The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 registration is expected to start soon on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. The official notification for the entrance exam is expected to be released by the end of this month by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), while the application process is expected to begin in August 2026.CAT is the national 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: What to do
Applicants applying for CAT 2026 must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with 50% or 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 marks required is 45%.Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can also apply, provided they meet the requirements. Candidates with 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 for the examination.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Once the registration window opens, applicants can complete the application by following the steps below:
- Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Click the “New Registration” link on the home page.
- Create login credentials by entering the required information and verifying it using a One Time Password (OTP).
- Enter personal and educational information.
- Upload the necessary documents and pay the fee.
- Select your 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 exam is expected to be conducted in 120 minutes. The question paper can be divided into the following three sections:
- Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quality Assurance (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 all other categories candidates.
The registration fee must be paid only once, regardless of the number of participating organizations 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 starts, the eligible candidates must complete their registration before the last date to avoid the problem of the last date.