The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has released the official press release for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 on July 26, 2026. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026 on behalf of all Indian Institutes of Management, with Prof. Aditya Billore serving as the Convener for this year's exam. Registration for CAT 2026 opens on August 3, 2026, and the exam will be held on November 29, 2026.

Key Highlights of CAT 2026 Notification

  • Registration opens: August 3, 2026 (Monday), 10:00 AM
  • Registration closes: September 15, 2026 (Tuesday), 5:00 PM
  • Exam date: November 29, 2026 (Sunday), in three sessions
  • Test duration: 120 minutes, 40 minutes per section
  • Sole official website: iimcat.ac.in
  • Conducting institute: IIM Indore, on behalf of all IIMs

Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director of IIM Indore, said it is a matter of great privilege for the institute to conduct CAT 2026 on behalf of the Indian Institutes of Management, adding that the exam has consistently served as a gateway for individuals aspiring to contribute to business, governance, and society, and reaffirming a commitment to fairness, transparency, security, and operational excellence in conducting the test.

CAT 2026 Test Cities and Centre Allotment

CAT 2026 will be conducted in approximately 170 cities across India. Candidates will be able to choose five preferred test cities at the time of registration.

  • The CAT Centre will try to allot one of the five preferred cities to each candidate
  • In case of high demand in a region, a nearby centre may be allotted instead
  • Once a centre is allotted, no change is permitted
  • The list of test cities may change at the discretion of the CAT authorities

Registration Form Edit Window

After the registration window closes on September 15, a short edit window will open for candidates who have registered successfully and paid the applicable fee. During this window, only the following fields can be edited:

  1. Photograph
  2. Signature
  3. Test city preferences
I encourage every aspirant to approach the examination with confidence, integrity, and determination.— Prof. Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

SectionDuration
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension40 minutes
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning40 minutes
Quantitative Ability40 minutes

The total test duration is 120 minutes, with exactly 40 minutes allotted to each section. Candidates will not be allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions within a section. A mock exam to help candidates understand the test format will be made available on the official CAT website.

CAT 2026 Schedule at a Glance

EventDate
Press release and notificationJuly 26, 2026
Registration opensAugust 3, 2026, 10:00 AM
Registration closesSeptember 15, 2026, 5:00 PM
Registration form edit windowShort window after September 15, 2026
CAT 2026 exam dateNovember 29, 2026 (three sessions)

Official Website and Fraud Alert

IIM Indore has clarified that the sole official website for CAT 2026 is iimcat.ac.in, and no other website is affiliated with or authorised for CAT 2026. Candidates are urged to always verify the URL before proceeding with any action or sharing personal details, exercise caution around unsecured websites or platforms asking for payments outside the official portal, and report any suspicious activity to the CAT helpdesk at cat2026_helpdesk@iimidr.ac.in.

Impact on Candidates

With registration opening August 3 and running for roughly six weeks until September 15, candidates have a reasonably long window to complete their application, but the CAT Convener has specifically urged test takers to register well in advance to avoid a last-minute rush. Since test centre allotment cannot be changed once assigned, candidates should think carefully about their five preferred cities at the time of registration rather than treating the choice as a formality.

Expert Insight: Why the City Preference Order Matters

Counselling experts note that candidates often underestimate how much the order of their five preferred test cities matters, treating it as a minor formality during registration. Since centre allotment is irreversible once assigned, and high-demand regions may result in a nearby but less convenient centre being allotted, candidates are advised to rank their city preferences based on genuine feasibility, including familiarity with the location and ease of travel on exam day, rather than simply listing their home city first without considering realistic alternatives.

Conclusion

With IIM Indore's official CAT 2026 notification now out, candidates should mark August 3, 2026, for the opening of registration, prepare their preferred test cities and documents in advance, and complete their application well before the September 15 deadline, ahead of the exam on November 29, 2026.

Official Resources

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