CAT 2026 Registration Ends September 15: Last Date, Exam Date, Fee and How to Apply at iimcat.ac.in

Time is running out for MBA aspirants. The CAT 2026 registration window closes on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM, and applications will not be accepted after the deadline. The Common Admission Test is being conducted this year by IIM Indore, which will hold the exam on November 29, 2026. Candidates who have not yet applied should complete the process on the official portal, iimcat.ac.in, without waiting for the last day.

CAT 2026 key dates

• Notification released: July 26, 2026

• Registration opened: August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM)

• Registration last date: September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM)

• Correction window: expected in the first week of October 2026

• Admit card: expected in early November 2026 (reported around November 4)

• CAT 2026 exam: November 29, 2026 (Sunday)

• Result: expected in late December 2026

The deadline: what "registration complete" actually means

The September 15, 5:00 PM cutoff is the single most important date right now. A crucial point many candidates miss: registration is complete only once you have filled every section of the application form and paid the fee — not when you merely create your login credentials. An incomplete, unpaid form is treated as no registration at all, even if you started it back in August. Once the portal closes at 5:00 PM on September 15, no new registrations or fee payments will be accepted.

Will the CAT 2026 last date be extended?

As of now, IIM Indore has not announced any extension. In some past cycles the registration window was extended by about a week, but there is no guarantee of that this year, and there is typically no late-fee or manual submission route for those who miss the deadline. Candidates should treat September 15 as final and apply before it.

CAT 2026 application fee

The application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates, and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD (PwBD) candidates — an increase of ₹100 over last year. The fee is paid online during the application process.

CAT 2026 eligibility

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to register and apply.

CAT 2026 exam pattern and cities

The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted in computer-based (CBT) mode on November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities. While filling the form, candidates select their preferred test cities, and the final exam city is allotted based on seat availability, so listing genuine preferences matters.

How to register for CAT 2026

1. Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in.

2. Select "New Candidate Registration" on the CAT 2026 homepage.

3. Enter your details, including name, date of birth, country and email address.

4. Click "Generate OTP" and complete the verification.

5. Log in to the candidate portal and fill in the full application form.

6. Upload the required information/documents and pay the fee through an available online method.

7. Submit the form and save the confirmation page for reference.

CAT 2026 correction window

After registration closes, IIM Indore is expected to provide a limited application correction window for candidates who registered and paid the fee — likely in the first week of October, and typically active for three to four days. It allows eligible applicants to modify selected details such as photograph, signature and test-city preferences. This facility will not be available to those who fail to complete registration and payment by the deadline.

Where is the CAT score accepted?

CAT is India's most competitive MBA entrance exam. The score is accepted by the IIMs and more than 1,000 other management institutes and B-schools across the country for MBA and PGDM admissions, which is why the September 15 deadline is critical for anyone targeting a management seat in the upcoming cycle.

What happens after registration

Once registration closes and the correction window is done, IIM Indore will release the admit card (expected in early November), followed by the exam on November 29 and results expected in late December. Candidates should keep checking the official CAT website for updates on exam centres, admit cards and session timings.