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Aug 12, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Opens: IIM Bangalore Announces Key Changes to Exam Pattern
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Arjun Mehta
Aug 12, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, the convening body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, has officially launched the registration portal as of this morning, August 12, 2026. This year, the exam is scheduled to be held on November 29 across 155 cities in India. Candidates aspiring to join the flagship PGP programs at the 21 IIMs and other top-tier business schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, and MDI Gurgaon can submit their applications until September 20, 2026. The registration fee has seen a marginal increase this year, now set at ₹2,500 for general category candidates and ₹1,250 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.
In a significant move, the CAT 2026 committee has announced minor but impactful adjustments to the exam pattern. While the three-section structure remains—comprising Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—the time allotted for the DILR section has been increased by five minutes, balanced by a slight reduction in the number of MCQs in the QA section. This change aims to provide students with more time to tackle the increasingly complex logical reasoning sets that have characterized the exam in recent years. Dr. Sandeep Mukherjee, the Admissions Chairperson at IIM Bangalore, stated that the revision is intended to better assess the analytical depth of candidates rather than just their speed.
Eligibility criteria remain consistent with previous years, requiring a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for reserved categories). Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their requirements by June 2027. The NMAT and SNAP registration windows have also opened concurrently, making this a busy week for MBA aspirants across the country. Experts suggest that candidates should register early to secure their preferred test city, as the first-come-first-served policy often leads to local centers filling up within the first ten days of the registration window.
Technological upgrades have also been integrated into the registration portal this year to handle the expected surge of over 3.5 lakh applicants. A new 'Live Photo' capture requirement has been introduced during the application process to curb impersonation and enhance security at test centers. Applicants are advised to keep their scanned documents, including category certificates and academic transcripts, ready before starting the process. The admit cards are expected to be released in the last week of October 2026.
As the competition intensifies, coaching institutes are already pivoting their mock test series to reflect the new timing adjustments. Career consultants emphasize that while the pattern change is minor, it will require a shift in time-management strategies. 'The extra five minutes in DILR could be the difference between clearing the sectional cutoff and missing out on an IIM call,' says Meera Nair, a senior mentor at a leading coaching chain in Mumbai. Candidates are encouraged to visit the official website iimcat.ac.in for the detailed information bulletin and to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical glitches.
In a significant move, the CAT 2026 committee has announced minor but impactful adjustments to the exam pattern. While the three-section structure remains—comprising Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—the time allotted for the DILR section has been increased by five minutes, balanced by a slight reduction in the number of MCQs in the QA section. This change aims to provide students with more time to tackle the increasingly complex logical reasoning sets that have characterized the exam in recent years. Dr. Sandeep Mukherjee, the Admissions Chairperson at IIM Bangalore, stated that the revision is intended to better assess the analytical depth of candidates rather than just their speed.
Eligibility criteria remain consistent with previous years, requiring a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for reserved categories). Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their requirements by June 2027. The NMAT and SNAP registration windows have also opened concurrently, making this a busy week for MBA aspirants across the country. Experts suggest that candidates should register early to secure their preferred test city, as the first-come-first-served policy often leads to local centers filling up within the first ten days of the registration window.
Technological upgrades have also been integrated into the registration portal this year to handle the expected surge of over 3.5 lakh applicants. A new 'Live Photo' capture requirement has been introduced during the application process to curb impersonation and enhance security at test centers. Applicants are advised to keep their scanned documents, including category certificates and academic transcripts, ready before starting the process. The admit cards are expected to be released in the last week of October 2026.
As the competition intensifies, coaching institutes are already pivoting their mock test series to reflect the new timing adjustments. Career consultants emphasize that while the pattern change is minor, it will require a shift in time-management strategies. 'The extra five minutes in DILR could be the difference between clearing the sectional cutoff and missing out on an IIM call,' says Meera Nair, a senior mentor at a leading coaching chain in Mumbai. Candidates are encouraged to visit the official website iimcat.ac.in for the detailed information bulletin and to complete their registration well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical glitches.