The registration process for Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is expected to start soon on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. The official notification for the entrance exam is likely to be released later this month by the participating Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), while the application process is expected to begin in August 2026.CAT is the national level entrance exam conducted for admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other management programs offered by participating IIMs and many other business 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 an equivalent cumulative grade point average (CGPA).For candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories, the minimum marks required are 45%.Students who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can also apply, provided they meet the required eligibility conditions. Candidates who have 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 exam.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Once the registration window opens, applicants can complete the application process by following these steps:
- Visit the official website of CAT at iimcat.ac.in.
- Click on the “New Registration” link on the homepage.
- Create the login credentials by entering the required details and verify with the One-Time Password (OTP).
- Enter personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents and pay the application fee.
- Select your preferred test cities, participating IIMs and courses. Applicants 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 exam is expected to be conducted over 120 minutes. The question paper will probably 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 SC, ST and PwD categories.
- Rs 2,600 for candidates of all other categories.
The registration fee will have to be paid only once, regardless 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 CAT 2026 notification and the opening of the registration window. Once the application process begins, eligible applicants should complete their registration before the deadline to avoid last-minute problems.
