CAT 2026 new registrations closed; fee payment deadline extended to 24 September

IIM Indore, the convening institute for CAT 2026, announced on September 23, 2026, that new registrations for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 have officially closed. However, the deadline for fee payment has been extended until September 24, 2026, 5:00 PM, specifically for candidates who had completed their registration process by the previous deadline of September 22, 2026, 5:00 PM.

This extension aims to accommodate candidates who may have faced issues completing their fee payment due to technical glitches, heavy last-minute website traffic, or bank server errors. The move provides a two-day window for already registered applicants to finalise their application by paying the requisite fee online via the official website, iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2026 Registration and Fee Payment Deadlines

The registration window for CAT 2026, which commenced on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, saw an initial deadline of September 15, 2026. This deadline was previously extended once to September 22, 2026, 5:00 PM. IIM Indore has confirmed that no late-fee registration facility will be provided.

The application fee for CAT 2026 is ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC category candidates, while SC, ST, and PwD category candidates are required to pay ₹1,350. Payments must be made online using debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI. As of September 15, 2026, over 2.84 lakh candidates had registered for CAT 2026, with anticipated total registrations to cross 3 to 3.30 lakh, potentially marking the highest number in CAT’s history since 1977.

Upcoming Dates for CAT 2026 Applicants

Following the closure of registrations and the extended fee payment window, IIM Indore is set to release CAT 2026 admit cards on November 4, 2026. The Common Admission Test 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, a Sunday, and will be conducted in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities in India. The exam will be a Computer-Based Test (CBT) with a duration of two hours.

A form correction window is tentatively expected in the first week of October 2026. During this period, candidates will be permitted to modify specific elements of their application, including uploaded photographs, signatures, and test city preferences. Candidates can choose a maximum of five test cities on the CAT registration form. The CAT 2026 result is anticipated in the first week of January 2027.

Further reading

• IIM CAT 2026 Registration Closes Tomorrow, September 15; Admit Cards on November 4 at iimcat.ac.in
• CAT 2026 fee payment deadline extended to 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
• Apply for 2026 MBA in Sri Muktsar Sahib; fees start at ₹1.20 lakh for 2-year programs 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.

View all posts →