CAT 2026
(Common Admission Test 2026)
conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Admission to MBA and PGDM Programs, 2026-2027

Indore, July 26, 2026: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore is conducting CAT 2026. Prof. Aditya Billore of IIM Indore is the Convener for CAT 2026. Announcing the same, Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director IIM Indore, added, “It is a matter of great privilege for IIM Indore to conduct CAT 2026 on behalf of the Indian Institutes of Management. CAT has consistently served as a gateway for talented individuals aspiring to contribute meaningfully to business, governance, and society. We remain committed to ensuring that the examination is conducted with the highest standards of fairness, transparency, security, and operational excellence”. He further said, “I encourage every aspirant to approach the examination with confidence, integrity, and determination, and I hope CAT 2026 becomes the first step in their journey towards responsible leadership and excellence”.

According to the CAT Centre, the following are the important announcements for the candidates appearing for CAT 2026:

• Registration Deadlines:
  Registration for CAT 2026 opens: August 03, 2026 (Monday) at 10:00 AM
  Registration for CAT 2026 closes: September 15, 2026 (Tuesday) at 05:00 PM.
• Test Cities:
  CAT 2026 will be conducted in approximately 170 cities. Candidates will be given the option to choose five preferred cities. The CAT Centre will try its best to ensure that a candidate gets one of their preferred options. In case of high demand in a particular region, the CAT Centre reserves the right to allot a centre close to any of the preferred options. Once a centre is allotted to a candidate, no change is permitted. The list of cities may be subject to changes based on the discretion of the CAT authorities.
• Registration Form Edit Window:
  After the closure of the registration window, a very short edit window will be made available to the registered applicants. Candidates will be able to edit the following fields in the application form (if required):
  • Photograph
  • Signature
  • Test City Preferences
  This option will be valid only for those candidates who have paid the applicable registration fee and have registered successfully for CAT 2026 within the specified deadline.
• Date of the Test:
  CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026 (Sunday) in three sessions.
  IIMs reserve the right to change the test date and time if the situation so warrants.
• Duration of the Test:
  The duration of the test will be 120 minutes. The test will have the following three sections:
  Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
  Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
  Section III: Quantitative Ability
  Candidates will be allotted exactly 40 minutes for answering questions in each section, and they will not be allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. A mock exam to understand the format of the test will be available on the CAT website.
  
  The sole official website for CAT 2026 is https://iimcat.ac.in . This address has been consistently advertised across all official channels, including leading newspapers. Please be aware that no other website is affiliated with or authorized for CAT 2026.
  
  To ensure your security and access accurate information, we urge all applicants to:
  • Always verify the URL: Double-check that you are on the official https://iimcat.ac.in website before proceeding with any action or sharing information.
  • Exercise extreme caution: Be wary of unsecured websites, suspicious links, or any platforms asking for personal details or payments outside of the official portal.
  • Report suspicious activity: If you encounter any fraudulent websites or suspicious requests, please report them immediately to the CAT help desk at cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in. Your vigilance helps protect the integrity of the CAT process.
  The CAT Convener urges the test takers to register well in advance to have a hassle-free registration process and to avoid last-minute rush.
  
  The information on the official CAT website (https://iimcat.ac.in ) is subject to change based on decisions and directives from Central and State governments, as well as the IIMs. Therefore, candidates are strongly advised to regularly visit the CAT website for the most current information.

Payment of CAT Registration Fee:
Rs. 1,350/- for SC, ST and PwBD candidates.
Rs. 2,700/- for all other candidates.
Please note that a candidate needs to pay the registration fee only once, irrespective of the number of institutes he/she is applying for. SC, ST and PwBD candidates must upload a copy of their SC/ST/PwBD certificates at the time of registration. Fees once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances.

Registration for CAT
The CAT 2026 registration window opens at 10:00 A.M. on August 3, 2026 and will close at 05:00 P.M. on September 15, 2026. The details will be available in the registration guide.
At the time of registration, the candidates have to select any five test cities, as per their preference, from a drop-down menu. After the last date of registration, candidates will be allotted one among the five preferred cities, subject to availability. In the rare case that a candidate is not allotted any of the preferred cities, he/she will be allotted a nearby city. The candidates can download the admit cards from November 04, 2026 until November 29, 2026.

Test Centres:
CAT will be conducted in centres spread across approximately 170 test cities. Test cities will be mentioned in the CAT website and the name of the test centre will be indicated in the Admit Card. IIMs reserve the right to add/remove, change or cancel any test centre/city and/or change the test time and date at their discretion.

CAT 2026 Score:
Candidate's CAT 2026 scorecards will be made accessible on the CAT website. Candidates may also be intimated individually by SMS. The CAT results are likely to be declared by the First week of January, 2027. The CAT 2026 score is valid only till December 31, 2027 and will accordingly be accessible on the website. Thereafter, no queries related to the issuance of CAT 2026 scorecards will be entertained.

Admission Process
Please note that each IIM is independent to mandate their own eligibility criteria (including academic cutoffs and relative weights) and follow different selection processes. Performance in the CAT 2026 examination is an important component for consideration in the selection process. IIMs may also use the previous academic performance of the candidates, relevant work experience and other similar inputs in short-listing of candidates at various stages of the selection process. For more information, refer to the admissions policies of individual IIMs on their respective websites.

IMPORTANT:
Candidates must declare and maintain a valid and unique email account and a mobile phone number throughout the selection process.

Contact:
+91 73124 39402
cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in

CAT 2026 Press Release CAT 2026 Information Bulletin CAT 2026 Registration Guide
REGISTER NOW: New Candidate Registration Registration of Non-IIM Institutions
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