India’s Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, often known as IIM-L or IIM Lucknow, is a public business school located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The Government of India founded it as the fourth Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in 1984. Executive programmes, fellowships, and post-graduate diplomas in management are available at IIM Lucknow. India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development has designated it as a “Institution of Excellence”. Along with being the mentor institution, IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, and IIM Kashipur are all recently founded. Up until 2018, it also acted as a mentor institution for IIM Sirmaur.
The institute is situated on 200 acres in Lucknow’s northern suburbs. Additionally, it offers a two-year PGP for working executives and executive education, as well as a one-year full-time MBA programme (IPMX) on a 20-acre campus in Noida. The International Programme in Management for Executives is a one-year full-time residential programme that is equivalent to an MBA programme. Admission to the Two-year PGP for Working Executive programme is based on the GMAT score or a competitive written examination administered by IIM Lucknow. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is used for admission to the two-year PGP and fellowship programmes. To make the final selection, the applicants who made the short list based on the GMAT or written exam must pass both the Writing Ability Test and the Personal Interview (WAT & PI). The worldwide accrediting bodies AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA have accredited the programmes. As a result, the institute is triple crown accredited. For student exchange, the institute has partnerships with 24 of the top business schools worldwide. Clubs, committees, and academic interest groups organise a plethora of sports, cultural, and b-competitions activities all year long.
IIM LUCKNOW: PROGRAMMES OFFERED
IIM Lucknow offers a diverse range of programs catering to different career stages and specializations:
- Executive / Other Programs: This includes various Management Development Programs (MDPs)
- PGP (MBA): The flagship two-year, full-time Post Graduate Programme in Management.
- MBA-ABM (Agribusiness Management): A specialized 2-year full-time program focused on the agribusiness sector.
- MBA-SM (Sustainable Management): A specialized 2-year program centered on sustainability and responsible management.
- Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM/PhD): A research-intensive program.
IIM LUCKNOW: Eligibility
IIM Lucknow Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the management programs at IIM Lucknow, candidates must meet the following academic and entrance requirements:
- Work Experience: While not a mandatory requirement for the PGP, relevant professional experience is positively weighted during the selection and final scoring process.
- Academic Qualification: Applicants must possess a Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3-year duration) or an equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
- Minimum Percentage Criteria: A minimum of 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) is typically required for General and NC-OBC candidates. A relaxed criterion of 45% is applicable for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
- Entrance Exam Requirements: A valid CAT score is mandatory for admission to the flagship PGP and other MBA programs.
| Program | Academic Qualification | Minimum Percentage (Aggregate) | Entrance Exam Requirement | Work Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGP (MBA), MBA-ABM, MBA-SM | Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3-year duration) or equivalent from a recognized university. | General/NC-OBC: 50% SC/ST/PwD: 45% | A valid CAT score is mandatory for these MBA programs. | Not mandatory for PGP, but relevant professional experience is positively weighted during selection. |
| Doctoral Programme (DPM/PhD) | Research-intensive program. | Not explicitly detailed in the general eligibility criteria. | Not explicitly detailed in the general eligibility criteria. | Not explicitly detailed in the general eligibility criteria. |
IIM LUCKNOW: ADMISSION PROCESS
The admission process at IIM Lucknow is a multi-stage selection designed to identify candidates with strong academic potential and professional aptitude.
- Shortlisting Criteria: The initial shortlisting is conducted based on CAT sectional and overall cut-offs. Following this, weightage is applied to the candidate’s academic profile.
- Entrance Exams Accepted: The primary entrance exam accepted for domestic candidates is the CAT (Common Admission Test). For international candidates or specific specialized programs, GMAT or GRE scores may be considered.
- WAT (Written Ability Test): Shortlisted candidates are required to complete a written test on a specified topic to evaluate their analytical thinking and written communication skills.
- PI (Personal Interview): This final evaluative stage assesses the candidate’s subject knowledge, interpersonal skills, and overall suitability for the management program.
Final Selection Parameters: Selection is based on a composite score that integrates CAT performance, academic records, quality of work experience, and scores from the WAT and PI stages.
IIM LUCKNOW: CUT OFF 2025
The cut-offs at IIM Lucknow remain highly competitive, reflecting the institute’s rigorous standards.
- Category-wise CAT Cutoffs: The overall CAT percentile requirement is typically 90 or above for the General category. For NC-OBC candidates, the cutoff is approximately 82, while for SC candidates it is 70. ST and PwD candidates usually require an overall percentile of 60.
- Sectional Cutoffs: Candidates must meet minimum sectional requirements: for the General category, this is often 85 percentile in VARC, DILR, and QA. Reserved categories have lower sectional thresholds, typically ranging from 50 to 77 percentile depending on the specific category and section.
- Overall Percentile Trends: While the minimum qualifying cutoffs are published, the actual shortlisting percentiles are significantly higher due to intense competition, often reaching 98+ for General category applicants.
| Category / Requirement | CAT Percentile Details |
|---|---|
| General Category (Overall) | 90 or above |
| Sectional Cutoffs (Mandatory) | Required for VARC, DILR, and QA |
IIM LUCKNOW: PLACEMENT REPORT (2025)
The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow has successfully concluded the final placement cycle for the graduating batch of 2025. This cycle encompassed students from the 39th batch of the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) and the 20th batch of the Postgraduate Program in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM).
Placement Highlights
During this final cycle, a total of 604 offers were secured for the participating students. The recruitment season demonstrated strong market confidence in the talent produced by the institute, reflected in the competitive compensation packages offered across various domains.
| Salary Metric | Compensation Details (per annum) |
|---|---|
| Mean Salary | ₹32.3 lakhs |
| Median Salary | ₹31 lakhs |
| Highest Domestic Salary | ₹75 lakhs |
| Highest International Salary | ₹65 lakhs |
Participating Recruiters
The placement season saw a healthy mix of first-time recruiters and long-standing partners from diverse sectors, including technology, consulting, finance, and manufacturing.
New Partnerships
The institute onboarded several prestigious firms for the first time, expanding the professional opportunities available to students:
- Ather Energy, Crackle Technologies, and GMR Group
- HPCL, Javis, Jefferies, and Karan Group
- Lava, Mankind Pharma, Marsh McLennan, and Maruti Suzuki
- Mindsprint, NAFED, OMC Power, and PhonePe
- Purplle, TESCO, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, UKG, Varroc, and Walmart
Legacy Recruiters
IIM Lucknow continued its strong association with industry leaders and legacy recruiters who returned to hire talent:
- Consulting & Strategy: Accenture, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, EY Parthenon, Kearney, McKinsey & Company, and PwC
- Technology & E-commerce: Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft, Navi, OLA, and Zomato
- BFSI: American Express, Goldman Sachs, JPMC, and Lincoln International
- Conglomerates & FMCG: Adani Group, Aditya Birla Group, Godrej, Landmark Group, Lodha Group, Procter & Gamble, Target, and Tata Administrative Services
Institutional Impact
The robust participation of leading global and domestic firms underscores IIM Lucknow’s reputation for nurturing exceptional talent equipped to excel in dynamic and competitive business environments. This achievement reaffirms the institute’s commitment to fostering industry-ready leaders who drive innovation and impact across various sectors.
KEY PLACEMENT STATISTICS 2025
IIM LUCKNOW: NOTABLE ALUMINI
The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow has established a formidable legacy since its inception in 1984, producing global leaders who have made significant impacts across corporate sectors, entrepreneurship, and public policy. The institute’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership development is reflected in the success of its graduates who lead multinational corporations and drive national initiatives.
Distinguished Leaders and Entrepreneurs
The following list highlights some of the most notable alumni from IIM Lucknow and their significant professional achievements:
- Ritesh Agarwal: Founder & CEO, OYO Rooms. As the youngest self-made billionaire, he has built OYO into a global hospitality giant valued at billions.
- Arvind Krishna: CEO, IBM. A graduate of the PGP 1990 batch, he leads IBM’s global advancements in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
- Sanjiv Mehta: Former CEO, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). He transformed HUL into a market leader by implementing robust, sustainable growth strategies.
- Rakesh Kapoor: Former Global CEO, Reckitt Benckiser. He is celebrated for his significant impact on global consumer goods leadership.
- Debjani Ghosh: President, NASSCOM. As a key figure in the Indian technology landscape, she leads the premier trade body for the IT-BPM sector.
- Nitin Seth: Co-founder and CEO, Incedo Inc.; Former COO, Flipkart. He is also a bestselling author and a recognized thought leader in the life sciences and technology industries.
- Amitabh Kant: Former CEO, NITI Aayog. He has been instrumental in shaping India’s economic policy framework and promoting national initiatives like “Make in India”.
- Shreya Sachdev: Head of Marketing & Strategy, Puma India. She successfully transitioned from strategy consulting at McKinsey to leading key projects for a major global sports brand.
- Shanmugam Manjunath: IOC Manager known for exposing fuel adulteration. He is remembered for his incredible integrity and sacrifice, which led to the formation of whistleblower protection initiatives by fellow alumni.
This network of alumni continues to serve as a vital source of inspiration and mentorship for current students, fostering a culture of excellence and real-world impact.
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