The CAT (Common Admission Test) notification marks the opening of the MBA admission season in India every year with various aspects of the exam. It is more than just an announcement; it is, arguably, the most important single piece of information for anyone applying to take the CAT. It contains information about CAT such as when to take CAT, how to register for CAT, what the basic requirements are, how much does it cost to take CAT to apply for an MBA program in India, etc.
IIM (Indian Institute of Management) Indore will conduct CAT 2026 based on the results of the CAT 2023 through CAT 2025 held by the IIMs. Each year, one of the IIMs (or IIMs) is chosen to be the convening body; and this pattern will continue for IIM Indore when they convene CAT 2026.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: When the CAT 2026 notification is made available on the iimcat.ac.in site, it will be made available in major national publications. As soon as you have the CAT 2026 notification in hand, make sure you register. The assignment of cities to test for testing will depend on whether enough people register for a particular city. Therefore, they can fill up rapidly. |
This page offers information about all aspects of the CAT 2026 notice - everything from the eligibility requirements for taking the exam and the process for registering for the exam, to the process of receiving your CAT 2026 exam after you take it, to how long you have to retrieve your exam results. Make sure to save this page to your bookmarks and check back after the official notice has been released to confirm dates.
Before we go into the details, here is the at-a-glance summary every aspirant needs at the top of their preparation notes.
|
Exam Name |
Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
IIM Indore (expected — to be confirmed in notification) |
|
Official Website |
|
|
Notification Release |
Last week of July 2026 (tentatively 26–29 July 2026) |
|
Registration Opens |
First week of August 2026 (tentatively 1–3 August 2026) |
|
Registration Closes |
Third week of September 2026 (tentatively 20 September 2026) |
|
Application Fee |
₹2,600 (General/EWS/NC-OBC) | ₹1,300 (SC/ST/PwD) |
|
Admit Card Release |
First week of November 2026 (tentatively 10–12 November 2026) |
|
Exam Date |
29 November 2026 (last Sunday of November — tentative) |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) | 3 Slots across 170+ cities |
|
Exam Duration |
120 minutes total | 40 minutes per section (strict, no switching) |
|
Total Questions |
68 (VARC: 24 | DILR: 22 | QA: 22) — subject to official confirmation |
|
Marking Scheme |
+3 correct | -1 wrong MCQ | 0 for TITA (no negative marking) |
|
Answer Key Release |
2–3 days after exam (provisional) | Final with result |
|
Result Declaration |
Third/fourth week of December 2026 or January 2027 |
|
Score Validity |
1 year (valid for admissions to 2027–29 batch) |
|
Participating B-Schools |
21 IIMs + 115+ other top B-schools across India |
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Expected Registrations |
~3.5–4.5 lakh candidates (based on recent trend growth) |
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CURRENT STATUS: All dates in this announcement are only estimates; actual dates will be provided as soon as the official CAT 2026 notification becomes available on the iimcat.ac.in website. |
|
Event |
Tentative Date |
Notes |
|
CAT 2026 Notification Release |
Last week of July 2026 (~26–29 July 2026) |
Published on iimcat.ac.in. Also in The Hindu, TOI, and Hindustan Times. |
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CAT 2026 Registration Opens |
First week of August 2026 (~1–3 August 2026) |
Online only at iimcat.ac.in. Register early - city allotment is first come, first served. |
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Last Date to Register |
Third week of September 2026 (~20 September 2026) |
No late submissions. Do not wait for the last day; portal traffic is very high near deadline. |
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Application Form Correction Window |
Fourth week of September 2026 (~23–28 September 2026) |
Limited fields editable. Category once entered cannot be changed. |
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Admit Card Release |
First week of November 2026 (~10–12 November 2026) |
Download from iimcat.ac.in using login credentials. Carry printed copy to exam. |
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Official CAT Mock Test Available |
~4–6 weeks before exam (September–October 2026) |
Released by IIMs on iimcat.ac.in. Attempt at least twice to familiarise with the interface. |
|
CAT 2026 Exam Date |
29 November 2026 (Sunday) |
3 slots: Morning, Afternoon, Evening. Slot assigned by conducting IIM. |
|
Provisional Answer Key |
2–3 days after exam (~1–3 December 2026) |
Downloaded as candidate response sheet. Objections possible within set window at ₹1,200/question. |
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Final Answer Key |
With result declaration |
Released after reviewing all objections. |
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CAT 2026 Result |
Third/fourth week of December 2026 (or January 2027) |
Available at iimcat.ac.in via login. Scorecard download available. Not sent by post. |
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IIM Interview Calls (WAT/PI) |
January–March 2027 |
Each IIM has its own shortlisting criteria and separate call schedule. |
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IMPORTANT: Bookmark iimcat.ac.in so you have it available for the latest updates about CAT. Once the official website has posted date changes (for example), those changes will be detailed on various 3rd-party sites; always verify with iimcat.in before making any assumptions about a particular 3rd party site. |
Before thinking about registering for any exams or for the CAT, you will need to verify your eligibility (it's very easy and straightforward) with regard to your category of marks, degree (e.g., "professional"), and your "final year," among other things, as some people may not fully understand what the requirements are for the CAT.
|
Criterion |
Requirement |
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Minimum Degree |
A Bachelor's degree from a recognized university or institution (minimum 3-year programme) |
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Minimum Marks — General/EWS/OBC |
50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in the qualifying bachelor's degree |
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Minimum Marks — SC/ST/PwD |
45% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in the qualifying bachelor's degree |
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Final Year Students |
Eligible to apply. Must submit proof of degree completion by the date specified by each IIM they apply to. |
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Professional Degree Holders |
CA, CS, ICWA (ICAI), FIAI holders with the required percentage are eligible — treated equivalent to a bachelor's degree |
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Age Limit |
No minimum or maximum age limit. Anyone who meets the academic criteria can register. |
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Number of Attempts |
Unlimited. There is no cap on the number of times a candidate can appear for CAT. |
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Work Experience |
Not required to appear for CAT. However, some IIMs give weightage to work experience during the admission process. |
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NOTE ON CGPA: When you are applying to IIM's if your university uses a CGPA rather than a percentage mark as your mark, use the CGPA Conversion calculation as provided by your university - if there is no specific conversion calculation available for CGPA, then it's possible for IIM's to use their Conversion Calculation, further, if your total number of marks is slightly above/ below the 50% and 45% mark averages you should seek advance authorization on which mark to use.. |
CAT 2026 will adhere to the reservation norms prescribed by the Government of India. These norms affect the following areas of the application process including Fees and Seats
|
Category |
Abbreviation |
Fee Applicable |
Seat Reservation |
|
General |
GEN |
₹2,600 |
No reserved seats — open competition |
|
Economically Weaker Section |
EWS |
₹2,600 |
10% reservation |
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Non-Creamy Other Backward Class |
NC-OBC |
₹2,600 |
27% reservation |
|
Scheduled Caste |
SC |
₹1,300 |
15% reservation |
|
Scheduled Tribe |
ST |
₹1,300 |
7.5% reservation |
|
Persons with Disability |
PwD |
₹1,300 |
3% horizontal reservation (across all categories) |
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IMPORTANT - Once your category has been chosen and submitted it cannot be changed at all, so before you click submit you should check your category for accuracy (e.g. If you were applying under the OBC category, you must have a current certificate indicating your NC/OBC status otherwise this will not be accepted). |
The fee for the CAT application must be paid at the time of registration completion via a web-based payment system. No other form of payment, including cash and paper checks, are accepted under any conditions.
|
Category |
Application Fee |
Payment Mode |
|
General (GEN) |
₹2,600 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
|
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) |
₹2,600 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
|
Non-Creamy OBC (NC-OBC) |
₹2,600 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) |
₹1,300 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
₹1,300 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
|
Persons with Disability (PwD) |
₹1,300 |
Online: Net banking, Credit card, Debit card, UPI |
All CAT registration occurs online only. No registration through offline forms or walk-in registrations or proxy submissions to UC is possible. Below is the complete registration process outlined in 8 simple steps:.
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Step 1 - Access the CAT Official Website The only official website for CAT registration is iimcat.ac.in. It is a safe practice to bookmark this URL and be very careful regarding illegitimate websites that may look like this official portal. The registration link has to be available from the 1st week of August 2026. |
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Step 2 - Create a New User Account Select the New Candidate Registration option and enter your name as stated on your government issued ID, valid email addresses, mobile numbers and date of birth. You will receive a verification email at the entered address, by clicking on this link, you will activate your user account. You must save user id and password securely. |
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Step 3 - Fill Out Your Personal Information Log on with your new credentials and fill in all of your personal information (home and permanent addresses, nationality, sex, and category). All entries must exactly match the entries on your government issued ID; any discrepancies will prevent entering the examination on the given date. |
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Stage 4 - Fill out the Academic & Professional Background Complete this section by entering all of your educational history from grade 10 and undergraduate degree details including school name, degree year, percentage/cgpa and area of study. If you are in the last year of your studies, pick the last year of your studies option. If you have work history, please enter your work history |
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Stage 5 - Upload your Photograph and Signature You must upload a recent colour passport-sized photo with a white background and a clear face as well as your signature. You must both be in jpeg/jpg format and within the file size that is required (at least between 20 KB to 300 KB). This is why many applications are rejected due to poor quality uploads. |
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Stage 6 - Select Your Test City (Choose up to 5) You can choose 5 test locations in order of preference. The testing location for your first preference will be based on availability so by registering early for the exam you will have a higher chance of getting your first or second choice location. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore will fill up fast. |
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Step 7 - Choose Which IIM Programs to Apply To When you register, you will be able to select any IIM you wish to apply for. This is not an automatic shortlist. It is used by the IIMs for their own shortlist. |
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Step 8 - Make Payment and Submit Application Once you have accessed the payment site, select your preferred payment method (UPI is the quickest way to confirm payment). After confirming payment, you will be able to download a confirmation receipt and your completed application in PDF format. Before submitting, check each section for accuracy; you will not be able to edit any major sections after submitting your application |
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CORRECTION WINDOW: An 8-day correction window will open approximately one week after the close of registration (the week of 20 September 2026). During this time, you can make minor changes to your application such as your photo and signature. Your name and date of birth will generally be non-editable, once submitted. |
Since the test structure and format for CAT 2026 will essentially be identical to that of CAT 2024 and CAT 2025, it is essential to know the actual structure of the test in advance of taking any exam. The structure of the test is the basis of a successful testing strategy.
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) — no pen-and-paper component |
|
Duration |
120 minutes total | 40 minutes per section |
|
Number of Sections |
3 — must be attempted in fixed order: VARC → DILR → QA |
|
Section Switching |
Not allowed. Once a section's 40 minutes expire, the next section begins automatically. |
|
Total Questions |
68 (VARC: 24 | DILR: 22 | QA: 22) |
|
Question Types |
MCQ (Multiple Choice) + TITA (Type In The Answer / Non-MCQ) |
|
TITA Questions |
No negative marking for TITA. Expected: 10–12 TITA questions across all sections. |
|
Marking Scheme |
+3 for every correct answer | –1 for every incorrect MCQ | 0 for TITA/unattempted |
|
Calculator |
On-screen virtual calculator available for QA and DI sections. Physical calculators are strictly prohibited. |
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Rough Work |
Rough sheets provided at the test centre. Must be returned before leaving the hall. |
|
Slots |
3 slots: Morning (~9 AM), Afternoon (~12 PM), Evening (~3 PM) |
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Normalization |
Scores are normalized across slots. Raw scores are not directly compared. |
|
Section |
Questions |
Time |
MCQ |
TITA (approx.) |
Total Marks |
|
VARC — Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
24 |
40 min |
~20–22 |
~2–4 |
72 |
|
DILR — Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
22 |
40 min |
~18–20 |
~2–4 |
66 |
|
QA — Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
40 min |
~14–16 |
~6–8 |
66 |
|
Total |
68 |
120 min |
~52–58 |
~10–16 |
204 |
The IIMs do not publish an official topic-by-topic syllabus for CAT. However, based on consistent patterns across CAT 2020–2025, the following topics are tested reliably every year. Use this as your preparation framework.
|
Section |
High-Frequency Topics (Must Cover) |
Other Important Topics |
|
VARC (24 Qs) |
Reading Comprehension (4 passages, ~16 Qs): Inference, tone, central idea, author's purpose Para Jumbles (TITA): 3–4 questions Para Summary (TITA): 2–3 questions |
Odd Sentence Out (TITA): 1–2 questions Vocabulary tested through RC context (not standalone) |
|
DILR (22 Qs) |
Seating Arrangements (linear, circular) Games & Tournaments (league, knockout) Logical Grouping (Venn diagram-based sets) |
Bar Charts, Line Graphs, Pie Charts, Tables (Data Interpretation) Blood Relations, Sequences, Data Sufficiency |
|
QA (22 Qs) |
Arithmetic: Percentages, Profit & Loss, TSD, Work, Ratio, Averages, Mixtures (40–45%) Algebra: Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Progressions (20–25%) |
Geometry: Triangles, Circles, Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry (15–20%) Number System: Remainders, Factors, HCF/LCM (10–15%) Modern Maths: P&C, Probability, Sets (5–10%) |
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TIP FOR SYLLABUS: The most effective way to determine how difficult the subject matter within CAT 2026 will be compared to that of similar past examinations is to look at each respective year's actual exam content through bagging, namely, CAT 2022/CAT 2023/CAT 2024. These examinations are a better indication of the true difficulty of the subject matter as well as the style of questions than any syllabus introduced into the public domain |
The CAT 2026 Hall Ticket is a document that will allow you to enter the test centre to complete the examination. It is mandatory for you to present the Hall Ticket at the time of your examination. Without it, you will not be allowed to enter the Exam Centre no matter what the reason is, so that is a firm rule.
|
Event |
Expected Date |
|
Admit Card Release |
First week of November 2026 (~10–12 November 2026) |
|
Admit Card Accessible Until |
Exam day — 29 November 2026 |
|
Download Platform |
iimcat.ac.in (login required — use your registered credentials) |
The admission card contains the following information:
|
Document |
Details |
|
CAT Admit Card 2026 |
Printed copy mandatory. Black & white or colour — both accepted. |
|
Original Photo ID |
Any one valid government ID: Aadhaar card, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID, PAN card |
|
PwD Certificate |
Required only for candidates applying under PwD category — original certificate needed |
|
Not Allowed |
Physical calculator, electronic gadgets, books, notes, mobile phone, smartwatch, food, water bottle |
After the exam, the conducting IIM releases the candidate response sheet followed by the provisional answer key. This process gives candidates a chance to verify their answers and raise objections before the final result is published.
|
Event |
Expected Date |
Details |
|
Candidate Response Sheet |
2–3 days after exam (~1–3 December 2026) |
Shows the answers you selected in the exam. Download using your login credentials. |
|
Provisional Answer Key |
Shortly after response sheet (within a week of exam) |
Official answers for all questions. Candidates can raise objections during the challenge window. |
|
Objection Window |
~3–5 days after provisional answer key |
Object to any answer you believe is incorrect. Fee: ₹1,200 per question challenged. Non-refundable. |
|
Final Answer Key |
Released with result (~December 2026) |
Incorporates reviewed objections. Used for final score calculation. |
The CAT 2026 result marks the end of the exam phase and the beginning of the admission phase. Understanding how your score, percentile, and scaled score work will help you set realistic B-school targets.
|
Result Event |
Expected Timeline |
|
Result Declaration |
Third/fourth week of December 2026 (or January 2027) |
|
Scorecard Available |
Same day as result declaration — downloadable from iimcat.ac.in |
|
Score Validity |
1 year — valid for admissions to the 2027–29 batch only |
|
Delivery Mode |
Online only. Not sent by post or email. Must be downloaded from the portal. |
|
Percentile Calculation |
Based on normalized scaled score across all candidates who appeared (not just registered) |
To keep updated on your CAT results, you can visit iimcat.ac.in after the official results have been announced:
1) using your User ID and password,
2) select the 'View Scorecard' or 'Download Scorecard' link from your dashboard, and
3) your scorecard (in PDF format) will contain your total score (in percentiles) as well as your individual section scores (in percentiles).
Obtaining your results is just one half of the process; obtaining admission into an IIM (Indian Institute of Management) via MBAs and IMBs requires several rounds of selective enforcement, as IIM’s operate within their own frameworks. The applicant process typically follows these steps:
|
Phase |
What Happens |
Timeline (Approx.) |
|
Phase 1 — CAT Exam & Result |
Write CAT 2026. Score normalized. Percentile and scorecard released. |
November 2026 → December 2026 |
|
Phase 2 — Shortlisting for Interview |
Each IIM shortlists candidates independently based on: CAT score (overall + sectional), academic performance (Class X, XII, graduation), work experience, gender diversity, and academic diversity. |
January 2027 |
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Phase 3 — WAT (Writing Ability Test) |
A short written essay or analytical writing task. Not all IIMs conduct WAT. Assessed on clarity of thought, structure, and grammar. |
January–March 2027 |
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Phase 4 — Group Discussion (GD) / Group Exercise |
Some IIMs replace GD with a group exercise (case study discussion). Tests communication, leadership, listening, and collaborative reasoning. |
January–March 2027 |
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Phase 5 — Personal Interview (PI) |
A 20–30 minute structured interview covering your academic background, work experience, career goals, current affairs, and domain knowledge. The most important selection round. |
January–March 2027 |
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Phase 6 — Final Merit List |
Each IIM creates a composite score from CAT score, academic performance, WAT, GD/GE, and PI. Offers are released in order of composite score. |
March–April 2027 |
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Phase 7 — Document Verification & Fee Payment |
Candidates receiving offers must submit original academic documents for verification and pay the admission fee within the specified deadline. |
April–May 2027 |
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IMPORTANT: There is not a centralised admission process for CAT (Common Administrative Test). IIMs conduct their own independent admissions processes. Each applicant for admission must submit their own individual applications for admission to each of the institutions they are interested in applying to and can apply for admission to individual programmes during the registration process. All MBA programmes will also allow for separate registrations from the completion of the CAT, via a different registration link from that of the CAT itself |
CAT is not just an IIM exam. More than 115 reputed business schools across India accept CAT scores as part of their admissions process. Here is a structured look at the top institutes by tier.
|
Tier |
Institutes |
Expected CAT Cutoff (General) |
|
Tier 1 — Old IIMs |
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore |
98–100 percentile |
|
Tier 2 — New IIMs |
IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Kashipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Amritsar, IIM Vishakhapatnam, IIM Jammu |
90–95 percentile |
|
Premier Non-IIM |
FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay (SJMSOM), IIT Delhi (DMS), IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM) |
95–99 percentile |
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Other Top B-Schools |
IIFT Delhi & Kolkata, IMI Delhi, XIMB Bhubaneswar, TAPMI Manipal, GIM Goa, FORE Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad |
80–92 percentile |
|
Accepts CAT + Others |
GLIM Chennai, Great Lakes, LIBA Chennai, BIMTECH Noida |
75–85 percentile |
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