CDAC C-CAT 2026 Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, & Exam Pattern

Q: Is CDAC C-CAT compulsory for CDAC PG courses?

Yes, admission to all CDAC PG Certificate Programmes like PG Diploma in Advanced Computing (PG-DAC), PG Diploma in Artificial Intelligence (PG-AI/PGCP-AI), PG Diploma in Big Data Analytics (PG-DBDA/PGCP-BDA), PG Diploma in Cyber Security & Forensics (PG-CSF), PG Diploma in VLSI Design (PG-DVLSI), PG Diploma in IT Infrastructure, Systems & Security (PG-DITISS), etc., is done only through CDAC C-CAT.

76 Students Q&A

Admit Card - 6 Jan '26 - 10 Jan '26

Rashmi Karan

Manager - Content

Updated on Jan 7, 2026 15:45 IST

CDAC C-CAT is a national-level entrance test conducted by CDAC for admission to various PG certificate courses. It is a popular entrance test among engineering graduates, computer science students, and IT professionals willing to build and enhance skills in software development, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity.

The CDAC C-CAT is a national-level entrance test conducted by CDAC for admission to various PG certificate courses. It is a popular entrance test for engineering and computer science graduates as well as IT professionals seeking to build and enhance skills in software development, data science, advanced computing, AI, and cybersecurity. Learn all about CDAC C-CAT 2026 in this blog.

Table of contents

What is CDAC C-CAT?
CDAC C-CAT 2026: Highlights
CDAC C-CAT Registrations
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Important Dates (February Batch)
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam Slots
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Eligibility
CDAC C-CAT Syllabus 2026
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Application Fee
CDAC C-CAT Exam Pattern 2026
CDAC C-CAT Marking Scheme
Categories of PG Diploma Courses and Test Papers
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Result and Counselling

What is CDAC C-CAT?

The CDAC C-CAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). Based on their performance in the C-CAT, candidates will be shortlisted for counselling and seat allocation for PG certificate courses (Previously referred to as PG Diploma Course) at CDAC centres in Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, Patna, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram.

CDAC C-CAT 2026: Highlights

Here are the main highlights of the CDAC C-CAT 2026

Exam Name	CDAC C-CAT
Conducting Body	Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC)
Level	National level
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test conducted physically at test centres
Type of Questions	Objective type
Number of Questions	50 Questions per section (Total 150)
Medium of Exam	English
Purpose	Admission to CDAC PG Certificate Courses

CDAC C-CAT Registrations

CDAC C-CAT 2026 registration is fully online. Candidates must apply through the official CDAC admission website.

CDAC C-CAT 2026 Important Dates (February Batch)

Event	Date
C-CAT Application Window	November 27 - December 29, 2025
Downloading of C-CAT Admit Cards	January 6 - 10, 2026
CDAC C-CAT Date	January 10 & 11, 2026
Announcement of C-CAT Ranks (Results)	January 22, 2026
Online Selection of Courses and Centres (First Counselling)	January 22 - 28, 2026
Declaration of First Round of Seat Allocation	January 30, 2026
Last Date of Payment of first installment course fee (INR 10,000 + GST)	February 4, 2026
Declaration of Second Round of Seat Allocation	February 6, 2026
Last Date of first installment course fee payment (INR 10,000 + GST)	February 10, 2026
Start of PG Certificate Programmes	February 25, 2026
End of PG Certificate Programmes	August 11, 2026

CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam Slots

CDAC C-CAT 2026 will be conducted on January 6 - 10, 2026, in multiple slots, as follows-

Q: What is the qualification criteria for CDAC C-CAT ranks?

According to the CDAC C-CAT result guidelines, candidates with the lowest 20% performance in Section A and Section B, and the lowest 10% performance in Section C of the examination, will not be qualified for ranking in that particular section and its higher sections. After the removal of these candidates, if there are any candidates in any section with zero or fewer than zero marks, then they will also not be qualified for ranking.

Q: What after CDAC C-CAT seat allotment?

After the CDAC C-CAT seat allotment result is announced, the candidates will have to confirm their admission before the final date. For the confirmation of admission, the candidates will have to report to their allotted institute, verify their documents and pay the required fee.

Q: Can I request to change the allotted CDAC C-CAT exam centre?

No. Candidates will not be able to change their allotted CDAC C-CAT exam centre. The allotment of the centres will be as per the preferences submitted in the CDAC C-CAT application form. Therefore, candidates are advised to choose their preferences during the registration process .

Test Paper	Morning Slot Timings	Afternoon Slot Timings
Section A	9:30 AM - 10:30 AM	2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Section B	10:45 AM - 11:45 AM	3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Section C	12:00 PM - 1:00 PM	4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

CDAC C-CAT 2026 Eligibility

Before applying, candidates must check whether they meet the eligibility requirements.

Qualification	Min. Marks
B.E. / B.Tech	55 - 60%
M.Sc. / M.S.	55 - 60%
MCA / MCM	55 - 60%
Postgraduate degree (IT/CS mandatory at graduation)	55 - 60%
Final year students (Must show course completion proof by June 30, 2026)	-

CDAC C-CAT Syllabus 2026

The C-CAT syllabus is divided into 3 sections - A, B, and C. Each section tests the candidate on a different knowledge level.

Test Paper	Topics	Duration
Section A	English Quantitative Aptitude Reasoning Computer Fundamentals Concepts of Programming	1 hour
Section B	C Programming Data Structures Object-Oriented Programming using C++ Operating Systems & Networking Basics of Big Data & Artificial Intelligence	1 hour
Section C	Computer Architecture Digital Electronics Microprocessors	1 hour

Note: Depending on the selected course category, candidates can appear for Sections A+B or A+B+C.

CDAC C-CAT 2026 Application Fee

Please check the application fee for C-CAT papers under different course categories-

Course Category	C-CAT Paper(s)	C-CAT Fee
II	A+B	INR 1550
III	A+B+C	INR 1750

CDAC C-CAT Exam Pattern 2026

Understanding the CDAC C-CAT exam pattern will help you in your preparation process.

Particulars	Details
Mode of Exam	Online
Medium	English
Duration	3 Hours
Type of Questions	MCQs
Total Questions	150
Sections	A, B & C

CDAC C-CAT Marking Scheme

Correct Answer: 3 marks
Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
Unattempted Questions: No deduction

Because of negative marking, please avoid blind guessing.

Categories of PG Diploma Courses and Test Papers

CDAC PG Diploma courses are grouped into different categories. Each category requires candidates to appear for specific sections of the C-CAT exam.

Q: Will the authorities accept review of CDAC C-CAT score?

No. The authorities will not accept requests to review the obtained CDAC C-CAT score. Candidates will not be allowed to raise any requests to review their scores. In case of any other mistakes in the CDAC C-CAT result, then the candidates will be able to contact the authorities. Once the result is downloaded, the candidates are advised to check the details carefully.

Q: Is CDAC C-CAT compulsory for CDAC PG courses?

Yes, admission to all CDAC PG Certificate Programmes like PG Diploma in Advanced Computing (PG-DAC), PG Diploma in Artificial Intelligence (PG-AI/PGCP-AI), PG Diploma in Big Data Analytics (PG-DBDA/PGCP-BDA), PG Diploma in Cyber Security & Forensics (PG-CSF), PG Diploma in VLSI Design (PG-DVLSI), PG Diploma in IT Infrastructure, Systems & Security (PG-DITISS), etc.,
is done only through CDAC C-CAT.

Q: How can I select exam centres for CDAC C-CAT?

While filling out the CDAC C-CAT application form, the candidates will have to select their choice of exam cities. The selection has to be done in the order of preference since it will be considered during the allotment of CDAC C-CAT centers. Candidates will be able to check the details on their allotted exam centers through the CDAC C-CAT admit card.

Foundation-Level Courses	Require Sections A & B Suitable for candidates with basic knowledge of programming
Advanced-Level Courses	Require Sections A, B & C Designed for candidates with a strong technical background
Specialized Courses	Focus on specific domains such as data science, cybersecurity, AI, and robotics. Section requirements depend on the course nature

Please check course-wise section requirement before applying.

CDAC C-CAT 2026 Result and Counselling

Check out the phases involved in the result and counselling process of CDAC C-CAT 2026, and their announced dates-

C-CAT 2026 Results

Rank Cards out on: Ranks for the February 2026 batch are going to be announced on January 22, 2026. Check your section-wise marks and rank. You can download your rank card by logging into the official CDAC portal using your form number and password.
Qualifying Criteria: In order to secure a rank, you must not be in the lowest 10-20% and must score above zero in all of your attempted sections.

CDAC C-CAT Counselling

Counselling or choice filling is the online process where you list your preferred courses and training centres. It occurs in two sessions, with a total of three seat-allocation rounds.

C-CAT Result Announcement: January 22, 2026

The C-CAT 2026 results will be published on the official CDAC website on 22 January 2026. Candidates can check their results by logging in with their credentials. Ranks will be awarded based on performance in Sections A+B or A+B+C, depending on the category. Candidates may receive more than one rank if eligible.

First Round of Online Counselling (Choice Filling): January 22 - 28, 2026

Candidates must select their preferred courses and training centres online within this period. Seat allocation is going to be based on C-CAT rank, eligibility, and mentioned order of preferences. Preferences can be edited and saved multiple times until January 28, 2026.

Declaration of First Round Seat Allocation: January 30, 2026

The first round seat allocation results will be released online. Candidates may be allotted their top or lower preferences depending on rank and seat availability. No manual centre change requests will be accepted.

First Instalment Fee Payment Deadline: 4 February 2026 (till 5 PM)

Selected candidates must pay INR 10,000 + GST to confirm their provisional admission. Failure to pay will result in disqualification from subsequent rounds.

Second Round of Seat Allocation: 6 February 2026

Candidates not allotted seats earlier or seeking higher preferences will be considered. Seats allotted in this round are final.

Second Counselling and Third Round Allocation: 11 - 17 February 2026

Vacant seats will be filled through the second counselling with a caution deposit. The final seat allocation will be announced on 17 February 2026.

Please note that the remaining course fee has to be paid by February 23, 2026.

Download Important Dates for IT & Software Exams