CAT Registration 2026: Expected Date, Detailed Steps, Past-Trends & More

The CAT registration process is one of the important steps which need to complete by the students who are appearing for the upcoming CAT 2026 examination. Last year, approximately, 2.95 lakh students successfully registered for the exam, and out of which 2.58 lakh candidates actually appeared for it. The CAT registration process is the initial stage for the aspirants to sit for the exam. Talking about the CAT 2026, the registration is expected to begin in the first week of August 2026 and ends around September 2026 with the exam date expected to be 29 November 2026.

Candidates will get the notification on the official website or through advertisement for filling the CAT 2026 application form. The steps are quite easy to complete the whole registration process which we will be discussing further in a blog. If you miss the deadline for filling the application form, then you are not eligible to sit for the CAT exam conducted by one of the old IIMs every year on a rotational basis. You will be covering all the latest updates related to the CAT registration in this blog.

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CAT Registration 2026 (Latest Update)

1. The CAT 2026 registration is expected to begin in the first week of August 2026, and the exam date is expected to be 29 November 2026.
2. The CAT registration covers following fields such as personal details, academics, work experience, programmes, test city and more.
3. The CAT 2026 registration start date will expected to be announced with the official notification by IIM Indore.
4. The last date for filling the CAT registration form will expected to be September 2026.
5. It is expected that the CAT 2026 exam will be conducted by Indian Institute of Management Indore.

CAT Registration 2026: Important Dates

Candidates should stay updated with the CAT registration dates. This helps them avoid missing any deadlines. The CAT 2026 registration form is expected to be released in the first week of August 2026. Check the table specified below for the future perspectives:

Events	Dates (Tentative)
CAT Notification 2026 Release Date	July 2026
CAT Registration 2026 Start Date	First Week of August 2026
CAT Registration Last Date	September 2026
CAT Admit Card 2026	November 2026
CAT Exam Date 2026	November 2026
CAT Result 2026	December 2026

CAT Registration Requirements

1. Candidates should keep certain things in mind before they start registering for CAT. This helps them avoid a last-minute rush and ensure a hassle-free application process. Below are the CAT registration requirements for reference purposes.
2. Check the CAT eligibility criteria to determine whether you are qualified for the exam.
3. You must have a valid and unique email address and mobile number. Keep this email address and mobile number until the CAT admission process is over. All official communications will be done using this email ID and mobile number only.
4. “*” (asterisk) indicates a mandatory field. The fields marked with this symbol must be filled in, or you will not be permitted to submit your CAT application form. 
5. Scanned images of a passport-sized photo and signature are needed for uploading. The photo should not be more than six months old and should have a white background.

CAT 2026 Notification Release Date

The CAT 2026 notification is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026. It comprises details like eligibility, registration fees, reservation, application dates, etc. Candidates should carefully review the CAT notification 2026. It helps them understand the CAT registration requirements and apply accordingly. The CAT 2026 notification download link will be active soon. 

CAT Registration 2026 Start Date

The CAT exam registration 2026 start date is expected to be in the first week of August. The application form covers various stages such as personal details, academics, work experience, programs, and test city. Although, the detailed information about “how to fill the CAT 2026 registration form” is mentioned in the below section(s).

CAT Registration 2026 End Date

The CAT 2026 registration end date is not yet announced by the exam authority. Although as per the past year trend analysis, it is expected that the deadline for the CAT exam registration will be in the month of September 2026. But it is advised to the candidates that they follow the latest updates so that you will not miss any important updates.

CAT Registration Process: Detailed Step-by-Step Breakdown

The complete CAT registration process will be done by following the detailed steps mentioned below.

CAT 2026 Registration for User ID & Password

Once the official notification will be out for the CAT exam registration, the candidates should follow this first step to start filling the form. This step covers the registration for generating the User ID and Password. On the official website (iimcat.ac.in), the aspirant first have to click on the “Register” button appears on the window for the new candidate registration.

Generating the User ID & Password for New User Registration covers fields such as Name of Candidate, Date of Birth, Email Address (then candidate have to confirm its email again for the authentication process), select country, mobile number (you have to again confirm the mobile number for the authentication process and then select confirm. Candidates will get the respective User ID and password on the mail which they’ve entered during the CAT registration. Along with mail, candidates will get the login details as an SMS too.

Following are the specifications for using browsers:
1. Microsoft Edge (version 114 to 137)
2. Mozilla Firefox (version 122 to 141)
3. Google Chrome (version 114 to 138)

CAT Registration: Login To Official CAT 2026 Website

Candidates now have to click on the “Login” button for the registered candidate login and enter the generated USER ID and Password. Once filled the captcha, now you have to click the login button for successfully entering in the application form.

CAT Registration 2026: Fill Application Form

This step is a little time-taken and crucial step too. It is indispensable for the candidates that they should keep the important document ready while sitting for filling the CAT registration form along with a stable internet connection. After successfully logged in to the form candidates have to proceed with these important fields respectively.

1. Personal Details
2. Academics
3. Work Experience
4. Programmes
5. Test City
6. Declaration

Personal Details

1. When you start filling out the CAT registration form, the very first field you find is of personal details, where the candidate’s name and date of birth are both fields automatically filled based on the information you provided at the time of registering your profile.
2. In a personal details field, you have to enter information such as Candidate First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Father’s/Guardian’s Name, Mother’s/Guardian’s Name, Spouse’s Name, Gender, Nationality, Category, Certificate Issue Date, Certificate Serial/Entry Number, etc.
3. It is important to scan PDF documents as per the standards and need to upload valid NC-OBC/EWS/SC/ST category certificates. So get these documents ready in advance before starting to fill out the CAT registration 2026 form.
4. In case if you belongs to the PwD (Person with Disability) category, then you have to additionally select this field and enter more details such as “Disability Measure” in the format of Yes/No. “Percentage of Disability“, “PwD UDID Number“, “PwD category”, “Wheelchair support“, and “Scribe Requirement“.

The rest of all the important fields are specified to fill in the personal detail section of the CAT registration form.

Step

Fields

Personal Details

Candidate First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Father’s/Guardian’s Name, Mother’s/Guardian’s Name, Spouse’s Name, Gender, Nationality, Category, Certificate Issue Date, Certificate Serial/Entry Number, State/UT of Caste/Tribe, Caste/Tribe Name, PwD Status, Disability Measurable, Percentage of Disability, PwD UDID Number, PwD Category, Wheelchair Support, Scribe Requirement, Present Address, Permanent Address, Alternate Email Address, Emergency Mobile Number, Emergency Contact Name, Emergency Contact Relationship, Emergency Contact Mobile Number, Emergency Contact Address, Passport Size Photograph Upload, Signature Upload, EWS Certificate Upload, NC-OBC Certificate Upload, SC/ST Certificate Upload, PwD Certificate Upload

Academics

1. For class 10th/12th marks, candidates have to total all the marks appearing in the grade sheet/mark sheet, specifying the converted CGPA/percentage marks up to 2 decimal places. In case you have completed your 10th/12th examination but are awaiting the result or have been promoted without marks, then in that case you can mark “Promotion/Pass without marks.” in CAT registration form.
2. Enter the basic details about the currently pursuing or passed bachelor’s degree. In case you are in the final year of your bachelor’s programme, you have to enter details such as the current year and semester of education. Need to enter the aggregate percentage/marks you have obtained till date with accuracy. And the same information goes with the master’s degree (if applicable).
3. In case you obtained any professional degree such as FIAI, CA, ICWA (CMA), CS, etc., you have to select the same.

Work Experience

1. If you are a candidate with work experience, then you have to fill in the relevant details till 31 July 2026.
2. Conditions for filling the work experience in CAT registration form are
   a) Only full-time work experience after graduation should be entered.
   b) If you have done projects/articleships/internships, then they are not finally considered your work experience.

Programmes

Candidates have to carefully select the IIM programs with the respective interview cities according to the flexibility.

Test City & Declaration

Candidates can select up to 5 preferred city test centers. And at last, candidates should pay the respective CAT registration form and submit it.

CAT Registration: Complete Information To Fill Under Each Step

Step	Fields
Personal Details	Candidate First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Father’s/Guardian’s Name, Mother’s/Guardian’s Name, Spouse’s Name, Gender, Nationality, Category, Certificate Issue Date, Certificate Serial/Entry Number, State/UT of Caste/Tribe, Caste/Tribe Name, PwD Status, Disability Measurable, Percentage of Disability, PwD UDID Number, PwD Category, Wheelchair Support, Scribe Requirement, Present Address, Permanent Address, Alternate Email Address, Emergency Mobile Number, Emergency Contact Name, Emergency Contact Relationship, Emergency Contact Mobile Number, Emergency Contact Address, Passport Size Photograph Upload, Signature Upload, EWS Certificate Upload, NC-OBC Certificate Upload, SC/ST Certificate Upload, PwD Certificate Upload
Academics	10th Board Name, 10th School Name, 10th Year of Passing, 10th Marks/CGPA, 10th Aggregate Percentage, 10th Promotion/Pass Without Marks, 12th/Diploma Course Type, 12th Board/University, 12th Institution Name, 12th Stream, 12th Year of Passing, 12th Marks/CGPA, 12th Aggregate Percentage, 12th Promotion/Pass Without Marks, First Bachelor’s Degree Name, Discipline/Specialization, University/Institute Name, Year of Joining, Year of Completion, Final Year Status, Current Year, Current Semester, Aggregate Percentage, Promotion/Pass Without Marks, Second Bachelor’s Degree Details (if applicable), Master’s Degree Details (if applicable), Professional Degree Type, Completion Status, Year of Completion, Aggregate Percentage
Work Experience	Work Experience Status, Total Full-Time Work Experience, Break in Experience (Days)
Programmes	Programme Selection, Interview City for Each Selected Programme
Test City	Test City Preference 1, Test City Preference 2, Test City Preference 3, Test City Preference 4, Test City Preference 5
Declaration & Payment	Application Preview Confirmation, Declaration Acceptance, CAPTCHA, Payment Mode, Payment Details, Payment Transaction Number

Who can Fill CAT 2026 Registration Form?

Candidates should ensure they fulfil all the eligibility criteria before filling out the CAT registration form. If they are found ineligible, their CAT application form may be rejected. To be eligible, a candidate must have completed graduation with the minimum required marks. We have discussed below the CAT eligibility criteria 2026 for reference purposes:

• Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories) from any recognised University.
• Candidates appearing for the final year of their degree or those who are awaiting results can also apply. 
• Applicants should fulfill any one of the following conditions: 

a) Completed Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks. 

b) Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with required percentage. 

c) Should be in the final year of a bachelor’s degree with the required percentage. 

Note: SC/ST/PwD candidates should have a minimum 45%. For General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates, the minimum is 50%.

CAT 2026 Registration Link

The CAT 2026 registration link will be active soon. Candidates should register for CAT 2026 within the deadline. They should try to complete the process early to avoid last-minute hassles. The CAT application form 2026 is expected to be out in the 1st week of August 2026. Candidates are advised to check the official website for the accurate details.

What is CAT Registration Fees?

The CAT registration fees will be announced along with the information bulletin. Based on last year’s data, it is expected that the CAT registration fees 2026 will be Rs 1300 for SC, ST and PwD candidates and Rs 2600 for all other candidates. Fees once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances.

Mistakes To Avoid During CAT Registration

There are a few pointers which candidates should keep in mind while filling the CAT 2026 registration form.

1. Check Internet Connection Properly: Internet connectivity should be stable while filling out the CAT registration form so that you will not get stuck anywhere.
2. Fill Personal Information Correctly: Candidates should fill in the personal information, such as name, category, mobile number, and other details properly.
3. Cross-Check Information Before Submission: Candidates should check all the fields of personal details, academics, work experience, programmes, test city and more before final submission of a CAT registration form.
4. Download Payment Receipt for Future Reference: If you are doing the payment process after checking all the information and if it gets stuck, then wait for some time before going back to the page. And if it is successfully processed, then download the payment receipt for future considerations.

Documents Required During CAT Registration

Candidates should upload the necessary documents based on these specifications.

1. Passport-Size Photograph & Signature: Upload the scanned copy of your passport-sized photograph in dimensions of 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels. In addition to this, you should also upload the scanned image of your signature in dimensions of 80mm x 35mm. The document file format for both these scans should be .jpg or .jpeg and the maximum file size for each of these documents should not exceed 80 KB.
2. Valid EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate: Need the certification in a PDF format to upload here.
3. Valid PwD Certificate: Need the certification in a PDF format to upload here.

CAT Registration Trends Over Years

Candidates should check the CAT registration trends over the years. It helps them understand the competition level and plan their preparation better. In CAT 2025, 2.95 lakh candidates registered, and 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. Below are the CAT registration trends over the years for reference purposes.

Year	Number of Candidates Registered	Number of Candidates Appeared (Test Takers)
2010	2,04,000	1,85,000
2011	2,05,000	1,86,000
2012	2,14,000	1,95,000
2013	1,94,516	1,73,714
2014	1,96,988	1,70,000
2015	2,18,664	1,79,602
2016	2,32,434	1,95,679
2017	2,31,067	1,99,632
2018	2,40,338	2,09,405
2019	2,44,169	2,09,926
2020	2,27,835	1,90,144
2021	2,29,969	1,91,660
2022	2,55,501	2,22,184
2023	3,23,000	2,88,000
2024	3,29,000	2,93,000
2025	2.95 lakh	2.58 lakh

CAT Registration: Conclusion

CAT exam registration is expected to begin in the first week of August and students can get the related CAT 2026 exam details in the last week of July through exam notification which will be released by Indian Institute of Management. It is crucial for the aspirants that they should fill the CAT registration form before the deadline so that they cannot miss to sit for the prestigious management examination.

Keep waiting for the last date of CAT registration to fill the form may lead to technical issues. CAT 2026 form covers various fields and it is lengthy to complete, so it is advised to fill out the CAT registration on time whenever released.

CAT Registration FAQs