CAT 2026 Schedule Released: Registration to Begin from August 3, Check Exam Date & Key Details

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has released the schedule for the CAT entrance exam 2026. The registration for the CAT 2026 will begin on 3rd August 2026. Candidates can register themselves on the official website before the last date of September 15, 2026, up to 05:00 PM. Apart from this, IIMs will conduct the CAT 2026 entrance exam on November 29, 2026, in three sessions across the country in around 170 test cities. 

Candidates who are seeking admission in the Management courses in the 21 IIMs and other leading business schools, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, IITs, and IIFT. The CAT 2026 admit cards will be released on November 4, 2026, and candidates can download them until the day of the examination. The CAT 2026 results are expected to be announced in the first week of January 2027. Candidates should also remember that their CAT 2026 scores will be valid until December 31, 2027. Applicants can check the details in the upcoming sections. 

CAT 2026 Important Dates and Timeline

The official schedule for the CAT 2026 entrance exam has been released. Applicants who are seeking admission to the management course offered by IIMs can check the important dates from the table given below. 

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who are willing to appear for the CAT 2026 entrance exam need to complete the following eligibility requirements:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree completed from a recognised university or institution.
• Minimum Marks Required: General category candidates must have at least 50% marks and candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories must have at least 45% marks in their graduation.
• Final-Year Students: Candidates who are currently in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or are waiting for their final results can also apply for CAT 2026. However, they must complete their degree requirements within the specified timeline.
• Professional Degree Holders: Candidates with professional qualifications recognised by the relevant authorities may also apply, provided they meet the required eligibility conditions.
• Age Limit: There is no age limit for appearing in CAT 2026.
• Number of Attempts: Candidates can appear for CAT multiple times as there is no restriction on the number of attempts.

CAT 2026 Application Fee

Candidates need to pay the application fee while submitting the CAT 2026 registration form, which is non-refundable and compulsory to pay. The fee varies depending on the candidate’s category and is given below.

The CAT 2026 application fee has been increased for all categories. The application fee for the candidates from General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories is INR 2,600 to INR 2,700, whereas candidates belonging to the SC, ST, and PwD categories will have to pay INR 1350, increased from Rs 1,300.