CAT 2026: Download admit cards starting November 4

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) announced today, October 8, 2026, that approximately 2.84 lakh candidates have registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. This figure represents a decline in registrations for the second consecutive year, following a peak in 2024.

The current registration total is roughly 13.7 percent lower than the peak of 3.29 lakh candidates recorded in 2024. IIM Indore, the conducting body for CAT 2026, also confirmed the exam schedule and admit card release dates for the upcoming computer-based test.

CAT 2026 Registration Trends and Decline

CAT 2026 registrations have fallen to 2.84 lakh, continuing a downward trend observed since 2024. The peak registration for CAT was 3.29 lakh in 2024. In the subsequent year, 2025, registrations dipped to 2.95 lakh. This marks a significant shift from the steady increase in registrations seen between 2020 and 2024, where numbers rose from 2.28 lakh to 3.29 lakh. The decline from the 2024 peak to the 2026 figure is approximately 13.7 percent.

Historically, there has been a notable difference between registered candidates and actual test-takers, typically ranging from 11 to 15 percent. For instance, in 2025, out of 2.95 lakh registered candidates, 2.58 lakh appeared for the exam. The CAT is a crucial entrance examination for admission to 22 IIMs and over 1,700 other business schools across India.

Key Dates for CAT 2026 Examination

IIM Indore has outlined the critical dates for the CAT 2026 examination cycle. The CAT 2026 notification was released on July 26, 2026, with registrations commencing on August 3, 2026. The initial registration deadline of September 15, 2026, was extended to September 22, 2026. A fee payment window was also extended until September 24, 2026, for candidates who registered by the extended deadline. The application correction window, allowing candidates to update their photograph, signature, and test city preferences, was open from October 5, 2026, to October 6, 2026.

The CAT 2026 admit cards are scheduled for release on November 4, 2026, and will be accessible on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. The examination itself will be conducted on November 29, 2026. Candidates are required to carry their printed admit card and a government-issued photo ID to the test centre. The admit card will contain essential details such as the test centre location and exam slot.

Exam Structure and Application Fees

The CAT 2026 exam will be a computer-based test administered in three sessions. The total duration of the test is 120 minutes, with each of the three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—allotted 40 minutes. Candidates with disabilities (PwD) will receive additional time in each section, as per the established guidelines.

The application fee for CAT 2026 saw a slight increase compared to the previous year. General and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates paid INR 2,700, an increase of INR 100 from the CAT 2025 fee of INR 2,600. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates, the fee was INR 1,350, up by INR 50 from INR 1,300 in 2025.

Further reading

• IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2026-28 admission policy revised: CAT cutoffs up for general category
• CAT 2026: Download admit card Nov 4; exam is Nov 29
• CAT result: date and how to check Next step
• MMS 2026: Apply for admission with CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT/ATMA/MAH-CET scores
• SNAP 2026 exam dates announced: register by 25 November for MBA admissions Applications open
• CAT: complete exam guide

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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