CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam LIVE Updates: Exam Day Guidelines, Schedule, and Instructions

Candidates are reminded that they must obtain non-zero marks in all attempted sections to be eligible for a rank. Scoring zero or negative marks in any one section will lead to disqualification from the ranking process.

Since the exam was conducted over two days, CDAC will use a normalization formula to balance the difficulty levels of different question sets. This ensures that no candidate is at a disadvantage due to a tougher question paper.

Individual rank cards will be available for download starting January 22. This document is mandatory for the physical document verification process during centre reporting in February.

If two candidates score the same total marks, the rank will be decided based on higher marks in Section B. If the tie persists, Section A marks will be considered, followed by the candidate’s age. Older candidate will be given preference.

The official rank list for the January 2026 cycle is scheduled to be announced on January 22, 2026. Candidates can check their rank on CDAC candidate login - https://www.cdac.in/index.aspx?id=studentslogin using their form number and password.

Subject matter experts suggest that attempting 38+ questions in Section A and 32+ questions in Section B with 90% accuracy should secure a rank within the top 2,000, making candidates eligible for premier centres.

Initial feedback from Day 2 candidates suggests a "Moderate-Difficult" difficulty level. While Section A remained scoring, Section B was notably tougher than the morning shift, featuring deep-level questions on C++ and Data Structures.

• January 22 - 28, 2026: Online Selection of Courses and Centres (1st Counselling)
• February 6, 2026: Declaration of Second Round of Seat Allocation.
• February 11 – 16, 2026: Second Counselling (for vacant seats) with a caution deposit.
• February 25, 2026: Official commencement of PG Certificate Programmes across India

C-DAC’s PG Certificate Programme admission process has two counselling sessions and three rounds of seat allocations. Counselling means online filling of preferences of courses and training centres by the candidates.

All PG certificate courses under the January 2026 C-CAT cycle are officially scheduled to begin on February 25, 2026, across India.

The window for "Choice Filling" (Round 1) is scheduled to open on January 23, 2026. Candidates should prepare their centre preferences in advance.

Overall, Day 2 of C-CAT 2026 was rated "Moderate to Difficult." Section B was noted as the most challenging due to logical programming questions.

The final whistle has blown at 5:30 PM, marking the end of the CDAC C-CAT 2026 January cycle. All systems have successfully locked, and candidates are beginning the checkout process.

With the clock approaching 5:30 PM, the system is preparing for a global auto-submit. Candidates are performing a final check on their response status across all attempted sections.

The final hour of the CDAC C-CAT 2026 Day 2 cycle has started at 4:30 PM. 

The window to challenge the C-CAT 2026 answer key will remain active for only three days. No further requests for corrections will be entertained after 5:00 PM on January 18, 2026.

A dedicated objection window will open 48 hours after the answer key release. Candidates can log in to their dashboard to flag discrepancies in specific question IDs with supporting technical evidence.

Candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of INR 500 per question challenged. Payments must be made online via the integrated gateway to validate the objection.

The CDAC C-CAT 2026 provisional answer keys and candidate response sheets are expected to be available for download on the official portal by January 15, 2026.

Section A has concluded, and the system has automatically started Section B at 3:15 PM. 

The consolidated C-CAT 2026 ranks will published on the official CDAC website on January 22, 2026.

Academic experts suggest that 35-40 correct answers per section would put candidates in a strong position for top-tier training centres such as CDAC Pune or Bengaluru.

C-DAC’s central monitoring cell reports 100% uptime for all afternoon session servers. Invigilators are ensuring that candidates do not face any hardware latency during heavy code-analysis questions.

The afternoon session has officially begun at 2:00 PM with Section A. All candidates have cleared the secondary biometric check and are now attempting the Generic Aptitude module.

Centres are all set for the second session of the day. Gates will be sealed at 1:30 PM, and no late-entry requests will be entertained so as to maintain exam integrity.

All used scratch pads must be deposited in the dropboxes before leaving the exam room. Taking rough sheets out is a violation of CDAC security policy.

A reminder to candidates: Use the 'Mark for Review' feature for complex OS and Networking questions in Section C to manage time effectively.

C-DAC central servers report a successful data sync as Section B responses are being encrypted and stored. Candidates for the three-section paper are now initializing the Section C module at 12 PM, following a break of 15 minutes.

As Section B ends, candidates moving into Section C are reminded to manage their rough sheet space efficiently. Additional sheets can be requested from invigilators if required for Architecture diagrams.

To be eligible for a rank, candidates must not fall in the lowest 20% of performers in Sections A and B, or the lowest 10% in Section C. Furthermore, candidates with zero or negative total marks in any section will be disqualified from ranking for that specific section. 

Once a section is completed or time expires, candidates cannot return to it. Time management is therefore critical throughout the CDAC CCAT 202 examination.

The exam includes Section A, Section B, and Section C, conducted sequentially with short breaks. Candidates must complete each section within the allotted time before moving to the next.

The exam is being held in both morning and afternoon slots on January 11, 2026. Slot allocation details are mentioned on individual admit cards and cannot be changed on exam day.

The CDAC CCAT 2026 exam is being conducted in computer-based mode at designated C-DAC centres across India. Candidates are required to follow on-screen instructions carefully throughout the examination.

The first one-hour section focusing on English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning has officially started across all centres. Proctors have confirmed stable server connectivity for the computer-based test mode.

Please keep in mind that the marking scheme imposes a -1 penalty for each incorrect answer.

The morning session will proceed in three sequential one-hour blocks (9:30 AM, 10:45 AM, and 12:00 PM), with brief 15-minute breaks between sections for system resets. 

Final reminders for those in the afternoon slot: You must bring a physical copy of your admit card; soft copies on mobile phones will not be accepted. Arrive at your allocated center at least 30 to 60 minutes before your shift's reporting time to complete biometric and identity verification

The final day of the January 2026 C-CAT begins as candidates arrive for the morning session. Centres report steady entry with mandatory verification of printed admit cards and original photo IDs. Candidates are reminded that electronic gadgets, including digital watches and calculators, are strictly prohibited in the exam hall.

Electronic gadgets, study material, bags, and personal items are not allowed inside the exam hall. Candidates are advised to carry only essential documents.

Short breaks are provided between sections to allow system reset and candidate readiness. However, candidates are not allowed to leave their seats during these intervals.

Once a section is completed or time expires, candidates cannot return to it. Time management is therefore critical throughout the examination.

Important instructions related to navigation, time limits, and submission are displayed on the computer screen before the exam begins. Candidates should read them carefully.

The exam pattern, duration, and section order remain uniform across all centres and slots to maintain fairness and consistency for all candidates appearing for the test.

Biometric verification and security checks are conducted at test centres to ensure a fair examination process. Candidates should cooperate with staff and follow all verification procedures.

Avoid discussing Day 1 question details before the exam. Stay calm, read each question carefully, and manage time evenly across sections.

The second day of the CDAC CCAT 2026 begins today for remaining candidates. Entry procedures and identity verification start early at exam centres.

For a smooth entry process, please ensure you have the required admission documentation and an original, valid photo ID. Failure to present these documents will result in ineligibility to participate in the scheduled session.

• Documents: Pack your printed admit card and original photo ID.
• Logistics: Confirm your center location and shift timing.
• Rest: Sleep early; focus is vital for negative marking.
• Electronics: Leave gadgets at home; they are strictly prohibited.
• Routine: Eat light and stay hydrated.

Candidates are reminded to check their admit card details, reporting time, and exam centre location again before sleeping to avoid last minute confusion.

Based on student feedback, the exam is reported to be moderate. Aptitude sections required speed, while technical sections tested conceptual clarity rather than rote learning.

Students describe Day 1 as time-intensive, especially during the technical sections. Many candidates feel that balanced preparation helped in managing question navigation and section transitions.

Candidates appearing on Day 2 should focus on revising basic concepts rather than learning new topics. Light revision and mental readiness are more important than intense study.

Once ranks are released, the first round of online counselling (choice filling for courses and centres) will open immediately after the results on January 22 and run until January 28, 2026. 

The official result and rank list for the February 2026 batch are scheduled to be declared on January 22, 2026.

The first day of the CDAC CCAT 2026 concludes successfully across centres. Candidates complete all scheduled sections with smooth system submissions reported from most exam locations.

Some candidates appearing for tomorrow's sessions were spotted closely following today's student reactions to gauge the difficulty level of logic-based programming questions in Section B.

The afternoon slot and Day 1 of CDAC CCAT 2026 conclude at 5:30 PM with automatic submission across centres.

Section C is the last exam of the day and will include questions from Computer Architecture, Digital Electronics, and Microprocessors.

In the final stages of Section B, students are being cautious with guesses. The -1 negative marking for incorrect answers is a major topic of discussion among peers during post-exam exits.

 Section B begins in the afternoon slot after the second transition break.

As the afternoon shift progresses, C-DAC servers at major centers like Noida, Pune, and Bengaluru are reported to be functioning smoothly with no major technical lags reported by candidates.

candidates are seen actively navigating between reasoning and numerical questions.

Invigilators at centres reported high compliance, but also noted some late arrivals and students carrying electronic devices, mostly smartwatches.

 The afternoon shift starts with Section A at 2:00 PM, and candidates proceed directly to aptitude-based questions.

Candidates are reminded that they must score above zero in all attempted sections to be eligible for a rank. Additionally, ranks are only assigned to those not in the lowest 10-20% of performers.

Candidates for the second slot are completing identity verification with original photo IDs (Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport) at designated C-DAC centres.

Based on early student feedback, a score securing a rank below 1,500 is considered exceptionally strong for top-tier training centres like Pune and Bengaluru.

Candidates in Category III have completed the three-hour testing marathon. Early feedback suggests Section C (Computer Architecture and Microprocessors) required intense concentration following the previous technical sections.

 As the clock approaches 1:00 PM, candidates focus on completing remaining unanswered questions.

 The final section of the morning shift starts at noon after nearly two and a half hours of testing.

• Good Rank: A score below 1,500 is considered strong for top-tier placement-focused centres
• Average Rank: Between 1,500 and 3,000 provides a good chance at established training centres
• Total Candidates: Approximately 7,058 candidates applied last year for the January 2025 session, with around 3,000 students ultimately admitted across 19 centres

 By 11:15 AM, most students have settled into a steady answering pace.

• Section A & B: You must not be in the lowest 20% of performers.
• Section C: You must not be in the lowest 10% of performers.
• Score Requirement: You must score above zero marks in all attempted sections to be eligible for a rank

Section B starts after a short transition break, shifting focus to programming and computer fundamentals.

Once a section is completed or time expires, candidates cannot return to it. Time management is therefore critical throughout the CDAC CCAT 2026 examination.

Section A focuses on English, quantitative aptitude, and reasoning skills. Candidates are advised to manage time carefully, as this section sets the pace for the exam.

Rough sheets are provided for calculations and notes during the exam. These must be returned to the invigilator before leaving the examination hall.

Candidates have been advised to remain seated during the exam and follow instructions for entry and exit. Unauthorised movement inside the exam hall is not permitted.

The morning shift (9:30 AM – 1:00 PM) reports high attendance. Digital systems and server connectivity at designated CDAC centres are performing smoothly as candidates navigate through the sequential sections. Section A exam will end at 10:30 AM.

Candidates should be aware of the marking scheme mentioned in official guidelines. Understanding the exam pattern helps in making informed attempts.

The time is here. Your exams start now. Stay calm! ALL THE BEST!

The CDAC CCAT 2026 exam is a crucial step for admission into C-DAC PG Certificate programmes. Performance on the exam will directly affect programme and institute allocations. 

This section tests programming and CS fundamentals. Morning slot candidates usually find this section more manageable than Section A.

The short break from 10:30–10:45 AM is mainly for system transition. Candidates cannot leave the lab, so mental reset is limited.

Section A is 60 minutes long and assesses aptitude and reasoning. Candidates report that time management becomes crucial right from the first section.

Candidates are advised to reach test centres by 8:30 AM. Morning slots are generally preferred by fresh candidates due to better concentration levels.

Electronic devices, study material, bags, and personal belongings are not allowed inside the exam centre. Candidates should follow instructions provided by the centre staff.

Candidates should report well before the scheduled exam time. Late arrivals may not be permitted to enter the test centre under any circumstances.

Candidates must carry their C-CAT admit card and a valid photo ID to the exam centre. Entry will not be allowed without proper identification.

Section C is the last part of the exam and tests advanced subject understanding. Candidates need to maintain concentration despite exam fatigue.

Reaching the exam centre early allows candidates time to settle down, complete formalities calmly, and avoid last-minute panic caused by travel delays or crowding.

Section B evaluates candidates on computer fundamentals and programming concepts. Accuracy and clarity of concepts play a key role in this section.

Section A focuses on English, quantitative aptitude, and reasoning skills. Candidates are advised to manage time carefully, as this section sets the pace for the exam.

Rough sheets are provided for calculations and notes during the exam. These must be returned to the invigilator before leaving the examination hall.