List of IIMs in India 2026: All 22 IIMs, NIRF Ranks & Admission

Looking for the complete list of IIMs in India for 2026? There are now 22 Indian Institutes of Management, from the original IIM Calcutta and IIM Ahmedabad (both 1961) to IIM Guwahati, which admitted its first MBA batch in July 2026. This guide puts every IIM in one table with its city, year of establishment and NIRF 2025 Management rank, then explains the IIM generations, programmes, fees and how admission through CAT works.

Many older articles still say "21 IIMs". That count was correct after NITIE Mumbai became IIM Mumbai in 2023, but Parliament passed the IIM (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in August 2025 to set up IIM Guwahati as the 22nd IIM. All 22 are Institutes of National Importance under the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017.

List of all 22 IIMs in India at a glance (2026)

The table is sorted by the official NIRF 2025 Management ranking, released by the Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025. NIRF 2025 is the latest edition published so far. "IPM" shows which IIMs run a five-year Integrated Programme in Management for students joining after Class 12.

IIM generations: old, new and the newest IIMs

IIMs were set up in waves over six decades, and applicants often group them by age. The groups are informal, not official categories, but they are a useful shorthand for brand, alumni network and placement maturity.

Some coaching sites call the post-2010 institutes "baby IIMs". The label tells you little on its own: IIM Nagpur, for example, was ranked 25 in NIRF 2025, ahead of several older names in the wider B-school list.

The IIMs in brief

Below is a short profile of the top-ranked IIMs and a summary of the rest. Fees are approximate totals for the two-year MBA/PGP for recent batches and change every year.

IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Ahmedabad has held the No. 1 spot in NIRF Management for several consecutive years. It is known for case-method teaching and its Louis Kahn-designed campus.

• Established: 1961
• NIRF 2025: Management rank 1
• Key programmes: MBA (PGP), MBA-FABM (food and agri-business), one-year MBA-PGPX for experienced managers, PhD
• Approx. fees: around ₹26–33 lakh for the two-year MBA (recent batches)
• Website: iima.ac.in

IIM Bangalore

IIM Bangalore benefits from its location in India's tech capital, with strong links to start-ups, consulting and product firms. It also runs a well-known entrepreneurship incubator, NSRCEL.

• Established: 1973
• NIRF 2025: Management rank 2
• Key programmes: MBA, MBA in Business Analytics, one-year executive MBA (EPGP), PhD, plus an undergraduate offering
• Approx. fees: around ₹25–27 lakh for the two-year MBA
• Website: iimb.ac.in

IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow and IIM Calcutta

IIM Kozhikode (rank 3) sits on a hill campus in Kerala and is known for gender-diverse batches. IIM Lucknow (rank 5) has a strong record in marketing and agri-business management. IIM Calcutta (rank 7), the oldest IIM alongside Ahmedabad, is famous for finance and its campus at Joka. All three admit MBA students through CAT, and their two-year fees fall roughly in the ₹20–31 lakh band.

IIM Mumbai and IIM Indore

IIM Mumbai (rank 6) was the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) until 2023, which is why it remains strong in operations and supply chain management. IIM Indore (rank 8) was the first IIM to launch the five-year IPM in 2011 and also conducts CAT 2026. Its official site is iimidr.ac.in.

Second-generation IIMs

Raipur (15), Tiruchirappalli (16), Ranchi (18), Rohtak (19), Udaipur (21), Kashipur (23) and Shillong (38) now have permanent campuses and established recruiter networks. Two-year fees are typically around ₹14–26 lakh. Rohtak, Ranchi and Shillong also offer an IPM, and Shillong has a sharp focus on sustainability.

Newer IIMs

Nagpur (25), Visakhapatnam (29), Bodh Gaya (31), Sambalpur (34), Jammu (35), Sirmaur (51) and Amritsar (64) were set up in 2015–16. They usually charge the lowest fees among IIMs, roughly ₹15–20 lakh for the MBA. IIM Guwahati, the 22nd IIM (approved by Parliament in August 2025), is starting its MBA programme from a temporary campus while its permanent campus in Kamrup district is built. Check its official website for the current intake and admission process.

IIM Act 2017: why IIMs now award MBA degrees

Before 2018, IIMs were registered societies and could only award diplomas such as the PGDM or PGP. The Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017 made each IIM an Institute of National Importance with the power to grant degrees, so graduates now receive an MBA and doctoral students a PhD.

The Act also gives each IIM's Board of Governors wide autonomy to design courses, set fees and appoint directors. It has been amended twice since: in 2023 to bring in IIM Mumbai and in 2025 to add IIM Guwahati.

Programmes offered by IIMs

• Two-year MBA (PGP): the flagship course at every IIM, with admission through CAT.
• Integrated Programme in Management (IPM): a five-year BBA + MBA route right after Class 12. According to a 2025 government reply in Parliament, seven IIMs run it: Indore, Rohtak, Ranchi, Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Shillong and Amritsar, with 60 to 180 seats each and an exit option after three years with an undergraduate degree.
• One-year executive MBA: for professionals with several years of work experience (for example PGPX at Ahmedabad, EPGP at Bangalore and Indore); usually admits through GMAT/GRE or CAT plus interviews.
• Working-professional MBAs: weekend or blended formats at many IIMs.
• PhD: full-time doctoral programmes in management at almost all established IIMs.

How admission to IIMs works in 2026

For the two-year MBA, the process is broadly the same at every IIM, though each sets its own shortlisting formula.

1. Check eligibility: a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates). Final-year students can apply.
2. Register for CAT: CAT 2026 is conducted by IIM Indore. Registration ran from 3 August to 15 September 2026 on iimcat.ac.in, and the exam is on 29 November 2026. Results are expected in early January 2027.
3. Shortlisting: each IIM combines CAT percentile with Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation marks, work experience and diversity factors.
4. WAT and PI: shortlisted candidates take a written ability test and personal interview, usually between February and April.
5. Common processes for some newer IIMs: for the 2026 intake, IIM Bodh Gaya, Jammu and Sirmaur took part in the Common Admission Process (CAP), while Raipur, Ranchi, Kashipur and Tiruchirappalli ran a separate Joint Admission Process (JAP) coordinated by IIM Raipur. These groupings change every year, so check the current notice.
6. Final offers: merit lists come out between April and June, and classes start in June or July.

Fees and placements at IIMs

Total MBA fees in recent batches ranged from roughly ₹15 lakh at newer IIMs to over ₹30 lakh at the top old IIMs, usually including tuition, books and hostel but not always mess charges. Most IIMs offer need-based fee waivers for students from families with lower incomes.

For placements, read only each IIM's official final placement report. Many IIMs follow the Indian Placement Reporting Standards (IPRS) and publish audited figures. Median salary is a better guide than the "highest package" numbers quoted in news headlines.

How to choose the right IIM

• Look beyond the overall rank. NIRF scores teaching, research, outcomes and perception. Also compare median salaries, batch size and sector strengths.
• Match the specialisation. IIM Mumbai is strong in operations, Calcutta in finance, Lucknow in agri-business.
• Weigh the cost. A newer IIM with lower fees and a fee waiver can give a better return than a stretch loan for an older one.
• Check the campus status. Some newer IIMs moved to permanent campuses only recently; IIM Guwahati still runs from a transit campus.

Scholarships and funding for IIM students

Every IIM runs need-based financial aid, and many offer merit scholarships funded by alumni and companies. Government options include the Central Sector Scheme and post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students on the National Scholarship Portal, as well as education loans under bank schemes.

If you are still in Class 12 or college, it helps to start building a scholarship record early. You can explore options in our guide to scholarships for college students, and the AISEE exam offers merit-based scholarships for students heading to undergraduate courses.

Frequently asked questions

How many IIMs are there in India in 2026?

There are 22 IIMs. IIM Mumbai became the 21st in 2023, and IIM Guwahati was added as the 22nd through the IIM (Amendment) Act passed in August 2025. It admitted its first MBA batch in July 2026.

Which is the No. 1 IIM in India?

IIM Ahmedabad is ranked No. 1 in the NIRF 2025 Management ranking, followed by IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode.

Which IIMs offer admission after Class 12?

Seven IIMs run the five-year IPM: Indore, Rohtak, Ranchi, Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Shillong and Amritsar. Admission is through IPMAT (Indore or Rohtak) or JIPMAT, followed by an interview at some institutes.

When is CAT 2026?

CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026 and is being conducted by IIM Indore. Results are expected in the first week of January 2027.

Do IIMs give an MBA or a PGDM?

Since the IIM Act, 2017 came into force, IIMs award MBA degrees and PhDs instead of the older PGDM/PGP diplomas.

Which is the cheapest IIM for an MBA?

Newer IIMs such as Sirmaur, Bodh Gaya, Jammu and Amritsar usually have the lowest fees, roughly ₹15–20 lakh for the full programme in recent batches. Check each institute's current fee notice.

Can I get into an IIM without CAT?

For the two-year MBA, CAT is required at all IIMs. One-year executive MBAs often accept GMAT or GRE, and IPM admissions use IPMAT or JIPMAT.

Conclusion: using this list of IIMs in India

This list of IIMs in India gives you all 22 institutes, their NIRF 2025 Management ranks and the main admission routes for 2026. Shortlist a few IIMs that suit your profile and budget, then check their official admission pages before CAT 2026 on 29 November. If you are still at school, IPMAT and JIPMAT offer an earlier route, and you can sharpen your aptitude with AISEE's free test series.