CAT 2026 Registration: Complete Admissions Guide for 21 IIMs
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
- Location
- All India (Online CBT across 170+ cities)
- Last date
- 15 Sep 2026
- Qualification
- Bachelor's Degree with 50% (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or Final Year students
- Age limit
- No Age Limit
- Vacancies
- 5,500+ Seats across 21 IIMs + Top B-Schools
- Pay / stipend
- Not applicable (National Entrance Examination)
- Experience
- Fresher / Final-Year Students Eligible (Work experience optional)
- Application fee
- ₹1,300 (SC/ST/PwD) | ₹2,600 (General/OBC/EWS)
- Selection
- Computer-Based Test (CBT) + IIM WAT/PI Rounds
Official Details
The Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) registration window is entering its final countdown. Administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (convened by IIM Indore for this cycle), CAT 2026 serves as the single national gateway for admission to postgraduate management programmes (MBA/PGP) across all 21 IIMs and over 100 top non-IIM institutions including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and IIT management departments.
Online registration closes on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Candidates can appear for the computer-based exam scheduled on November 29, 2026 across three test shifts. For more higher education entrance updates, explore our Admissions Hub.
CAT 2026: Quick Overview & Critical Dates
| Parameter | Official Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) |
| Conducting Authority | Indian Institutes of Management (IIM Indore Convening) |
| Target Programmes | MBA, PGP, PGP-FABM, Executive MBA, and Ph.D. in Management |
| Participating Institutes | 21 IIMs + 100+ Premier Business Schools across India |
| Registration Deadline | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) |
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
| Examination Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday — 3 Shifts) |
| Result Declaration | Second week of January 2027 |
| Official Portal | iimcat.ac.in |
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Cutoffs
| Candidate Category | Minimum Qualifying Marks (Bachelor’s Degree) |
|---|---|
| General, OBC-NCL, and EWS | Minimum 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA |
| SC, ST, and PwD (Persons with Disability) | Minimum 45% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA |
| Final-Year Students | Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree / awaiting results are fully eligible to apply. |
| Age Limit | No age restriction for taking the exam or seeking IIM admission. |
Registration Fees & Payment Details
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, and PwD Candidates | ₹1,300/- |
| All Other Candidates (General / OBC / EWS) | ₹2,600/- |
Test Pattern & Sectional Weightage
CAT 2026 follows the standardized 120-minute (2-hour) computer-based pattern with strict 40-minute sectional timing:
- Section I: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) — 24 Questions | 40 Minutes
- Section II: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) — 20 Questions | 40 Minutes
- Section III: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) — 22 Questions | 40 Minutes
- Marking Scheme: +3 for each correct answer; -1 for each incorrect MCQ; No negative marking for Non-MCQ (Type-in-the-Answer – TITA) questions.
Skip-If: Who Should NOT Apply
Save your fees and preparation effort. You should skip applying if:
- Your undergraduate degree score is under 50% (or 45% for reserved categories): The percentage cut-off is strict. Even a 49.99% aggregate will disqualify your profile during document verification at the IIM interview stage.
- You cannot upload valid category certificates in Central Government format: OBC-NCL and EWS candidates must possess valid certificates issued for the financial year 2026–27. State-specific formats without central validity are rejected.
- You are aiming only for distance/online MBA: CAT is intended strictly for regular, full-time on-campus postgraduate management and doctoral programmes across IIMs and partner institutions.
How to Register Before the Deadline
- Navigate to the official portal at iimcat.ac.in and click on “New Candidate Registration”.
- Generate your User ID and Password using a valid email ID and personal mobile number.
- Log in to fill out personal details, academic scores (Class 10, Class 12, Bachelor’s degree), and relevant work experience.
- Select your preferred IIM programmes and choose up to six preferred test city locations.
- Upload your photograph, signature, and category/PwD certificate (if applicable).
- Pay the registration fee online via net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI before 5:00 PM on September 15, 2026.
Official References & Downloads
Looking for engineering, research, and university entrance updates? Visit our Campus Reality Admissions Archive.
Applicant Safety
Always verify notices on the official institutional website. Campus Reality only lists public notifications.
- Double-check deadlines.
- Never pay fees through unverified third-party links.
- Read the official PDF carefully before applying.