CAT 2026: official notification, key dates, eligibility criteria, and application process

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s premier computer-based entrance examination for entry into postgraduate management and fellow/doctoral programs across 22 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and over 1,000 top non-IIM business schools. As per the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin and Eligibility Guidelines, the exam is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026, conducted across three sessions. Whether you aim to crack prestigious programs at IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, or newly established initiatives, this comprehensive guide synthesizes all official rules, mandatory eligibility criteria, important dates, and a step-by-step application workflow.

CAT 2026: Important Dates & Key Schedule

To ensure you never miss a critical deadline, keep track of the official timelines announced in the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin:

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

1. General & Academic Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree Criteria: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent qualification) awarded by any university incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature in India, or declared deemed under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
• Minimum Marks Threshold: General, EWS, & NC-OBC Categories require a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. SC, ST, & PwBD Categories require a minimum of 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
• Qualifying Pathways: An applicant must meet at least one of the following conditions:
  Completed Bachelor's degree with the required percentage of marks.
  • Completed professional degree (CA / CS / ICWA (CMA) / Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with required percentage.
  • Should be in the final year of Bachelor's degree (or equivalent qualification examination) or awaiting final results.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION FOR FINAL-YEAR STUDENTS: Candidates in their final year can apply provisionally. If selected, they must submit a certificate signed by the Principal/Registrar of their institution (issued on or before the date specified by the respective IIM) certifying that all degree requirements were completed prior to the issuance of the certificate.

2. Percentage Calculation & CGPA Conversion

• University Scheme: The percentage of marks is calculated based on the official practice followed by the candidate's university or institute.
• Absence of Conversion Scheme: If an institution confirms that it has no official scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence is established by dividing the candidate's CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.

3. Reservation Norms & Category Breakdown

PwBD Categories (as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016):

• Blindness and low vision
• Deaf and hard of hearing
• Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy
• Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness
• Multiple disabilities and other specified disabilities mentioned in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016

4. Certificate Rules for Reserved Categories

• NC-OBC Certificates: Must be issued on or after April 1, 2026.
• EWS Certificates: Must be valid for financial year 2026–27 (assessed based on income for FY 2025–26).
• Pending NC-OBC/EWS Applications: Candidates who applied on/after April 1, 2026, but have not received their certificate by registration close may upload a single PDF containing: (1) Official Undertaking form, (2) Previous certificate issued before April 1, 2026, and (3) Application acknowledgment receipt.
• SC/ST/PwBD Certificates: Must follow Central Government formats detailing caste/tribe and statutory schedule. PwBD candidates are encouraged to upload a UDID card.

CAT 2026 Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Account Creation & Registration

Visit the official portal at iimcat.ac.in and click on 'New Candidate Registration'. Enter your full name, date of birth, valid email address, and mobile phone number. Verify via OTP to receive your permanent User ID and Password.

Step 2: Educational Qualifications & Work Experience

Fill in complete academic details across 10th standard, 12th standard, and Bachelor's degree. State exact percentage/CGPA as per institutional guidelines. Enter full-time post-graduation work experience details if applicable.

Step 3: Program Selection & Test City Preferences

Select your desired academic programs across the 21 participating IIMs. Choose five (5) preferred test cities from the dropdown menu in order of priority. Cities are allotted post-registration based on center capacity.

Step 4: Uploading Scanned Documents

Upload clear scanned copies of your passport-size photograph (light background), signature, and applicable category/PwBD/UDID certificates in the required dimensions and formats.

Step 5: Application Fee Payment

Pay the non-refundable registration fee online using Credit/Debit Cards, Net Banking, or UPI. The application fee structure is as follows:

Programs Offered Across Participating IIMs

CAT 2026 serves as the official entrance test for Post Graduate Programs (PGP/MBA) and Fellow Programs (FPM/PhD) across all 21 Indian Institutes of Management:

• IIM Ahmedabad: PGP, PGP-FABM, MBA-BPGP, Doctoral Programme in Management
• IIM Bangalore: PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PGPPM, PhD
• IIM Calcutta: MBA, Doctoral Programme (PhD)
• IIM Mumbai: MBA, MBA (Operations & Supply Chain), MBA (Sustainability Management), PhD
• IIM Lucknow: MBA, MBA-ABM, MBA-SM, PGPWE, Tech-MBA, PhD
• IIM Kozhikode: PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-FINANCE, PGP-LSM, DPM
• IIM Indore: PGP, PGP-HRM, MSDSM, PGPMX, Doctoral Programme
• Other IIMs (Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Guwahati, Jammu, Kashipur, Nagpur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sambalpur, Shillong, Sirmaur, Trichy, Udaipur, Vizag): Offer specialized MBA programs in Business Analytics, Healthcare Management, Digital Business, Tourism, Executive MBAs, and PhD tracks.

Official Information & Support

• Official CAT Website: https://iimcat.ac.in
• Toll-Free Help Desk Number: 1800 210 0175

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official exam date and mode for CAT 2026?

CAT 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test (CBT) in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities in India.

What are the registration dates and fees for CAT 2026?

Registration opens at 10:00 AM on August 3, 2026, and closes at 5:00 PM on September 15, 2026. The registration fee is ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates, and ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates.

What are the minimum percentage requirements for CAT eligibility?

Candidates belonging to General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories must have at least 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in their Bachelor's degree. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories require a minimum of 45% marks.

Can final-year undergraduate students apply for CAT 2026?

Yes. Final-year Bachelor's degree students or those awaiting final results can apply provisionally. Upon selection, they must submit a certificate from their Principal/Registrar stating that all degree requirements were completed before the date specified by the respective IIM.

Are professional degree holders (CA/CS/CMA) eligible to take CAT 2026?

Yes. Candidates holding professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with the required percentage of marks (50% for General/EWS/NC-OBC; 45% for SC/ST/PwBD) are fully eligible.

How is percentage calculated if my university uses a CGPA system with no conversion formula?

If a university/institution certifies that it has no official conversion scheme, the percentage equivalence is calculated by dividing the candidate's CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100.

What is the validity period of the CAT 2026 scorecard?

CAT 2026 scores are valid for one year, specifically until December 31, 2027. The scores are used for admissions into the 2027–2028 academic intake.

What are the mandatory document requirements for NC-OBC and EWS category candidates?

For CAT 2026, NC-OBC certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026. EWS certificates must be valid for the financial year 2026–27 (assessed for FY 2025–26). If the new certificate is pending, candidates must upload a combined PDF containing the official undertaking, older certificate, and application submission receipt.

Can I change my category or test city preferences after submitting the CAT application?

No change in category will be entertained after registration closes under any circumstances. However, candidates can select five preferred test cities during registration, one of which will be allotted subject to center capacity.

Do I need to pay separate application fees for each IIM or program selected?

No. The CAT registration fee covers application to all participating IIMs and their various post-graduate/doctoral programs. You do not need to pay separate registration fees for individual IIMs during the CAT application process.

Does meeting the minimum CAT eligibility criteria guarantee a call for IIM interviews?

No. Fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria only allows you to appear for the exam. Each IIM independently determines its shortlisting criteria, cut-offs, academic history weightage, and selection process for personal interviews.

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