The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will begin the registration process for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 tomorrow, August 3, at 10 am. Eligible candidates will be able to submit their application forms through the official CAT website until 5 pm on September 15, 2026. CAT is a national-level entrance examination for admission to the 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and several other leading business schools across the country. The official notification for CAT 2026 has already been released on the official website.
CAT 2026: Important dates
Here’s a look at the key dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration begins | August 3, 2026 (10 am) |
| Last date to apply | September 15, 2026 (5 pm) |
| Admit card release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam | November 29, 2026 |
| Expected result | First week of January 2027 |
| Score validity | Till December 31, 2027 |
Who can apply?
Candidates applying for CAT 2026 must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50 per cent marks from a recognised university or institution.
- Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories must have at least 45 per cent marks.
- Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply.
- There is no upper age limit for the examination.
CAT 2026 exam pattern
The exam pattern is expected to remain the same as last year. The paper will have 68 questions divided into three sections:
| Section | Number of questions |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 |
Each section will have a 40-minute time limit, and candidates will not be allowed to switch between sections during the exam. Around 70 per cent of the questions will be Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), while the remaining 30 per cent will be Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions. Negative marking of one mark will apply only to incorrect MCQ answers.
How to apply for CAT 2026
Candidates can complete the application process by following these steps:
- Visit the official CAT website.
- Click on the
CAT 2026 Registration link. - Register using your email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the application form with the required personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents and photographs.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Submit the application form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
About CAT
The Common Admission Test is conducted for admission to the 21 Indian Institutes of Management and several other top management institutes, including the 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). Candidates are advised to complete their applications well before the deadline and keep checking the official CAT website for further updates.
