CAT 2026 Notification Is Out: One Change That Can Cost You

The CAT 2026 notification is out. IIM Indore published it on 25 July 2026, registration opens on 3 August and the exam is on Sunday, 29 November 2026. If you remember only two dates, make them these: apply from 3 August and finish before the window shuts on 15 September.

Everything that was a guess last week is now official. Below is the full timeline, the fee (it went up again) and what changed from last year.

CAT 2026 at a Glance

The CAT 2026 dates that matter

Registration runs from 3 August to 15 September 2026 and the exam is on 29 November. The form opens at 10 in the morning on 3 August and closes at 5 in the evening on 15 September.

That is about six weeks. It sounds like plenty. It never is, because the site crawls in the final 48 hours every single year while a few lakh people upload photos at once.

Here is the full cycle now that it is confirmed.

On exam day CAT runs in three slots, roughly 8:30 in the morning, 12:30 in the afternoon and 4:30 in the evening. You do not pick your slot. Scores are normalised across all three, so a tougher paper in one slot does not hurt you.

What changed from CAT 2025

The biggest change is the fee. It is up by Rs 100 for general candidates and Rs 50 for reserved, the second year in a row it has risen by that much.

CAT 2026 costs Rs 2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. It is Rs 1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Last year those numbers were Rs 2,600 and Rs 1,300. Small on its own. Worth knowing before you reach the payment page.

Three more shifts are easy to miss.

IIM Indore is back in charge

IIM Indore conducts CAT 2026. The last time it ran the exam was 2020, the COVID year that cut the paper to two hours and 40 minutes a section. That format stuck. Indore knows this compressed test well, so do not expect it to loosen.

Your NC-OBC certificate has a cutoff date

If you are applying under NC-OBC, your certificate has to be issued on or after 1 April 2026. An older one will not be accepted. Start a fresh one now, because government offices are slow and the form closes 15 September.

170 cities, five choices

You pick five preferred test cities in the form, from about 170 on the list. Allocation depends on demand, so put your real first choice first and keep the rest realistic.

CAT 2026 exam pattern (unchanged)

The pattern is the same as last year. Two hours, three sections, 68 questions, no surprises.

You get 40 minutes per section and the sections come in a fixed order: VARC, then DILR, then QA. You cannot move between them or go back.

Marking is +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ. The typing-based questions (TITA) carry no negative marking, so never leave one blank.

Who can apply

Any graduate with 50% marks can apply, 45% if you are from a reserved category. Final-year students can apply too, so you do not need your degree in hand. Professional qualifications like CA, CS and CMA count as well. There is no age limit and no cap on the number of attempts.

What to do this week

You cannot fill the form until 3 August, so use the next few days to get ready.

Keep a passport photo and a signature scan sized to the form rules. Have your degree marks and a photo ID handy. Decide your five cities. If you are NC-OBC, start the certificate now.

The dates do not change your prep by a single hour. What changes your November is whether you started in July or kept waiting for a notification that only ever confirms what you already knew.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the CAT 2026 exam?

Sunday, 29 November 2026, in three slots across the day. IIM Indore is conducting it.

When does CAT 2026 registration open and close?

It opens on 3 August 2026 at 10 AM and closes on 15 September 2026 at 5 PM. You apply online at iimcat.ac.in.

What is the CAT 2026 application fee?

Rs 2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. Rs 1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. That is Rs 100 and Rs 50 more than last year.

Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026?

IIM Indore. A different IIM runs the exam each year. IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025.

What is the CAT 2026 exam pattern?

Two hours, three sections in a fixed order: VARC (24 questions), DILR (22) and QA (22), for 68 questions total. Scoring is +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ, with no negative marking on TITA.

Am I eligible for CAT 2026?

If you have a bachelor degree with 50% marks, or 45% for reserved categories, yes. Final-year students and professionals like CAs can apply too. There is no age limit.