The CAT 2026 registration window has officially opened today, 03 August 2026, at 10:00 AM on the official website of IIM Indore, the conducting body this year. The application link for the Common Admission Test (CAT), the gateway exam for admission to MBA and PGDM programmes across all 22 IIMs and hundreds of other B-schools in India.
Candidates can now register as a new user and proceed to fill the complete application form. The last date to complete the process is 15 September 2026 by 5:00 PM, after which the portal will be closed. The exam itself is scheduled for 29 November 2026 and will be conducted across 170 cities in three sessions.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the New Candidate Registration tab
- Enter your name (as per Class 10 certificate), date of birth, email ID, mobile number, and country
- Generate a User ID and set a password, then log in
- Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, work experience, programme preferences, and test city choices
- Upload a passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- Preview the form carefully, as no edits are allowed once the fee is paid
- Pay the registration fee online and download the confirmation for future reference
CAT 2026 Exam Fees
The CAT exam fees structure for this year is as follows:
- General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates: Rs 2,700
- SC/ST/PwD candidates: Rs 1,350
Fee payment can only be made online through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI; there is no offline or cash payment option. Candidates should note that the fee covers applications to all 22 IIMs, and no separate IIM application charge applies. However, a separate fee will be required for any non-IIM B-schools accepting CAT scores.
Eligibility Criteria
Before beginning the CAT 2026 Registration application process, candidates must ensure they meet the following criteria:
- A Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognised university
- Final-year students awaiting results may also apply, provided they can furnish proof of graduation later
- There is no upper age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts
Documents to Keep Ready
To avoid delays while filling the form, candidates should keep the following documents handy:
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Graduation mark sheet and degree certificate (or provisional certificate)
- A recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature
- Category certificate, where applicable
Candidates who forget their login credentials later can use the “Forgot User ID/Password” option on the portal and retrieve details through their registered email ID. With registration now live, aspirants are advised to complete the form well ahead of the September deadline to avoid last-minute server issues.
