IIM CAT 2026 Notification: Common Admission Test Form PDF, Dates & EligibilityDescription : Indian Institute of Management (IIM Indore) has released the official IIM CAT 2026 Notification and Information Bulletin for the Common Admission Test (CAT 2026) for admission into postgraduate and fellow management programmes across 21+ IIMs and leading business schools nationwide. Candidates interested in the IIM CAT 2026 Notification can submit their online registration through the official portal at iimcat.ac.in from 03 August 2026 to 15 September 2026. Review complete test schedules, revised application fee slabs, eligibility norms, and direct links below. |
INDIAN INSTITUTES OF MANAGEMENT (IIMS)IIM CAT 2026 Notification : Key Summary |
The organizing institute has announced the official national calendar under the IIM CAT 2026 Notification covering online form registration, hall ticket release dates, and multi-session computer-based test timings.
| Examination & Registration Schedule | |
| Admission Event | Official Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| Official Notification & Bulletin Release | 26 July 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 03 August 2026 (10:00 AM) |
| Last Date for Online Registration | 15 September 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Application Correction Window | Late September 2026 |
| Admit Card Download Availability | 04 November 2026 till Exam Date |
| Common Admission Test Exam Date | 29 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Test Sessions / Slot Timings | Slot 1: 08:30 AM – 10:30 AM Slot 2: 12:30 PM – 02:30 PM Slot 3: 04:30 PM – 06:30 PM |
| Declaration of Official Results | First Week of January 2027 |
| Scorecard Validity Period | Valid up to 31 December 2027 |
| Check iimcat.ac.in for recent updates regarding IIM CAT 2026 Notification. | |
The registration fee must be submitted online through the payment gateway using credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. The fee is paid once, irrespective of the number of IIMs and programmes selected.
| Application Fee Details | |
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / NC-OBC Candidates | Rs. 2,700/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD Candidates | Rs. 1,350/- |
| Payment Gateway Modes | Net Banking / Credit Card / Debit Card / UPI |
| Refund Policy | Strictly Non-Refundable |
Reservation allocations across all participating Indian Institutes of Management adhere strictly to statutory Central Government mandates as defined on the registration closing date.
| Reservation Matrix Across IIMs | |
| Reserved Category | Seat Proportion |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes (SC) | 15% of Sanctioned Seats |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST) | 7.5% of Sanctioned Seats |
| Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC Non-Creamy Layer) | 27% of Sanctioned Seats |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | Up to 10% of Sanctioned Seats |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 5% Horizontal Reservation |
Eligibility guidelines set forth in the IIM CAT 2026 Notification mandate minimum percentage requirements in bachelor’s degrees or equivalent professional qualifications.
| IIM CAT 2026 Notification: Academic Eligibility Criteria | |
| Eligibility Parameter | Prescribed Requirement |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Degree | Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates) from a recognized university. |
| Final Year Appearing Students | Candidates appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s degree or awaiting results are eligible to apply provisionally. |
| Professional Qualifications | Completed professional degrees such as CA, CS, ICWA (CMA), or Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) with required marks. |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit prescribed to register or appear for the exam. |
| Work Experience | Not mandatory for exam registration; however, considered during individual IIM shortlisting stages. |
The testing model published in the IIM CAT 2026 Notification is a 120-minute computer-based exam structured into three distinct timed sections.
| Common Admission Test (CAT) Examination Pattern | |
| Exam Component | Structure & Specifications |
|---|---|
| Testing Mode & Sessions | Computer-Based Test (CBT) conducted in 3 sessions across ~170 cities. |
| Test Duration | 120 Minutes (40 minutes per section; 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwBD). |
| Total Questions | 66 to 68 Questions (MCQs and TITA non-MCQ questions). |
| Section 1: VARC | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (40 Minutes). |
| Section 2: DILR | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (40 Minutes). |
| Section 3: QA | Quantitative Ability (40 Minutes). |
| Marking Scheme | +3 marks for correct answers; -1 mark for incorrect MCQs; No negative marking for TITA (non-MCQ) questions. |
Shortlisting for management admissions involves percentile cutoffs followed by institute-specific Written Ability Tests (WAT), Personal Interviews (PI), and academic profile evaluations.
| Selection Architecture & IIM CAT 2026 Notification Guidelines | |
| Process Component | Guidelines & Requirements |
|---|---|
| IIM Shortlisting | Independent shortlists announced by each IIM based on CAT percentiles, academic diversity, and gender diversity. |
| Second Stage Evaluation | Analytical Writing Test (AWT) / Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). |
| Mandatory Documents | Class 10th & 12th Marksheets, Degree Certificates, Category Certificate (issued on/after 01 April 2026 for NC-OBC/EWS), Valid Government Photo ID. |
| How to Apply Online for CAT 2026: | |
| Step 1: Portal Access | Visit the official website at iimcat.ac.in and select New Candidate Registration. |
| Step 2: Account Creation | Generate login credentials for the IIM CAT 2026 Notification application by entering your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number. |
| Step 3: Fill Details | Enter personal details, academic scores (10th, 12th, Graduation), work experience, and select IIM programmes. |
| Step 4: Uploads & Test Cities | Upload passport photograph with white background, signature, category documents, and choose up to 5 preferred test cities. |
| Step 5: Fee Payment | Pay the application fee online through net banking, debit/credit cards, or UPI and print the confirmation page. |
Direct access links to download the official Information Bulletin PDF, verify eligibility rules, and log into the online registration portal are compiled below.
| IMPORTANT USEFUL LINKS | |
| Download Information Bulletin (PDF) | Click Here |
| Download Eligibility Document (PDF) | Click Here |
| Advertisement English | Click Here |
| Advertisement Hindi | Click Here |
| Apply Online (Registration Portal) | Click Here |
| IIM CAT Official Website | Click Here |
| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
|
Q1. What is the application timeline announced under the IIM CAT 2026 Notification? Q2. What is the examination date for Common Admission Test 2026? Q3. Can final year undergraduate students register for CAT 2026? Q4. What is the category application fee for CAT 2026? |