CAT 2026: Download admit card Nov 4; exam is Nov 29

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, the conducting body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, has reported approximately 2.84 lakh registrations for the upcoming examination. This figure represents a 3.7% decline compared to the 2.95 lakh registrations recorded for CAT 2025. The CAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026, across three distinct slots.

It is estimated that between 2.48 lakh and 2.53 lakh candidates will appear for CAT 2026, a projection based on past attendance rates that typically range from 87% to 89%. The examination serves as a gateway for admission to flagship management programmes offered by the 22 IIMs and various other B-schools across India, with a projected intake of over 8,200 seats for the 2027-29 batch in the IIMs alone.

Registration and Attendance Trends

The number of candidates who registered for CAT 2026 stands at 2.84 lakh, a decrease from 2.95 lakh in 2025 and 3.29 lakh in 2024. This trend is also reflected in the CAT IDs generated, with 3.27 lakh IDs for 2026, down 4.4% from 3.42 lakh in 2025. Historically, the number of candidates who appear for the CAT exam is lower than the registration figure.

For CAT 2025, 2.58 lakh candidates appeared out of 2.95 lakh registered candidates, while in CAT 2024, 2.93 lakh candidates appeared from 3.29 lakh registered eligible candidates. The estimated attendance for CAT 2026 suggests a continuation of this pattern. Factors such as application cost, demand for MBA programmes, availability of other entrance exams, academic readiness, work experience, and perceived competition can influence registration figures and actual attendance.

Key Dates and Examination Details

The CAT 2026 registration window closed on September 22, 2026, following its opening on August 3, 2026. An edit window for registered candidates was available from October 5, 2026, to October 6, 2026. Candidates are advised to check the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, for updates regarding the admit card and exam instructions.

The admit cards for CAT 2026 will be issued on November 4, 2026. The examination itself will be conducted on November 29, 2026, across three slots. The registration fee for CAT 2026 was Rs. 2700 for all categories, with a reduced fee of Rs. 1350 for SC, ST, and PWD candidates. The results for CAT 2026 are anticipated in the first week of January 2027.

Further reading

• IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2026-28 admission policy revised: CAT cutoffs up for general category
• DSU 2027: Apply for UG/PG with JEE Main, CAT, COMEDK UGET scores
• Common Admission Test result: date and how to check Next step
• MMS 2026: Apply for admission with CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT/ATMA/MAH-CET scores
• SP Jain MBA admission 2027 applications open: register by November 27 Applications open
• Common Admission Test: 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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