CAT
Sep 18, 2026
CAT 2026: IIM Bangalore Extends Registration Deadline to September 25
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Vikram Malhotra
Sep 18, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, the coordinating body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, has announced a one-week extension for the registration process. Originally set to conclude on September 18, the deadline has now been moved to 5:00 PM on September 25, 2026. This decision comes after the official portal experienced significant traffic surges and technical glitches in the final 48 hours, preventing many candidates from completing their payment and document uploads.
Professor Rajeshwari Muralidhar, the Convener for CAT 2026, addressed the media, stating that the extension is a one-time measure to ensure that no deserving candidate is left behind due to technical difficulties. "We noticed a massive influx of last-minute registrations which caused some latency issues on our servers. To maintain fairness and transparency, the committee decided to grant additional time for applicants to finalize their submissions," she explained. Over 3.2 lakh candidates have already registered, marking a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
The CAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, across 155 cities in India. The exam pattern remains a three-slot, two-hour computer-based test comprising three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Aspirants are reminded that the correction window will open shortly after the registration closes, allowing them to edit specific fields such as photographs and signatures, though changes to the exam city or category will not be permitted.
With the extension, the admit card release date has also been slightly adjusted to October 25, 2026. Management experts suggest that this extra week should not distract students from their preparation. Instead, candidates should use this time to double-check their application details and ensure that their category certificates (EWS, NC-OBC, SC/ST) are updated and valid as per the prescribed formats. The CAT score is the primary gateway to the prestigious 21 IIMs and over 100 other top-tier business schools in India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
Prospective students are urged not to wait until the final hour of the new deadline to avoid a repeat of the technical issues. The registration fee remains ₹2,500 for general category candidates and ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. As the countdown to November begins, the competitive intensity is at an all-time high, with many coaching centers reporting record enrollments for their final mock test series.
Professor Rajeshwari Muralidhar, the Convener for CAT 2026, addressed the media, stating that the extension is a one-time measure to ensure that no deserving candidate is left behind due to technical difficulties. "We noticed a massive influx of last-minute registrations which caused some latency issues on our servers. To maintain fairness and transparency, the committee decided to grant additional time for applicants to finalize their submissions," she explained. Over 3.2 lakh candidates have already registered, marking a 5% increase compared to the previous year.
The CAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, across 155 cities in India. The exam pattern remains a three-slot, two-hour computer-based test comprising three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Aspirants are reminded that the correction window will open shortly after the registration closes, allowing them to edit specific fields such as photographs and signatures, though changes to the exam city or category will not be permitted.
With the extension, the admit card release date has also been slightly adjusted to October 25, 2026. Management experts suggest that this extra week should not distract students from their preparation. Instead, candidates should use this time to double-check their application details and ensure that their category certificates (EWS, NC-OBC, SC/ST) are updated and valid as per the prescribed formats. The CAT score is the primary gateway to the prestigious 21 IIMs and over 100 other top-tier business schools in India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
Prospective students are urged not to wait until the final hour of the new deadline to avoid a repeat of the technical issues. The registration fee remains ₹2,500 for general category candidates and ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. As the countdown to November begins, the competitive intensity is at an all-time high, with many coaching centers reporting record enrollments for their final mock test series.