CAT 2026 Notification Out: Dates, Fees And Eligibility Explained
CAT 2026 registration opens August 3. Get complete details on exam dates, fees, eligibility, documents needed, and reservation policy in one place.
AC Team
If you have been waiting for the CAT 2026 notification, the wait is over. IIM Indore has released all the details on the official website, and there is a lot to unpack. Grab a cup of coffee, because we are about to break down everything you need to know in simple terms.
When Does Registration Open?
CAT 2026 registration begins on August 3 and closes on September 15. That gives you about six weeks to fill your form, upload documents, and pay the fee. Mark these dates on your calendar, phone, and maybe even a sticky note on your mirror. Missing this window means waiting a full year, and nobody wants that.
Exam Date And Cities
The exam itself will take place on November 29, a Sunday, across 170 cities in India. It will run in three separate slots during the day. You get to pick five preferred cities during registration, and the exam authority tries to match your first choice. If your city is full, they assign you the nearest available option.
How Much Does It Cost?
The fee has gone up this year. Here is the breakdown:
| Category | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| General, EWS, NC-OBC | 2,700 |
| SC, ST, PwD | 1,350 |
This is a jump of 100 rupees from last year. Not huge, but worth noting while you budget for your prep books and mock tests. You can pay using credit card, debit card, net banking, or mobile wallets like Paytm and PayU. Remember, your form only counts as submitted once the fee is cleared, so do not leave payment for the last minute.
Who Can Apply?
To sit for CAT 2026, you need a bachelor's degree with at least 50 percent marks. If you belong to the SC, ST, or PwBD category, the bar is 45 percent. Final year students can also apply, as long as they submit a completion certificate later if selected.
Good news for working professionals too. If you hold a CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or FIAI qualification, you are eligible to register, provided you meet the minimum percentage for your category.
Documents You Will Need
Keep these ready before the registration window opens, so you are not scrambling at the last moment:
- Passport size photo: 1200 x 1200 pixels, .jpg or .jpeg, under 80 KB
- Signature: 80mm x 35mm, same file type and size limits
- Category certificate (EWS, NC-OBC, SC/ST) if applicable
- Class 10, 12, and graduation marksheets
- Valid photo ID
One small tip from experience: photo uploads reject more forms than people expect. Check the dimensions twice before you hit submit.
What About The Exam Pattern?
No changes here this year. CAT 2026 will still have 68 questions to solve in 120 minutes, split across three sections of 40 minutes each. You cannot move between sections once your time for one runs out, so plan your pace carefully. The three sections remain Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Reservation Details
CAT follows the government reservation policy. Here is how seats break down:
- SC: 15 percent
- ST: 7.5 percent
- NC-OBC: 27 percent
- EWS: up to 10 percent
- PwBD: 5 percent
If you fall under EWS or NC-OBC, double check your certificate dates. EWS certificates must match the 2026-27 financial year and assess income for 2025-26. NC-OBC certificates need to be issued on or after April 1, 2026. Getting this wrong could cause unnecessary trouble later.
Admit Card And Next Steps
Once your form is in, the next big date is November 4. That is when admit cards go live for download. Keep checking the official website, iimcat.ac.in, since that is the only place to register, download your card, and later check your scorecard.
A total of 22 IIMs will accept your CAT score for admission, and several non-IIM institutes also use it. So this one exam opens quite a few doors. Clearing the exam is only half the journey though. Each institute runs its own shortlisting process based on your score, academic record, and work experience, so keep preparing even after you submit your form.
