Lakhs of MBA aspirants across India are gearing up for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026, and the buzz around this year's exam is already building. According to established rotational patterns and multiple education portals tracking exam trends, IIM Indore is expected to be the convening institute for CAT 2026. However, candidates should note that the official confirmation is still awaited and will only be verified once the CAT 2026 notification is released by the conducting IIM.
CAT 2026: Quick Overview
Before diving into the details, here is a snapshot of what aspirants can expect from CAT 2026, based on prevailing trends and predictions from previous years.
- Conducting Institute (Expected): IIM Indore
- Exam Date (Tentative): Sunday, November 29, 2026
- Notification Release (Expected): Last week of July 2026
- Registration Start (Expected): First week of August 2026
- Exam Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Exam Duration: 120 minutes across three sections
- Official Website: iimcat.ac.in
Why IIM Indore Is Expected to Conduct CAT 2026
CAT is administered every year by one of the older and more established IIMs on a rotational basis. This group typically includes IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Lucknow. Since IIM Kozhikode was responsible for conducting CAT 2025, and going by the cyclical pattern followed over the years, IIM Indore is widely expected to take charge of CAT 2026.
It is worth noting that IIM Indore has conducted CAT on earlier occasions as well, including in 2020, 2014, and 2013. The 2020 edition, for instance, featured a shorter format with 76 questions and a reduced duration of 120 minutes due to pandemic-related restrictions. Based on this history, aspirants can expect IIM Indore to bring its own approach to question setting and difficulty calibration, while largely retaining the exam's core structure.
Does the Conducting IIM Affect Difficulty Level?
Every IIM has a distinct style of setting the CAT question paper, but the overall difficulty level of the exam tends to remain broadly consistent year over year. Candidates preparing for CAT 2026 should focus on strengthening fundamentals across all three sections rather than trying to predict a specific pattern shift based solely on the conducting institute.
CAT 2026 Notification: When Will It Be Released?
The CAT 2026 official notification is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026, most likely around July 26, 2026, which falls on the last Sunday of the month. This aligns with the pattern followed in recent years, where the conducting IIM has consistently released the notification on the final Sunday of July or the first Sunday of August.
The notification will be published as an official PDF document on the CAT website, iimcat.ac.in, and is also typically advertised in leading national newspapers. This document will officially confirm the conducting institute, exam date, registration timeline, application fee, eligibility norms, exam pattern, and the list of participating test cities.
What Will the CAT 2026 Notification Contain?
- Confirmation of the conducting IIM
- Exam date, time, and number of test slots
- Registration start and end dates
- Application fee structure for various categories
- Eligibility criteria for general and reserved categories
- Exam pattern, including number of questions and marking scheme
- List of test cities and centres
Expected CAT 2026 Exam Date and Schedule
CAT is traditionally held on the last Sunday of November each year. Following this trend, CAT 2026 is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026. The exam is expected to be conducted in three slots — morning, afternoon, and evening — across approximately 170 cities and more than 400 test centres in India. The exam is administered on behalf of the conducting IIM by an external testing partner, ensuring a standardised computer-based testing experience nationwide.
Registration is likely to open in the first week of August 2026, with the window remaining active for around six to seven weeks. The admit card is expected to be released about two to three weeks before the exam, typically in the last week of October or the first week of November.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
While the final eligibility criteria will be confirmed in the official notification, the requirements are expected to remain largely unchanged from previous years:
- A bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognised university.
- Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree requirements before the admission process concludes.
- There is no upper age limit to appear for CAT.
- Candidates holding professional qualifications such as CA, CS, or ICWA with the required marks are also eligible.
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern (Expected)
Based on recent trends, CAT 2026 is expected to retain the standard three-section format:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 24 questions
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 22 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 22 questions
The exam is likely to carry a total of 68 questions across a 120-minute duration. Each correct answer typically earns three marks, while an incorrect response to a multiple-choice question attracts a penalty of one mark. Type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions generally carry no negative marking.
CAT 2026 Application Fee (Expected)
The application fee is expected to remain close to last year's structure, with General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates likely paying around ₹2,600, while SC, ST, and PwD candidates may pay approximately ₹1,300. The exact fee structure will be officially confirmed only in the CAT 2026 notification.
What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Do Now?
With the official notification still a few weeks away, candidates should use this time productively rather than waiting idly. Here are a few practical steps aspirants can take right now.
- Begin or continue preparation across all three sections, focusing on concept clarity rather than last-minute cramming.
- Keep required documents — mark sheets, category certificates, and a valid photo ID — ready in advance for a smooth registration process.
- Regularly check the official website, iimcat.ac.in, for the notification release.
- Practise previous years' question papers and take mock tests to build speed and accuracy.
- Avoid relying on unofficial sources for critical dates; always cross-verify with the official notification once released.
Final Word
While IIM Indore is the strong favourite to conduct CAT 2026 based on the established rotational cycle among IIMs, this remains an expectation until the official notification is released. Aspirants are advised to continue their preparation without pause and keep a close watch on the official CAT website for authentic updates. Once released, the notification will settle every open question — from the exact exam date to the final fee structure — and mark the formal beginning of the CAT 2026 admission cycle.
