News

CAT 2026 registration is officially open. IIM Indore, this year's conducting institute, released the CAT 2026 notification on July 26, 2026, and opened the registration window on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The last date to complete the registration process is September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM. All communication, application forms, and updates are issued only through the official website, iimcat.ac.in — no other website is authorised to host CAT registration.

CAT (Common Admission Test) is India's largest MBA entrance exam, and a valid CAT score is accepted by all 21 IIMs and more than 1,000 other B-schools, including FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, and several IITs. If you're planning to apply this year, here is everything you need to know, verified against the official notification.

Quick Overview: CAT 2026 at a Glance

Particular	Detail
Conducting Institute	IIM Indore
Notification Release Date	July 26, 2026
Registration Start Date	August 3, 2026 (10:00 AM)
Registration Last Date	September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM)
Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT), 3 shifts
Test Cities	Around 170 cities across India
Admit Card Release	Expected first week of November 2026
Result Declaration	Expected first week of January 2027
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

Has the CAT 2026 Syllabus Been Released?

This is one of the most searched questions every year, so it deserves a clear answer. The CAT Information Bulletin released alongside the CAT 2026 notification describes the exam's structure — three sections, question types, duration, and marking scheme — but it does not list specific chapters or topics the way a school or engineering entrance exam syllabus would. There is no official 'CAT 2026 syllabus PDF' on iimcat.ac.in.

What aspirants actually use instead is a syllabus inferred from the pattern of questions asked in previous years' papers. This unofficial-but-reliable topic list is consistent enough across recent CAT editions (including CAT 2025 and the years before it) that coaching institutes and serious aspirants treat it as the de facto syllabus. Below is that paper-wise breakdown.

CAT 2026 Paper-Wise Syllabus (Based on Previous Years' Papers)

CAT tests three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Since no official topic list exists, use the pattern below to plan your preparation, and always cross-check with the latest mock tests closer to the exam.

1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

•      Reading Comprehension passages (business, economy, humanities, science, and abstract topics)

•      Para-jumbles (arranging jumbled sentences into a logical paragraph)

•      Para-summary (choosing the best summary of a given paragraph)

•      Odd-sentence-out questions

•      Occasionally, para-completion questions (frequency varies year to year)

Reading comprehension typically carries the highest weight in this section, so consistent reading of quality long-form journalism and editorials is one of the most effective preparation habits.

2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

•      Data sets based on tables, bar graphs, line charts, and pie charts

•      Caselets requiring interpretation of business or statistical scenarios

•      Logical reasoning puzzles: seating arrangements, sequencing, and scheduling

•      Games and tournament-based reasoning sets

•      Network and route-based reasoning problems

DILR is considered the most unpredictable section, since IIMs occasionally vary the number of sets or their difficulty from year to year. Practising varied, mixed-difficulty sets matters more here than memorising a fixed topic list.

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

•      Arithmetic: percentages, profit & loss, time-speed-distance, time & work, averages, ratios

•      Algebra: linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, functions

•      Number System: divisibility, remainders, factors, HCF-LCM

•      Geometry & Mensuration: triangles, circles, coordinate geometry, areas and volumes

•      Modern Math: permutations & combinations, probability, set theory, logarithms

Most QA questions test class 10–12 level mathematics, but under strict time pressure. Speed and accuracy matter far more than knowledge of advanced concepts.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Based on the official notification and recent CAT trends, the exam is expected to retain its established format. Below is the pattern candidates should prepare around.

Feature	Detail
Total Duration	120 minutes (40 minutes per section, non-transferable)
Total Sections	3 — VARC, DILR, QA
Approximate Questions	Around 68 (may see minor variation)
Question Types	MCQs and TITA (Type in the Answer)
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct MCQ, -1 for incorrect MCQ
TITA Marking	+3 for correct, no negative marking
Exam Shifts	3 shifts on the same day

CAT 2026 Eligibility & Application Fee

Eligibility Criteria

•      A Bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates)

•      Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply, subject to submitting proof later

•      Professional degree holders (CA, CS, CMA/ICWA, or FIAI) with the required marks are eligible

•      No upper age limit and no cap on the number of attempts

Application Fee

Category	Fee (INR)
General / EWS / NC-OBC	Rs. 2,700
SC / ST / PwD	Rs. 1,350

How to Register for CAT 2026

Follow these steps to complete your CAT 2026 registration on the official website:

•      Visit the official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in

•      Click on the 'New Registration' or 'New Candidate Registration' link

•      Enter your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number, then verify via OTP

•      Log in using the generated User ID and password to access the application form

•      Fill in personal, academic, and category details, and select up to five preferred test cities

•      Upload a recent photograph and scanned signature as per the specified format

•      Select your preferred programmes and participating IIMs

•      Pay the application fee online via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI

•      Preview and submit the form, then save the confirmation page for your records

CAT 2026 Preparation Tips

With the syllabus unofficial and the pattern largely stable, here's how to structure your preparation in the months leading up to November 29.

1. Build a Realistic Study Timeline

Most successful candidates dedicate six to nine months to CAT preparation. If you're starting late, a focused three-to-four-month plan with 4–6 hours of daily study can still work, provided you prioritise high-weightage topics over completeness.

2. Take Sectional and Full-Length Mocks Regularly

Mock tests are the closest simulation of the real CAT experience. Weekly full-length mocks, combined with sectional tests for your weaker areas, help build both speed and exam-day temperament.

3. Read Widely for VARC

Daily reading of editorials, long-form articles, and opinion pieces from reputable publications builds the comprehension speed that CAT's RC passages demand. Treat reading as a habit, not a one-time revision topic.

4. Master Question Selection in DILR

Since not every DILR set is solvable within the time limit, learning to quickly judge which sets are worth attempting is often more valuable than solving every set you encounter in practice.

5. Focus on Accuracy Over Volume in QA

Since most QA topics are drawn from school-level mathematics, the differentiator is speed and accuracy, not exposure to advanced material. Revise formulas and shortcut techniques regularly rather than chasing obscure question types.

6. Track Official Updates Only

Bookmark iimcat.ac.in and check it periodically for admit card release dates, any changes to exam city allotment, and other official announcements, rather than relying solely on third-party sources.

Conclusion

CAT 2026 registration is live, the exam date is confirmed for November 29, 2026, and IIM Indore is at the helm this year. The one point worth remembering above all else is that no official syllabus has been released — nor is one expected — so your best strategy is to prepare using the well-established topic pattern from past papers while staying alert to the exam's structure through the official notification. Keep iimcat.ac.in bookmarked, complete your registration well before the September 15 deadline, and use the months ahead to build genuine speed and accuracy across VARC, DILR, and QA. A steady, mock-test-driven preparation routine, rather than last-minute cramming, remains the most reliable path to a strong CAT 2026 percentile.