CAT 2026 Registration, IIM MBA Form Deadline September 15; Check Mistakes to Avoid

CAT 2026 Registration: IIM MBA Form Deadline September 15; Check Mistakes to Avoid

Candidates are reminded that they must register for the CAT 2026 exam prior to the deadline of 5 PM on September 15, 2026. The window for CAT 2026 online registrations opened on August 3, 2022. This year’s exam will be administered by IIM Indore and will be held in 3 sessions across approximately 170 centres on November 29th, 2026. IIM CAT scores will be utilised for admission to the IIMs and by several other management institutions.

Candidates should not be in a state of incomplete CAT 2026 applications and should avoid last-minute registrations. Payment failures or any last-minute input errors can turn a simple registration process into a major problem.

CAT 2026 Registration: Important Dates

The September 15 deadline is the officially specified closing date. Candidates should not assume that the deadline will automatically be extended based on previous years' trends.

CAT 2026 Registration Fee

The registration fees for CAT 2026 are as follows:

• General, EWS and NC-OBC: ₹2,700
• SC, ST and PwD/PwBD: ₹1,350

The registration fee is non-refundable and is paid only online. Candidates do not have to pay a CAT registration fee for applying to multiple IIM programs.

Who is Eligible to Appear for CAT 2026?

Along with a recognised Bachelor’s Degree, applicants have to score at least 50% marks to be eligible to apply. For SC, ST, and PD candidates, the minimum requirement is 45% marks. Finally, applicants who are in their final year of their Bachelor’s Degree are eligible to apply.

Applicants have to enter their scores according to the method prescribed by their respective universities. If a university does not have any method to convert CGPA to Percent, candidates have to follow the methods mentioned in the CAT Registration form, rather than providing a percentage randomly.

CAT 2026 Form: Filling Mistakes that Candidates Must Avoid

The preparation for CAT begins well before the candidate has to sit for the exam. The application form also requires the same amount of preparation as a mock test.

1. Check carefully on all personal details

To avoid potential disaster after fee has been paid, try to check details of name, date of birth, email, and phone number very carefully. Once submitted, these details cannot be changed.

2. Be careful with academic marks

Do not round off percentages. Enter aggregate marks as per the calculation method provided by the university. Keep in mind the instructions provided for final year candidates, and enter the latest available marks.

3. Choose test cities carefully

Candidates have to be careful in selecting their test cities. While it is expected that candidates will get an opportunity to correct their forms, it is better not to count on corrections for all possible mistakes.

4. Check photograph and signature files

Problems caused by incorrect dimensions, file formats, or unclear images can be easily avoided. Check the photograph and signature uploads before proceeding to payment.

5. Don't ignore the IIM programme selection

CAT registration does not end by securing your spot for the exam. Candidates should check and understand the requirements for each IIM program they intend to apply for before selecting them.

6. Do not skip the final preview

The Preview stage is the most important part of the application process which will take 5 minutes at most. Each section should be checked before the declaration is finalized and the fee is paid. Once the fee is paid, the majority of the application details become locked.

Is There a CAT 2026 Correction Window?

A correction window after registration is expected; however, the CAT 2026 correction window dates have not been released. From available information, the correction window is expected to allow changes to only the uploaded photograph and signature, and the selected test city.

Correction windows, at best, should be considered a safety net for filling out the application form.

What Applicants Should Complete Before September 15

For those who have not submitted their CAT form, academic records, Photograph, signature, and applicable category/PwD documents should be kept ready prior to the final submission.

Candidates who have already registered should log in and check if their submitted details and payment status are correct. If payment status shows payment as a failure but money is deducted, candidates should not attempt a second payment immediately, but first should check the application dashboard and payment status.

With the deadline only a few days away, the best CAT application doesn’t mean getting the application done at the last hour. It also means getting an application done at the last hour that doesn't require desperate rescues in the future.

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