For an 8/8/8 EWS male non-engineer targeting IIM ABC, aim for 98+ percentile overall for safety, with 95+ in each section. EWS typically gets 5-8 percentile relaxation below general cutoffs per IIM. The AMA hosts confirmed "Have a classmate who made it with a 9/8/8 OBC 99.
6%ile so should be doable" for reservation profiles. At IIM Ahmedabad's Rs 27.5L fees and Rs 35.
22 LPA average, the 99%+ general cutoff drops to around 93-95% for EWS. Non-engineer advantage adds another 3-4 effective percentile in shortlisting. Combined advantages: EWS (5-8%) + non-engineer (3-4%) means effective percentile equivalent of general candidate at 92-95 = general 99+.
Realistic target: 98 percentile gives you ABC calls, 99+ gives you convert shots. The three AMA hosts all had 99.93+ as general engineers - the EWS + non-engineer bar is genuinely much lower.
Key trap to avoid: CAT 98 EWS gets calls but interviews still require solid prep - your 8/8/8 acads need strong current affairs and UG subject depth. IIM Lucknow (Rs 22L fees, 97%+ cutoff, Rs 32.3 LPA avg) is easier to target with EWS advantage.
Check your eligibility at collvera.