CAT 2026 Registration: The wait is finally over for lakhs of candidates aspiring for admission to management courses. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has commenced the online registration process for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. Eligible candidates can fill out the application form via the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
Students wishing to seek admission to MBA, Post Graduate Programs, or Fellow/Doctoral programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) can apply to appear for this exam. Please note that the deadline for applications is September 15, 2026. Let us look at the eligibility criteria, registration fees, exam date, and exam pattern for CAT.
What is the CAT exam?
CAT is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in a computer-based test mode. This exam facilitates admission to the 21 IIMs and numerous other top business schools. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the CAT exam, though only a few succeed.
Important Dates
CAT registration start date: August 3, 2026
Last date to apply: September 15, 2026
Admit card release date: November 4, 2026
Exam date: November 29, 2026
What are the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria?
Candidates belonging to the General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories must have completed their graduation with at least 50% marks. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories must have passed their graduation with at least 45% marks. Alternatively, candidates must have completed a professional degree (CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with the prescribed percentage of marks.
How to Apply for CAT 2026?
First, visit the official website: iimcat.ac.in
On the home page, click on the registration link. Register by providing the requested information.
You will need to complete the form by filling in the remaining details.
Next, the prescribed fee must be deposited based on your category.
After submitting the form, take a printout.
Application Fee
Candidates belonging to all other categories must pay an examination fee of ₹2,700 to apply for the CAT exam. The application fee for SC/ST candidates is set at ₹1,350. The fee can be paid online.
What is the CAT 2026 exam like?
CAT 2026 will be a 120-minute computer-based test comprising 68 questions.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Avoid this mistake regarding the photograph in the CAT form
Even a minor error while filling out the CAT application form can prove costly; candidates could even be barred from taking the exam. Therefore, before filling out the form, keep scanned images of your passport-sized photograph and signature ready. The passport-sized photograph should not be older than six months.