IIM CAT 2026: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially released the notification for India’s most prestigious management entrance examination — the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026.
CAT 2026 serves as the gateway to MBA/PGDM programmes at 22 IIMs across the country, including the coveted IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Indore. Beyond IIMs, hundreds of top B-Schools, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, and IITs also accept CAT scores for their management programmes.
IIM CAT 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Examination Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Purpose | Admission to MBA / PGDM Programmes at 22 IIMs + Top B-Schools |
| Number of Participating IIMs | 22 IIMs |
| Eligibility | Any Graduate (50% Marks) |
| Age Limit | NO AGE LIMIT |
| Exam Date | 29 November 2026 |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
Important Dates – CAT 2026
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 26 July 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 03 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Register Online | 15 September 2026 (Strictly till 05:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Download | 04 November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | 29 November 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 1st Week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
| IIM Shortlisting / WAT-PI Calls | January – March 2027 |
| Final Admission Offers | April – May 2027 |
Application Fees – CAT 2026
| Category | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| General (UR) / OBC / EWS | ₹ 2,700/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD (Divyang) | ₹ 1,350/- |
| Payment Mode | Online (Net Banking, Credit/Debit Card, UPI) |
Age Limit – NO RESTRICTION! 🎉
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | NO AGE LIMIT |
| Note | CAT does not impose any upper or lower age limit. Any graduate meeting the academic eligibility criteria can appear for the exam, regardless of age. |
Also Read:- NSP National Scholarship Portal Online Form 2026
Eligibility Criteria – Who Can Apply for CAT 2026?
Academic Qualification:
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline (B.A / B.Sc / B.Com / B.Tech / BBA / LLB / MBBS / B.Pharma etc.) with the following minimum marks:
- General / OBC / EWS: Minimum 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA).
- SC / ST / PwBD: Minimum 45% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA).
Final Year Students (Appearing Candidates):
- Candidates who are in the final year of their graduation and are appearing / awaiting results are also eligible to apply for CAT 2026.
- However, they must meet the minimum marks criteria at the time of IIM admission (June/July 2027).
List of 22 Participating IIMs
CAT 2026 score is accepted by all 22 IIMs for their flagship MBA/PGP/PGDM programmes:
| S.No. | IIM Name | S.No. | IIM Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIM Ahmedabad | 12 | IIM Mumbai |
| 2 | IIM Amritsar | 13 | IIM Nagpur |
| 3 | IIM Bangalore | 14 | IIM Raipur |
| 4 | IIM Bodh Gaya | 15 | IIM Ranchi |
| 5 | IIM Calcutta | 16 | IIM Rohtak |
| 6 | IIM Guwahati | 17 | IIM Sambalpur |
| 7 | IIM Indore | 18 | IIM Shillong |
| 8 | IIM Jammu | 19 | IIM Sirmaur |
| 9 | IIM Kashipur | 20 | IIM Tiruchirappalli |
| 10 | IIM Kozhikode | 21 | IIM Udaipur |
| 11 | IIM Lucknow | 22 | IIM Visakhapatnam |
IIM Admission Process – Beyond CAT Score
- CAT 2026 Score (Gateway): Your CAT percentile determines which IIMs shortlist you for the next round.
- Shortlisting: Each IIM independently shortlists candidates based on a composite score of CAT percentile + academic profile (10th, 12th, Graduation marks) + work experience + diversity factors (gender, academic background, non-engineer status).
- Written Ability Test (WAT) / Group Discussion (GD): Some IIMs conduct WAT (essay writing), while others conduct GD.
- Personal Interview (PI): An in-depth personal interview assessing communication skills, career goals, knowledge, and personality.
- Final Merit List: Prepared by combining CAT score, academic profile, WAT/GD performance, PI score, and diversity weightage — each IIM uses its own formula.
How to Register Online – iimcat.ac.in
- Visit Official Portal: Go to the official CAT 2026 website at iimcat.ac.in.
- New User Registration: Click on “Register” and create your account using your active email ID and mobile number.
- Fill Application Form: Enter your personal details, academic profile (10th, 12th, Graduation marks), work experience (if any), and select up to 6 test city preferences.
- Upload Documents: Upload your passport-size photograph, signature, and category certificate (for SC/ST/PwBD fee concession).
- Select IIM Programmes: Indicate which IIM programmes you wish to be considered for (you can select multiple IIMs).
- Pay Fee: Pay ₹2,700/- or ₹1,350/- through the online payment gateway.
- Submit Before 5 PM on Sep 15: Finalize your application before the strict 5:00 PM deadline on 15 September 2026 and download the confirmation page.
Important Links – IIM CAT 2026
| Resource | Dates | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Register / Apply Online | 03/08/2026 | Apply Now |
| Download Information Brochure | 26/07/2026 | Download Here |
| Official Website | 26/07/2026 | Visit Now |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – CAT 2026
No! There is absolutely no age limit for CAT. Any graduate meeting the minimum marks criteria (50% for General, 45% for SC/ST/PwD) can register, regardless of age.
Yes! Candidates who are in their final year of graduation and are appearing / awaiting results are fully eligible to register and appear for CAT 2026.
No. While CAT is conducted by IIMs, the score is accepted by hundreds of top B-Schools across India including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI, XLRI, IIT MBA programmes, NITIE, and many more.
No. CAT score is only one component. Each IIM independently evaluates candidates using a composite formula that includes academic profile, work experience, WAT/GD, and Personal Interview performance.
CAT 2026 is a 2-hour (120-minute) Computer Based Test with 3 individually timed sections: VARC (40 min), DILR (40 min), and QA (40 min). Approximately 66 questions with +3/-1 marking for MCQs.
Also Read:- Haryana PG Admission 2026-27 | Online Form