CAT 2026 Registration Extension is now officially active on the web portal at iimcat.ac.in. The conducting body, Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore), has extended the last date to submit online application forms until September 22, 2026, up to 5:00 PM IST. If you missed the earlier deadline or got stuck during fee payment, this extra window is your final chance to apply. The Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) is the single entrance test required for admission to MBA and PGDM programs at all 21 IIMs, as well as the top non-IIM B-schools accepting CAT scores like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and premier IIT management departments. Do not wait until the last hour on September 22. Server load increases quickly near the deadline, so finish your registration and fee payment right away.
Latest status — verified on September 17, 2026: IIM Indore has officially extended the CAT 2026 registration deadline to September 22, 2026 (5:00 PM IST). Candidates can register, fill details, upload documents, and pay fees online. The test will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2026, across 170 test cities.
CAT 2026 Quick Facts Summary
Here is a quick look at the most important verified details for the CAT 2026 entrance exam.
| Exam Parameter | Official Verified Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) |
| Conducting Institute | Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) |
| Convener | Prof. Aditya Billore (IIM Indore) |
| Exam Level | National Level Postgraduate Management Entrance Test |
| Extended Registration Deadline | September 22, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) |
| Application Fee (General / EWS / NC-OBC) | Rs 2,700 (Online payment) |
| Application Fee (SC / ST / PwD) | Rs 1,350 (Online payment) |
| Admit Card Download Date | November 4, 2026 (5:00 PM onwards) |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | Sunday, November 29, 2026 |
| Number of Shifts | 3 Shifts (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
| Exam Duration | 120 Minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Number of Test Cities | 170 Cities across India |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Last Verified Date | September 17, 2026 |
Source: Official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin, IIM Indore.
Why Did IIM Indore Extend the CAT 2026 Registration Date?
Every year, the CAT registration deadline receives a short extension of a few days. The CAT 2026 Registration Extension gives needed breathing room to students who faced practical hurdles during the initial window. Many college students were waiting for their final semester mark sheets or conversion certificates from their universities. Others ran into bank server timeouts or OTP delivery issues during peak traffic hours on the original closing day.
This extension gives you enough time to double-check your form, scan clear documents, and make payment smoothly. Remember that IIM Indore will not extend the window a second time. Once 5:00 PM on September 22 passes, the registration portal will lock permanently for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.
If you want personal guidance on shortlisting business schools based on your profile and target percentile, you can Book a Free Admission Counselling Session or check cutoffs on our All India College Predictor Hub. For candidates participating in state quota postgraduate admissions in Karnataka, review our latest guide on Karnataka PGCET 2026 Round 1 Mock Seat Allotment.
Official Schedule for CAT 2026 (Full Event Calendar)
Below is the complete official timetable for CAT 2026 from registration to final results.
| Admission Stage / Event | Official Date | Stage Status |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | July 28, 2026 | Completed |
| Online Registration Start Date | August 2, 2026 (10:00 AM) | Completed |
| First Registration Closing Date | September 13, 2026 (5:00 PM) | Extended |
| Extended Registration Closing Date | September 22, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) | Currently Active |
| Application Correction Window | Late September 2026 (3 to 4 days) | Upcoming |
| Admit Card Download Window | November 4, 2026 to November 29, 2026 | Upcoming |
| Official Mock Test Navigation Link | First Week of November 2026 | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Examination Day | Sunday, November 29, 2026 | Confirmed Date |
| Candidate Response Sheet and Key Release | First Week of December 2026 | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Final Scorecard Announcement | First Week of January 2027 | Upcoming |
Source: CAT 2026 Official Media Release, IIM Indore.
Who Can Apply for CAT 2026? (Eligibility Rules Explained Simply)
Before you fill in the form under the CAT 2026 Registration Extension, check if you meet the minimum academic criteria. The rules are straightforward:
1. Graduation Marks Requirement
- General, EWS, and NC-OBC Candidates: You need at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in your Bachelor degree.
- SC, ST, and PwD Candidates: You need at least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA in your Bachelor degree.
- The Bachelor degree must be awarded by a recognized university or institute established by an Act of Parliament or declared deemed-to-be university under Section 3 of the UGC Act.
2. Final Year College Students
If you are in the final year of your graduation or waiting for your final semester results, you can still apply for CAT 2026. If you receive an admission offer from an IIM, you will be allowed to join provisionally. You only need to submit a letter from your college Principal or Registrar stating that you have completed all exams before the cutoff date set by that IIM.
3. Professional Qualifications
Candidates with professional qualifications such as CA (Chartered Accountancy), CS (Company Secretary), ICWA/CMA (Cost and Management Accountancy), or FIA (Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries) are also eligible to apply with the required minimum percentage.
4. Age Limit and Number of Attempts
There is no maximum age limit to take CAT 2026. There is also no restriction on the number of attempts. Whether you are a fresh college graduate or a working professional with several years of industry experience, you can register and write the exam.
CAT 2026 Registration Fee Structure
The registration fee is paid online in the last step of the application process. You can pay via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
| Category | Total Registration Fee | Payment Modes | Refund Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved (UR) | Rs 2,700 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | Rs 2,700 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
| Non-Creamy OBC (NC-OBC) | Rs 2,700 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | Rs 1,350 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Rs 1,350 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) | Rs 1,350 | Credit Card / Debit Card / Net Banking / UPI | 100% Non-refundable |
Source: Official CAT 2026 Fee Notice, IIM Indore.
Helpful Tip: You only pay this fee once. It covers your exam registration and allows you to apply for all programs across all 21 IIM campuses. Selecting additional IIM programs does not cost any extra money.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Complete Your CAT 2026 Application Form
Follow these straightforward steps to complete your registration on the official portal under the CAT 2026 Registration Extension.
Step 1: Create Your Account and Generate OTP
- Go to the official website: iimcat.ac.in.
- Click on the New Candidate Registration link.
- Type your Name exactly as written on your Class 10 board marksheet.
- Enter your Date of Birth, Email ID, and active Mobile Number.
- Click on Generate OTP and verify the OTP sent to your phone.
- Your system User ID and Password will be sent to your phone and email inbox.
Step 2: Enter Personal Details and Reservation Category
- Log in with your new User ID and Password.
- Fill in your father name, mother name, gender, nationality, and permanent home address.
- Select your Category (General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST). If you choose a reserved category, upload your valid central category certificate in PDF format.
- If applying under PwD, choose your disability type and mention if you need a scribe or extra test time.
Step 3: Enter Academic Records (Class 10 to Graduation)
- Enter your Class 10 board name, aggregate marks, and passing year.
- Enter your Class 12 or Diploma details, subjects, and percentage.
- Enter your Bachelor degree details, including college name, university, graduation year, and total marks or CGPA.
- If your university gives grades or CGPA, convert it into percentage marks using your university official formula.
Step 4: Enter Work Experience (If Applicable)
- Enter full-time paid work experience completed after graduation up to July 31, 2026.
- Select your industry domain and enter exact starting and ending dates.
- Do not add unpaid internships, part-time college jobs, or freelance work here.
Step 5: Select IIM Campuses and Preferred Programs
- Tick the checkboxes for the programs you want to apply for across all 21 IIMs (such as PGP, MBA, PGP-HRM, PGP-BA).
- Select your preferred interview cities for each chosen IIM program from the dropdown menus.
- We recommend selecting all available programs to keep all your interview options open.
Step 6: Choose Your 6 Preferred Exam Cities
- Select six different test cities in order of your preference from the list of 170 exam cities.
- IIM Indore will assign one city from your list based on seat availability and center logistics.
Step 7: Pay the Fee and Download the Confirmation Page
- Look over your filled application preview to make sure there are no typos in your name, date of birth, or marks.
- Pay the registration fee online through the payment gateway.
- Save a PDF copy of your submitted application form and the payment confirmation receipt on your device.
Document Upload Specifications (Avoid Upload Errors)
Uploading files in the wrong format or size will block your submission. Check this table before uploading your scanned files.
| Required Document | Allowed Format | Maximum File Size | Upload Rules and Guidelines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport Size Photo | JPEG / JPG | Up to 1200 KB | Recent color photo with white background. Straight face without cap or dark glasses. Size: 35mm x 45mm. |
| Candidate Signature | JPEG / JPG | Up to 80 KB | Sign clearly with black or blue pen on plain white paper. Size: 80mm x 35mm. |
| NC-OBC / EWS Certificate | Up to 3000 KB (3 MB) | Must be issued in the official central government format with valid financial year details. | |
| SC / ST Certificate | Up to 3000 KB (3 MB) | Official central government caste certificate signed by competent district authorities. | |
| PwD Disability Certificate | Up to 3000 KB (3 MB) | Must certify at least 40% benchmark disability from an authorized government medical board. | |
| Scribe Form / Undertaking | Up to 3000 KB (3 MB) | Filled and signed in the official IIM format if using a scribe during the exam. |
Source: CAT 2026 Candidate Registration Manual, IIM Indore.
CAT 2026 Application Form Correction Window
After the CAT 2026 Registration Extension closes on September 22, IIM Indore will provide an edit window in late September. This facility stays open for 3 to 4 days.
What You Can Change:
- Photograph: You can replace a blurred photo or a picture with a dark background.
- Signature: You can re-upload an unclear or poorly scanned signature.
- Test City Preferences: You can change the order or choice of your 6 exam cities.
What You Cannot Change:
- Your Name, Date of Birth, Email ID, and Mobile Number cannot be edited.
- Your Category (General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST) cannot be modified after fee payment.
- Academic percentage marks and college details cannot be changed in this window.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Section Details
The CAT exam is a 2-hour computer-based test divided into three timed sections. Here is how the question paper is structured.
| Section Number | Subject Section | Total Questions | Section Time | Question Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions | 40 Minutes | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Section II | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 Questions | 40 Minutes | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Section III | Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 Questions | 40 Minutes | MCQs and TITA (Type In The Answer) |
| Complete Test | Total CAT 2026 Question Paper | 66 Questions | 120 Minutes | Total Marks: 198 |
Source: Official CAT 2026 Test Scheme, IIM Indore.
Marking Scheme and Section Timing Rules
- Correct Answer: You get +3 marks for every correct answer.
- Wrong Answer in MCQs: You lose -1 mark for every incorrect multiple-choice answer.
- Wrong Answer in TITA: There is no negative marking (0 marks deducted) for non-MCQ type questions where you type the answer using the on-screen keypad.
- Section Timer Lock: You have exactly 40 minutes for each section. When the 40 minutes finish, the screen automatically moves to the next section. You cannot switch between sections or come back to a previous section.
- PwD Extra Time: Eligible PwD candidates get 13 minutes and 20 seconds extra per section (total test duration: 160 minutes).
List of All 21 Participating IIMs
Your single CAT 2026 application makes you eligible for admission across all 21 Indian Institutes of Management:
- IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA)
- IIM Bangalore (IIMB)
- IIM Calcutta (IIMC)
- IIM Lucknow (IIML)
- IIM Kozhikode (IIMK)
- IIM Indore (IIMI) – Conducting Body
- IIM Shillong (IIMS)
- IIM Rohtak
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Raipur
- IIM Tiruchirappalli (IIM Trichy)
- IIM Kashipur
- IIM Udaipur
- IIM Nagpur
- IIM Visakhapatnam (IIM Vizag)
- IIM Bodh Gaya
- IIM Amritsar
- IIM Sambalpur
- IIM Sirmaur
- IIM Jammu
- IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE)
To check previous years cutoffs, campus facilities, and fees for these institutes, visit our Explore Colleges Directory.
Top Non-IIM Business Schools Accepting CAT 2026
Apart from the 21 IIMs, more than 100 top business schools accept CAT 2026 scores. Note that these non-IIM institutions require you to fill out separate application forms on their own websites in addition to registering for CAT.
- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University – New Delhi
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) – Mumbai
- Management Development Institute (MDI) – Gurgaon
- Department of Management Studies (DMS), IIT Delhi – New Delhi
- Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSoM), IIT Bombay – Mumbai
- Department of Management Studies (DoMS), IIT Madras – Chennai
- Department of Industrial and Management Engineering (IME), IIT Kanpur – Kanpur
- Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM), IIT Kharagpur – Kharagpur
- Department of Management Studies (DoMS), IIT Roorkee – Roorkee
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT) – Ghaziabad
- International Management Institute (IMI) – New Delhi
- MICA – Ahmedabad
- Goa Institute of Management (GIM) – Goa
- Great Lakes Institute of Management – Chennai / Gurgaon
- TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) – Manipal
Common Registration Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Avoid these common errors to ensure your application goes through without any trouble under the CAT 2026 Registration Extension:
- Waiting Until 4:30 PM on September 22: Thousands of students try to pay at the last minute. This causes banking gateways to slow down. Complete your payment well before the deadline.
- Spelling Mistakes in Your Name: Your name on the CAT portal must match your Class 10 certificate letter for letter. Exam center staff will check your photo ID on test day against this name.
- Uploading Selfies or Dark Photos: Use a clear studio photo with a plain white background. Selfies and cropped group photos get rejected.
- Wrong CGPA Conversion: Do not guess your percentage. Use your university official conversion formula to calculate exact marks.
- Selecting Only 2 or 3 IIMs: You can apply for all 21 IIMs at no extra fee. Select all programs to maximize your chances of getting interview calls.
What Happens After CAT 2026 Registration Closes?
Here is what you need to prepare for after the extended registration window shuts on September 22:
- Correction Facility (Late September 2026): Log in to check your photo, signature, and city choices if you need to fix anything.
- Admit Card Download (November 4, 2026): Download your admit card from iimcat.ac.in. It will show your exam center address, shift timing, and reporting time.
- Official Mock Test (November 2026): Practice the official mock test on the portal to get comfortable with the test screen, timer, and scientific on-screen calculator.
- Exam Day (November 29, 2026): Carry your printed admit card, a valid original government photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, PAN Card, or Driving License), and required medical certificates if applicable.
- Answer Key and Scorecard (December 2026 – January 2027): Review your responses and check your final percentile once results are announced. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited for WAT and Personal Interview rounds by each IIM.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the new last date to register under the CAT 2026 Registration Extension?
Answer: The extended last date to submit the online CAT 2026 application form is September 22, 2026, up to 5:00 PM IST on the official website iimcat.ac.in. Candidates should finish registration early to prevent last-minute payment failures.
Q2: Which institute is organizing CAT 2026?
Answer: Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) is conducting CAT 2026. The exam will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2026, across three shifts.
Q3: How much is the application fee for CAT 2026?
Answer: The registration fee is Rs 2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the fee is Rs 1,350. The fee is paid online and is non-refundable.
Q4: Can final-year graduation students register for CAT 2026?
Answer: Yes, students in their final year of graduation or awaiting final semester results are fully eligible. They must produce a certificate from their college Principal or Registrar confirming completion of all exams before the admission deadline.
Q5: What is the minimum percentage required in graduation for CAT 2026?
Answer: General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates need at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in their Bachelor degree. SC, ST, and PwD candidates need at least 45% marks.
Q6: Can I apply for CAT 2026 through offline paper forms?
Answer: No, CAT 2026 applications are accepted only through the official online portal iimcat.ac.in. No offline forms, paper applications, or demand drafts are accepted.
Q7: How many exam cities can I choose in the CAT 2026 form?
Answer: You can select up to six preferred test cities in order of priority from 170 available cities across India. One test center will be allocated based on operational availability.
Q8: Is there a correction window after the extended registration closes?
Answer: Yes, IIM Indore will open an application correction window in late September 2026. Registered candidates can edit their uploaded photo, signature, and test city preferences.
Q9: When can I download the CAT 2026 Admit Card?
Answer: The CAT 2026 Admit Card will be available for download on iimcat.ac.in starting November 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST until exam day on November 29, 2026.
Q10: Is there negative marking in the CAT 2026 test?
Answer: Yes, 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in multiple-choice questions (MCQs). There is no negative marking for non-MCQ questions (Type In The Answer / TITA).
Sources Checked and Editorial Verification
- IIM CAT Official Website (iimcat.ac.in)
- CAT 2026 Official Information Bulletin and Media Notification, IIM Indore
Update Policy: This page will be revised immediately when the counselling authority publishes a new official notification or revised schedule.