INDORE, JULY 26— The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially launched the notification for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. Convened by IIM Indore this year, the official examination portal at iimcat.ac.in has gone live with the complete information bulletin and eligibility guidelines.
CAT 2026 will be conducted as a computer-based test across three separate sessions on Sunday, November 29, 2026, covering approximately 170 test cities nationwide.
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CAT 2026 Notification Released: IIM Indore Sets Exam Date for Nov 29; Registrations Open August 3
INDORE / NEW DELHI — July 26, 2026 — The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially launched the notification bulletin for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. Convened by IIM Indore for this edition, the official examination portal iimcat.ac.in has gone live with complete eligibility criteria, important deadlines, and fee structures.
CAT 2026 will be administered as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) across three sessions on Sunday, November 29, 2026, spanning approximately 170 test cities across India. The test serves as the mandatory entrance gateway for postgraduate management programs (MBA/PGDM) across 22 IIMs, 16+ DMS IITs, NITs and over 300 non-IIM partner institutions, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and IIT management schools.
CAT 2026 Registration Starts Aug1 – Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Fees
Key Exam Schedule & Important Dates: Online registration for CAT 2026 opens on August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) and closes on September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM). Candidates can download their admit cards starting November 4, 2026.
CAT 2026 Important Dates & Schedule
| Event | Official Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 25–26, 2026 |
| Registration Start Date | August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Registration End Date | September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Admit Card Download | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | First week of January 2027 (expected) |
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Key Changes in CAT 2026
- Revised Application Fee: The application fee has been adjusted to ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates (up by ₹100), and ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
- Updated Terminology: The official designation for candidates with disabilities has been updated to PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities).
- New Academic Programs: The portal reflects updated postgraduate program selections across participating institutes, including a newly added program from IIM Ahmedabad.
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CAT 2026 Exam Blueprint & Structure
The exam duration remains fixed at 120 minutes (2 hours) with a strict 40-minute sectional timer per section. Candidates cannot switch between sections during the test.
| Section | Focus Area | Questions | Time Limit |
| Section I | VARC | 24 | 40 mins |
| Section II | DILR | 22 | 40 mins |
| Section III | QA | 22 | 40 mins |
| Total | All Three Sections | 68 Q | 120 Minutes |
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility: Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates). Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply.
Exam Pattern
- Structure: The exam duration remains 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) with 68 questions divided across three core sections:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT 2026 scores will be used for admission into postgraduate management programs across all 22 IIMs and over 300 top non-IIM business schools in India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and IIT management schools.
For candidates preparing for the application process, watching a breakdown of the notification highlights can clarify key documentation requirements before registering.
Marking Scheme Highlights
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): +3 marks for correct answers; -1 penalty for incorrect responses.
- Type-In-The-Answer (TITA / Non-MCQ): +3 marks for correct answers; no negative marking for incorrect responses.
Eligibility Criteria for CAT 2026
- Academic Qualification: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification awarded by any recognized university with at least 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates).
- Final Year Students: Final-year undergraduate students expecting to complete their degree requirements are also fully eligible to apply.
Campusutra Tip for Aspirants: Keep your government identity proof, category certificates (if applicable), and academic transcripts ready ahead of August 3 to ensure a seamless registration process on the official portal.
