CAT 2026 registration deadline: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have extended the registration deadline for CAT 2026. Candidates who are yet to apply for the management entrance exam will now get an additional week to submit their applications. The last date to register has been revised to September 22 (5 pm), from the earlier deadline of September 15.
The official website to apply for CAT 2026 remains iimcat.ac.in.
Registration Timeline So Far
The registration window for CAT 2026 originally opened on August 3 at 10 am. With this extension, candidates now have until September 22, 5 pm, to complete their application.
The IIMs have clarified that this September 22 deadline will not be extended further, and have advised candidates to complete their registration well in advance to avoid a last-minute rush closer to the new deadline. IIM Indore continues to be the organising body for CAT 2026.
CAT 2026 Exam Date
CAT 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on November 29, in three sessions. However, the IIMs have reserved the right to change the examination date and time if circumstances warrant it, so candidates should continue monitoring official communications closer to the exam.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The examination will be of 120 minutes duration and will comprise three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability
Each section is designed to assess a different set of skills required for admission to management programmes at IIMs and other participating institutions.
CAT 2026 Test Cities
CAT 2026 will be conducted across approximately 170 cities nationwide. While filling out the application, candidates have the option to select five preferred test cities.
The organising body will attempt to allot candidates a centre in one of their preferred cities. However, in regions with high demand, candidates may instead be allotted a centre close to one of their chosen preferences rather than the exact city selected.
Once an examination centre has been allotted, candidates will not be permitted to change it. The IIMs have also stated that the list of test cities may be revised at their discretion, so candidates should not assume the list is fixed until closer to the exam.
CAT 2026 Application Edit Window
After the registration window closes, the IIMs will provide a short edit window for candidates who have successfully registered and paid the applicable fee.
During this window, candidates will be permitted to edit only three fields:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Test city preferences
No other application details will be editable during this window, meaning candidates should ensure all other information — personal, academic, and programme-related details — is entered accurately during the original registration itself.
Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organising body | IIM Indore |
| Registration opened | August 3, 2026, 10 am |
| Original deadline | September 15, 2026 |
| Revised deadline | September 22, 2026, 5 pm |
| Exam date | November 29, 2026 |
| Number of sessions | 3 |
| Exam duration | 120 minutes |
| Number of sections | 3 |
| Test cities | ~170 |
| Preferred cities allowed | 5 |
| Editable fields post-registration | Photograph, signature, test city preference |
Why This Matters?
With CAT remaining the primary gateway to MBA admissions at IIMs, and also widely accepted by numerous other business schools, this extension gives thousands of aspirants additional time to complete a process that requires careful attention to detail — particularly since most application fields, aside from photograph, signature, and test city preference, cannot be corrected once the registration window closes. Candidates should treat the new September 22 deadline as final, given the IIMs’ explicit clarification that no further extension will be granted this cycle.
