CAT 2026

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level computer-based entrance exam conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026. It is the primary and most prestigious gateway for admission to MBA, PGDM, and PGP programs offered by 22 IIMs and more than 1,200 other top management institutes in India, including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IITs, SPJIMR, and IIFT. The CAT exam assesses candidates in three key areas: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). With over 2.5 lakh candidates appearing annually, it is one of the most competitive exams in India. The selection process for IIMs and other top B-schools involves multiple stages, including shortlisting based on CAT percentile, followed by Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI), and a final composite score calculation that considers academic records, work experience, and diversity factors. The CAT 2026 exam will be conducted in three slots across approximately 170 cities in India. The registration process begins on August 3, 2026, and the admit card will be available for download from November 4, 2026. As per the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin, the result is likely to be declared by the first week of January 2027.