⚡ Quick Answer: CAT 2026 Registration & Exam Summary
- Conducting Institute: Indian Institute of Management (IIM Calcutta)
- Official Portal: iimcat.ac.in
- Registration Deadline: September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST)
- Exam Date: November 29, 2026 (Sunday – 3 Sessions)
- Application Fee: General / OBC / EWS: ₹2,500 | SC / ST / PwD: ₹1,250
- Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or final year students.
Written by: Himanshu Singh | Senior Admissions & Counselling Analyst, Admittance EduTech (7+ Years Experience)
Last Verified & Updated: August 23, 2026 | Authority: Indian Institutes of Management (CAT 2026 Convenor)
The CAT 2026 Registration portal is currently live on the official website (iimcat.ac.in) for candidates aspiring to secure admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (21 IIMs) and top-tier non-IIM business schools across India. Conducted by IIM Calcutta for the 2026–27 academic session, the Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) will take place on November 29, 2026 across 170 test cities nationwide. Online registration commenced on August 3 and will remain open until September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM).
Completing your CAT registration accurately is paramount, as errors in category declarations, academic percentage calculations, or document uploads cannot be rectified after the closing deadline and can lead to shortlisting disqualification during IIM admissions. This exhaustive 2,500+ word guide by Himanshu Singh, Senior Admissions Analyst at Admittance EduTech, covers every technical detail of the CAT 2026 Registration process—including eligibility criteria, step-by-step application instructions, fee structures, document specifications, exam pattern weightage, IIM shortlisting criteria, and 12 detailed FAQs.
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CAT 2026 Examination: Quick Highlights
| Examination Parameter | Official Verification Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) |
| Conducting Institute | Indian Institute of Management (IIM Calcutta) |
| Official Portal | iimcat.ac.in |
| Registration Start Date | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM IST) |
| Registration Deadline | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) |
| Admit Card Release Date | November 5, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday – 3 Slots) |
| Exam Cities | 170 Cities Across India |
| Application Fee | General / OBC / EWS: ₹2,500 | SC / ST / PwD: ₹1,250 |
Official CAT 2026 Schedule & Critical Milestones
Candidates must track the following official dates published by the CAT Centre 2026:
| CAT 2026 Stage | Official Schedule Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Release of Official Advertisement & Website Launch | July 28, 2026 |
| Opening of Online Registration Portal | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Closing of Online Registration & Fee Payment | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Application Edit Window (Photo/Sign/City Change) | September 20 – September 23, 2026 (Expected) |
| Admit Card Downloading Window | November 5 – November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Examination Day (3 Slots) | November 29, 2026 |
| Release of Official Candidate Response Sheet & Objections | December 2026 (1st Week) |
| Declaration of Official CAT 2026 Results | January 2027 (2nd Week) |
| IIM WAT-PI Shortlisting & Interview Calls | January – February 2027 |
Mandatory Options & Rules Matrix: Eligibility & Reservations
Candidates applying for CAT 2026 must fulfill the following mandatory eligibility and reservation conditions:
| Rule Category | Mandatory Qualification Criteria | Impact on IIM Selection |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Degree | Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) from a recognized university. | Must be fulfilled at the time of final admission. |
| Final Year Students | Appearing in final year exams or awaiting results. | Admitted provisionally subject to submitting completion certificate. |
| Reservation Quota | 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 27% NC-OBC, 10% EWS, 5% PwD. | Valid central list category certificate must be uploaded. |
| Professional Qualifications | CA / CS / CMA / ICWA with minimum percentage. | Eligible under professional degree qualification quota. |
Important Note from Himanshu Singh: NC-OBC and EWS certificates uploaded during CAT registration MUST be issued on or after April 1, 2026, by a competent government authority. Standard state-level certificates without central list validation are invalid.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Complete CAT 2026 Registration
Follow this official 9-step walkthrough to register on the official portal without technical errors:
- Portal Registration: Visit iimcat.ac.in and click on “New Candidate Registration”. Enter your full name, date of birth, email address, mobile number, and nationality. Submit the OTP sent to your registered mobile and email.
- Receive User ID & Password: Upon successful OTP verification, your unique CAT User ID and Password will be dispatched via SMS and email.
- Candidate Login: Click on “Registered Candidate Login” and enter your credentials.
- Fill Personal Details: Input father’s name, mother’s name, gender, category, communication address, and emergency contact numbers.
- Fill Academic Details: Enter exact percentage of marks for Class 10, Class 12, Bachelor’s degree (and Master’s/Professional degree if applicable). For CGPA conversions, follow your university’s official conversion formula strictly.
- Enter Work Experience: If applicable, enter full-time paid work experience (in completed months as of July 31, 2026) post completion of graduation. Articleship or internship experience is excluded.
- Select IIM Programs & Interview Cities: Select the PGP/MBA programs offered by all 21 IIMs you wish to apply for, along with preferred interview city choices for each IIM. There is no additional fee for selecting multiple IIM programs.
- Select Test City Preferences: Choose 6 preferred test cities from the list of 170 exam centers across India. Test cities are allocated based on operational availability.
- Upload Documents & Pay Fee: Upload scanned photo, signature, and category certificates matching official specifications. Pay the registration fee (₹2,500 for General/OBC/EWS; ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD) using Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI before September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM).
Complete Document Verification & Upload Checklist
Ensure your digital files conform strictly to the following parameters to avoid portal upload rejections:
- Passport-Sized Photograph: Scanned color photograph with a plain white background. Dimension: 30mm width x 45mm height. File Format: JPG or JPEG. File Size: Maximum 120 KB. Image must not be older than 6 months.
- Candidate Signature: Scanned signature in black or dark blue ink on plain white paper. Dimension: 80mm width x 35mm height. File Format: JPG or JPEG. File Size: Maximum 80 KB.
- Category Certificate (SC / ST / NC-OBC / EWS): Scanned PDF document. File Size: Maximum 1 MB. Certificate must be clearly legible.
- Disability Certificate (PwD): Scanned PDF document issued by authorized medical board. File Size: Maximum 1 MB.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Sectional Structure Breakdown
CAT 2026 is conducted as a 120-minute computer-based exam divided into three strictly timed 40-minute sections. Candidates cannot switch between sections during the test:
| CAT Section Name | Total Questions | MCQs / Non-MCQs (TITA) | Time Allotted | Sectional Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions | ~16 MCQs, ~8 TITA | 40 Minutes | 72 Marks |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 Questions | ~14 MCQs, ~6 TITA | 40 Minutes | 60 Marks |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 Questions | ~14 MCQs, ~8 TITA | 40 Minutes | 66 Marks |
| Total CAT 2026 Exam Structure | 66 Questions | ~44 MCQs, ~22 TITA | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) | 198 Marks |
Marking Scheme: Each correct response awards +3 marks. Incorrect Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) carry a negative marking of -1 mark. Non-MCQ (Type In The Answer – TITA) questions carry NO negative marking.
Top Non-IIM Business Schools Accepting CAT 2026 Scores
Apart from the 21 IIMs, over 100 top management institutions accept CAT 2026 percentiles for MBA/PGDM admissions:
| Non-IIM B-School Name | Location | Expected CAT Percentile Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University | New Delhi | 98.5+ Percentile |
| SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) | Mumbai | 85.0+ (Profile-based) / 98.0+ (Score-based) |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) | Gurgaon | 95.0+ Percentile |
| SJMSOM, IIT Bombay | Mumbai | 98.5+ Percentile |
| DMS, IIT Delhi | New Delhi | 98.0+ Percentile |
| VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur | 95.0+ Percentile |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) | Mumbai | 99.5+ Percentile (All India Quota) |
| IMT Ghaziabad / IMI New Delhi | NCR | 90.0+ Percentile |
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Frequently Asked Questions (12 FAQs)
Q1. When is the last date for CAT 2026 Registration?
A: The last date to complete online registration and fee payment is September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) at iimcat.ac.in.
Q2. What is the CAT 2026 exam date?
A: CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in three sessions across 170 test cities.
Q3. What is the application fee for CAT 2026?
A: The fee is ₹2,500 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, and ₹1,250 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
Q4. Are final year graduation students eligible for CAT 2026?
A: Yes. Final year undergraduate students awaiting their final semester results are fully eligible.
Q5. What is the minimum percentage required for General candidates in CAT 2026?
A: Candidates must have secured at least 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in Bachelor’s degree.
Q6. How many test cities can I select during CAT 2026 registration?
A: Candidates can select up to 6 test cities in order of preference.
Q7. Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?
A: IIM Calcutta is the official convenor institute for CAT 2026.
Q8. Will there be an application correction window for CAT 2026?
A: Yes. A brief edit window will be provided in late September to edit photograph, signature, and test city preferences.
Q9. Do I need to pay separate application fees for individual IIM programs during CAT registration?
A: No. Selection of all IIM PGP/MBA programs is included within the central CAT application fee.
Q10. Is work experience mandatory for CAT 2026?
A: No. Work experience is not mandatory; freshers are fully eligible to apply.
Q11. What is the total duration and mark weightage of CAT 2026?
A: The exam duration is 120 minutes (2 hours) with a total of 66 questions carrying 198 marks.
Q12. How can I get personalized assistance for MBA college selection?
A: You can connect directly with our experts using the AI Counsellor Tool on Admittance EduTech.