Navigating the IIM waitlist requires understanding the "Overlap Effect." In the Old IIMs (BLACKI + Mumbai), movement remains tight because these are top-priority choices. IIM Ahmedabad is the most conservative with a General movement of just 33, while IIM Indore shows much higher volatility at 802, often due to its larger batch size and specific selection criteria that overlap with the other top 5.

The New & CAP IIMs exhibit massive shifts, acting as a buffer for the entire ecosystem. IIM Kashipur and IIM Sambalpur see General movements exceeding 2,000–3,000, as candidates frequently migrate upward to older IIMs or specialized institutes like MDI and IIFT. Notably, IIM Ranchi and IIM Raipur also show significant movement (800–1,100+), making them hopeful targets for those in the middle-to-high waitlist brackets. The EWS and SC/ST categories generally see more restricted movement in the top tier but fluctuate heavily in the CAP round, reflecting the high competitiveness of reserved category seats at the apex.