CAT 2026 Notification Released – Registration Starts on August 3, Exam on November 29
CAT 2026 notification released: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially released the CAT 2026 (Common Admission Test) notification. CAT means MBA, is the national-level MBA entrance examination conducted for admission to postgraduate management programmes offered by the IIMs and several other leading B-Schools across India. As per the official advertisement, CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions. Registration for the examination will begin on August 3, 2026, and continue until September 15, 2026.
CAT 2026 Notification released Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Conducting IIM | IIM Indore |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Sessions | Three Sessions |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in |
CAT 2026 Notification released Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Registration Opens | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Registration Closes | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Download | November 4 to November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Examination | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | First Week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
These dates have been officially announced through the CAT 2026 advertisement.
CAT 2026 Participating IIMs
CAT scores will be accepted by the following IIMs:
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Amritsar
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Bodh Gaya
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Guwahati
- IIM Indore
- IIM Jammu
- IIM Kashipur
- IIM Kozhikode
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Mumbai
- IIM Nagpur
- IIM Raipur
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Rohtak
- IIM Sambalpur
- IIM Shillong
- IIM Sirmaur
- IIM Tiruchirappalli
- IIM Udaipur
- IIM Visakhapatnam
Apart from these IIMs, CAT scores are also accepted by several non-IIM management institutes across India.
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CAT 2026 Notification released Eligibility
Candidates should refer to the detailed CAT 2026 notification for complete eligibility criteria. However, applicants should note that:
- Merely fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee shortlisting by any IIM.
- Each IIM has its own admission policy and shortlisting criteria.
CAT 2026 Registration Fee
The application fee is:
| Category | Fee |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹ 1,350 |
| All Other Categories | ₹ 2,700 |
Important:
- Registration fee is to be paid only once.
- The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
CAT 2026 Test Centres
- CAT 2026 will be conducted in approximately 170 test cities across India.
- Candidates can select five preferred test cities while filling out the application form.
- The final allotment of the examination centre will be done by the CAT authorities.
Reservation Policy
Reservation of seats will be applicable as per Government of India norms. Candidates should carefully select their category during registration, as no change in category will be allowed after submission of the CAT application form.
Important Instructions
Candidates must:
- Maintain a valid and active email ID throughout the admission process.
- Keep the same mobile number active until admissions are completed.
- Carefully verify all details before submitting the application form.
- Visit the official CAT website regularly for updates.
CAT 2026 Selection Process
Admission through CAT consists of multiple stages:
- CAT 2026 Examination
- Shortlisting by individual IIMs
- Written Ability Test (if applicable)
- Personal Interview
- Final Merit List based on CAT score, academics, work experience, diversity factors, and interview performance.
Each IIM follows its own admission policy for final selection.
Official Website
Candidates can complete registration and obtain detailed information from the official CAT website:
Conclusion
The release of the CAT 2026 notification marks the beginning of the MBA admission season for India’s premier management institutes. Candidates planning to pursue an MBA from an IIM or other top B-Schools should complete their registration between August 3 and September 15, 2026, and begin their preparation well in advance. Since CAT is one of the most competitive management entrance examinations in the country, early preparation and timely application will significantly improve the chances of securing admission to a leading business school.
CAT 2026 FAQs
Q1. When will CAT 2026 registration begin?
Answer: CAT 2026 registration starts on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Candidates can apply online through the official CAT website until September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM.
Q2. What is the exam date for CAT 2026?
Answer: The CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026 (Sunday). The exam will be conducted in three sessions across designated test centres in India.
Q3. What is the application fee for CAT 2026?
₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
₹2,700 for General, EWS, OBC, and all other categories.
The fee is non-refundable and needs to be paid only once.
Q4. How many test cities can candidates choose while filling the CAT 2026 application form?
Answer: Candidates can select up to five preferred test cities in order of preference during the CAT 2026 registration process. The final allotment will be decided by the CAT authorities.
Q5. Is qualifying the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria enough to get admission into an IIM?
Answer: No. Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria only makes a candidate eligible to apply. Each IIM prepares its own shortlist based on CAT scores and other admission parameters such as academic performance, work experience, and personal interview.
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