CAT 2026 Notification Released at iimcat.ac.in | Registration from August 3, Exam on November 9

Published: Sunday, July 26, 2026, 13:13 [IST]

The CAT 2026 Notification has been released on the official website iimcat.ac.in, officially commencing the admission process for MBA and management programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and several leading business schools across the country.

CAT 2026 Notification Released at iimcat.ac.in; Registration Starts August 3

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 registration process will begin on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, and candidates can complete the online application process until September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

CAT is one of India's most prestigious management entrance examinations and serves as the gateway to admission in the 21 IIMs, along with other premier institutions including Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT).

CAT 2026 Exam Date and Admit Card

According to the official notification, the CAT 2026 examination will be conducted on November 9, 2026 (Sunday) in three sessions across approximately 170 examination cities throughout the country.

The CAT 2026 admit card will be released online on November 4, 2026. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official website and carry a printed copy to the examination centre on the exam day.

The CAT 2026 result is expected to be declared in the first week of January 2027, and the CAT score will remain valid until December 31, 2027.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:

Bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks from a recognized university or institution.
Candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories must have a minimum of 45% marks.
Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply.
There is no upper age limit for appearing in CAT 2026.

CAT 2026 Application Fee

The registration fee for CAT 2026 is:

General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates: ₹2,700
SC, ST and PwD candidates: ₹1,330

The application fee must be paid online while submitting the registration form.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The CAT examination will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode and will include questions from the following sections:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)

The examination will assess candidates on analytical ability, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and mathematical aptitude required for management education.

How to Apply for CAT 2026?

Candidates can follow these steps to register:

1. Visit the official website iimcat.ac.in.

2. Click on the CAT 2026 Registration link.

3. Create a new account using a valid email ID and mobile number.

4. Log in using the generated credentials.

5. Fill in personal, academic, and communication details.

6. Upload the required documents, photograph, and signature.

7. Select preferred test cities.

8. Pay the application fee online.

9. Submit the application form and download the confirmation page for future reference.

Important Dates for CAT 2026

Event	Date
Notification Release	July 26, 2026
Registration Starts	August 3, 2026
Last Date to Apply	September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM)
Admit Card Release	November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 9, 2026
Result Declaration	First Week of January 2027
Score Validity	Till December 31, 2027

CAT 2026 remains one of the most important management entrance examinations in India. Candidates planning to pursue an MBA from IIMs or other top B-schools should complete the registration process within the deadline and begin their preparation early to maximize their chances of securing a high percentile.