CAT 2026 Registration Nears Deadline: Key Guidelines for Applicants

The application window for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is set to close shortly, with IIM Indore — the institute conducting this year's exam — accepting submissions until September 15, 2025. Aspirants can complete their applications on the official portal at iimcat.ac.in, which opened on August 3, 2026.

CAT remains the principal route to MBA programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management, and scores are also accepted by a number of other business schools across the country.

Application Fee

Candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwBD categories are required to pay Rs 1,350, while all other applicants must pay Rs 2,700. The fee, once remitted, is non-refundable.

The application process involves registering to obtain a unique user ID and password, logging in to complete the form, entering the required details and making the payment online.

Correction Window

After registrations close, a brief edit window will be available to candidates who have successfully registered and paid the fee within the deadline. Only two fields may be modified during this period: the photograph and test city preferences.

Exam Structure

The test will run for 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted to each section. Candidates will not be permitted to move between sections while answering questions within one section, the conducting body has stated.

The exam is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, across three sessions.