CAT 2026 registration will start on August 3 at IIMCAT website. Check here the exam eligibility criteria and reservation details before applying.
CAT 2026 exam eligibility criteria
CAT 2026 notification has been released with the latest details of the exam. IIM Indore will conduct the CAT exam on November 29 and registration process will start from August 3. Candidates planning to appear for the CAT 2026 must check out the eligibility criteria.
CAT 2026 is a post graduate entrance exam for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes offered by over 1300 B Schools in India. The minimum eligibility criteria thus, is graduation from a recognized university. The scores are accepted in percent and CGPA.
CAT 2026 Official Notifications
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To appear for CAT 2026 exam the candidate must have:
- Completed Bachelor’s degree in any stream from a UGC recognised university with the required marks*
- Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with required marks*
Live Updates: CAT 2026 Notification OUT, Registration Starts August 3
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Percentage Marks
CAT 2026 applicants must meet the following minimum score requirement in graduation:
| Category |
Minimum marks required* |
|---|---|
| General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates |
50% |
| SC/ST/PwBD candidates |
45% |
In case of grades/CGPA, the conversion to percentage of marks will be based on the procedure as certified by the respective educational institution. If the institution does not have a scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, it will be obtained by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA, and multiplying the result with 100.
CAT Eligibility Criteria: Final Year Rules
- Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor’s programme are also eligible for CAT. However, admission of such candidates will remain provisional until the submission of final year marksheet.
- Such candidates also need to ensure the average score for their first and second year result meets the minimum score requirement as stated above.
CAT 2026: Reservation Criteria
For admission to IIMs and other CAT score accepting colleges, the following Reservation criteria will be considered:
| Category |
Reservation Criteria |
|---|---|
| SC |
15% |
| ST |
7.5% |
| NC-OBC |
27% |
| EWS |
10% |
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