CMAT 2026: A Gateway to Top MBA Programs – Apply Before November 17
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 registration window is currently open, offering aspiring management students a crucial opportunity to secure admission into over 1,300 AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM colleges across India. Administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), CMAT is a national-level entrance examination that serves as a single gateway for a vast number of institutions.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 registration window is currently open, offering aspiring management students a crucial opportunity to secure admission into over 1,300 AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM colleges across India. Administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), CMAT is a national-level entrance examination that serves as a single gateway for a vast number of institutions.
Key Dates and Application Details
Aspirants must note the strict deadlines for the application process. The last date for online submission of the CMAT 2026 application form is November 17, 2025, and the fee payment window remains open one day longer, until November 18, 2025 (up to 11:50 PM). Given the high volume of applications, candidates are strongly advised to complete the registration process well before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical glitches. Following the primary registration, NTA is also expected to open a Correction Window around November 20-22, 2025, allowing candidates to rectify specific fields in their application forms.
The application fee is typically $\text{₹}2,500$ for General Male candidates and $\text{₹}1,250$ for General Female, Gen-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD/PwBD, and Third Gender candidates. Payment must be made online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
Eligibility and Exam Structure
The CMAT 2026 examination is open to any graduate holding a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Crucially for high school students aspiring for future management studies and current undergraduate students, even those in the final year of their qualifying degree are eligible to apply. Their admission will be provisional, subject to submitting the final passing certificate at the time of college admission. There is no upper age limit for CMAT, making it accessible to candidates at any career stage.
The examination is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) lasting 180 minutes (3 hours), and it assesses a candidate's aptitude across five key sections:
| Section | Number of Questions | Max. Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 80 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 80 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 80 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 80 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
The marking scheme is straightforward: +4 marks for every correct answer and a -1 mark penalty for every incorrect one. Unlike some other entrance exams, CMAT does not have sectional time limits, giving aspirants the freedom to allocate the 180 minutes strategically across the five sections.
Preparation and Admission Outlook
The introduction of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship section highlights the growing focus on start-up culture and modern business acumen in management education. Aspirants should therefore ensure a balanced preparation across all five sections, with a strong emphasis on current affairs and fundamental management concepts for the newer section.
CMAT score-accepting institutions include reputed colleges, particularly in states like Maharashtra (through the DTE CAP process) and various private B-Schools. A high CMAT score, typically a 95+ percentile, is essential for securing a seat in the top-tier institutions, followed by the respective college's selection process, which usually involves Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
This is a critical step for management aspirants. For regular updates, follow Only Education News.