The CAT application process is done fully online and should be completed carefully. Candidates first need to register on the official website by entering basic details such as name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number. After OTP verification, they must fill in personal, academic, and work experience details. Next, candidates select their preferred IIMs and choose up to five test cities. After this, important documents like photograph, signature, mark sheets, ID proof, and category certificates (if required) are uploaded as per the given rules. The final step is paying the application fee online. Once payment is successful, the application is submitted. Candidates should review all details before final submission to avoid errors. The CAT 2025 answer key and result are yet to be released. The CAT 2025 answer key is expected in the first week of December 2025, while the CAT 2025 result is likely in the first week of January 2026.
CAT 2026 Application Process: Important Dates
The CAT 2026 application process begins on 1st August 2026 and closes on 20th September 2026 (tentative). Aspirants must complete registration within this window. Key dates for admit card, exam, answer key, and result are listed in the table below for easy reference.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Registration Date (Start) | 1st August 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT 2026 Registration Last Date | 20th September 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT Admit Card Date | 20th November 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT Exam Date | 29th November 2026 |
| CAT Answer Key | 10th December 2026 (Tentative) |
| CAT Result Date | 20 December 2026 (Tentative) |
CAT 2026 Application Process: Eligibility Criteria
CAT 2026 eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). Professional degrees like CA, CS, ICWA, and FIAI are accepted, and final-year Applicants can apply. Key eligibility details are summarized in the table below.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) |
| Professional Degrees | CA / CS / ICWA / Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) are also acceptable |
| Final Year Applicants | Eligible to apply if proof of eligibility is provided at the time of admission |
| Age Limit | No age limit for Applicants applying for CAT |
CAT 2026 Application Process: How to Apply?
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date for MBA is tentatively September 20, 2026. Filling out the CAT 2026 Registration Form involves four steps: online registration, entering personal and academic information, uploading documents, and paying fees. Applicants can find the step-by-step process for CAT Exam Application Form 2026 in the given sections:
Step 1: Online Registration
Follow the steps given below to successfully register for CAT 2026:
- Go to the CAT official website
- Click on the ‘Register’ tab under the ‘New Candidate Registration’ tab.
- Enter details, such as name, date of birth, email ID, active phone number, and nationality.
- Click on the tab of ‘Generate OTP’
- Applicants will receive an OTP on their registered mobile number.
- Entering the same OTP will lead to the verification of CAT registration 2026
Step 2: Entering Personal and Academic Information
After successfully registering for CAT 2026, Applicants are required to enter the necessary details and complete the application form. This stage includes five sections, and they are as follows:
- Personal Details: In this stage, Applicants should enter details like name, date of birth, father’s name, category, gender, nationality, communication address, email ID, phone number, etc.
- Academic Details: For academic information, Applicants must submit their class 10 & 12 exam scores, bachelor’s degree marks, details of any other professional courses, etc.
- Work Experience: If a candidate has relevant work experience, they must enter details such as the name of the company, duration of employment, designation, and job description.
- Section of Program and Institute: Next, Applicants are required to select their choice of IIM institutes and the MBA program they are willing to pursue.
- Test City: While exercising the application process for CAT 2026, Applicants select up to five test cities as per their preference.
Step 3: Document Upload
This is one of the crucial stages while filling out the CAT Registration Form 2026. Applicants must keep the following documents ready to upload:
- Class 10 & 12 marksheet
- Graduation marksheet/ certificate
- Valid ID proof
- A recent passport-sized photograph
- A scanned signature
- Caste certificate (if applicable)
Step 4: Registration Fee Payment
The last step in the CAT Application Process 2026 involves payment of the registration fee. After filling out the application form with all the required documents and details, Applicants will be redirected to the page to pay the application fee. This fee can be paid through debit card/ credit card/ net banking. Only after successfully submitting the fee will the application form be submitted.
CAT 2026 Application Process: Application Fee
The only way to pay the CAT 2026 Application Fee is online. This fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Applicants choosing more than one institute will still have to pay the application fee only once. For general category Applicants, the CAT Application Fee 2026 has increased to INR 2600 and INR 1300 for SC/ ST/ PWD category Applicants. The details are mentioned in the table below:
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General | INR 2,600 |
| SC | INR 1,300 |
| ST | INR 1,300 |
| Pwd | INR 1,300 |
CAT 2026 Application Process: Document Uploading Criteria
When applicants are applying for CAT 2026 online, they will be required to upload certain documents with the specific guidelines mentioned by the authorities. Forms that will be submitted without uploading documents will be rejected. Hence, Applicants must make a note to follow all these rules while uploading the documents for CAT exam 2026:
| Documents | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Scanned Passport-size Photograph | Applicants must remember that the photograph is not more than six months old. Also, it should be uploaded within the dimensions of 120x150 pixels and should be in .jpg or .jpeg format. |
| Scanned Signature | The signature should be done in a clean, white background. While uploading, its dimensions should be within 80x35pixels and in .jpg or .jpeg format. The resolution of the signature should not be more than 80 KB and should be less than 150 pixels/ inch. |
| Caste Certificate | If Applicants belong to any reserved category and want to upload the caste certificate, they should download it from the CAT official website. The certificate should be self-attested, and a scanned copy must be uploaded in a PDF format. |
| Pwd Certificate | Applicants who belong to the Pwd category must submit the relevant Pwd certificate.They will find the certificate on the CAT website, then, self-attest it and upload in a PDF file. |
| Final Year Certificate | Applicants who are in their final year of graduation should submit the final year certificate from the Principal, HoD, Registrar or Director certifying that the applicant has secured at least 50% marks. This should be done on the college or institution’s letterhead. This certificate format can be downloaded from the IIMCAT website. |
CAT 2026 Application Process: Selection of Test Cities
While filling the CAT 2026 application form, applicants must choose their preferred test cities. Up to five cities can be selected, but the final allotment depends on seat availability and is done on a first-come, first-served basis. Choosing preferences early increases the chances of getting the desired city. The allotted exam centre and reporting time will be mentioned in the CAT admit card. If applicants need to change their choice, they can do so only when the application correction window is open. Once the admit cards are issued, no changes are allowed. Therefore, it is recommended to carefully select test cities, giving priority to the home city.
CAT 2026 Application Process: Common Errors to Avoid
Applicants are highly recommended to be very careful with the personal and educational information, test city preferences, document uploading, etc., when applying for CAT 2026 online. There are some common areas where applicants often make mistakes. Tabulated below are the key areas where Applicants should avoid making errors:
| Error | Details |
|---|---|
| Email & Mobile Number | Use a valid mobile number and email ID for communication. |
| Test City Selection | Choose the exam centre carefully; no changes are allowed later. |
| Exam Centre Preference | Select a nearby city or home city for easy access on exam day. |
| IIM Selection | Pick IIMs wisely, as Applicants can attend WAT-PI only at selected ones. |
| IIM Interview Cities | Choose interview cities carefully; only two options per IIM. |
| Academic Scores | Enter correct details for Class 10, 12, Graduation, and PG (if any). |
| Work Experience | Provide accurate information. Otherwise, it may affect shortlisting for WAT-PI. |
| Certificates | Upload valid caste/PwD/Scribe certificates; fake ones lead to disqualification. |
| Fee Payment | Ensure complete payment and email confirmation to submit the form. |
How to Edit CAT Application Process?
CAT application correction window is usually opened after the registration process is over. Applicants can edit certain details, change the test city preference or upload a better image. Other than these, no other sections are editable. Given below is the process to edit the CAT Application Form 2026:
- Visit the CAT official website and click on the ‘Log in’ tab.
- Enter the user ID and password, then click on ‘Application Form’.
- Go to the relevant section, such as photograph, signature & test city preference and make changes.
- Enter the CAPTCHA code and click on ‘Continue’ to submit the edited application form.
CAT 2026 Application Process: Things to Keep in Mind
There are certain things that should be kept in mind while exercising the CAT 2026 Application Process. Some of them are discussed below:
- When filling out the CAT application form, Applicants should always prefer using Edge Chromium, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome for a better browsing experience.
- It is better not to use a mobile phone for CAT application form submission. It is advisable to use a laptop or a desktop.
- Before submitting the final CAT application form, Applicants should verify all the information they have provided. Because once the form is submitted, there will be no room for changes or edits. They will need to create a new ID, complete a fresh registration, and pay the application fee again.
- After paying the CAT application fee, Applicants should save the acknowledgement slip and a copy of the duly filled application form for future reference.
- Once the form is successfully submitted, Applicants will receive a confirmation email regarding the same. They should preserve the email until the MBA admission process is over.
- Pwd Applicants should ensure that they select details under the Pwd category and mention requirements, such as wheelchairs or scribes.
CAT 2026 FAQs
What is the registration timeline for the CAT 2026 application process?
The CAT 2026 application window is expected to open in early August and close by mid-September. Applicants must complete registration within this period to be eligible for the exam.
What educational qualification is required to apply for CAT 2026?
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% marks. For SC, ST, and PwD categories, the minimum requirement is 45%.
Can final-year students apply for the CAT 2026 exam?
Yes, final-year graduation students are eligible to apply for CAT 2026, provided they submit the required proof of eligibility at the time of admission.
Is there any age limit for applying to CAT 2026?
No, there is no age limit for candidates applying for the CAT 2026 exam.
How many test cities can applicants select while filling the CAT 2026 application form?
Applicants can select up to five preferred test cities during the CAT 2026 registration process, subject to availability.
What is the CAT 2026 application fee for General and reserved category candidates?
The CAT 2026 application fee is INR 2,600 for General category applicants and INR 1,300 for SC, ST, and PwD category applicants.
What documents are mandatory to upload in the CAT 2026 application form?
Applicants must upload a recent photograph, scanned signature, academic mark sheets, valid ID proof, and category certificates (if applicable), following the prescribed format.
Can applicants edit details after submitting the CAT 2026 application form?
Yes, limited details such as photograph, signature, and test city can be edited during the application correction window. Other details cannot be changed.
How is work experience entered in the CAT 2026 application process?
Applicants with work experience must provide accurate details including company name, duration, designation, and job role, as incorrect entries may affect interview shortlisting.
What happens if incorrect or invalid certificates are uploaded in CAT 2026?
Uploading incorrect or fake caste, PwD, or other category certificates can lead to rejection of the application or disqualification at later admission stages.