CAT Exam Notification 2026: From Exam Date to Application Fee, Everything You Should Know
Written by sandhya raghavan | Reviewed by Prasad Sawant on 28 July, 2026
After a long wait, the CAT 2026 notification was finally released on July 26, revealing the exam date, registration duration, and admit card download date. CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in keeping with the exam’s tradition of being held every year on the last Sunday of November. The registration for the same will start on August 3 and end on September 15. The admit cards will be available for download on November 4. This year, IIM Indore will conduct the CAT in 170 test cities, as listed on the CAT website.
The Common Admissions Test, popularly known as CAT, will be held in three sessions on November 29, 2026. Here is a table with all the important dates.
| Event | Date |
| CAT 2026 Notification Release | Jul 26, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Registration Start Date | Aug 3, 2026 10 am |
| CAT 2026 Registration End Date | Sep 15, 2026 5 pm |
| CAT 2026 Admit Card Download Date | Nov 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | Nov 29, 2026 Sunday |
| CAT 2026 Result Date (expected) | First week of January 2027 |
| CAT 2026 Score Validity | December 31, 2027 |
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2026?
To take the CAT 2026, students must meet certain eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications and professional qualifications. Here is a detailed table for the same.
| Criteria | Eligibility |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent GPA for the general category (45% for SC, ST, and PwD).
Or Should have completed a professional degree, such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA)/ Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with the required percentage Or Should be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree |
| Age | No minimum or maximum age limit |
| Work Experience | Fresh graduates and experienced professionals can both apply |
Students can apply for CAT regardless of how many times they have taken the exam.
To access more official details, visit the official website for CAT 2026: iimcat.ac.in
What is the Fee for CAT 2026?
The CAT 2026 fee has increased slightly compared to the previous year. For general candidates, the fee is Rs 2700 for CAT 2026. There has been a slight increase of Rs 100 from the previous year.
For SC, ST and PwBD candidates, the fee is Rs 1350. They are required to upload a copy of their SC/ST/PwBD certificates while registering for CAT.
The candidates need to pay the registration fee only once, even if they wish to apply to multiple institutes.
Remember, once fees are paid, they will not be refunded under any circumstances.
How to Register for CAT 2026?
Before candidates register for CAT 2026, they should have a valid email account and a mobile number that will be used throughout the selection process.
The CAT 2026 registration window opens on August 3, 2026, at 10 am and will remain open till Sep 15, 2026, 5 pm. To register, candidates should follow these steps.
- Visit iimcat.ac.in
- Click on ‘new registration’
- Fill in your basic details.
- Verify with OTP in email.
- Go to the CAT application form.
- Fill in your personal and academic details.
- Upload your photo and signature.
- Select your test city preferences
- Select the IIMs and courses.
- Pay the fee
While registering for CAT 2026, avoid any mistakes. Keep the following points in mind to make your registration error-free:
- Preview the entire CAT application form before submitting it, as you will be allowed to edit it only once within a 3-day window for 3 types of errors (photograph, signature, and your test city preferences).
- Be absolutely sure of your test city preferences because once the city and centre are allotted, you cannot change them.
- Start your registration process early, because documentation errors need to be rectified early.
- Keep soft copies of your documents ready to avoid any delays.
- Your form will be considered submitted only after you complete the payment.
