CAT 2026 Registration: Last Date September 15, Apply Before 5 PM

Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The Common Admission Test 2026 registration window is closing fast. IIM Indore, this year's conducting institute, has confirmed that the application form at iimcat.ac.in will shut on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM, giving MBA aspirants only a narrow window left to register.

If CAT is not your only route into a management degree, our guides on IGNOU's Online MBA admission, which requires no entrance exam at all, and NIMS University Jaipur's distance MBA, which accepts CAT or its own entrance test, are worth a look alongside this update.

Here is exactly what has been confirmed about this year's CAT registration, fees, eligibility, and what happens once the window closes.

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What Just Happened

CAT 2026 registration opened on 3 August 2026, following the official notification released on 26 July 2026. IIM Indore is conducting this year's exam, continuing the tradition of rotating the responsibility among the older IIMs each year. The confirmed last date to submit the application form is 15 September 2026, at 5:00 PM.

CAT 2026 itself will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three shifts, across more than 170 test cities nationwide. Scores from this single exam are accepted by all 21 IIMs and more than 1,500 other business schools across India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon, making it the single most consequential entrance exam in Indian management education.

Will the Deadline Be Extended?

This is the question on most aspirants' minds right now, and the honest answer is that nobody can say for certain. IIM Indore has occasionally granted brief 2 to 3 day extensions in past years, and CAT 2025's conducting institute, IIM Kozhikode, announced its extension only in mid-September, after many candidates had already scrambled to submit.

The safest approach is to treat 15 September as your real, final deadline and not factor in a possible extension at all. An extension, if it happens, should be treated as a bonus for genuine emergencies, not a plan you build your registration timeline around.

CAT 2026 Registration Fees

The application fee for CAT 2026 is Rs 2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC category candidates, and Rs 1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD category candidates. This reflects another fee increase this year, continuing a pattern seen in recent cycles.

Payment is made online at the time of registration, and candidates should preview their filled form carefully before completing payment, since no changes are permitted once the fee has been paid.

CAT 2026 Eligibility

There is no change to CAT's eligibility criteria this year. Candidates need a bachelor's degree with at least 50 percent aggregate marks, relaxed to 45 percent for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, from a recognized university. Final-year undergraduate students awaiting their results are also eligible to register.

There is no upper age limit for CAT, and no restriction on the number of attempts, so candidates who have taken the exam before can register again without any cooling-off period.

How to Register for CAT 2026: Step by Step

Based on the official registration process published on iimcat.ac.in, here is what applicants need to do.

1. Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in and click on "New CAT Registration."
2. Create your account using your name, date of birth, email ID, and phone number.
3. Verify your account through the OTP sent to your registered mobile number or email.
4. Log in and fill in your personal and academic details accurately.
5. Select your preferred test cities from the available options.
6. Upload your photograph, signature, and category certificate, if applicable.
7. Preview your completed application form carefully before proceeding.
8. Pay the applicable CAT 2026 registration fee to complete your submission.
9. Save the confirmation email and SMS you receive as proof of successful registration.

Use an email address and phone number you will retain for at least the next 12 months, since every subsequent communication, including your admit card, results, and IIM shortlists, will route through these same details. Also ensure your name is spelled exactly as it appears on your Class 10 certificate, since mismatches can cause complications later in the admission process.

What Happens After Registration Closes

Once the window shuts on 15 September, candidates who have successfully submitted their form typically get access to a form correction window, generally opening in the first week of October based on past years' patterns. This window allows limited edits, such as updating your photo, signature, or test city preference, though core details usually cannot be changed.

Your CAT 2026 admit card is expected around 4 November 2026, downloadable by logging into your account on iimcat.ac.in. The exam itself follows on 29 November, with results typically announced in early January, ahead of IIM shortlisting and the WAT-PI, or Written Ability Test and Personal Interview, rounds that follow at individual institutes.

Why This Deadline Matters So Much This Year

With more than 2.95 lakh candidates having registered for CAT 2025, and competition for top IIM seats remaining exceptionally tight, missing this registration window effectively means waiting an entire additional year before your next opportunity. IIM Kozhikode's PGP programme, for instance, admits fewer than 1 in 100 eligible CAT applicants, underlining just how much is riding on securing your spot in this exam cycle.

If your target is specifically an IIM's Executive or blended programme rather than the flagship two-year MBA, note that some of these accept CAT alongside other exams like GMAT or GRE, with different eligibility and experience requirements, so it's worth checking your specific target programme's admission page directly.

Alternatives If You Miss the CAT 2026 Window

If you are still deciding whether to register, or realize you may not make the 15 September cutoff, it helps to know your MBA options do not begin and end with CAT. Several other national and university-level entrance exams remain open on different timelines throughout the year, including the MAH MBA CET's second attempt for Maharashtra-based programmes.

If an entrance exam route feels like a genuine barrier, several UGC-DEB approved universities admit students without one entirely. Our guide on Vivekanand Global University's Online MBA and our roundup of Maharashtra's open UG and PG admissions cover several such options currently accepting applications.

For students specifically eyeing a premium, brand-name institute but wary of CAT's competitiveness, our guide on MICA's Online MBA and Executive Programs, which accepts CAT, XAT, and GMAT for shortlisting, and our Alliance University Online MBA guide, which accepts CAT alongside its own AMAT test, are worth reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the last date for CAT 2026 registration?

The confirmed last date to register for CAT 2026 is 15 September 2026, at 5:00 PM, on the official website iimcat.ac.in.

2. When is the CAT 2026 exam date?

CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three shifts across more than 170 test cities in India.

3. What is the CAT 2026 registration fee?

The fee is Rs 2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates, and Rs 1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

4. What is the eligibility for CAT 2026?

Candidates need a bachelor's degree with at least 50 percent aggregate marks, relaxed to 45 percent for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. Final-year students awaiting results can also register, and there is no age limit or restriction on the number of attempts.

5. Will CAT 2026 registration be extended beyond September 15?

This is not guaranteed. While IIM Indore has occasionally granted short extensions in past years, candidates should treat 15 September as the final deadline and not delay registration in anticipation of one.

6. Which colleges accept CAT 2026 scores?

All 21 IIMs and more than 1,500 other business schools across India accept CAT scores, including institutes like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.

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Still Weighing CAT Against Other MBA Entry Routes?

Whether CAT is genuinely your best path to an MBA, or a UGC-DEB approved alternative without an entrance exam fits your timeline better, it helps to get a clear-eyed comparison before you commit.

Connect with Radhya Education Academy's Expert Counsellors for FREE, unbiased guidance on CAT 2026, MBA entrance exams and university-specific admission options.

Get Free Career Counselling

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You can also explore our guide on Madras University's distance education courses, our roundup of Online MBA programs, and verify an authorised education counsellor before taking guidance from anyone claiming to represent Radhya Education Academy.

Conclusion

CAT 2026 registration is now firmly in its final stretch, with the window closing on 15 September at 5:00 PM. Given the scale of competition for IIM seats and the genuine uncertainty around whether any extension will be granted, candidates who have not yet registered should treat this deadline as final and complete their application without delay.

Once the window closes, your next opportunity to sit for CAT will not arrive for another full year, so if an MBA through India's premier entrance exam is part of your plan, this is the moment to act.

This article is based on the official CAT 2026 notification released by IIM Indore via iimcat.ac.in accessed September 2026. Dates and fees are set by the conducting IIM and are subject to change, so candidates should confirm current details directly on the official CAT website before applying.