Understanding the hierarchy of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is the first step for any CAT aspirant. As of 2026, the 21 IIMs (now including IIM Mumbai) are categorized into three distinct generations based on their establishment year, infrastructure, and placement legacy.

1. The Old IIMs (1st Generation – The "BLACKIM" Group)

Established before 1996, these are the crown jewels of Indian management education. They possess the strongest alumni networks and the highest global rankings.

• Colleges: IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA), IIM Bangalore (IIMB), IIM Calcutta (IIMC), IIM Lucknow (IIML), IIM Kozhikode (IIMK), IIM Indore (IIMI), and IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE).

• Average Package: ₹28 LPA – ₹35+ LPA.

• USP: Global brand recognition, legacy recruiters (MBB, Tier-1 IB), and massive campuses.
  
  

2. The New IIMs (2nd Generation)

Established between 2007 and 2011, these institutes have moved out of their mentor campuses and now boast state-of-the-art infrastructure and stable placement records.

• Colleges: IIM Shillong, IIM Ranchi, IIM Rohtak, IIM Raipur, IIM Tiruchirappalli (Trichy), IIM Udaipur, and IIM Kashipur.Average Package: ₹18 LPA – ₹25 LPA.

   
  USP: Modern pedagogy and a balance between the "IIM Brand" and relatively lower competitive cutoffs compared to IIMA/B/C.

3. The Baby IIMs (3rd Generation)

Established around 2015-2016, these are the youngest members. While they are still growing, their growth trajectory is steep due to mentorship from the Old IIMs.

• Colleges: IIM Nagpur, IIM Visakhapatnam (Vizag), IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Jammu.

  Average Package: ₹14 LPA – ₹20 LPA.

  USP: High ROI (Return on Investment) and growing presence in the IIM Common Admission Process (CAP).