CAT Notification 2026 is the official notice from the IIMs for the Common Admission Test. It states the test date, registration window, fees, eligibility, reservation rules, and the programmes for which CAT is a prerequisite.
IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 on behalf of the Indian Institutes of Management. The registration process closed on September 22, 2026. Candidates can download the CAT admit card from November 4, 2026, to November 29, 2026, and the entrance test will take place on November 29, 2026, in three sessions across 170 cities of India.
The application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC and ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD. The CAT 2026 result will be declared tentatively in the first week of January 2027.
What does CAT Notification 2026 contain?
CAT Notification 2026 contains the official rules for CAT: dates, fees, eligibility, reservation, examination centre, and others.
The advertisement states that the Indian Institutes of Management will conduct a computer-based CAT 2026 and that the test is a prerequisite for admission to various postgraduate, fellow, or doctorate programs in management at the IIMs. The following bullet points are included in a CAT notification.
- When does the form open and close
- How much is the fee by category
- Who is eligible, including final-year students
- How reservation and PwBD rules work
- What the paper looks like: sections, time, city list
- When the admit card comes
- That each IIM still runs its own admission policy after the score
The CAT application form does not guarantee your admission to every program you select. Each institute has its own shortlisting criteria.
CAT Notification 2026: Important Dates
The CAT 2026 application form was closed on September 22, 2026. The important dates for CAT 2026 are listed below. This information will help candidates familiarise themselves with the CAT 2026 registration date, registration deadline, exam, and result date.
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CAT 2026 Important Dates & Timeline
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Important Dates
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CAT 2026 Notification Date
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July 26, 2026
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CAT 2026 Registration Starts
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August 3, 2026
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CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
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September 22, 2026 (extended)
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CAT 2026 Exam Date
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November 29, 2026
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CAT 2026 Result Date
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First week of January 2027
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The test is held in about 170 cities. During registration, you could choose five cities in preferential order. The exam authorities ensure candidates are allotted the exam centre in their preferred city. However, if the test centre is unavailable due to high demand or other external factors, they will allot a centre in the next preferred city.
If you already submitted the form, preserve the confirmation page along with the payment receipt. After downloading the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, check the name, photograph, city and session.
CAT 2026: Important Facts
Here is a quick overview of important facts about CAT:
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Name of test
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Purpose of test
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Qualifying test for admission to 22 IIMs and 100+ reputed B-schools across India
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CAT 2026 Exam Date
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November 29, 2026
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CAT Entrance Exam Sessions
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3 Sessions/Slots
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Slot Timing
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Slot 1 (8.30 am to 10.30 am)
Slot 2 (12.30 pm to 2.30 pm)
Slot 3 (4.30 pm to 6.30 pm)
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Conducted by
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IIM Indore
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Exam type
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National level
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Periodicity
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Once a year
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Score/Percentile Validity
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One Year
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Annual Number of Test Takers
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2-2.5 lakh
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Pattern of Test
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MCQs and Non-MCQs
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Number of Questions
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68
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Test Duration
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2 hours
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Marking Scheme
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+3 for every correct answer
-1 for each wrong answer (MCQs only)
0 for unattempted
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Syllabus
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Questions from VARC, QA, and DILR
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Mode of Conduct
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Computer-based test
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Application Fee (tentative)
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Rs. 2,700/- for General & NC-OBC candidates
Rs. 1,350/- for SC/ST/PWD candidates
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Reservation of seats in IIMs and B-schools
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As per the Government of India regulations
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In the last few years, there have been significant changes in the format of the Common Admission Test (CAT). The number of questions changed from 100 in 2019 to 76 in 2020 and then to 66 from 2021 to 2023, which was a significant change. In 2024–2025, the number of questions increased to 68. CAT 2026 will follow the same pattern.
Eligibility in CAT Notification 2026
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. The minimum is 45% for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD).
You may apply if you meet any one of these three conditions:
- You have completed a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage.
- You have completed a professional degree: CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI), with the required percentage.
- You are in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage.
Note: Final-year students and candidates awaiting the result of their final exam can apply. If they clear the selection process of an IIM, they will be granted provisional admission. They must submit a certificate from the Principal or Registrar of their university or institution, issued on or before the date announced by the IIMs, stating that all requirements for the Bachelor’s degree had been completed as of the date of issuance.
Keep one active email and mobile number throughout the admission cycle, as all the official communication related to the admit card, scorecard, and admission or selection process will be sent there.
Exam pattern in CAT Notification 2026
CAT 2026 is a 120-minute computer-based test. There are three sections, in this order:
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Sections
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Sectional Question
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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
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24
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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
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22
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Quantitative Ability
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22
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Candidates get exactly 40 minutes for each section, and they cannot jump to another section while a section is running. When 40 minutes end, the next section opens.
The official website does not release chapter-wise syllabus. For topic lists, use the three section names and CAT papers from recent years. For the on-screen format, use the CAT Mock that IIM puts on iimcat.ac.in.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Candidates must keep their ID proof, marksheets, and photograph ready while filling out the registration form online. Once the form is filled out, they must pay the registration fee according to their category.
- Open iimcat.ac.in and use New Candidate Registration.
- Enter name, date of birth, email and mobile exactly as on ID proof.
- Log in and fill Class 10, Class 12, graduation and work experience.
- Upload photograph and signature in the size and format mentioned in the form.
- Select five test cities in the order of preference.
- Upload SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwBD certificates if you claim that category.
- The selection is totally based on GD/PI and their application process. Candidates can visit their official website for more information.
- IIM CAP counseling is conducted for newly opened IIMs such as IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sirmaur
- IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Trichy follows JAP process.
- Pay the fee and download the confirmation page.
A short edit window after closure was limited to photograph, signature and test city preferences, and only for candidates who had paid and registered on time. Academic marks and category are not treated as free-edit fields.
CAT 2026 application fee
The following table brings the category-wise CAT 2026 application fee.
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Category
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Fee
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General, EWS, NC-OBC
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₹2,700
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SC, ST, PwBD
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₹1,350
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The modes of payment include Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card and UPI.
The fee is non-refundable. The CAT application fee remains the same irrespective of the number of programmes or IIMs selected.
Does CAT 2026 have an application correction window?
Yes. IIMCAT allows a limited edit after you have registered and paid the fee. You cannot open a new form after the registration deadline.
Fields you can change
The September 22, 2026 CAT media release allows edits only in:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Test city preferences
No other field is listed as editable. Do not expect to change name, date of birth, category, academic marks or email through this window.
Who can use it
Only candidates who registered successfully for CAT 2026 within the deadline and paid the applicable fee. Unpaid or incomplete applications are not covered.
When it opens
The official media release confirmed the three fields. It did not lock the calendar dates of the window. Watch iimcat.ac.in for the start and end time. Based on previous years trends, the CAT 2026 application correction window is expected to be opened in the fourth week of September or first week of October for three to four days.
How to edit
- Log in at iimcat.ac.in with your CAT ID and password.
- Open the application or edit option when the window is live.
- Replace only photo, signature or city order as per the size rules on the form.
- Submit and download the updated application PDF.
After the window closes, city and photo changes are not available on the candidate login.
What should a candidate do after the form is submitted?
Candidates should first save the payment proof. They should take the official mock test available on the CAT website or Hitbullseye to ensure their computer-based test preparation for the CAT 2026 dated November 29 is on track.
CAT 2026 Admit Card
Candidates have to download their admit card as and when it is released and ensure that there is no error on the document. The CAT 2026 admit card will be released in online mode only. You have to log in to the official website with the User ID and password.
Download the CAT admit card in PDF format and take multiple printouts. Also, verify all the details on the document and in case of any discrepancy, reach out to the authorities for rectification. The information will include candidate’s name, photograph, signature, personal and contact details, CAT 2026 date and slot, exam centre name and address and exam day instruction.
CAT 2026 Result and Selection Process
After the declaration of the scorecard, tentatively in the first week of January 2027, check each IIM admission policies. Candidates are shortlisted based on CAT scores, past academic records, work experience, and other factors. For non-IIM institutes, fill out their institute-wise application form and participate in their individual admission processes including Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI) and Writing Ability Test (WAT).
Common Admission Process (CAP) for newer IIMs
CAP is a shared PI window for a small group of newer IIMs. The participating campuses can use one CAP registration and one interview. Each IIM still makes its own merit list and offer.
For CAP 2026 (CAT 2025 scores, 2026–28 batch), the official portal was cap2026.iimj.ac.in. The three participating IIMs were:
- IIM Bodh Gaya
- IIM Jammu
- IIM Sirmaur
That list is smaller than in older cycles. In 2026, IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi and IIM Trichy used a separate Joint Admission Process (JAP). IIM Udaipur and IIM Nagpur ran their own processes.
CAP 2027 is not notified yet. Treat January–March 2027 as a likely window only. Confirm participating IIMs on the CAP site when it opens.
Help desk printed in the Information Bulletin: 1800 210 0175. Help email used on the CAT site: cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in. Any dispute concerning CAT 2026 is subject to the courts in Indore, as printed in the advertisement.
CAT Notification 2026 FAQs
Q. Can I take CAT 2026 with CA Final in the same month?
A. The notification allows CA / CS / ICWA (CMA) / FIAI holders who meet the percentage. It does not block a same-month professional exam. You can take CAT 2026 and CA in the same month.
Q. I am a tier 3 or tier 4 college student. Can I still apply for CAT 2026?
A. Yes, if your university is recognised and you meet 50% (45% for SC, ST, PwBD) criteria in bachelor's degree, you are eligible for CAT 2026. CAT eligibility criteria do not bar candidates based on college ranks.
Q. Is there a way to register for CAT 2026 offline?
A. No, registration for CAT 2026 could be done only in online mode.
Q. What if I do not upload the caste or PwBD certificate?
A. If you belong to the reserved category, it is mandatory to upload the certificate. The eligibility note says failure to upload can lead to rejection of registration. You also cannot switch category later.
Q. I started graduation in 2023. Which CAT year am I eligible for?
A. Final-year students can apply for CAT 2026. If selected, they can join only after a Principal or Registrar certificate confirming that all degree requirements were completed as on the date of the issuance of that certificate.