What is the waitlist movement at IIM Kashipur?
IIM Kashipur recorded the largest waitlist movement among all IIMs in the 2025 admission cycle, with 1,728 General category waitlist offers clearing after the first list. Combined with 2,136 General first-list offers, the total cohort flow reached 3,864 candidates in General alone.
This massive movement reflects location-specific declination patterns and cascading acceptances across the new IIM tier.
The 2025 Verified Waitlist Data
| Category | First List Offers | Waitlist Movement | Total Cohort Flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 2,136 | 1,728 | 3,864 |
| EWS | 294 | 27 | 321 |
| OBC | 978 | 107 | 1,085 |
| SC | 489 | 297 | 786 |
| ST | 286 | 157 | 443 |
| PwD | 49 | 186 | 235 |
*Source: Official IIM admission data, 2025 cycle.*
The PwD category shows a striking pattern: 186 waitlist offers against just 49 first-list offers, indicating nearly 4x movement. SC category also saw strong movement at 297 waitlist offers, while OBC and EWS remained relatively stable after initial rounds.
What Drives This Movement
The 3,864 total General cohort flow stems from multiple declination waves. Candidates who receive IIM Kashipur offers often hold competing admits from IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Indore.
As those higher-ranked IIMs clear their own waitlists, Kashipur sees cascading declinations.
Beyond the top six IIMs, competition comes from IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur, and FMS Delhi. Many candidates prefer metro locations or established campuses over Kashipur's Uttarakhand setting.
The initial offer acceptance rate sits at 25-35%, among the lowest for any IIM, triggering 4-6 rounds of waitlist clearance.
Conversion Probability by Waitlist Position
Position 1-300 carries high conversion probability, typically clearing in rounds 1-2. Position 300-700 sees moderate conversion by round 3-4.
Position 700-1,500 still converts at moderate-to-lower rates through rounds 5-6. Even position 1,500+ has meaningful conversion chances given the massive cohort flow, though clearance extends into late June or July.
For candidates comparing colleges at the new IIM tier, Kashipur's waitlist depth offers hope but requires patience. Peer schools like IIM Ranchi, IIM Raipur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Bodh Gaya show smaller waitlist movements, making Kashipur unique in its extended clearance cycle.
The Location Factor
IIM Kashipur sits in Kashipur, Uttarakhand, a smaller town in the Himalayan foothills. Some candidates value the scenic campus and focused academic environment. Others prioritize metro access, declining Kashipur for FMS Delhi (metro location, ₹0.23 L fees), NITIE Mumbai (operations focus, ₹14.63 L fees), or even non-IIM options in Bangalore and Pune.
This location preference dynamic sustains the declination cascade. Candidates accept Kashipur initially, then withdraw when metro alternatives clear, perpetuating waitlist movement through multiple rounds.
Strategy for Waitlisted Candidates
Maintain backup acceptances at peer new IIMs during the Kashipur waitlist period. The 1,728 General waitlist movement means even late-position candidates convert, but timing is unpredictable.
If you hold a confirmed seat at IIM Ranchi or IIM Raipur, weigh the trade-off between certainty and waiting for Kashipur's marginally stronger placement outcomes.
From Reddit, we learnt that Kashipur waitlist candidates often juggle 2-3 new IIM offers simultaneously, making deposit decisions complex. The extended clearance cycle runs into late June, overlapping with hostel allocation and pre-term prep at competing schools. Run an eligibility match to see where else your profile converts, then decide whether to wait or commit.
Pro Tip: IIM Kashipur's 1,728 General waitlist movement is the largest at any IIM, but clearance is slow and unpredictable. For position 1,000+ candidates, conversion remains possible through round 5-6, but maintain multiple peer new IIM backups to avoid losing all seats during the extended wait.