CAT 2026 Registration: The registration process for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 commenced on August 3 at 10:00 AM on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. This year, CAT will be conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) on November 29, 2026, across various test centers in India in three sessions. Candidates can visit the aforementioned official website to fill out the application form before the deadline. IIM Indore will close the registration window on September 15 at 5:00 PM.
Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university or educational institution with a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA are eligible to apply. A minimum of 45% marks is required for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories. Candidates currently in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or awaiting results may also apply provisionally. There is no age limit for appearing in CAT 2026.
According to the announced schedule for CAT 2026, the exam authority will release the admit cards on the online portal on November 4. Please note that only registered candidates will be able to download the admit card once it is released by IIM Indore.
CAT 2026 Application Fee
Candidates belonging to the General, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (NC-OBC) categories are required to pay an application fee of ₹2,600. The fee for SC, ST, and PwD candidates is ₹1,300. The application fee can be paid via the online payment modes available on the CAT 2026 portal. CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Categories | Application Fee |
| General, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer (NC-OBC) | INR 2,600/- |
| SC, ST, and PwD candidates | INR 1,300/- |
CAT 2026 will be a 120-minute computer-based test comprising 68 questions. These questions will be divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Candidates will be allotted 40 minutes for each section and will not be able to switch between sections during the test.
CAT scores will be used for admission to postgraduate and fellow/doctoral programs at IIMs. Other institutions may also use CAT scores for their admission processes, based on their own eligibility criteria and admission rules.
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