Don’t Miss the CAT 2026 Edit Window Dates: 5 to 6 October, 3 Fields
By Shweta Arora · Published 4 October 2026 · 6 min read · Common Admission Test
The CAT 2026 website has an important update on the official website about the edit window.
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he CAT 2026 edit window opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, 5 October 2026 and closes at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Only three fields can be changed: the photograph, the signature and the test state and city preferences. The window is open only to candidates who registered and paid the fee. The dates come from the official CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026.
The window lasts 31 hours and the release says plainly that no further extension will be granted. It is also the last point at which a candidate has any say over the test city. After it closes, one city is allotted from the preferences on file and that allotment cannot be changed. The photograph and signature uploaded now are the ones the admit card will carry on 29 November.
CAT 2026 edit window at a glance
Detail | Value |
|---|---|
Opens | 10:00 AM, Monday, 5 October 2026 |
Closes | 5:00 PM, Tuesday, 6 October 2026 |
Editable fields | Photograph, signature, test state and city preferences |
Who can use it | Candidates who registered for CAT 2026 and paid the fee |
Further extension | None. The release states no extension beyond the deadline |
Registration status | Closed. It ended at 5:00 PM on 22 September 2026 |
Announced in | CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026 |
Admit card download | From Wednesday, 4 November 2026 |
Test day | Sunday, 29 November 2026 |
Official site |
Source: CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026, iimcat.ac.in. Admit card and test dates from the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin.
What can you change in the CAT 2026 edit window?
Three things. Nothing else. The release lists them as the photograph, the signature and the test state and city preferences.
Field | What the edit allows | When it is worth changing |
|---|---|---|
Photograph | Replace the uploaded photo | It is blurred, cropped, outdated or does not look like you today |
Signature | Replace the uploaded signature | It is faint, cut off or differs from how you sign your ID |
Test state and city preferences | Change or reorder your choices | Your plans for 29 November have changed since you registered |
Source: CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026.
A change is optional. If all three fields are already correct, there is nothing to do in this window. Logging in to check costs two minutes and is still worth it.
What stays locked after registration?
Every other field on the form. The edit window does not reopen any of these:
- Name, date of birth and gender
- Email address and mobile number
- Academic details and percentages
- Programme choices across the IIMs
For an error in one of these, the edit window is the wrong tool. Raise a ticket on the Grievance Portal inside the registered candidate login on iimcat.ac.in, or call the toll-free helpline on 1800 210 0175. A ticket is a request, not a guaranteed fix, so keep the ticket number.
Who can use the CAT 2026 edit window?
Only candidates who completed registration and paid the fee. The release names both conditions. A form that was saved but never paid for is not a registration, so it does not qualify.
Registration itself closed at 5:00 PM on 22 September 2026, after the one extension from 15 September. The edit window does not reopen it. A candidate who missed that deadline cannot register through this window.
How to make a change in the edit window
- Open iimcat.ac.in directly. Do not use a forwarded link.
- Log in through the registered candidate login with the user ID and password from registration.
- Open the application and go to the field you want to change.
- Upload the new photograph or signature, or update the test state and city preferences.
- Preview the form and confirm that the change shows correctly.
- Save the confirmation page or take a screenshot of the updated form.
Prepare any new image before the window opens. The size and format limits are shown on the upload screen and in the registration guide on iimcat.ac.in. Check them against the file before uploading.
Should you change your test city?
Only if your situation has changed. Candidates pick five preferred cities from around 170. After the window, one city is allotted from that list, or a nearby city if none of the five is available. Once allotted, it cannot be changed.
The test is on a Sunday. List cities you can reach on the morning of 29 November without an overnight journey. Order them in the sequence you would really travel to them, since the order is your preference.
Should you replace your photograph?
Replace it if it would fail an identity check. A blurred face, a heavy shadow or a photo several years old can cause trouble at the centre, where the admit card is matched against your photo ID. A photo that is clear but unflattering is fine. The check is identity, not appearance.
Why not leave it to 6 October?
The last hours of every CAT deadline bring the same rush. The site slows, uploads time out and the help desk lines fill. The 22 September registration close followed that pattern. This window is far shorter.
Making the change on Monday, 5 October leaves a full working day to fix a failed upload. The toll-free helpline on 1800 210 0175 runs Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, so it is open on both days of the window.
What comes after the edit window?
The admit card is the next official step. It can be downloaded from Wednesday, 4 November 2026. It will show the allotted test city along with the photograph and signature on file. The test follows on Sunday, 29 November 2026.
That leaves 55 days from the day the window opens. With the form settled, the remaining weeks belong to timed practice. Free CAT mock tests are at /resources/mocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the CAT 2026 edit window?
From 10:00 AM on Monday, 5 October 2026 to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The dates were announced in the CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026. The release states that no extension will be granted beyond the deadline.
What can be edited in the CAT 2026 application form?
Only the photograph, the signature and the test state and city preferences. Name, date of birth, category, contact details, academic details and programme choices stay locked after registration.
Can I register for CAT 2026 during the edit window?
No. Registration closed at 5:00 PM on 22 September 2026. The edit window is open only to candidates who had already registered and paid the fee.
Can I change my CAT 2026 test centre after the edit window?
No. One city is allotted from your preferences after the window closes. The allotment cannot be changed. The edit window is the last chance to update your test state and city choices.
Will the CAT 2026 edit window be extended?
The release says no further extension will be granted. The window closes at 5:00 PM on 6 October 2026.
Who do I contact if my upload fails?
Call the toll-free helpline on 1800 210 0175, open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or raise a ticket on the Grievance Portal inside the candidate login on iimcat.ac.in. Do it while the window is still open.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the CAT 2026 edit window?
From 10:00 AM on Monday, 5 October 2026 to 5:00 PM on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. The dates were announced in the CAT 2026 media release dated 29 September 2026. The release states that no extension will be granted beyond the deadline.
What can be edited in the CAT 2026 application form?
Only the photograph, the signature and the test state and city preferences. Name, date of birth, category, contact details, academic details and programme choices stay locked after registration.
Can I register for CAT 2026 during the edit window?
No. Registration closed at 5:00 PM on 22 September 2026. The edit window is open only to candidates who had already registered and paid the fee.
Can I change my CAT 2026 test centre after the edit window?
No. One city is allotted from your preferences after the window closes. The allotment cannot be changed. The edit window is the last chance to update your test state and city choices.
Will the CAT 2026 edit window be extended?
The release says no further extension will be granted. The window closes at 5:00 PM on 6 October 2026.
Who do I contact if my upload fails?
Call the toll-free helpline on 1800 210 0175, open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or raise a ticket on the Grievance Portal inside the candidate login on iimcat.ac.in. Do it while the window is still open.