- IIM waitlist movement comes from candidates who hold several offers: each choice frees seats elsewhere, and each freed seat goes to the next candidate in that category's list.
- Offers per seat differed in 2026-28: about 1 at IIM Ahmedabad, 1.18 at IIM Bangalore and 2.34 at IIM Calcutta (including waitlist movement).
- Category lists move separately, because a freed seat usually goes to the next candidate in the same category.
- Compare offers on fee, package, cutoff and city, and read each acceptance amount and refund date before you pay.
IIM waitlist movement is the result of candidates choosing between offers. Each person who holds offers from several IIMs keeps one and releases the rest, and each released seat goes to the next candidate in that category's list, who may in turn hold other offers. That chain is why one decision can move seats at several IIMs.
This post explains the mechanism, shows what the disclosed 2026-28 offer numbers imply, and gives a decision grid for choosing between offers. It does not quote 'X candidates moved' figures, because the IIMs in our records do not publish official waitlist movement numbers.
What is a waitlist, and how is it ranked?
After the first merit list, an IIM makes offers to the top candidates in each category list. Candidates ranked below the cut form the waitlist, ordered by the same final score. When a seat is vacated, the next person in that list gets an offer.
The structure is visible in the records. IIM Shillong's 2026-28 merit list includes a waitlist, and XLRI lists 'offers and waitlist' in April 2027. IIM Ahmedabad's tentative 2027-29 dates show offers from April 2027 and acceptance formalities in May 2027.
How does one candidate's choice release seats down the chain?
- P keeps one offer and releases two: one seat at Y and one at Z.
- The next candidate Q in Y's list gets the Y seat. Q also holds an offer from W, so Q accepts Y and releases a seat at W.
- The next candidate R in Z's list gets the Z seat. The next candidate S in W's list gets the W seat.
Answer: One decision by P triggers three new offers (Q, R and S) across three IIMs.
The disclosed 2026-28 numbers show the same effect. The table gives calls, offers and seats.
What do the disclosed 2026-28 numbers imply?
| IIM | Interview calls | Offers | Seats | Offers per seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 1,325 | about 31% of calls | 414 | about 1 |
| IIM Bangalore | 1,780 | 639 | 541 | 1.18 |
| IIM Calcutta | 2,215 | 1,120 (including waitlist movement) | 479 | 2.34 |
- Offers divided by seats: 1,120 / 479 = 2.34.
Answer: About 2.3 offers per seat, so roughly 1.3 extra offers were needed for each seat as offer-holders went elsewhere.
The three oldest IIMs in the table differ widely, so there is no single movement rule. Movement depends on how many offer-holders have a preferred alternative.
Why do category lists move separately?
Seats are split by category, such as General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PwD, and a freed seat usually goes to the next candidate in the same category list. Whether an unfilled reserved seat converts to another category is stated in each notice.
Some IIMs also use other pools. IIM Bodh Gaya's 2026-28 policy says 70% of seats are gender-neutral, with the remainder possibly including supernumerary seats for girls. Your rank in your own list is what matters.
Why is IIM waitlist movement larger at some IIMs than others?
Candidates who hold offers from several IIMs tend to keep the one they rank highest. IIMs ranked lower in a candidate's preference therefore lose more offers, and their lists move more. This is reasoning from the mechanism, and the table above shows that even among three older IIMs the numbers vary.
How do acceptance fees and deadlines shape your plan?
Each IIM sets its own acceptance amount and withdrawal rules for each cycle. IIM Jammu's 2026-28 policy, for example, mentions an offer acceptance amount of Rs 50,000, a tentative first merit list in May 2026 and a last date for withdrawal with refund of 21 June 2026. IIM Nagpur's final offers were tentatively scheduled for May 2026.
For 2027, expect offers to cluster from April to May and withdrawal windows to run into June, depending on the IIM. XLRI's session begins in mid-June 2027.
How do you compare multiple offers? A decision grid
| IIM | Total fee (batch) | Average package (year) | Modelled cutoff estimate | Fee as share of one year's average package |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Lucknow | Rs 20.75 lakh (2026-28) | Rs 33.2 lakh (2024-26) | 97 | 63% |
| IIM Indore | Rs 24.12 lakh (2026-28) | Rs 27.27 lakh (2024-26) | 96 | 88% |
| IIM Kozhikode | Rs 23.5 lakh (2026-28) | Rs 28.18 lakh (2024-25) | 92 | 83% |
Fees are total programme fees without hostel, and packages are average domestic CTC of the latest placement class. The cutoff column is a modelled estimate of the percentile at which a General-category candidate has about a 50% chance of a call, not an official figure. The last column is a crude ratio that ignores the salary you give up while studying.
Add what the table cannot hold: city, specialisation, peer group and alumni network. The MBA ROI calculator and the best MBA ROI in India page add salary lost and payback, and MBA fees and placements shows medians next to averages.
What should you do while waitlisted?
- Hold the best offer in hand unless the deadline loss is unaffordable.
- Keep certificates and mark sheets ready, so you can accept within a deadline.
- Check your email and the portal daily, including spam.
- Plan the acceptance amount and the refund risk.
- Ask the admissions office what it will tell you about waitlist status, and use the MBA deadline tracker for dates.
What should you not infer from a forum post?
A post that says 'X candidates moved' is one person's report. It mixes categories, years and programmes, and the ranks are self-reported. The IIMs in our records do not publish official movement numbers. Use the mechanism, the disclosed offer counts and your own category list position instead.