CAT 2026 Application Form Out: Apply Now at OnlySach.Com

IIM Indore has released the CAT 2026 admission form notification. Check registration dates, eligibility, fees, exam pattern, and how to apply online.

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have officially released the entrance examination notification for the Common Admission Test (CAT 2026). Convened by IIM Indore for the 2026–27 session, the official information bulletin was published on July 26, 2026, on the central portal.

Serving as the primary entrance gateway for post-graduate management programs across 21 IIMs and premier non-IIM institutions (such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IITs, and IIFT), CAT 2026 will take place in computer-based test (CBT) mode on Sunday, November 29, 2026, across three shifts. The online application window opens on August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM) and closes on September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM).

CAT 2026 Examination Schedule & Important Milestones

CAT 2026 Essential Eligibility Criteria

Aspirants must satisfy the baseline academic requirements mapped out by the convening IIM before filling out the admission form:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognized university. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) categories require a minimum of 45% aggregate marks.
• Final Year Students: Candidates appearing for the final year of their Bachelor’s degree or awaiting their final results are also fully eligible to apply.
• Professional Qualifications: Candidates with professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or FIAI with the required percentage are also eligible.
• Age Ceiling: There is no upper age limit or limit on the number of attempts for taking the CAT exam.

Registration Fee Structure

Application fees are payable strictly online through digital payment channels:

• General / OBC-NCL / EWS Category Candidates: ₹2,700

• SC / ST / PwBD Category Candidates: ₹1,350

• Payment Portals: Net Banking, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and integrated UPI facilities.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Online for IIM CAT 2026

The complete form filling process runs through the official portal. Follow this sequence to complete your registration without experiencing errors:

1.Register on the Official CAT 2026 Gateway:Initial Profiling.

Launch your secure web browser and visit the official website: iimcat.ac.in. Click on the link reading “New Candidate Registration for CAT 2026”. Input your full name, date of birth, email address, mobile number, and nationality to generate your unique User ID and Password.

2.Populate Personal, Academic, and Work Experience Data:Form Ingestion.

Log back into the dashboard using your User ID and Password. Complete the personal details section, reservation category parameters, and academic history grids (10th, 12th, Graduation, and Master’s/Professional degrees). Input your full-time post-graduation work experience details if applicable.

3.Select IIM Programs and Test City Preferences:Program Selection.

Select your preferred IIM post-graduate management programs along with the interview city choices for each institute. Next, choose any five test cities in order of your preference from the dropdown menu.

4.Upload Scanned Photo, Signature, and Category Certificates:File Uploading.

Upload your recent passport-sized color photograph (white background) and signature crop according to the specified dimensions. Candidates applying under reserved categories must upload valid NC-OBC, EWS, SC/ST, or UDID (PwBD) certificates.

5.Pay Registration Fee and Print Confirmation Form:Final Settlement.

Review your filled entries on the preview page. Proceed to the payment gateway to clear your category registration fee. Once the transaction is successful, download and save a copy of the final CAT 2026 Application Form for future reference.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Scoring Blueprint

The computer-based entrance exam follows the standard 2-hour structure:

• Total Exam Duration: 120 Minutes (2 Hours)

• Sectional Time Limit: 40 Minutes per section (no switching between sections allowed during the exam)

• Total Question Index: 68 Questions

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 Questions (40 minutes)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 Questions (40 minutes)
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 Questions (40 minutes)• Scoring Scheme: +3 marks awarded for every correct answer; -1 mark deducted for incorrect Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Non-MCQs (Type-In-The-Answer / TITA) carry no negative marking.