CAT 2026 Registration Extended

CAT Registration 2026: Application Form, Fees and Important Details

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the major entrance examinations for students seeking admission to IIMs and other management institutes in India. Completing the application correctly is an important part of the admission process. Candidates planning to appear for the exam should understand the CAT Registration 2026 process, required documents, application fee, and important deadlines before submitting the form.

For CAT 2026, the registration deadline was extended to 22 September 2026 at 5:00 PM, while the examination is scheduled for 29 November 2026. Candidates should always verify the latest information on the official CAT portal before taking any action.

CAT Registration 2026: Important Details

The CAT application process requires candidates to create an account, provide personal and academic information, upload documents, select preferred programmes and test cities, pay the application fee, and submit the completed form.

Candidates can currently select up to five preferred test cities. Final centre allocation depends on availability, so students should select locations that are practical to reach.

Documents Required for CAT Application

Before starting the application, candidates should keep all necessary information and documents ready. These may include:

• Personal and contact details
• Class 10 and Class 12 academic information
• Graduation details
• Recent photograph
• Scanned signature
• Category certificate, where applicable
• PwD certificate, where applicable
• Work experience details for eligible candidates

Students should enter marks and other academic information directly from their official documents rather than relying on memory. File formats, sizes, and certificate requirements should be checked on the official portal before uploading.

How to Fill the CAT Application Form

The CAT Registration 2026 process can be completed through the official CAT website. Candidates generally need to follow these steps:

1. Create an account using a valid email and mobile number.
2. Complete the required verification.
3. Enter personal and academic details.
4. Add work experience, if applicable.
5. Select category and reservation details.
6. Upload the required documents.
7. Select eligible IIM programmes.
8. Choose preferred test cities.
9. Review all information carefully.
10. Pay the application fee.
11. Submit the application.
12. Download the confirmation page and payment receipt.

Candidates should carefully check their name, date of birth, academic marks, category, graduation status, photograph, signature, programme choices, and test-city preferences before final submission.

CAT Application Fee

The reported CAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Candidates should verify the final fee and payment instructions on the official CAT website before making the payment.

After payment, candidates should confirm that the application status shows successful submission. Simply having money deducted from the bank account does not necessarily mean that the application has been successfully submitted.

Common CAT Registration Mistakes

Students should avoid common errors such as entering incorrect marks, uploading unclear photographs or signatures, selecting the wrong category, using inactive contact details, or choosing impractical test cities.

It is also better to complete the form before the final deadline instead of waiting until the last few hours. Technical issues, payment problems, or document-upload errors can create unnecessary difficulties.

A correction window may be provided, but only selected fields may be editable. Therefore, candidates should complete the original application carefully instead of depending on a correction facility.

What to Do After CAT Registration?

Completing registration is only the beginning of CAT preparation. After submitting the application, candidates should take a diagnostic mock test and identify their strengths and weaknesses in VARC, DILR, and Quant.

A structured CAT preparation strategy can help students organise concept learning, timed practice, mock tests, and performance analysis.

Students can also use CAT VARC preparation resources to improve Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability skills.

Conclusion

Completing CAT Registration 2026 accurately is essential for candidates planning to appear for the examination. Keeping documents ready, checking every application detail, selecting practical test cities, completing payment successfully, and saving the confirmation receipt can help avoid common problems.

Once the registration process is complete, candidates should shift their focus towards systematic preparation, regular practice, mock tests, and detailed performance analysis to make the most of their remaining preparation time.