{"id":1398,"date":"2026-08-12T07:08:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woxsen.edu.in\/blog\/?p=1398"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:40:17","slug":"cat-2026-registration-complete-guide-to-dates-eligibility-mba-admissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woxsen.edu.in\/blog\/cat-2026-registration-complete-guide-to-dates-eligibility-mba-admissions\/","title":{"rendered":"CAT 2026 Registration: Complete Guide to Dates, Eligibility & MBA Admissions"},"content":{"rendered":"

CAT 2026 registration begins August 3, and the countdown to India’s biggest management entrance test has officially started. Every year, lakhs of graduates chase a seat in a top <\/span>MBA<\/b> programme<\/span><\/a>, and this window decides who gets that shot. Whether you are a final-year student or a working professional, the <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b> for the 2027-29 batch hinges on how well you plan the next few months.<\/span><\/p>\n

This guide breaks down the official CAT 2026 registration dates, portal link, eligibility rules, exam pattern, and the exact colleges you should shortlist, including IIMs and Hyderabad’s strongest private business schools. Read on before the clock runs out.<\/span><\/p>\n

CAT 2026 Registration: Dates, Portal & Fees<\/b><\/h2>\n

IIM Indore, the conducting institute for this cycle, has confirmed that <\/span>CAT 2026 registration begins on August 3<\/span><\/a>, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The application window stays open on the official portal, <\/span>iimcat.ac.in<\/b>, until September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, candidates serious about the <\/span>MBA<\/b> application cycle<\/span><\/a> should not wait for the final week; early submission also improves the odds of securing a preferred test city among the 170-plus locations on offer.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>The registration fee for CAT 2026<\/span><\/a> is Rs. 2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates, and Rs. 1,350 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. This fee is non-refundable, so applicants must confirm their eligibility before starting the <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b> and paying online. Additionally, candidates can pay through credit card, debit card, net banking, or digital wallets such as Paytm and PayU.<\/span>
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\n<\/span> Once the fee clears, the acknowledgment slip becomes proof of a completed application; it also becomes essential later in the admission cycle, particularly during document verification at the shortlisted institute.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consequently, candidates must retain both the payment receipt and a printed copy of the submitted form. Notably, every step within this cycle, from registration to result declaration, feeds directly into the broader MBA journey that institutes follow after CAT scores are released, so treat this window with the seriousness it deserves.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Furthermore, candidates should register using a personal, regularly checked email address rather than a shared or college-issued one. IIM Indore sends all critical communication, admit card links, correction window alerts, and result notifications exclusively to the registered email ID. A missed notification at any of these stages can quietly derail an otherwise <\/span>well-planned <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b><\/a>, so double-check contact details before final submission.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step-by-Step MBA Admission Process: How to Register for CAT 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

Filling the CAT form correctly the first time saves candidates from avoidable rejection later in the <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b><\/a>. Here is the exact registration walkthrough for CAT 2026:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Visit the official portal at iimcat.ac.in and locate the New Registration tab.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Enter your name, date of birth, nationality, mobile number, and email ID, then generate an OTP to verify these details.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Log in using the credentials sent to your registered email and begin the CAT 2026 application form.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Fill in personal details: father’s name, category, gender, communication address, and contact information.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Enter academic details, including Class 10, Class 12, and graduation marks, along with postgraduate or professional qualifications if applicable.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Upload a recent passport-size photograph (1200×1200 px, under 80 KB) and a scanned signature (80mm x 35mm, under 80 KB), both in JPG or JPEG format.<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Select up to five preferred test cities in order of priority, along with your target IIMs and programme choices.<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Upload category, EWS, or PwD certificates, self-attested, in PDF format, wherever applicable.<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Pay the registration fee online and download the acknowledgment slip for your records.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Notably, the form cannot be edited once submitted, so review every field carefully before the final Submit click. Moreover, the correction window, expected to open in late September, allows changes only to the photograph, signature, or city preference; academic and personal details remain locked.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As a result, accuracy at the first attempt matters far more than speed at <\/span>every stage of the <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b><\/a>. Keep your documents ready in advance: mark-sheets, a valid photo ID, and category certificates, so that the entire form takes under thirty minutes to complete.<\/span>
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    \n<\/span> Additionally, candidates applying to multiple IIMs and affiliated institutes through the same CAT score should list all target programmes during this step itself. Adding programmes later, after the correction window closes, is generally not permitted.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Therefore, research your shortlist before you sit down to register, rather than treating the college-selection step as an afterthought within the <\/span>broader <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Before starting the <\/span>MBA admission process<\/b>, candidates must confirm they meet the baseline eligibility for CAT 2026. The criteria remain largely unchanged from previous years, but every clause matters:<\/span><\/p>\n