New Delhi, August 3, 2026: Online registration for CAT 2026 has started today, marking the beginning of a new journey for many lakh students who wish to pursue management courses at prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
Organized every year by an IIM for the IIMs consortium, CAT is the most sought-after MBA entrance test in India and is recognized by over 1,300 institutes that provide MBA, PGDM and other management programs.
Students who wish to pursue management courses are advised to do their online registrations before the deadline to avoid any technical glitches.
CAT 2026 Registration Starts
Online application forms for CAT 2026 are now available on the CAT official website. Aspiring candidates can register themselves using an active email address and phone number prior to filling the application form.
Candidates need to verify their details and be eligible according to the prescribed criteria before applying.
What is CAT?
Common Admission Test or CAT is a national level online test for evaluation of quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and data interpretation skills of the candidates.
A good CAT percentile is a crucial criterion for getting admission in Indian Institutes of Management and also other prestigious management institutions in India.
Courses Offered Through CAT Scores
CAT scores have significance in admissions to the following programs:
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)
• Executive Management Programs (at selected institutes)
• Fellow and Doctoral programs (at selected institutes)
In addition to the IIMs, renowned institutes like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, Management Department at IIT, IMI New Delhi, TAPMI, BIM Trichy, and many other renowned B-schools too take CAT scores into consideration while admitting students.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
For CAT 2026 Application:
Generally, candidates must meet the following criteria:
• The candidate must be a graduate from any recognized university.
• The candidate must possess minimum qualifying marks as mentioned in the notification.
• Candidates who are in their final year of undergraduate education can also apply provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria at the time of admission.
The candidates are advised to refer to the official CAT Information Bulletin for complete eligibility criteria and the category-wise eligibility criteria.
Steps to Apply for CAT 2026
Steps for registration in CAT 2026 are as follows:
1. Access the official CAT Registration Portal.
2. Register yourself by using your valid email id and phone number.
3. Verify your account either by OTP verification or email.
4. Provide the personal and academic details (work experience details in case of candidates who have work experience).
5. Upload the necessary documents.
6. Choose the preferred cities for the test.
7. Pay the application fee online.
8. Submit your application and obtain the confirmation page.
Documents Required
The candidates must be prepared with the following documents before proceeding with the application process:
• Recently clicked passport size photograph
• Signature
• Gram marksheets & certificates
• Community certificate (in case applicable)
• PWD certificate (if applicable)
• valid photo ID proof
• Work experience detail (if applicable)
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
CAT 2026 will most probably contain the questions from the following three sections:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This part will check candidates' reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning abilities.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
It will test candidates’ analytical ability, reasoning ability, data interpretation, and problem-solving.
Quantitative Ability (QA)
This part will contain questions on arithmetic, algebra, geometry, modern maths, and number system.
The exam is computer-based.
Why CAT is Important
CAT is still the most acceptable exam for MBA admissions in India and provides access to the following:
• Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
• Reputed private B-schools
• Government management colleges
• Good management education
• Good placements
• Business leadership jobs
• The ecosystem of entrepreneurship and startups
• Management jobs abroad
Top B-school graduates get placements with multinational corporations, consultancy organizations, financial institutions, technological companies, and reputed Indian organizations.
Preparation Tips for CAT 2026
It is advised that the candidates must:
• Have good conceptual clarity in maths.
• Have good reading speed and comprehension.
• Have good practice in logic and data interpretation.
• Solve old CAT paper.
• Take mock test every week.
• Check their mistakes from every mock test.
• Have time management and accuracy.
Important Advice for Candidates
The aspirants need to register themselves way ahead of the deadline to avoid any server issues or problems in payments towards the end of the registration period. It is advisable for them to check the details in the form thoroughly as inaccurate data may lead to issues in the admission process.
Candidates should keep monitoring the CAT website for the notifications concerning admit card, exam date, answer key, result, and admission process.
