Admission Criteria of IIM 2026 has been changed for four of the IIMs with the introduction of JAP 2026 process. The Indian Institutes of Management Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi and Tiruchirappalli have announced a significant change in their admission criteria for the academic year 2026.
These four premier institutes have come forward with Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026 for MBA to streamline and unify their selection procedure. IIM Raipur will serve as the coordinating institute for JAP 2026, overseeing the entire admission process on behalf of all participating IIMs.
IIM selection process update for four of the IIMs and it aims at simplifying the admission process for the candidates, allowing them to apply to all the participating IIMs through a single window.
After the declaration of CAT results eligible candidates can get admission in any of the four participating IIMs through Joint Admission Process. This initiative by IIMs will reduce the burden of aspirants as now they are not required to go through the admission process of each IIM individually.
How will it work?
1. Shortlisting: Based on their CAT scores and other criteria, the participating IIMs will shortlist the candidates.
2. Centralized WAT-PI: A single institute (IIM Raipur for 2026) will conduct the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) on behalf of all the participating IIMs.
3. Score Sharing: The performance in the JAP WAT-PI round, along with CAT scores and other selection parameters, will be sent to each participating IIM.
4. Final Selection: Each IIM will then use this information to create its own final merit and offer admission to its MBA/PGP programs.
In light of this announcement, Prof. Sanjeev Prashar, Director-In-Charge, IIM Raipur, said, “We are honoured to announce the Joint Admission Process (JAP) 2026, fostering collaboration among four premier IIMs.
This initiative exemplifies our commitment to resource optimisation, student-centric admissions, and strengthening the IIM brand for future leaders. JAP 2026 reflects our dedication to maintaining high standards and opening new opportunities for aspiring MBA candidates.
The introduction of the Joint Admission Process (JAP) is expected to bring multiple operational and administrative advantages for the participating IIMs. By centralizing the interview and selection stages, JAP will enable more efficient resource management, minimizing the duplication of efforts across institutes. It will also significantly reduce clerical tasks and paperwork, as candidates will no longer be required to appear for multiple interviews or submit separate documentation to each institute individually.
Furthermore, JAP is designed to save considerable time for both applicants and admission committees by consolidating the evaluation process into a single, streamlined framework. This unified approach not only ensures consistency and transparency in candidate assessment but also allows the institutes to focus more on strategic decision making and academic planning rather than repetitive administrative procedures.
Ultimately, JAP 2026 reflects a progressive step toward enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and applicant experience in the IIM admission process.
