The registration process for Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is expected to start soon on the official website iimcat.ac.in. The participating Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are likely to issue an official notification for the entrance exam later this month, while the application process is expected to begin in August 2026.CAT is the national entrance test for admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other management courses offered by participating IIMs and several other B-schools across the country.
CAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying for CAT 2026 must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks or equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).For candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories, the minimum required score is 45%.Students in their final year of a bachelor’s degree can also apply, provided they meet the required qualifications. Candidates holding professional qualifications such as Chartered Accountant (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Company Secretary (CS) from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) are also eligible to appear for the exam.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Once the registration window opens, candidates can follow the steps below to complete the application process:
- Please visit CAT official website iimcat.ac.in.
- Click the “New Registration” link on the home page.
- Create login credentials by entering the required details and verify using a one-time password (OTP).
- Complete your personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents and pay the application fee.
- Select your preferred test city, participating IIMs and courses. Candidates can also add their work experience, if applicable.
- Submit application form.
- Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
CAT 2026: Exam Pattern
The CAT 2026 exam is expected to last for more than 120 minutes. The test paper may be divided into three parts:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT 2026: Application Fee
The application fee for CAT 2026 is expected to be:
- 1,300 for candidates in SC, ST and PwD categories.
- 2,600 for candidates in all other categories.
The registration fee is payable only once, regardless of how many participating institutions are selected during the application process.Candidates are advised to pay close attention to the release of CAT 2026 notice on the official website and the opening of the registration window. Once the application process begins, eligible candidates should complete their registration before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
