The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially announced the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. The advertisement has appeared in multiple newspapers across the country in several languages, but the information on the official CAT website will be treated as final.
What is CAT 2026?
CAT 2026 is a computer-based Common Admission Test conducted by the IIMs. It is a prerequisite for admission to various Post Graduate and Fellow/Doctorate programmes of the participating IIMs. Scores are also accepted by many non-IIM member institutions (a list is available on the official website). IIMs play no role in the selection process of non-IIM institutions.
Test Date: November 29, 2026 (in three sessions)
Official Website: https://iimcat.ac.in
Participating IIMs
Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore, Bodh Gaya, Calcutta, Guwahati, Indore, Jammu, Kashipur, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Sambalpur, Shillong, Sirmaur, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur, and Visakhapatnam.
Important Dates for CAT 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | August 3, 2026 (10:00 am) |
| Registration closes | September 15, 2026 (5:00 pm) |
| Admit card download | November 04 to 29, 2026 |
| Test date | November 29, 2026 |
| Result declaration | First week of January 2027 (Tentative) |
Registration Fees
- ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD category candidates
- ₹2,700 for all other categories
Candidates need to pay the fee only once, regardless of the number of institutes they apply to. Fees once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances.
Eligibility
Detailed eligibility criteria are available in the official notification on the CAT website. Importantly, merely fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee shortlisting by the IIMs.
Reservations
Information regarding reservation of seats for various categories is available on the CAT website. No change in category will be entertained after CAT registration.
Test Centres
CAT 2026 will be conducted across approximately 170 test cities. Candidates can select any five test cities in order of preference. The final list of cities may change at the discretion of the CAT authorities.
Important Notes
- Candidates must declare and maintain a valid and unique email account and mobile number throughout the selection process.
- This advertisement is only an announcement. For complete details on rules, procedures, and any updates, visit the official CAT website.
- Any dispute related to CAT 2026 will fall under the jurisdiction of the competent courts in the City of Indore only.