CAT 2026 fee payment deadline extended to 24 September

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, the conducting body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, has announced an extension for the fee payment deadline. Candidates who successfully registered for CAT 2026 by the September 22, 2026, deadline now have until September 24, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST to complete their application fee payment.

The registration process for CAT 2026 concluded on September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST, following an earlier extension from the initial September 15, 2026, deadline. This extension for fee payment aligns with a trend observed in previous CAT cycles, including those from 2021 to 2025, where deadlines were similarly adjusted.

CAT 2026 Registration and Fee Payment Details

The CAT 2026 registration process commenced on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM IST. The application fee for General, EWS, and NC-OBC categories is INR 2,700, while SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are required to pay INR 1,350. These fees are non-refundable and must be paid online via the BillDesk gateway using UPI, Net Banking, Credit Card, or Debit Card.

As of September 15, 2026, registrations for CAT 2026 had already surpassed 2.84 lakh candidates. Projections indicate that the total number of registrations for CAT 2026 is expected to exceed 3 to 3.30 lakh, representing an anticipated 30% increase compared to the 2.95 lakh candidates registered in the previous year. This would mark the highest registration numbers in CAT’s history since 1977.

Eligibility Criteria and Required Documents

Candidates applying for CAT 2026 must hold a three-year bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 50% for the general category and 45% for SC/ST/PwD categories. Final-year candidates are also eligible to apply. There is no minimum age requirement for CAT 2026 applicants. It is mandatory for candidates’ names and dates of birth to precisely match their Class 10 records, and marks for Class 10, Class 12, and undergraduate degrees must be accurately entered.

Applicants are required to upload a recent passport-size photograph with a solid white background, measuring 1200 x 1200 pixels and not exceeding 80 KB in size. A scanned signature, 80mm x 35mm and up to 80 KB, must also be uploaded. In addition, candidates must select five test city choices in order of priority during the application process.

Upcoming Dates and Form Correction Window

Following the closure of fee payments, a form correction window is tentatively scheduled to open in the first week of October 2026. This facility will allow registered candidates to edit uploaded images and modify their chosen test city preferences. The official CAT 2026 notification was released on iimcat.ac.in on July 26, 2026.

The CAT 2026 admit cards are slated for issuance on November 4, 2026. The examination itself is scheduled for November 29, 2026, and will be a two-hour, computer-based test (CBT) conducted in three sessions. The exam will comprise sections on Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.

Further reading

• IIM CAT 2026 Registration Closes Tomorrow, September 15; Admit Cards on November 4 at iimcat.ac.in
• CAT 2026 registration extended: pay fees by 24 September
• CAT exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• MBA Entrance Exams 2026-27: CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP Registration and Dates Announced Today
• SNAP 2026 mock test scheduled for September 24; apply by September 22
• ITM Business School: Apply for PGDM/MBA admission now, get financial aid Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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