MBA
Aug 12, 2026
CAT 2026 Registration to Begin on August 15; IIM Ahmedabad Releases Official Notification
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Ananya Deshpande
Aug 12, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, the coordinating body for this year’s Common Admission Test (CAT), has finally released the much-awaited official notification for CAT 2026. According to the release, the registration process will officially commence on August 15, 2026, and will remain open until the last week of September. This year, the exam is scheduled to take place on November 29 across more than 150 cities in India. The CAT score is the primary gateway for admission into the prestigious IIMs and several other top-tier management institutes across the country.
Prospective candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria thoroughly before applying. As per the current norms, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates). Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their requirements by the time of admission. The application fee has seen a marginal increase this year, now set at INR 2,500 for general category students and INR 1,250 for reserved categories.
Professor Rajesh Mukherjee, the Convener for CAT 2026, stated during a press briefing that the testing agency has worked extensively to ensure a seamless digital experience for the candidates. 'We have increased the number of test centers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to accommodate the growing number of aspirants from rural backgrounds. The exam pattern remains consistent with previous years, consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA),' he added.
Experts suggest that the competition this year might be stiffer due to an estimated 10% rise in the number of applicants. Coaching institutes are advising students to focus on mock tests and time management, as the 120-minute format requires high precision and speed. The result for CAT 2026 is expected to be declared in the second week of January 2027. Following the results, individual IIMs will begin their shortlisting process based on CAT scores, academic profile, and work experience for the subsequent Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
Candidates are encouraged to keep their documents ready, including scanned photographs, signatures, and category certificates if applicable. The official website, iimcat.ac.in, will serve as the central hub for all updates, admit card downloads, and result announcements. With only a few months left for the examination, aspirants are entering the final leg of their preparation, making this announcement a critical milestone in their academic calendar.
Prospective candidates are advised to check the eligibility criteria thoroughly before applying. As per the current norms, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates). Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their requirements by the time of admission. The application fee has seen a marginal increase this year, now set at INR 2,500 for general category students and INR 1,250 for reserved categories.
Professor Rajesh Mukherjee, the Convener for CAT 2026, stated during a press briefing that the testing agency has worked extensively to ensure a seamless digital experience for the candidates. 'We have increased the number of test centers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to accommodate the growing number of aspirants from rural backgrounds. The exam pattern remains consistent with previous years, consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA),' he added.
Experts suggest that the competition this year might be stiffer due to an estimated 10% rise in the number of applicants. Coaching institutes are advising students to focus on mock tests and time management, as the 120-minute format requires high precision and speed. The result for CAT 2026 is expected to be declared in the second week of January 2027. Following the results, individual IIMs will begin their shortlisting process based on CAT scores, academic profile, and work experience for the subsequent Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
Candidates are encouraged to keep their documents ready, including scanned photographs, signatures, and category certificates if applicable. The official website, iimcat.ac.in, will serve as the central hub for all updates, admit card downloads, and result announcements. With only a few months left for the examination, aspirants are entering the final leg of their preparation, making this announcement a critical milestone in their academic calendar.