CAT 2026 Notification Out: Registration from August 3, Exam on November 29

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is india's most competitive gateway to postgraduate management education. On July 26, 2026, the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore) officially released the CAT 2026 notification on iimcat.ac.in, confirming that registration will begin on August 3 and the computer-based exam will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026. For lakhs of graduates aiming at the Indian Institutes of Management and top B-schools, this announcement marks the start of a structured six-month preparation and application cycle.

Whether you are a final-year student, a working professional planning an MBA, or a repeat test-taker targeting a higher percentile, understanding the notification details early helps you avoid last-minute errors in form filling, document uploads, and fee payment. This article breaks down every major update from the official bulletin—dates, eligibility, revised fees, exam pattern, session timings, and a practical action plan—so you can register confidently and focus on scoring well.

CAT 2026 Notification: What Has Been Announced?

IIM Indore is conducting CAT for the fifth time, having last hosted the exam in 2023. As the coordinating Institute for CAT 2026, IIM Indore has published the information bulletin covering registration rules, test cities, session slots, and result timelines. The exam will be held in three sessions on a single day across more than 170 cities in India, continuing the computer-based format that has been standard for several years.

The CAT score remains the primary admission criterion for all 21 IIMs, including newer campuses and established names across the country. Beyond IIMs, leading institutes such as Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) Mumbai, and several IIT management programmes also accept CAT scores for MBA and PGDM admissions. For a broader overview of the exam structure and participating institutes, refer to the dedicated CAT exam page on CollegeDwar.

Why the Notification Matters for MBA Aspirants

In the previous CAT cycle, over 3.3 lakh candidates registered, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of the test. Even a small improvement in percentile can significantly widen your college options—from newer IIMs to flagship programmes at older campuses. The notification also confirms that there is no upper age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts, which makes CAT accessible to career switchers and experienced professionals as well as fresh graduates.

CAT 2026 Important Dates You Must Not Miss

Missing a deadline in the CAT calendar can cost you an entire admission year. Mark these dates on your calendar and set reminders at least one week before each cutoff.

Actionable tip: Complete registration in the first two weeks of August rather than waiting until mid-September. Server load tends to spike near the deadline, and technical glitches can delay payment confirmation. If a correction window opens in late September, use it to fix photograph, signature, or category certificate issues before admit cards are generated.

CAT 2026 Application Fee: Revised Structure

The CAT 2026 application fee has been revised upward. Candidates must pay online through net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI. Once submitted, the fee is non-refundable even if you do not appear for the exam.

Keep your payment receipt and download the confirmation page immediately after successful submission. These documents are often required during IIM shortlisting, WAT-GD-PI rounds, and final admission verification. If payment fails but amount is debited, note the transaction reference number and contact the CAT helpdesk through the official portal rather than submitting a duplicate application.

Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2026

Before starting the application, verify that you meet the minimum academic requirements. IIM Indore accepts equivalent CGPA in place of percentage marks where the awarding university follows a grade-point system.

Academic Qualification

• General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates: Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, and PwD candidates: Bachelor's degree with at least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Final-year students: Eligible to apply provided they complete degree requirements and submit proof before the institute's stipulated deadline during admission.

Other Eligibility Notes

• No upper age limit applies.
• No cap on the number of attempts—you can appear every year the exam is held.
• Foreign nationals and NRIs may apply under separate rules published in the official bulletin.
• Professional degrees such as CA, CS, or ICWA are recognised as equivalent to a bachelor's degree where applicable.

Example: A B.Com final-year student with 55% aggregate after Semester 5 can register for CAT 2026. If shortlisted by an IIM, they must submit their degree completion certificate during the admission process in 2027.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

CAT 2026 will be a 120-minute computer-based test with 68 questions spread across three timed sections. You cannot switch between sections during the exam—each section has a fixed 40-minute window, after which the interface moves forward automatically.

Marking Scheme

• Correct MCQ answer: +3 marks
• Incorrect MCQ answer: −1 mark (negative marking applies)
• Unanswered questions: 0 marks
• Non-MCQ (TITA) questions: No negative marking for incorrect responses; unanswered items carry 0 marks

The section-wise timer makes time management non-negotiable. Many high scorers recommend completing easier questions first within each section, marking uncertain ones for review if time permits, and avoiding random guessing on MCQs where negative marking can pull down your net score.

Section-Wise Preparation Focus

VARC: Prioritise reading comprehension passages from diverse topics—economics, science, philosophy, and business. Build vocabulary in context rather than memorising isolated word lists. Para-jumbles and para-summary questions reward logical sequencing and main-idea identification.

DILR: Practice sets covering arrangements, puzzles, charts, and caselets. DILR often separates top percentilers because sets vary in difficulty; learning to identify solvable sets within the first two minutes of reading is a high-value skill.

QA: Strengthen arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. CAT QA emphasises application over lengthy calculations—shortcut methods and estimation help when options are spread apart.

CAT 2026 Test Sessions and City Allotment

On November 29, 2026, CAT will run in three sessions. Each candidate receives one assigned slot on the admit card through a computerised allotment process.

During registration, you can select up to five preferred test cities in order of priority. Allotment depends on seat availability, so list cities where you can realistically travel and arrange accommodation if needed. Admit cards will be available from November 4 onward—verify your name, photograph, category, and test centre address immediately after download.

How to Register for CAT 2026: Step-by-Step Overview

Registration is entirely online at iimcat.ac.in. Gather documents before you begin so you can complete the form in one sitting.

Documents and Details Required

• Valid email ID and mobile number (active throughout the admission cycle)
• Scanned passport-size photograph and signature in the prescribed format and file size
• Category certificate (SC/ST/EWS/NC-OBC/PwD) if applicable
• Graduation marksheets or latest semester marks for percentage calculation
• Government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, etc.) for identity verification at the test centre

During the Application Form

You will enter personal details, academic history, work experience (if any), programme preferences, and test city choices. Double-check spelling of your name—it must match your graduation documents and photo ID. Programme preferences listed in the form help IIMs understand your interests but do not replace individual institute application requirements; many IIMs run separate registration after CAT results.

Where CAT Scores Take You: IIMs and Beyond

A strong CAT percentile opens doors to flagship MBA, PGP, and PGPM programmes. All 21 IIMs—including established campuses and newer institutes—use CAT for shortlisting. Each IIM sets its own cutoff, which varies by category, academic profile, and work experience weightage.

Newer IIMs such as Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIM Udaipur) have built strong reputations in analytics, operations, and general management, often offering competitive ROI for students targeting quality management education outside metro cities. Research individual institute websites for batch profiles, placement reports, fees, and scholarship options once your target percentile range is clear.

Non-IIM Institutes Accepting CAT

• FMS, University of Delhi
• MDI Gurgaon
• SPJIMR Mumbai
• Management programmes at IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, and other IITs
• Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)
• National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) Mumbai
• Multiple state and private universities with AICTE-approved MBA programmes

Build a balanced college list with dream, realistic, and safe options based on previous-year cutoffs and your profile strengths.

Preparation Strategy from August to November 2026

With roughly four months between registration opening and exam day, a phased plan works better than unstructured mock tests alone.

Phase 1: Foundation (August–September 2026)

• Complete registration early and finalise your study materials or coaching schedule.
• Revise core concepts in QA and grammar rules for VARC.
• Solve one timed section per day, three to four days a week.

Phase 2: Intensive Practice (October 2026)

• Take two full-length mocks per week under exam conditions.
• Maintain an error log categorised by topic and question type.
• Allocate extra time to your weakest section without neglecting strengths.

Phase 3: Exam Simulation (November 2026)

• Shift mocks to the same time slot as your assigned session when possible.
• Reduce new topic learning; focus on accuracy and section-wise pacing.
• Prepare admit card, ID proof, and travel plan at least one week before November 29.

Actionable tip: Analyse every mock within 24 hours. Percentile improvement comes from reviewing mistakes, not from taking more tests without reflection.

After CAT 2026: Results, Cutoffs, and Admission Rounds

Results are expected in the second week of January 2027. Each IIM releases its shortlist based on composite scores combining CAT percentile, academic records, work experience, diversity factors, and gender or academic category considerations where applicable.

Shortlisted candidates typically appear for Written Ability Test (WAT) or written component, Group Discussion (where conducted), and Personal Interview (PI). Some IIMs have replaced GD with additional written exercises or case discussions. Final offers depend on performance across these stages, not CAT score alone—so prepare your academic narrative, career goals, and current affairs knowledge alongside quant and verbal practice.

Understanding CAT Percentiles and IIM Cutoffs

Your CAT score is reported as a scaled score and percentile, indicating the percentage of candidates who scored at or below your level. A 99 percentile does not guarantee admission to IIM Ahmedabad or Bangalore—each institute applies profile-based shortlisting where academic consistency, work experience, gender diversity, and academic diversity (for non-engineering backgrounds) can shift outcomes significantly.

As a practical benchmark, General category candidates targeting older IIMs often aim for 98+ percentile, while newer IIMs and strong non-IIM programmes may be accessible in the 85–95 percentile band depending on profile. SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD cutoffs are lower but remain highly competitive because seat counts are limited. Track previous-year cutoff trends on institute websites, but treat them as guidance rather than guarantees because each year's paper difficulty and applicant pool differ.

CAT 2026 Exam Day Checklist

Test-day discipline protects weeks of preparation. Arrive at the centre at least 90 minutes before your session to complete frisking, biometric verification, and seat allocation without stress.

What to Carry

• Printed admit card with clear photograph
• Original valid photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, PAN card, voter ID, or driving licence as permitted in the bulletin)
• Name on ID must match the admit card; carry supporting documents if you recently changed your name legally

What Not to Carry

• Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, bags, study material, or electronic devices—these are strictly prohibited
• Jewellery or accessories that trigger repeated security checks—keep belongings minimal

Eat a light meal before the exam and stay hydrated. Candidates in the evening session should plan lunch timing so they are neither hungry nor sluggish during the test. If your centre is in an unfamiliar city, book accommodation near the venue and do a trial commute the previous day when possible.

Balancing CAT Prep with Work or College

Many CAT takers prepare while employed full-time or attending regular college classes. A realistic daily schedule beats irregular ten-hour weekend cramming. Working professionals can target 90–120 minutes on weekdays and one mock on weekends. Final-year students should align mock tests with semester breaks and avoid starting entirely new QA topics during university exam weeks.

Employers and professors often understand MBA aspirations, but maintain academic and professional commitments—poor final-year grades can hurt IIM shortlisting even with a high percentile. Communicate your exam date early if you need leave on November 29, 2026, and block the full day because session timings plus travel and security checks require several hours beyond the two-hour test window.

Why IIM Indore as CAT Convenor Adds Confidence

IIM Indore brings established experience to CAT administration, having managed the exam previously in 2023. The institute follows standardised protocols for centre allocation, invigilation, and result processing that candidates across India rely on. The official portal iimcat.ac.in remains the single source of truth for registration, admit cards, and scorecards—avoid unofficial apps or paid "priority registration" services that claim faster form submission.

For aspirants comparing campuses after results, exploring profiles of institutes such as IIM Udaipur alongside metro-based IIMs helps you build a list aligned with career goals, location preference, and fee budget rather than chasing brand alone.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During CAT 2026 Registration

1. Blurry photograph or signature uploads — Use a plain background and verify file dimensions against the official specification.
2. Name mismatch — Enter your name exactly as on graduation records and ID proof.
3. Incorrect category selection — Upload valid certificates; false claims can lead to cancellation at any stage.
4. Waiting until September 15 — Last-day traffic increases portal slowdowns and payment failures.
5. Ignoring the official bulletin — Third-party summaries may miss updates on fees, cities, or eligibility nuances.
6. Skipping confirmation page download — Save a PDF copy immediately after successful payment.

Conclusion

The CAT 2026 notification from IIM Indore sets a clear timeline: register from August 3 to September 15, download your admit card from November 4, and appear for the exam on November 29, 2026. With a revised fee of Rs 2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD applicants, the application process is straightforward if you prepare documents in advance and apply early.

Success in CAT depends on disciplined section-wise preparation, smart mock-test analysis, and accurate form filling. Use this window to research target institutes—from flagship IIMs to emerging campuses like IIM Udaipur—and align your percentile goal with realistic admission outcomes. Stay updated only through iimcat.ac.in for any corrigendum, correction window dates, or admit card instructions, and treat every week between August and November as an opportunity to improve your readiness for India's most important MBA entrance exam.