In how many cities is CAT exam held?

CAT exam is held in about 170 cities across India. Candidates can choose up to six cities as their preferred test location. The list of test cities for CAT is available in application form. Candidates should choose the test city carefully as the request to change the test city later may or may not be accepted due to non-availability of seats at the centres in that particular city. Given below are the cities where CAT exam is usually held.

CAT Registration 2026: Application Dates, Process, Fees, Eligibility

13K Students Q&A

Updated on Jan 26, 2026 14:05 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

CAT 2026 registration will commence in the first week of August. Dates will be announced through CAT 2026 notification in the last week of July. The CAT registration cum application proess 2026 will include registration, application form filling, uploading documents and payment of fees. Candidates will be required to choose preferred IIM and MBA course in the CAT 2026 application form, for PI shortlisting. CAT 2026 wil be conducted on November 29, 2026. Read below, all about CAT registration 2026.

Table of contents

IIM CAT Registration 2026: Highlights
CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
IIM CAT 2026 Registration Process
What is CAT Exam Fees?
Documents Required for CAT Application Form 2026
CAT Form Correction 2026: How to Edit Application Form
CAT Exam Registration 2026: Things to Keep in Mind

IIM CAT Registration 2026: Highlights

CAT registration and application process is a one-time activity and it is a mandatory activity as there is no provision to submit the form offline. CAT applicants will have to submit the form by the deadline to be eligible for the exam. Given below are the key highlights of CAT exam registration cum application process 2026:

IIM CAT 2026 Registration	Details
CAT application mode	Online
CAT application fees	INR 2,600 for General/OBC INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD
Fee payment mode	Debit/credit card or net banking
Registration link	iimcat.ac.in
Test city options	Five
Documents for uploading	Recent passport size photo Scanned signature on white paper Caste/PwD/Scribe certificate

Commonly asked questions

Q: Can I edit my CAT application form after submission?

Once the CAT application form is submitted, candidates are not allowed to make changes in it. In case, you've made errors, you need to fill a fresh CAT application form and pay the fees again. However, editing of certain fields such as photo, signature and test city preference is allowed during form correction process which starts 2-3 days after the CAT registration process concludes. The form correction window is opened for 3-4 days during which candidates can edit only these three fields. If they have made a mistake in any other field, they cannot edit it. No request for changes is accepted by the examination authorities. Thus, it is very important to fill the CAT application form correctly with valid details. Candidates must keep the important documents such as Aadhaar card, class 10, class 12, graduation certificates, birth Certificate address proof, work experience documents, etc. To cross check the information while filling the form. They must also be very careful in selecting Iims and courses as they will be eligible for only those Iims and courses which they shall have selected in the CAT form.

Q: I am in the final year of my Bachelor's degree. Am I eligible to take the CAT exam?

Yes, you are eligible to appear for the exam provided your score in the first two years of the degree course is above 50% (or equivalent). In case you belong to SSC/ST/PwD categories, the minimum aggregate should be 45%. Candidates planning to pursue MBA must make sure that they score minimum of 50 per cent in aggregate in every year of their Bachelor's degree programme, so that overall average too is 50 per cent. Those, in the final year of graduation must take care that if they do not have a minimum of 50 per cent in first two years, they need to score much higher in the final year so that their overall score meets the minimum requirement. To have a better chance of being selected by the Iims, candidates must aim for high scores in graduation and not just 50 per cent as academic record is a significant contributor in shortlisting of candidates for admission.

CAT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule

Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of CAT 2025 exam

Dates	Past Exam Dates
30 Nov ' 25	CAT 2025 exam
12 Nov ' 25	CAT 2025 admit card download
To Be Notified	CAT 2025 form correction
View More Past Events (1)

IIM CAT 2026 Registration Process

For CAT exam registration 2026, applicants will need a functional email ID and mobile phone number. Check below IIM CAT 2026 registration process:

Register for CAT 2026

Open iimcat.ac.in website
Click on 'Register' tab under 'New Candidate Registration' tab
Enter name, date of birth, email ID, mobile phone number and nationality
Click on 'Generate OTP' tab
On successful registration, an OTP will be sent on the registered mobile number and email ID
Verify CAT 2026 registration with the OTP

The CAT 2026 form will six sections. Candidates will have to fill relevant details in all the six pages of the form for successful submission. Check below details related to the six sections of CAT exam registration form 2026:

Personal Details: In this section of CAT application form, the candidates will have to enter details such as name, date of birth, father’s name, category, gender, nationality, communication address, email ID, mobile phone number, etc. They also have to upload a passport size photo and scanned signature.
Academic Details: In this section, the candidates will have to enter class 10 and 12 exam scores, bachelor’s degree details and marksheet and details of other professional courses (if any).
Work Experience: They will need to fill in details such as name of the company, duration of employment, designation, etc., in this section. This will be an optional field.
Programmes: In this section, the candidate will have to select IIM institutes of their choice and the MBA programmes they wish to pursue.
Test City: In this section, test city preference will have to be marked. Candidates can select up to five cities in order of preference from first to last in the CAT application form.
Payment: To pay the CAT application fee, candidates will have to use Credit/Debit Card, Internet Banking or Paytm/PayU mobile wallets.

Also Read: CAT eligibility criteria and reservation policy

Commonly asked questions

Q: How many IIMs can I select in CAT application form?

Candidates can select up to 21 IIMs in CAT application form for PI shortlist and admission. There is no cap on selecting campuses. Candidates must however, make an informed choice but first checking CAT cut off, course specialisation and fee of all IIMs and basis that select campuses in the CAT application form. It is best to choose a combination of top IIMs and newer IIMs so that you have wider options for admission.

Q: Can I fill the CAT registration form before, and submit the fee later?

Yes, candidates can fill out the CAT application form on one day and pay the fee on another day, as it is not mandatory to register for the CAT exam, fill out the application form, or pay the fee in one go. The registration and application window will remain open for candidates who have registered for the exam and created an ID until the last date of form submission. The applicant can log in and check/fill/edit the CAT application form anytime during the form-filling period. Only the phone number and email ID will not be editable once registration is complete. However, candidates need to submit the CAT form and application fee before the deadline to be eligible to appear for the exam. The CAT application form will not be submitted until the fee payment is completed. The fee can be paid via debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI wallet.

Q: Is there any fee charged for CAT form correction?

No, the candidates do not have to pay any fee for CAT form correction. The facility is provided to candidates free of cost. However, if they have made an error in a field that will not be available for editing during form correction, then they will have to fill a fresh form before the submission deadline and pay the CAT application fee again. So, candidates must review the CAT application form before submitting to check whether they have filled all the information correctly or not. Once submitted, the form will not be editable but of photo, signature and test city.

What is CAT Exam Fees?

CAT exam fee is to be paid at the time of form submission. Candidates can register first and pay the fee later too, but their form will not be accepted until the fee is paid. Check below latest CAT registration fee.

Category	CAT Exam Fee
General, EWS and NC-OBC	INR 2,600
SC, ST and PwD	INR 1,300

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the process to select CAT test city for exam centre allotment?

There are over 170 cities where CAT exam is held. These 170 cities are spread across India consist of metropolitan cities, capital cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Candidate can select up to five cities for allotment of test centre. The process of test city selection is a part of CAT application process. In the CAT application form, there is a field in which candidates have to select the cities. They need to select the city of preference in order of 1 to 5. The examination authorities will try to allot the test centre in the city of first preference. Thus, candidates must fill all the five cities carefully. They must choose their home city of city of current residence as the first preference. The test city option can only be changed during the form correction window. After that, the request for change of the city will not be accepted by the exam authorities.

Q: Is CAT fee refundable?

CAT fee is non-refundable. Candidates must note that under no circumstances will the CAT fee be refunded to any candidate. The fee amount of INR 2600 (INR 1300 for Reserved category students) once paid cannot be claimed for refund.

Documents Required for CAT Application Form 2026

Candidates will have to mention personal as well as academic details in the CAT application form 2026. So, before filling the CAT form, candidates must have the following documents:

Class 10 marksheet
Class 12 marksheet
Graduation marksheets/certificate
Date of Birth certificate
Address proof
Final year certificate from principal, HoD or Director (if applicable)
Caste category certificate (if applicable)
PwD category certificate (if applicable)
Scribe certificate (if applicable)
Credit/debit card or net banking credentials
Work experience document

What are the Documents to Upload with CAT Form?

Candidates had to upload certain documents with the CAT form. Given below are the details of the documents to be uploaded in the CAT 2026 application form.

Documents	Details
Scanned Passport Size Photograph	The photo should be recent, not more than six months old. The photo should be within the dimensions of 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels and in .jpg or .jpeg format. The resolution must not be more than 80 KB and less than 150 px/inch in resolution.
Scanned Signature	The signature must be within the dimensions of 80mm X 35mm and in .jpg or .jpeg. It should be clear and on white background. The signature should not be more than 80 KB and less than 150 px/inch in resolution.
NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate	If you belong to NC-OBC, SC or ST category, you will have to download the caste certificate from the CAT website, enter the required information, self-attest it and upload its scanned copy as a PDF document.
PwD Certificate	If you belong to PwD category, you are required to download the PwD certificate from the CAT website, fill it, self-attest it and upload its scanned copy as PDF document.
Final Year Certificate	Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor's degree programme are required to upload the Final year certificate from the Principal, HoD, Registrar or Director certifying the applicant has obtained at least 50% marks (45% in case of SC/ST/PWD candidates) or equivalent based on latest available grades/marks on College/Institution’s letterhead. The certificate format can be downloaded from the IIMCAT website.

Also Read: Check List of Documents Required for CAT registration

CAT application process- image upload

CAT Application: Documents PDFs

Given below are the proforma of certificates and documents required to be uploaded in case a candidate wishes to avail any relaxation:

Authorization form	EWS_Category_2025
Disability_Certificate_(PwD)_Form_V_2025	Final_Year_Certificate_2025
Disability_Certificate_(PwD)_Form_VI_2025	Identification_Affidavit_2025
Disability_Certificate_(PwD)_Form_VII_2025	NC-OBC_2025
CAT Registration Guide	SC_ST_Certificate_2025
Scribe_Affidavit_2025	Undertaking_NC_OBC_and_EWS_Certificate

CAT 2026 Application Process: Selection of Test Cities

At the time of filling the CAT form, it is mandatory for candidates to mention preferred test centre location by selecting up to five options from the list of 170 cities. However, allotment of the CAT test city will be subject to availability of seats at the centre.So, sooner a candidate submits the CAT application form, higher the chances of getting preferres test cituy.

The exam city was mentioned on candidate's CAT admit card. The option to change the test city will be given only once after form submission, during the CAT form correction process.

Also Read: List of CAT test cities and exam centres

CAT Form Correction 2026: How to Edit Application Form

In CAT form correction process, candidates will have the option to upload better photograph and image of their signature in the CAT form or change the test city preference. No other section will be editable. Check the process of CAT 2026 form correction below:

Log on to CAT 2026 website: iimcat.ac.in
Click on ‘login’ tab
Enter User ID and password
Click on Application Form
Go to relevant section (photo, signature, test city) and make changes
Enter CAPTCHA code and click on continue to complete the process

Commonly asked questions

Q: Is there extra charge for selecting IIM campuses in CAT application form?

Unlike other MBA entrance exams such as SNAP and XAT, there is no extra charge for selecting IIMs in the CAT application form. For overall CAT application form you will need to pay only INR 2500 (INR 1250 for SC/ST/PWD candidates). You can select as many IIM campuses, and courses as you want to.

Q: For how long is CAT form correction window usually open?

The CAT form correction window usually opens for 2-3 days. It opens a day after the last date of CAT registration. For example, if the CAT registration 2025 will end on September 13, the form correction window will open on September 14 and close on September 17, 2025. If the CAT registration window is extended by a week, then th form correction window will open thereafter.

Only registered candidates, who shall have paid the application fee will be able to access their CAT 2025 application forms to make changes. CAT form correction is a one-time activity so candidates must not miss the chance of updating their photo, signature and changing test city choices if required.

CAT Exam Registration 2026: Things to Keep in Mind

Candidates must keep the following points in mind while filling the CAT 2026 application form:

Preferred web browsers to fill CAT 2026 application form are Edge Chromium or Mozilla Firefox (version 56 and above) and Google Chrome (version 59 and above)
Do not fill the CAT application form on a smart phone. Use a laptop or a desktop for filling the application form.
Cross-check all the information filled in the CAT application form thoroughly before hitting ‘submit/save key’.
Once submitted, the form cannot be edited. You will have to create a new login ID, fill the form and pay the fee again.
Save a copy of CAT application fee acknowledgment slip and a copy of duly filled application form for future reference.
Preserve the CAT registration confirmation mail until the end of MBA admission process. It is advisable to take a printout of the confirmation mail.

CAT 2026 Registrations: Instructions for Reserved Category Students

Candidates who wish to apply under Reserved category must strictly follow the instructions mentioned specifically for such candidates.
Such candidates may have to upload relevant certificates attested by competent authority. Candidates must the check the requirements carefully.
To check Caste/Tribe name applicable, they can check the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) website: http://www.ncbc.nic.in/Home.aspx.
Submission of Reserved category form along with the CAT form is mandatory. Download the EWS, NC-OBC, SC/ST Certificate from the CAT 2026 official website, fill and self-attest, scan as PDF document and upload on the CAT website.
If you are applying under Person with Disability (PwD) category, download the Person with Disability (PwD) Certificate from the CAT website, enter the required information and self-attest, and scan as PDF document to upload the certificates on the CAT website.
Do not forget to select details under PwD Category - Wheelchair Support and Scribe Requirement, in the CAT application form 2026.
If you will be taking assistance of a Scribe for appearing in the exam, fill the Scribe Affidavit form available on the CAT exam registration website before the deadline and arrange a scribe yourself.

CAT Application Process: Errors to Avoid

The CAT form correction window gives opportunity to edit only a few fields, so it is better to fill the form error free in the first attempt. Check below a few points to avoid errors in CAT form 2026:

Use a functional email ID and mobile phone number for CAT 2026 registration as all the communication will be done on email and mobile.
Select CAT test city carefully as once the exam centre is allotted, no request for change will be entertained.
Choose your current city as first preference for allotment of exam centre. Keep in mind your convenience of reaching the test centre on the exam day, before selecting five cities in order of 1 to 5.
Select IIMs carefully as you will be eligible for WAT-PI of only those IIMs which you shall have selected in the CAT application form.
Select IIM interview cities also carefully. Only two options are available for each IIM so make the selection as per your convenience.
Enter accurate academic scores for class 10, 12, Graduation. Also, make sure you furnish information of PG or professional degree as the IIMs will refer to CAT application forms for candidate’s academic record for WAT-PI shortlisting.
Enter work experience details carefully too, as it will be analysed by the IIMs for shortlisting students for WAT-PI.
Upload valid caste/PwD/Scribe certificates along with the CAT application form. If the certificates turn out to be fake, candidates may be barred from appearing in the exam.
Ensure that fee payment is successful and you receive the acknowledgement in email. If the fee payment is not successful, the form submission will remain incomplete and CAT admit card will not be issued.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the age limit to appear for CAT?

There is no age limit to appear for CAT. The CAT exam is open for fresh graduates as well as working professionals. Since CAT is accepted by over 1300 B-schools across India for their full-time as well as executive MBA or online professional courses, a lot of working professionals appear for the CAT to pursue such courses. CAT score is accepted by Iims for full time MBA, executive MBA and FPM programmes.

Other top MBA colleges in India also shortlist candidates for executive MBA or part-time MBA on the basis of CAT score. The minimum age limit for has to be 20 years as the minimum qualification for CAT exam graduation. Any candidate who has completed Graduation with 50 per cent aggregate (45 per cent for SC/ST candidates).

Any candidate in final year of Bachelor's degree course can appear in CAT exam. Any candidate having a professional degree like CA/CS/ICWAI with a minimum of 50 per cent in aggregate.

Q: Which documents are required for filling CAT application form?

Candidates need the following documents while filling the CAT application form:

A recent passport size photo (color against white background)
Scanned signature with black pen on white paper
Any photo ID card like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport
Class 10 marksheet
Class 12 marksheet
Graduation marksheet
Permanent address proof
Work experience documents Reserved category students need to upload Category Certificate along with the CAT application form. The Certificate is available on the CAT website. Candidates can download, fill it, get it attested by competent authority and upload it as PDF with the CAT application form.
The PwD category students also have to fill the PwD form and Scribe affidavit along with the exam application form. This is necessary for getting scribe facility and PwD facility at the test centre. The CAT application form is same for students from all categories. Those belonging to a particular category (SC/ST/PwD) will be required to mention it in the relevant field of the CAT form.