MBA
May 18, 2026
IIM Lucknow to Convene CAT 2026; Notification Expected in July
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Vikram Malhotra
May 18, 2026
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The rotation for the conduct of the Common Admission Test (CAT) has returned to IIM Lucknow for the 2026 academic cycle. While the formal notification is usually released in late July or early August, internal sources have confirmed that the institute has already begun the preliminary work for the national-level MBA entrance exam. CAT 2026 will be the gateway for admissions into the 21 IIMs and over 1,200 other top business schools across India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
Historically, when IIM Lucknow convenes the exam, there is a focus on maintaining a balanced difficulty level across the three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). In 2017, the last time IIM Lucknow led the process, the DILR section was famously challenging, a trend that some tutors believe might repeat this year. 'Candidates should focus on logical puzzles and unconventional data sets,' advised Anjali Gupta, a lead mentor at a national coaching chain.
Registration for CAT 2026 is expected to open in the first week of August and continue until the third week of September. The exam is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026, to be held in three slots across 160 cities. The eligibility remains unchanged: a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or being in the final year of a degree program. This year, the IIMs are also expected to further incentivize academic diversity, encouraging more students from non-engineering backgrounds to apply.
The 2026 cycle is also expected to see a rise in applicants due to the recovering global economy and the increased demand for specialized management roles in AI and Green Energy sectors. IIM Lucknow is also considering minor updates to the test interface to make it more user-friendly for PwD candidates. A dedicated helpdesk and a series of mock tests will be launched on the official iimcat.ac.in website once the notification is live.
Prospective students are encouraged to begin their preparation now, focusing on basics before moving to timed practice. With the competitive landscape intensifying—last year saw a record 3.3 lakh registrations—the 2026 exam is likely to be a high-stakes event. IIM Lucknow will also oversee the centralized data management for the subsequent Personal Interview (PI) and Group Discussion (GD) rounds, though individual IIMs will continue to maintain their independent shortlisting criteria based on CAT percentiles, academic history, and work experience.
Historically, when IIM Lucknow convenes the exam, there is a focus on maintaining a balanced difficulty level across the three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). In 2017, the last time IIM Lucknow led the process, the DILR section was famously challenging, a trend that some tutors believe might repeat this year. 'Candidates should focus on logical puzzles and unconventional data sets,' advised Anjali Gupta, a lead mentor at a national coaching chain.
Registration for CAT 2026 is expected to open in the first week of August and continue until the third week of September. The exam is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026, to be held in three slots across 160 cities. The eligibility remains unchanged: a Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or being in the final year of a degree program. This year, the IIMs are also expected to further incentivize academic diversity, encouraging more students from non-engineering backgrounds to apply.
The 2026 cycle is also expected to see a rise in applicants due to the recovering global economy and the increased demand for specialized management roles in AI and Green Energy sectors. IIM Lucknow is also considering minor updates to the test interface to make it more user-friendly for PwD candidates. A dedicated helpdesk and a series of mock tests will be launched on the official iimcat.ac.in website once the notification is live.
Prospective students are encouraged to begin their preparation now, focusing on basics before moving to timed practice. With the competitive landscape intensifying—last year saw a record 3.3 lakh registrations—the 2026 exam is likely to be a high-stakes event. IIM Lucknow will also oversee the centralized data management for the subsequent Personal Interview (PI) and Group Discussion (GD) rounds, though individual IIMs will continue to maintain their independent shortlisting criteria based on CAT percentiles, academic history, and work experience.