Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, the official conducting body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, has activated the online application registration window on the official portal at iimcat.ac.in. Management aspirants seeking admission into postgraduate management programmes (MBA/PGDM) across 21 IIMs and over 1,200 top B-schools in India can submit their application forms online until September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM).
IIM CAT 2026 Important Exam Schedule & Highlights
CAT 2026 Convenor Prof. Aditya Billore has released the official schedule for the national-level entrance test. Key examination highlights are summarized below:
- Conducting Institution: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore
- Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
- Registration Start Date: August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM)
- Registration Closing Deadline: September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM)
- Application Correction Window: Fourth Week of September 2026
- Admit Card Release Date: November 4, 2026
- CAT 2026 Examination Date: November 29, 2026 (Sunday in 3 daily shifts)
- Result Declaration: Second / Third Week of December 2026
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria & Reservation Norms
Candidates preparing to apply must satisfy the following academic prerequisites:
- Educational Qualification: Must hold a Bachelor's Degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates) or equivalent CGPA from a recognized university.
- Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for the final year of their Bachelor's degree or awaiting results are fully eligible to apply.
- Professional Degrees: Professional qualifications such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with required percentage marks are also recognized.
- Age Limit: There is no age restriction or upper cap on attempts for taking the CAT exam.
- Reservation Categories: Seats are reserved as per statutory norms across IIMs — 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for NC-OBC, up to 10% for EWS, and 5% for PwD candidates.
CAT 2026 Application Fee & Payment Details
The registration fee must be paid exclusively online through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI:
- General / EWS / NC-OBC Candidates: Rs. 2,700/-
- SC / ST / PwD Candidates: Rs. 1,350/-
Step-by-Step Guide to Register for CAT 2026 Online
Follow these steps on the official CAT portal to complete your registration:
- Navigate to the official portal at iimcat.ac.in and click on the "New Candidate Registration" button.
- Enter basic details including Name, Date of Birth, Email Address, Mobile Number, and Nationality to generate your User ID and Password.
- Log in using your registered credentials to complete the detailed CAT Application Form.
- Fill in Personal Details, Academic Records (10th, 12th, Bachelor's degree, Professional qualifications), and Work Experience (if applicable).
- Select your preferred IIM programmes and interview cities from the available choices.
- Select up to 5 preferred exam test cities in order of preference.
- Upload required scanned documents: passport photo, signature, and category/disability certificates (if applicable).
- Pay the required application fee online and download the final application confirmation PDF for reference.