: Latest Update (6 November 2026)
Not every IIM has published its 2027-29 policy yet, so the cutoff picture is mixed:
- IIM Ahmedabad has published its PGP 2027-29 admission policy with new, higher cutoffs.
- IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have announced their 2027-29 criteria (reported in early October 2026; here is a separate guide to IIM Calcutta admission criteria 2027).
- IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore (see the IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore cutoff guides): I could not find a published 2027-29 policy. The figures below for these three are from the previous cycle (2026-28) and are labeled that way. Expect them to be confirmed or revised once the IIMs publish.
- CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026, with IIM Indore reported as the conducting institute. Reports also say the admit card release was pushed from 4 November to 6 November, but only the official CAT site can confirm whether it is live. Our CAT 2026 admit card guide tracks the steps.
Minimum vs. Real vs. Final IIM BLACKI Cutoff: Know the Difference
| Type of cutoff | What it is | Who publishes it | Is it a guarantee? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum (qualifying) cutoff | The lowest overall and sectional percentile you need to be considered | The IIM, in its admission policy | No. It only keeps you in the pool |
| Interview-call cutoff | The composite score that actually gets a WAT-PI call; it changes every year | Known only after the shortlist (RTI data later) | It decides your call |
| Final (offer) cutoff | The lowest percentile among candidates who received offers | Known only through RTI data | Reflects past years only |
Almost every page you will find lists the first one. Most of the real action is in the second and third. For the wider picture across more colleges, see the IIM-wise percentile guide.
Category-Wise IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027: Minimum CAT Percentile (Overall)
| IIM | Policy status | General | EWS | NC-OBC | SC | ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 2027-29 (official) | 95 | 95 | 90 | 85 | 75 | 85 (Gen/EWS) down to 65 (ST) |
| IIM Bangalore | 2027-29 (reported) | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 60 |
| IIM Calcutta | 2027-29 (reported) | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow | 2026-28 (latest found) | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 | 60 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 2026-28 (latest found) | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 | 55 |
| IIM Indore | 2026-28 (latest found) | 90 | 90 | 80 | 60 | 45 | 45 |
IIM Ahmedabad’s jump is the big story of this cycle. Its overall General/EWS minimum is 95, compared with 80 in the 2026 intake, and the other categories rose by about 15 points as well. IIMA also notes that it may change the cutoffs in a given year.
Sectional IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027 for the General Category
Meeting the overall number is not enough. Each IIM also sets a minimum in every section.
| IIM | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75* | 75* | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow (2026-28) | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode (2026-28) | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Indore (2026-28) | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
*For IIM Bangalore, the early-October 2026 report lists 75 for DILR and QA, while earlier reports for the previous cycle listed 80 in all three sections. The overall figure of 85 is consistent across sources. Check IIMB’s own policy before you rely on the sectional values.
Also remember that IIM Calcutta requires non-negative raw scores in all sections, and IIM Kozhikode requires a positive scaled score in all three.
How Much Does CAT Count After the Call?
Clearing the cutoff gets you a look. These weightages decide the outcome, and they differ a lot between the six IIMs.
| IIM | CAT in pre-interview shortlist | CAT in final selection | PI weight | WAT weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | 65% of the raw composite (CAT percentile), with 35% from the application rating | 40% (normalized composite, which includes CAT) | 50% | 10% (AWT) |
| Bangalore | 55 | 25 | 40 | 10 |
| Calcutta | 56 (out of 85 points) | 30 | 48 | 8 |
| Lucknow (2026-28) | 60 | 30 | 40 | 10 |
| Kozhikode (2026-28) | 50 | 35 | 35 | 20 |
| Indore (2026-28) | Sectional scores: 55 of 100 (VARC 16, DILR 16, QA 23) | Sectional scores: 40 of 100 (VARC 20, DILR 10, QA 10) | 45 | None listed |
The pattern is clear. Your CAT percentile is the biggest single lever before the interview, and the personal interview is the biggest lever after it. At IIM Calcutta the PI alone is 48 points of 100.
How Cutoffs Have Moved: Final-Offer Percentile Trends (General)
These come from RTI-based compilations of the lowest percentile among candidates who received offers. Labeling in secondary sources is inconsistent, so treat them as indicators, not exact predictions.
| IIM | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore | 86.18 | 91.97 | 95.45 |
| IIM Lucknow | Not available | 92.48 | 91.02 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 91.94 | 88.14 | 91.03 |
I am not printing trend numbers for IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta and Indore here because the sources I checked contradict each other or repeat figures from other IIMs. A wrong number is worse than a missing one.
What the trend does tell you: the lowest percentile that actually converted ran well above the published minimum. For example, IIM Bangalore’s minimum aggregate is 85, but its last offered General percentile in the table is 95.45 for 2024.
What the IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027 Means for Your CAT Target
- Convert your score to percentile first. Use CAT score vs percentile to see where your mock scores land, and benchmark with full-length CAT mocks.
- Don’t plan around the minimum. An 85 percentile may let you into the pool at IIM Bangalore or Calcutta, but the offer data above sits much higher.
- Plan for the section floor as well. A 99 in QA with a 70 in VARC can still miss a sectional cutoff.
- IIM Ahmedabad needs a different plan. A 95 overall and 85 in each section is a steep minimum for the 2027-29 batch.
- Check your profile, not only your percentile. Our free IIM college predictor can help you gauge your chances. Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation marks, work experience and gender or academic diversity are all scored before the call.
- Start thinking about the interview now. At most of these IIMs, PI and WAT together carry 45 to 55 points out of 100.
Key Dates to Watch
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 exam | 29 November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 result | Expected between late December 2026 and early January 2027 (not confirmed) |
| IIM Ahmedabad PI shortlist | Second week of January 2027 (tentative) |
| IIM Ahmedabad offers | Second week of April 2027 (tentative) |
| IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore 2027-29 policies | Not yet found; watch each IIM’s admissions page |
Summary on IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027
- BLACKI stands for IIM Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Indore. The 2027 intake uses CAT 2026 scores.
- IIM Ahmedabad has raised its General/EWS minimum to 95 overall and 85 in each section for 2027-29.
- IIM Bangalore and Calcutta have kept their General overall minimum at 85.
- Lucknow (90), Kozhikode (85) and Indore (90) figures are from the previous cycle until their 2027-29 policies appear.
- A minimum cutoff only keeps you in the pool. The real call and offer cutoffs are higher and change every year.
- After the call, the interview carries 35 to 50 points out of 100 depending on the IIM.
- CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions: IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027
What is the IIM BLACKI cutoff 2027?
It is the minimum CAT 2026 percentile each of the six IIMs set for the 2027-29 MBA batch. For the General category, the latest figures are about 95 at IIM Ahmedabad, 85 at IIM Bangalore and Calcutta, 90 at IIM Lucknow and Indore, and 85 at IIM Kozhikode, though Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore are from the previous cycle.
What does BLACKI mean?
BLACKI refers to IIM Bangalore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Kozhikode and Indore.
What is the minimum percentile for IIM Bangalore in 2027?
Reports on the 2027-29 policy put the General aggregate at 85 percentile, with sectional minimums of 80 in VARC and 75 in DILR and QA. Earlier reports show 80 in each section, so check IIMB’s own policy for the sectional values.
What is the IIM Ahmedabad cutoff for 2027?
IIMA’s 2027-29 policy lists a minimum of 95 percentile overall and 85 in each section for General and EWS candidates. NC-OBC is 90 and 80, SC is 85 and 75, and ST is 75 and 65.
What is the IIM Calcutta cutoff for 2027?
For Open category, the minimum is 85 overall, with 80 in VARC and DILR and 75 in QA. EWS and NC-OBC candidates need 75 overall.
Is 90 percentile enough for BLACKI IIMs?
It clears the General minimum at Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore, but not Ahmedabad’s 95. Clearing the minimum does not guarantee an interview call, because the real shortlist cutoff depends on your composite score and the applicant pool.
Does meeting the IIM cutoff guarantee an interview call?
No. The cutoff is a minimum, and IIMs then rank candidates on a composite that includes academics, work experience, diversity and CAT.
What is the difference between a minimum cutoff and a final cutoff?
The minimum is the lowest percentile needed to be considered. The final cutoff is the lowest percentile among those who actually received offers, and it is usually higher.
Which BLACKI IIM has the lowest cutoff?
For General, Bangalore, Calcutta and Kozhikode share the lowest published overall minimum at 85. For reserved categories, IIM Indore’s minimums (45 for ST and PwD) are the lowest in the latest published data.
Are the IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore 2027 cutoffs out?
I could not find published 2027-29 policies for these three as of 6 November 2026. Use the previous cycle’s figures as a reference and watch their admissions pages.
IIM BLACKI Cutoff 2027 Conclusion
The IIM BLACKI cutoff 2027 is really three numbers: the minimum that keeps you in the pool, the composite that earns the call, and the offer cutoff that sits above both. Ahmedabad has moved the goalposts to a 95 overall minimum, Bangalore and Calcutta have held steady at 85, and the other three are waiting on 2027-29 announcements. Aim well above the minimum, protect every section, and treat your academics, work experience and interview skills as part of your cutoff strategy, not an afterthought.
Sources: IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2027-29 Admission Policy (official PDF) | CAT official website
You May Also Like : CAT MOCK, CAT MOCK PYQ
Follow Us On : Facebook, Instagram
Pingback: CAT Cutoff 2026 for IIMs: Percentile List & Category Cutoffs