The wait is finally over for MBA aspirants. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has officially released the shortlist for its prestigious MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) programmes for the 2026-28 batch.
If you appeared for CAT 2025 and applied to IIFT, you can now check your selection status directly on the official website. This shortlist determines who moves forward to the crucial Group Discussion (GD), Writing Skills Assessment (WSA), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds scheduled to begin in March 2026.
Here is everything you need to know about the IIFT 2026 shortlist, how to check your result, and what you must do next to secure a seat in one of India’s top trade schools.
How to Check Your IIFT Shortlist Status 2026
The institute has activated the status link on its official portal. Follow these simple steps to see if you have been selected:
- Find the Link: Look for the notification titled “MBA (IB) & MBA (BA) 2026-28 – List of Shortlisted Candidates for Second Round”.
- Login: You will need to enter your IIFT Application Number and registered Email ID.
- Download CV Form: If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to fill out a detailed CV form. This is a mandatory step for the interview rounds.
Important: The shortlist is based on your CAT 2025 score (Common Admission Test), along with profile-based factors like academic consistency and gender diversity. IIFT no longer conducts its own separate entrance exam for these courses.
Read more: TN TET Certificate Download 2026
Selection Criteria: How Were You Shortlisted?
Getting an interview call from IIFT is tough. The institute uses a strict “Composite Score” to select candidates. For the 2026-28 batch, the initial shortlisting criteria included:
- CAT 2025 Score (Major Weightage): Your performance in the CAT exam accounts for roughly 90% of the initial shortlisting weightage.
- Sectional Cut-offs: Unlike some other colleges, IIFT has strict sectional cut-offs. You needed to clear the minimum marks in VARC, DILR, and Quant individually to be considered.
- Gender Diversity: Female and transgender candidates received extra points (approx. 5 marks) to encourage diversity in classrooms.
- Work Experience: Candidates with relevant industry experience (usually 12+ months) were given additional weightage.
Expected Cut-off Trends: While the official cut-off marks vary by category, general category candidates usually require a 98+ percentile in CAT to clear the composite score requirement for the Delhi and Kolkata campuses.
Why This Matters: IIFT Ranked #1 & Record Placements
This shortlist is highly anticipated because IIFT recently secured the Rank #1 spot in the Times B-School Ranking 2026. The stakes are high for aspirants because of the institute’s incredible return on investment (ROI).
According to the latest Placement Report 2025, IIFT continues to offer massive salary packages:
- Highest International Package: INR 1.3 Crore
- Highest Domestic Package: INR 72 LPA
- Average Package: INR 31.3 LPA
Securing a seat here means you are entering a premier league of future trade professionals.
What Happens Next? (The PI Round)
If your name is on the list, the battle is only half won. The second stage of the admission process is rigorous and will likely start in March 2026.
The Stage 2 Process Includes:
- Writing Skills Assessment (WAT): You may be given a topic related to current affairs, trade policy, or social issues to write an essay on (approx. 20-30 minutes).
- Group Discussion (GD): A discussion round to test your communication and leadership skills.
- Personal Interview (PI): A panel of faculty and alumni will interview you. Be ready to answer questions about your work experience, basic economics, and why you want to join IIFT.
- Extempore: In some years, IIFT also asks candidates to speak on a random topic for 2 minutes.
Immediate Action: Shortlisted candidates must download their Interview Letters from the portal and book their interview slots/centers if the option is provided.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the IIFT shortlist based on CAT or the IIFT entrance exam?
The IIFT 2026 shortlist is based entirely on CAT 2025 scores. IIFT stopped conducting its own separate entrance exam starting from the 2024 admission cycle.
Q2: I have a 99 percentile in CAT but didn’t get a call. Why?
IIFT uses sectional cut-offs. Even if your overall score is high, you might have missed the cut-off for one specific section (like Quant or VARC). Alternatively, your composite score (which includes 10th/12th marks) might be lower than the cutoff.
Q3: When will the final merit list be declared?
After the interview rounds in March/April are complete, the final merit list for admission is expected to be released in May 2026.
Q4: Can I apply for the IIFT Kakinada campus separately?
Usually, the counseling process is common. If you clear the cut-off for the Delhi/Kolkata campuses, you get them first. Candidates with slightly lower scores may be offered seats at the Kakinada campus based on availability and rank.
Q5: What is the fee for the MBA (IB) program?
The total course fee is approximately INR 21-22 Lakhs for the two-year program (subject to official updates for the 2026 batch).