Table of Contents
The CAT Notification 2026 was released on July 26, 2026, by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). According to the official Information Bulletin, the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will be conducted on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions.
CAT 2026 registration opened on August 3, 2026, and the original deadline was September 15, 2026. The IIMs subsequently extended the registration deadline to September 22, 2026, at 5 PM. A separate notice extended the fee-payment window until September 24 for candidates who had completed registration by the deadline.
The registration and application correction windows have now closed. Candidates can refer to the official CAT 2026 notification PDF for eligibility requirements, application fees, reservation rules, test-city information and admission procedures.
CAT Notification 2026: Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Institute | Indian Institutes of Management |
| Notification Release Date | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration Start Date | August 3, 2026, at 10 AM |
| Original Registration Deadline | September 15, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Extended Registration Deadline | September 22, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Extended Fee-Payment Deadline | September 24, 2026, at 5 PM, for eligible candidates who registered on time |
| Application Correction Window | October 5–6, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Examination Mode | Computer-based test |
| Examination Sessions | Three |
| Test Cities | Approximately 170 |
| Admit Card Download Period | November 4–29, 2026 |
| Fee for General, EWS and NC-OBC | ₹2,700 |
| Fee for SC, ST and PwBD | ₹1,350 |
| Expected Result | First week of January 2027 |
| CAT 2026 Score Validity | Until December 31, 2027 |
| Official Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Important: The September 22 registration deadline and September 24 fee-payment deadline served different purposes. The fee-payment extension applied only to candidates who completed registration by September 22. It did not reopen registration.
CAT Notification 2026 PDF Download
Candidates can access the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin through the CAT website. The bulletin contains information about participating IIMs, management and doctoral programmes, eligibility criteria, reservation provisions, registration fees, test cities and admission procedures.
- Media Release_Edit Window_29-09-2026
- CAT 2026 Media Release 22-09-2026
- CAT 2026 Media Release 15-09-2026
- CAT 2026 Press Release 26-07-2026
- CAT 2026 Information Bulletin 26-07-26
- CAT 2026 Eligibility 26-07-26
- CAT 2026 Hindi Advertisement 26-07-2026
- CAT 2026 English Advertisement 26-07-2026
Official website: iimcat.ac.in
The official Information Bulletin is dated July 26, 2026. Later media releases issued in September contain subsequent updates to the registration schedule and application correction process.
How to Download the CAT 2026 Notification PDF
Follow these steps to access the official document:
- Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Locate the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin or notification link.
- Open the PDF document.
- Select the download icon in your browser.
- Save the document and review the CAT eligibility requirements, registration rules and examination instructions.
Candidates should refer to the original bulletin for the published rules and consult subsequent official announcements for later changes.
CAT Notification Date 2026 and Important Dates
The CAT 2026 Information Bulletin originally scheduled registration to close on September 15, 2026. The IIMs later issued a media release extending the deadline to September 22.
The subsequent notices addressed fee payment and application corrections separately.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Notification Released | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration Opens | August 3, 2026, at 10 AM |
| Original Registration Deadline | September 15, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Extended Registration Deadline | September 22, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Extended Fee-Payment Deadline | September 24, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Application Correction Window Opens | October 5, 2026, at 10 AM |
| Application Correction Window Closes | October 6, 2026, at 5 PM |
| Admit Card Download Begins | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Examination | November 29, 2026 |
| Expected Result Declaration | First week of January 2027 |
The fee-payment extension was available exclusively to candidates who completed their registration by the September 22 deadline. The October correction window was available to candidates who had registered successfully and paid the required fee.
As of October 19, 2026, both the registration and correction windows have closed. Registered candidates should monitor the official website for admit card and examination updates.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin specifies the educational qualifications required to appear for the examination. Candidates must satisfy the applicable eligibility conditions, but meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee shortlisting or admission to an IIM.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification recognised under the conditions stated in the bulletin.
The minimum marks requirements are:
| Category | Minimum Graduation Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 50% |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 50% |
| Non-Creamy Layer OBC (NC-OBC) | 50% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 45% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 45% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 45% |
Candidates whose universities award grades or CGPA must follow their institution’s prescribed conversion method. If the institution does not have a conversion scheme, the bulletin specifies an alternative calculation based on the candidate’s CGPA and the maximum possible CGPA. Students can also check for the CGPA to Percentage Calculator tool.
Final-Year Students
Candidates appearing for their final-year bachelor’s degree examination can apply for CAT 2026. Candidates who have completed their degree requirements but are awaiting results can also apply.
If selected, these candidates may receive provisional admission, subject to the applicable conditions. They must submit a certificate from their university’s Principal or Registrar confirming completion of the degree requirements by the deadline set by the admitting IIM.
Professional Degree Holders
The official bulletin permits eligible candidates holding the following professional qualifications to apply:
- Chartered Accountant (CA)
- Company Secretary (CS)
- ICWA/Cost and Management Accountant (CMA)
- Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)
The applicable academic percentage requirements must also be satisfied.
CAT 2026 Age Limit
The eligibility section of the supplied Information Bulletin does not specify an age limit. Candidates should consult the official CAT website for clarification if they require confirmation about an age-related eligibility condition.
CAT 2026 Reservation Policy
The official Information Bulletin lists the following reservation provisions under applicable legal requirements.
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Non-Creamy Layer OBC (NC-OBC) | 27% |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | Up to 10% |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 5% |
Candidates applying under reserved categories must meet the applicable eligibility requirements and provide the required certificates.
The bulletin defines a Person with Benchmark Disability under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The applicable conditions and documentation should be checked before relying on a reservation claim.
NC-OBC and EWS Certificate Requirements
The CAT 2026 Information Bulletin specifies the following requirements:
- NC-OBC certificate: Must be issued on or after April 1, 2026.
- EWS certificate: Must be valid for 2026–27 and based on the financial year 2025–26.
Candidates who had applied for a valid certificate on or after April 1, 2026, but had not received it by the registration deadline could submit the prescribed undertaking, their older certificate and acknowledgement or other proof of the fresh application in a single PDF.
The bulletin warns that failure to upload the complete set of required documents may result in disqualification from the admission process. It also states that category changes will not be accepted after registration.
CAT 2026 Application Fee
The official Information Bulletin lists the following registration fees:
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹2,700 |
| EWS | ₹2,700 |
| NC-OBC | ₹2,700 |
| SC | ₹1,350 |
| ST | ₹1,350 |
| PwBD | ₹1,350 |
Candidates need to pay the registration fee only once, regardless of the number of institutes they apply to. The bulletin states that fees are non-refundable.
SC, ST and PwBD candidates must upload the applicable certificate during registration.
CAT 2026 Fee-Payment Extension
On September 22, 2026, the IIMs announced a two-day extension of the fee-payment window, until September 24 at 5 PM. This facility applied exclusively to candidates who had completed registration by September 22.
The notice explicitly stated that the registration deadline remained September 22 at 5 PM. Candidates who had not registered by that deadline were not covered by the fee-payment extension.
CAT 2026 Application Correction Window
The IIMs announced a limited application correction window through a media release dated September 29, 2026.
The window opened on October 5 at 10 AM and closed on October 6 at 5 PM.
Only candidates who had registered successfully and paid the required registration fee could use the correction facility.
Which Details Could Candidates Edit?
The official notice permitted corrections to three fields:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Test state/city preferences
The notice did not provide a general facility to edit every field in the application form. It also stated that no further extension would be granted beyond the correction deadline.
As of October 19, 2026, the correction window has closed. Candidates should refer to the official website for any subsequent instructions.
CAT 2026 Test Cities
According to the official Information Bulletin, CAT 2026 will be conducted in approximately 170 test cities across India.
Candidates could select five preferred cities during registration. The examination authority attempts to allot a centre from the selected preferences, subject to availability. If none of the preferred cities can be allotted, a nearby city may be assigned.
The final examination centre will appear on the admit card. The bulletin also states that the CAT authorities reserve the right to add, remove, change or cancel test cities and centres when necessary.
Once a centre has been allotted, the September 15 media release states that no change is permitted.
CAT 2026 Exam Date and Duration
The official Information Bulletin confirms that CAT 2026 will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions.
A media release dated September 15 confirms a test duration of 120 minutes and lists the following three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
The supplied official notices do not specify the number of questions in each section or the marking scheme. Those details should not be added without verification from an authoritative examination source.
CAT 2026 Admit Card
The official Information Bulletin states that candidates can download their admit cards from November 4 through November 29, 2026.
Registered candidates should access the CAT website and follow the official instructions to obtain the document.
After downloading the admit card, candidates should check their personal details, examination centre and other instructions printed on it. They should follow the reporting time and identification requirements specified by the examination authority.
Candidates should check the official website for any subsequent notice affecting the admit card schedule.
CAT 2026 Result Date and Score Validity
The official Information Bulletin states that CAT 2026 results are likely to be declared in the first week of January 2027. Candidates will be able to access their scorecards through the CAT website.
The bulletin also confirms that the CAT 2026 score will remain valid until December 31, 2027.
Candidates should retain their scorecards and check the admission policies of the institutes to which they intend to apply. The final result declaration date should be confirmed through an official announcement.
CAT 2026 Admission Process
CAT 2026 scores are used for admission to management programmes at participating IIMs. The official bulletin also allows registered non-IIM institutions to use CAT 2026 scores.
Each IIM independently determines its admission criteria. These may include academic cut-offs, CAT performance, previous academic records, relevant work experience and other selection factors.
Candidates should review the admission policy of each IIM and the specific programme advertisement before applying. The bulletin advises applicants to verify programme eligibility and admission procedures on the relevant institute’s website.
IIMs have no role in the selection process of non-IIM institutions that accept CAT scores.
What Should Candidates Do After the CAT 2026 Notification?
The registration and correction windows have closed. The next steps depend on whether a candidate completed the application.
For Candidates Who Registered
- Keep the application confirmation and fee-payment receipt.
- Check the official website for the admit card from November 4.
- Verify the examination centre and instructions after downloading the admit card.
- Prepare for the three sections identified in the official media release.
- Review the admission policies of the IIMs and other institutions being considered.
- Monitor the official website for the result announcement.
For Candidates Who Missed Registration
The extended registration deadline was September 22, 2026, at 5 PM. The subsequent fee-payment notice did not reopen registration.
Candidates who missed the deadline should check the official CAT website for any later announcement. They should not assume that registration has reopened without an official notice.
