CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Reservation Criteria, Educational Qualification
Common Management Admission Test 2026 ( CMAT )
CMAT eligibility criteria is Graduation or equivalent degree. There is no minimum score required to apply for this exam. Check below, complete eligibility criteria for CMAT 2026 and reservation policy to apply for CMAT 2026.
CMAT eligibility criteria is graduation which is the minimum requirement to be fulfilled by candidates for appearing in this national level MBA entrance exam. The eligibility criteria for the Common Management Admission Test or CMAT as prescribed by National Testing Agency (NTA) is considered by and valid for all AICTE approved B-school offering admissions to MBA/PGDM courses on basis of CMAT scores.
CMAT 2026 exam registration process will begin most likely in November 2025. The CMAT application form 2026 will be available online at NTA website. Meeting the minimum academic requirement is mandatory for appearing in CMAT. Candidates must apply only if they meet the eligibility criteria. Read this article to check complete CMAT eligibility criteria 2026 including educational qualification, age limit and reservation policy.
- CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
- CMAT Reservation Criteria 2026
- CMAT Reservation under Persons with Disabilities
- CMAT Eligibility for Scribe/Reader
CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
Given below are the main eligibility criteria for CMAT:
- Candidates applying for the CMAT 2026 must be an Indian resident.
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum three-year duration or equivalent in any stream from AICTE approved institute/university.
- Candidates in the final year of their bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply for CMAT exam provided their result will be declared before admission for academic year begins.
- There is no minimum score criteria for CMAT 2026. Candidates must have passing marks in graduation.
- However, the minimum score requirement of maximum CMAT participating colleges is 50 % (45% for reserved categories).
- There is no upper age limit for applying and appearing in CMAT exam.
Also Read: CMAT preparation tips and strategy 2026
CMAT Reservation Criteria 2026
There is no reservation policy for CMAT exam but for admissions, the B-schools accepting CMAT scores will be considering reservation criteria as prescribed by Government of India. To avail reservation benefits at the time of admission, the candidates must mention their reservation status (caste/PwD category) in the CMAT application form.
CMAT Reservation Policy
For admission through CMAT candidates can avail reservation at the AICTE recognised institutes as per the government guidelines. Candidates will have to submit relevant documents verified by competent authority to avail reservation.
| Category |
Reservation (in percentage) |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste |
15% |
| Scheduled Tribe |
7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) |
27% |
| General/Open |
50.5% |
| PwD |
5% in each category |
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CMAT Reservation under Persons with Disabilities
Candidates suffering 40 per cent or more disability (from the following listed disabilities) can claim admission under PwD category:
- Blindness and low vision
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- Locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy
- Autism, intellectual disability, specified learning disability and mental illness, and
- Persons suffering multiple disabilities from (1) to (4)
- Other ‘specified disabilities’ mentioned in RPwD Act 2016
Candidates can change their category in the CMAT 2026 application form only till the last date of application submission. After that no change will be allowed.
CMAT Eligibility for Scribe/Reader
Candidates with disabilities under category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected BA) and cerebral palsy, can avail the facility of scribe/reader/lab assistant on CMAT exam day. Such candidates need to submit a request in writing to the CMAT Test Centre superintendent for their requirements of Scribe/Reader along with disability certificate issued by the authorised Medical Officer.
- CMAT Test Centre Superintendent will provide a scribe/ reader who is at least one year junior to the candidate academically.
- Candidates availing scribe/reader can request Centre Superintendent to meet the allotted scribe a day before the examination to verify their suitability and general acquaintanceship.
- Candidates availing scribe/reader will be provided extra 60 minutes beyond the test duration of CMAT exam.
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The next CMAT exam will be held in January 2026. The NTA will start registration for the same in November 2025. Those interested in appearing for the exam are required to register for it at CMAT-NTA website and fill the online application form. The score of CMAT will be valid for one year only, so if you appear for CMAT 2026, you must take admission in the same academic year.
Apart from 1300 B-schools, the CMAT score is also valid for admission through MAH CET CAP. The Maharashtra State CET Cell conducts MBA/MMS admissions for 300 colleges in the state. It is followed by a common counselling process called CAP. CMAT test takers can also participate in MAH MBA CET CAP and secure a seat in MBA/MMS course offered by over 300 colleges in Maharashtra.
CMAT score is not accepted by the IIMs. These institutes accept only CAT score for their management programmes. CMAT is accepted by over 1300 MBA colleges in India which belong to mostly Tier 2 and Tier 3 status. You can seek admission with CMAT score to all AICTE approved institutions – private, government and government aided.
No, you cannot appear for the CMAT exam at any test centre. You can appear for the test at the centre mentioned in your CMAT admit card. Entry at every CMAT test centre is given to candidates only after thorough scrutiny of the hall ticket and ID proof. If you attempt to gain entry in any other test centre, you will be disqualified. Thus, candidates must make sure that they check the location of their allotted test centre beforehand and reach there on exam day on time. If they reach the test centre after the gates have been closed they will not be allowed entry under any circumstances. CMAT test centre gates close 15 minutes before the commencement of exam.
There is no minimum marks criterion for appearing in CMAT exam. Any candidate who has passed a Bachelor's degree programme from a recognised university can apply. Final year candidates are also eligible to apply for CMAT if they scored passing marks in their first and second year of Bachelor's degree programme. However, there is a minimum score requirement at CMAT accepting colleges for admission. All the UGC and AICTE approved institutions have the minimum score requirement of 45 per cent in aggregate in graduation for candidates for Scheduled Caster/ Scheduled Tribe and Person with Disability categories. Thus, you must ensure that you have an aggregate score of at least 45 per cent in your graduation to be able to get admission into a full-time MBA programme at a government recognised institution.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
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GK is memory based, so all that you need to do is memorise important events and occurrences. So, candidates may not need a lot of time to prepare for CMAT GK. They can devote one or two months for it. On daily basis, they can read Year Books for one hour to memorise events. Apart from that they can
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Yes, it is necessary to attempt GK section in CMAT as unlike other MBA entrance exams, scores of GK are included in percentile calculation in CMAT. Total number of GK questions in 20 and attempting 8-10 questions correctly, can get the candidate desired sectional cut off in CMAT. So, while preparing
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There are several benefits of appearing in the CMAT exam. It is easier than other exams and accepted by many B-schools. Check below some of the key benefits of CMAT.