CAT 2026 Registration Dates

CAT registration closed on 22 September 2026 at 5 PM, after the original 15 September deadline was extended. The extra payment window until 24 September was only for candidates who had already registered by the revised deadline. It did not allow new registrations.

The correction window has also closed. Registered candidates can use their saved application and login details for the next stage: CAT admit card download, scheduled from 4 November.

Who Could Apply for CAT 2026?

A recognised bachelor's degree with 50% marks is required for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. The minimum is 45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Final-year students can apply; completed professional qualifications also provide a separate route.

There is no age limit, and work experience is not compulsory for taking CAT. A candidate with a completed CA, CS, ICWA (CMA) or FIAI qualification does not need a separate bachelor's degree for that route. Merely being in the final year of a professional qualification is different from being in the final year of a bachelor's degree. The CAT eligibility rules also explain marks conversion and pending-result cases.

How the CAT Application Form Was Filled

Registration at iimcat.ac.in created the User ID and password used for the application. The form then collected personal details, academics, work experience, programme choices, test-city preferences and the declaration/payment.

Class 10 and 12 percentages use all subjects appearing on the marksheet, not a best-four or best-five score. For a bachelor's degree, use the university's aggregate calculation. A final-year applicant enters the aggregate available up to the latest marks statement. University-certified CGPA conversion takes priority over a generic conversion formula.

Part-time work, internships, projects, articleship and work done before graduation do not count in the work-experience field. Programme choices are separate from the exam-city choice: selecting an interview city for an IIM does not select the CAT test centre. Five distinct test-city preferences were required; candidates could not choose an examination shift.

Documents, Photograph and Signature

The photograph and signature had to be uploaded as JPG or JPEG files. Each file could be up to 80 KB, with a minimum resolution of 150 pixels per inch.

The photograph should be no more than six months old and have a white background. Keep the same photograph for the printed admit card. The photo and signature specifications distinguish the photograph's pixel limit from the signature's physical dimensions.

An exceptional renewal arrangement applied to candidates who had an older NC-OBC or EWS certificate but could not obtain the renewed certificate in time for reasons beyond their control. They had to upload the older certificate, the prescribed undertaking and proof of applying for renewal together. The FAQ permits a copy of the submitted renewal application if the authority's communication, acknowledgement or screenshot is unavailable. This is not a general waiver of the certificate requirement.

CAT Registration Fee and Confirmation

One CAT fee covers the IIM programme choices in the application; the amount does not increase with the number of IIMs selected. The payment is non-refundable. BillDesk was the payment partner, and the final payment screen displayed the transaction charges for the chosen method.

A successful transaction displayed a Payment Transaction Number, followed by application confirmation through email and SMS. The submitted application becomes read-only and is available through the Download Application tab. A bank debit alone does not establish that the CAT application was submitted successfully. For the charge breakdown and unresolved transactions, see CAT registration fees.

Corrections and Help After Submission

The 5-6 October correction window allowed changes to photograph, signature and test state/city preferences for successfully registered candidates who had paid the fee. It was not a second chance to alter academic marks, category or identity details. The CAT form correction page explains the permitted fields and what remains possible after closure.

For a payment, upload or confirmation problem, open the Grievance tab inside Registered Candidate Login and use the plus button to raise a ticket. Up to three supporting files can be attached. Include the User ID, transaction reference where relevant and the specific error; the guide asks for at least two working days for a response.

The academic helpdesk handles eligibility, category and PwBD-certificate questions. It is not the payment-processing desk. A helpdesk ticket also does not reopen registration or guarantee permission to change a locked field.

1. Registration and Next Dates
2. Qualification Routes
3. Form Details to Cross-Check

1. Uploads and Certificate Dates
2. Fee and Submission Proof
3. Correction Scope and Support