For applicants awaiting final admission offers, the IIM waitlist movement is an important consideration. Institutions go through the waitlist to fill openings because not all of the first chosen applicants accept their seats. Depending on variables like applicant volume, acceptance rates, and seat availability, the amount of movement differs amongst IIM colleges and categories.
From May to July 2025, there will be several rounds of announcements regarding waitlist changes.
Because of their high acceptance rates, IIMs with higher rankings move through the waitlist more slowly.
Candidates who choose better options frequently cause significant movement at lower-ranked IIMs.
There are differences by category, with OBC and SC/ST categories typically experiencing greater movement.
Analysis of IIM Waitlist Movement
Let’s examine the variables influencing waitlist movement.
Elements That Affect Waitlist Movement:
Acceptance Rate: Movement slows if a large number of top rankers accept offers from IIMs with higher rankings.
Number of Seats: There is more movement in institutions with larger intake capacities.
Alternative Admissions: IIM waitlists are cleared of applicants who are accepted into ISB, international B-schools, or prestigious non-IIM institutions (SPJIMR, XLRI, and FMS).
Reservation Quotas: Movement speed is affected by category-specific dynamics.
Conversion Rate for IIM Waitlists in 2025
The percentage of waitlisted applicants who eventually gain admission is shown by the conversion rate.
Historical trends offer useful information, but they do not guarantee future movement. Below is a summary of waitlist movement trends for different IIMs and admission categories from 2019 to 2024.
IIM Ahmedabad Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement 2024-26
General
27
EWS
2
OBC
14
SC
19
ST
9
PwD
7
IIM Bangalore Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement 2024-26
General
67
EWS
15
OBC
16
SC
40
ST
8
PwD
2
IIM Calcutta Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (2024-2026)
Waitlist Movement (2023-25)
General
117
172
EWS
94
8
OBC
12
137
SC
50
90
ST
46
50
PwD
0
28
IIM Lucknow Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
116
EWS
13
OBC
77
SC
30
ST
16
PwD
8
IIM Kozhikode Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
272
EWS
12
OBC
138
SC
73
ST
43
PwD
3
IIM Indore Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement
General
600+
EWS
70+
OBC
380+
SC
250+
ST
100+
PwD
60+
IIM Kashipur Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
3050
EWS
450
OBC
1300
SC
700
ST
300
PwD
126
IIM Trichy Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
700
EWS
65
OBC
200
SC
110
ST
70
PwD
15
IIM Rohtak Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
283
EWS
12
OBC
71
SC
63
ST
39
PwD
0
IIM Udaipur Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
1968
EWS
255
OBC
888
SC
649
ST
144
PwD
69
IIM Nagpur Waitlist (2024-2026)
Category
Total Offers Made
Waitlist Movement
General (Gen)
607
389
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
219
37
Other Backward Classes (OBC)
583
65
Scheduled Caste (SC)
302
63
Scheduled Tribe (ST)
252
28
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
172
3
IIM Raipur Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
900+
EWS
120+
OBC
350+
SC
300+
ST
100+
PwD
70+
IIM Sambalpur Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
1800
EWS
450
OBC
1250
SC
670
ST
325
PwD
109
IIM Amritsar Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
725
EWS
308
OBC
125
SC
56
ST
67
PwD
24
IIM Jammu Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
1941
EWS
1014
OBC
616
SC
133
ST
212
PwD
24
IIM Vishakapatnam Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
537
EWS
75
OBC
326
SC
242
ST
198
PwD
90
IIM Sirmaur Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
2900+
EWS
1800+
OBC
123
SC
1506
ST
348
PwD
156
IIM Bodh Gaya Waitlist
Category
Waitlist Movement (Approx.)
General
1481
EWS
377
OBC
858
SC
469
ST
207
PwD
102
IIM 2025 Waitlist Movement: Final Thoughts
In general, waitlist movement is lower at higher-ranked IIMs than at newer ones. Furthermore, because of seat availability and affirmative action policies, the reserved categories typically experience greater movement. For better decision-making, candidates should thus monitor movement trends unique to their category and preferred IIM.