Students aspiring to secure admission to top management institutions across India can now apply for CAT 2026, as the registration process officially opened on August 3. The Common Admission Test serves as the primary gateway for admission to MBA and postgraduate management programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and numerous other reputed business schools.
Applications can be submitted online through the official CAT portal, iimcat.ac.in. Interested candidates must complete the registration process before September 15 at 5 PM to be considered for the examination.
CAT 2026 Application Process and Key Registration Dates
The CAT 2026 examination will be conducted by IIM Indore, which is responsible for overseeing this year's admission test. The institute has advised applicants to avoid waiting until the final days of registration and instead complete the application process early to prevent possible technical issues.
Candidates will have the option to choose up to five preferred examination cities while submitting their applications. The exam is expected to be conducted across nearly 170 cities, ensuring broad accessibility for applicants nationwide.
To apply, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognized university with at least 50 percent marks or an equivalent grade. Reserved category candidates will be eligible for relaxation in accordance with applicable admission guidelines.
MBA Entrance Test Pattern and Eligibility Requirements
The MBA entrance test is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and will be conducted in a computer-based format. The exam duration will be 120 minutes and will consist of three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each section will have a fixed duration of 40 minutes, and candidates will be required to complete one section before moving to the next.
The CAT 2026 results are expected to be announced during the first week of January 2027. After the declaration of results, candidates will be able to download their scorecards from the official website. The score obtained in CAT 2026 will remain valid until December 31, 2027, making it useful for admissions in multiple academic sessions.
With the registration process now underway, candidates planning to pursue management education should carefully review the application guidelines, understand the examination structure, and begin their preparation early. CAT continues to be one of the most important entrance examinations for students aiming to join India's premier business schools and management institutes.
