The registration process for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is expected to begin soon on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. The official notification for the entrance examination is likely to be released later this month by the participating Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), while the application process is expected to start in August 2026.CAT is the national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other management programmes offered by the participating IIMs and several other business schools across the country.
CAT 2026: Eligibility criteria
Candidates applying for CAT 2026 must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% marks or an equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories, the minimum required marks are 45%.Students who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can also apply, provided they fulfil the required eligibility conditions. 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), and Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) are also eligible to appear for the examination.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Once the registration window opens, candidates can complete the application process by following these steps:
- Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Click on the “New Registration” link on the homepage.
- Create login credentials by entering the required details and verify them using the One-Time Password (OTP).
- Fill in the personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents and pay the application fee.
- Select the preferred test cities, participating IIMs and courses. Candidates can also add their work experience, if applicable.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
CAT 2026: Exam pattern
The CAT 2026 examination is expected to be conducted over 120 minutes. The question paper will likely be divided into the following three sections:
- 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:
- Rs 1,300 for candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwD categories.
- Rs 2,600 for candidates from all other categories.
The registration fee will have to be paid only once, irrespective of the number of participating institutes selected during the application process.Candidates are advised to keep an eye on the official website for the release of the CAT 2026 notification 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.
