MBA
Jul 10, 2026
CAT 2026: IIM Calcutta Set to Conduct Exam; Registration to Begin in August
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Ananya Chatterjee
Jul 10, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta has officially been announced as the coordinating institute for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. This prestigious national-level entrance exam is the gateway to the 21 IIMs and over 1,200 other top-tier management institutions across India. Professor Arindam Roy has been appointed as the CAT 2026 Convener, who noted that the exam is tentatively scheduled for the last Sunday of November, which falls on November 29, 2026.
Following the trend of previous years, the registration process is expected to commence during the first week of August 2026. The official website, iimcat.ac.in, is currently being updated to reflect the 2026 schedule and guidelines. Candidates are advised to keep their academic documents, including graduation certificates and category certificates, ready for the upload process. The eligibility criteria remain consistent, requiring a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in a bachelor's degree for general category students and 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
One of the key highlights discussed by the organizing committee this year is the expansion of test centers in the North-Eastern states and tier-3 cities to ensure better accessibility for rural students. There are also rumors regarding a slight modification in the weightage of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, though official confirmation is awaited. The exam will continue to be held in three slots: morning, afternoon, and evening, following the 120-minute format established in recent cycles.
Experts suggest that the competition level for CAT 2026 will be higher than ever, with an estimated 3.5 lakh aspirants expected to register. This surge is attributed to the growing demand for specialized MBA programs in Data Analytics and Sustainability Management. Coaching institutes have already begun intensive 'crash course' batches to help students navigate the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section, which is traditionally considered the most challenging part of the paper.
In addition to the exam dates, IIM Calcutta is expected to release a detailed notification regarding the 'Non-IIM' member institutions that will accept CAT scores. Students are encouraged to monitor the official portal for the mock test link, which is usually activated in October to help candidates familiarize themselves with the Computer Based Test (CBT) environment. As the countdown begins, the focus for aspirants should shift from theoretical learning to rigorous practice and mock analysis.
Following the trend of previous years, the registration process is expected to commence during the first week of August 2026. The official website, iimcat.ac.in, is currently being updated to reflect the 2026 schedule and guidelines. Candidates are advised to keep their academic documents, including graduation certificates and category certificates, ready for the upload process. The eligibility criteria remain consistent, requiring a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent CGPA in a bachelor's degree for general category students and 45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
One of the key highlights discussed by the organizing committee this year is the expansion of test centers in the North-Eastern states and tier-3 cities to ensure better accessibility for rural students. There are also rumors regarding a slight modification in the weightage of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, though official confirmation is awaited. The exam will continue to be held in three slots: morning, afternoon, and evening, following the 120-minute format established in recent cycles.
Experts suggest that the competition level for CAT 2026 will be higher than ever, with an estimated 3.5 lakh aspirants expected to register. This surge is attributed to the growing demand for specialized MBA programs in Data Analytics and Sustainability Management. Coaching institutes have already begun intensive 'crash course' batches to help students navigate the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section, which is traditionally considered the most challenging part of the paper.
In addition to the exam dates, IIM Calcutta is expected to release a detailed notification regarding the 'Non-IIM' member institutions that will accept CAT scores. Students are encouraged to monitor the official portal for the mock test link, which is usually activated in October to help candidates familiarize themselves with the Computer Based Test (CBT) environment. As the countdown begins, the focus for aspirants should shift from theoretical learning to rigorous practice and mock analysis.