CAT 2026: 2.84 Lakh Register, a 3.7% Dip; Exam on November 29, Admit Cards from November 4
Around 2.84 lakh candidates have signed up for CAT 2026, the entrance exam that decides who gets into India’s top MBA colleges. The registration window is now closed, and IIM Indore, which is conducting the exam this year, has shared the final count.
The number is 3.7% lower than last year. For CAT 2025, about 2.95 lakh candidates had registered. The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test in three sessions across roughly 170 cities in the country.
Registrations fall for the second year in a row
CAT registrations hit an all-time high of 3.29 lakh in 2024, when IIM Calcutta conducted the exam. Since then the number has come down in both 2025 and 2026. Even so, the count has stayed above two lakh for several years now.
Registration figures are not the same as the number of people who actually sit for the test. In past years, between 87% and 89% of registered candidates have appeared for the exam. By that trend, roughly 2.48 to 2.53 lakh candidates are expected to take CAT 2026. To put this in context, about 2.93 lakh of the 3.29 lakh registered candidates appeared in 2024, and 2.58 lakh appeared in 2025.
What the drop means for MBA aspirants
A smaller crowd does not mean an easier exam. The CAT score remains the main entry ticket to all 22 IIMs and more than 1,000 other business schools in India. Competition for the top IIMs stays intense no matter how the total count moves.
For students already registered, the message is simple. The exam pattern has not changed, and preparation matters more than registration trends. Those still deciding between exams may also look at other management entrances this season, such as the MAT September 2026 result announcements that follow a different admission cycle.
CAT 2026 exam day: what to expect
The exam will run in three shifts on November 29. It is a computer-based test, so candidates will sit at a computer in an assigned test centre. The total time is 120 minutes, with 40 minutes for each section, and candidates cannot move between sections during a shift.
The three sections are:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 40 minutes
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 40 minutes
- Quantitative Ability (QA) - 40 minutes
Test centres are spread across around 170 cities, and each candidate’s centre details will be printed on the admit card. Those who used the CAT 2026 correction window earlier this month to fix their photo, signature, or test city choices should check that their final details appear correctly on the admit card.
Admit cards from November 4: how to download
IIM Indore is expected to release the admit cards on November 4, 2026. No one will be allowed inside the exam hall without the admit card, so download it early and keep a printed copy ready.
Follow these steps when the link goes live:
- Go to the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
- Click the admit card download link on the homepage.
- Log in with your CAT 2026 user ID and password.
- Download the PDF and print it on A4 paper.
- Check your name, photo, exam date, shift, and test centre address on the printout.
The admit card is the one document you cannot afford to miss. Download it on the first day, and if any detail looks wrong, contact the CAT helpdesk right away.
What happens after the exam
CAT 2026 scores will be used for admission to the 2027-29 batch at the IIMs. Each IIM sets its own cut-offs and runs its own shortlisting process, which usually includes a written ability test, group discussion, and personal interview rounds.
The academic session for postgraduate management courses is expected to begin in the middle of 2027. Students should keep track of each institute’s admission announcements separately, because IIM Indore only conducts the exam. Selection criteria, including past academic records and work experience weightage, differ from one IIM to another.
Students following management entrance news should keep an eye on the MBA admissions section for updates on admit cards, results, and counselling rounds.
Key dates for CAT 2026
- Registration closed: window ended this month
- Admit card release: November 4, 2026, on the official portal
- Exam date: November 29, 2026, in three sessions
- Result: date to be announced by IIM Indore
Frequently asked questions
Q: When is the CAT 2026 exam? A: CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test in three sessions. IIM Indore is conducting the exam this year.
Q: How many candidates have registered for CAT 2026? A: Around 2.84 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2026, which is 3.7% less than the 2.95 lakh registrations in 2025.
Q: When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released? A: IIM Indore is expected to release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026. Candidates can download it from the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
Q: Which colleges accept the CAT 2026 score? A: The CAT score is used for MBA and postgraduate management admissions at all 22 IIMs and more than 1,000 other business schools across India.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the CAT 2026 exam?
CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, as a computer-based test in three sessions. IIM Indore is conducting the exam this year.
How many candidates have registered for CAT 2026?
Around 2.84 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2026, which is 3.7% less than the 2.95 lakh registrations in 2025.
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
IIM Indore is expected to release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026. Candidates can download it from the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
Which colleges accept the CAT 2026 score?
The CAT score is used for MBA and postgraduate management admissions at all 22 IIMs and more than 1,000 other business schools across India.
