CAT 2026 Registration Last Date: IIM Indore to Close Application Window on September 15
IIM Indore will shut the CAT 2026 registration window on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST.

IIM Indore will shut the CAT 2026 registration window on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Candidates who have not yet submitted their application form can do so at the official portal, iimcat.ac.in, until the deadline. No submissions will be accepted after the window closes, and IIM Indore has not announced any extension so far.
CAT 2026 is the mandatory entrance exam for MBA/PGDM admission to 22 IIMs and more than 1,000 other participating B-schools. The exam itself is scheduled for November 29, 2026 (Sunday), so this registration deadline marks the last checkpoint before the admission cycle moves into the exam and results phase.
CAT 2026 Registration: Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 registration opened | August 3, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 registration closes | September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM IST |
| Work experience cut-off (if applicable) | July 31, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam date | November 29, 2026 [Tier 2] |
| CAT 2026 admit card release | November 4, 2026 [Tier 2 — VERIFY] |
| CAT 2026 result (expected) | First week of January 2027 [Tier 2 — tentative] |
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date and Timing
The application window on iimcat.ac.in will be disabled exactly at 5:00 PM on September 15, 2026. Candidates must complete every step — registration, form filling, document upload, and fee payment — before this time. IIM Indore has stated that no candidate will be allowed to submit the form after the deadline, so applicants are advised against waiting until the final hours.
Will CAT 2026 Registration Be Extended?
IIM Indore has not announced any change to the September 15 deadline. Candidates should not assume an extension will be granted. That said, conducting IIMs have extended the CAT registration deadline by a few days in some previous years — a past pattern that does not guarantee any change this year. Candidates are advised to complete their applications well ahead of the stated deadline rather than rely on a possible extension.
CAT 2026 Application Fee
There is no late fee for CAT 2026. The regular application fee applies regardless of when the form is submitted within the registration window:
- ₹2,700 — General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates
- ₹1,350 — SC, ST, and PwBD candidates
Payment can be made online via BillDesk using UPI, net banking, credit card, debit card, or wallet.
How to Fill the CAT 2026 Application Form
- Register on iimcat.ac.in — Select "Register" under New Candidate Registration.
- Generate login credentials — Enter full name, date of birth, email, nationality, and mobile number; complete OTP verification to receive a system-generated User ID and Password via email and SMS.
- Log in to the portal — Use "Registered Candidate Login," enter credentials, and select "Go to Application."
- Enter personal and contact details — Personal information, emergency contact, and communication address.
- Enter academic details — Class 10, Class 12/Diploma, Bachelor's degree marks, and higher qualification details, if any.
- Add work experience — Full-time, post-graduation work experience completed up to July 31, 2026, where applicable.
- Select programmes and interview cities — Choose preferred IIM programmes and interview cities for each.
- Choose five test cities — Selected in order of priority; IIM Indore allots the test centre from within these five.
- Upload documents — Passport-size photograph, signature, and category/disability certificates where applicable.
- Preview and confirm — Review all entered details, accept the payment declaration.
- Pay the fee and submit — Complete payment, note the transaction reference number, and download the confirmation page from the dashboard.
CAT 2026 Photo and Signature Upload Specifications
| Requirement | Photograph | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| File format | .jpg / .jpeg | .jpg / .jpeg |
| Maximum file size | 80 KB | 80 KB |
| Dimensions | 1200 x 1200 px (35mm x 45mm) | 80mm x 35mm |
| Minimum resolution | 150 DPI | 150 DPI |
Important Guidance for Applicants
CGPA-to-percentage conversion: If a candidate's graduating university has its own conversion formula, that formula must be used instead of the standard CBSE rule (CGPA × 9.5). Where no university-specific formula exists, the source guidance states candidates should multiply their CGPA by 100 to arrive at a percentage figure. [VERIFY] — this figure differs from the commonly cited CGPA × 10 convention used elsewhere; candidates should confirm the exact conversion method against the official CAT 2026 information bulletin before submitting their form.
Final-year undergraduate students: Candidates still completing their UG degree must enter marks up to the latest semester for which results have been declared. They should not guess or estimate a final cumulative percentage.
Browser and device compatibility: The portal supports Mozilla Firefox (versions 134–151), Google Chrome (versions 126–149), and Microsoft Edge (versions 126–149). On mobile, Android 4.0 and above or iOS 11 and above is required.
Expected volume: Based on past registration trends, more than 2.5 lakh candidates are expected to apply for CAT 2026. Final registration numbers will be confirmed once the window closes.
CAT 2026 Registration — Updates Timeline
- Registration deadline reminder — last date to apply is September 15.
- Application form is available only on iimcat.ac.in; no alternate channel is permFee confirmed at ₹2,700 (unreserved) and ₹1,350 (reserved categories).
- Supported browsers and mobile OS versions listed for the application portal.
- Deadline confirmed as September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM IST; login will be disabled at that time. No extension has been announced; past years have occasionally seen short extensions, but this is not guaranteed.
- No late fee applies to CAT 2026 registration.
- CGPA conversion guidance issued for candidates without a university-specific formula. [VERIFY]
- Final-year UG candidates advised to enter marks only up to their latest declared semester.
What Happens After Registration Closes
Once the window shuts on September 15, attention shifts to the exam-day timeline. Based on the official CAT 2026 notification, the admit card is expected around November 4, 2026 [VERIFY], ahead of the exam on November 29, 2026. Candidates should keep their registered email and mobile number accessible, as future communication — including admit card and test-city/slot allotment — will be sent there.
Official Website and Direct Links
- New registration: https://cdn.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/32842/101262/Registration.html
- Candidate login: https://cdn.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/32842/101262/login.html
- Official CAT website: iimcat.ac.in
