CMAT 2026 Registration Open for MBA Aspirants; Apply Online Before November 17 Deadline
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened registration for CMAT 2026, the key entrance exam for MBA/PGDM programs across AICTE-approved B-schools. The critical deadline to submit your online application and pay the fee is November 17, 2025. This guide details the step-by-step registration, the variable application fee (₹2,500/₹1,250), the expected January 2026 exam date, and the mandatory 5-section exam pattern. Act fast to secure your chance at a top management college admission.
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 is the national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), serving as the gateway to AICTE-approved management programs, including MBA and PGDM, across India. For aspirants targeting a seat in the 2026 academic batch, the registration window is currently active on the official CMAT website: cmat.nta.nic.in.
This is a high-stakes announcement, as the registration window is closing soon. The strict deadline to apply online and successfully pay the application fee is November 17, 2025. The CMAT is widely known for its balanced exam pattern, which includes a section on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, making it a unique test of management aptitude. With the exam typically expected in January 2026, aspirants must complete this administrative step immediately to focus solely on their preparation.
Step-by-Step CMAT 2026 Application and Fee Payment
The application process for CMAT 2026 is entirely online and managed by the NTA. It requires a meticulous, four-stage approach—Registration, Form Filling, Document Upload, and Fee Payment.
- Stage 1: Online Registration and ID Generation
- Visit the Official NTA Website: Navigate to the designated CMAT portal: cmat.nta.nic.in.
- New Registration: Click on the 'New Candidate Registration' or 'CMAT 2026 Registration' link.
- Create Login Credentials: Provide essential details: your Name, Father's/Mother's Name, Date of Birth, Gender, a valid Email Address, and a Mobile Number. All future communication, including admit card and result links, will be sent to these contacts.
- Generate Application Number: Upon successful registration, a system-generated, 12-digit CMAT Application Number will be displayed. Note this down immediately.
- Stage 2: Filling the Detailed Application Form
- Login: Use the generated Application Number and the password you set to log in to the applicant dashboard.
- Fill Details: Complete the application form with accurate Personal Details, Academic Qualifications (Class 10, 12, and Graduation marks), Correspondence Address, and select your preferred Test Cities (usually four choices).
- Select City and Course Preference: Candidates must judiciously select their city preferences for the exam centre and indicate their interest in the five core sections of the exam.
- Stage 3 & 4: Documents and Fee Payment
- Upload Documents: Upload the scanned images of your documents as per NTA specifications:
- Passport Photograph: Recent, clear photo (10KB to 200KB, JPG/JPEG).
- Signature: Clear signature on white paper (4KB to 30KB, JPG/JPEG).
- Category Certificate: If applicable (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD).
- Application Fee Payment: The CMAT 2026 fee structure is category- and gender-specific:
- General (UR) Male: ₹2,500
- All Female Candidates and Reserved Categories (EWS/OBC-NCL/SC/ST/PwD/Transgender): ₹1,250
- Pay the fee online via Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. The final submission is only confirmed after successful fee payment.
- Upload Documents: Upload the scanned images of your documents as per NTA specifications:
- Final Deadline Reminder: The last date for application submission is November 17, 2025, and the last date for fee payment is November 18, 2025.
CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus Overview
CMAT 2026 is a 3-hour Computer-Based Test (CBT) designed to assess a candidate's overall aptitude for management studies. Understanding the five-section pattern and its specific marking scheme is essential for effective test-taking strategy.
- CMAT 2026 Examination Structure:
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Total Questions: 100 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Total Marks: 400 Marks
- Marking Scheme: +4 marks for every correct answer, and -1 mark (negative marking) for every incorrect answer.
- Sectional Composition (20 Questions / 80 Marks Each):
- Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QTDI): Covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Data Interpretation based on charts and tables.
- Logical Reasoning (LR): Includes Analytical Reasoning, Directions, Blood Relations, Series, and Coding-Decoding.
- Language Comprehension (LC): Focuses on Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Verbal Ability.
- General Awareness (GA): Tests knowledge of Current Affairs, Business, Politics, Sports, and static GK related to Indian and Global events.
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship (IE): A unique section introduced by NTA, focusing on concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship theories, and the start-up ecosystem.
- Strategic Preparation: Due to the comprehensive nature of the syllabus, aspirants must allocate time to the General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship sections, which often serve as major differentiating factors in the final percentile score.
Admission Eligibility and Post-Application Timeline
CMAT is a highly valuable entrance exam, opening doors to institutions that offer a strong Return on Investment (ROI) for management education.
- CMAT Eligibility Criteria:
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or Institute.
- Final Year Students: Students who are appearing for the final year of their Bachelor’s degree (those whose results will be declared before the commencement of admission for the 2026-27 session) are also eligible to apply.
- Age Limit: There is no age restriction for appearing in CMAT.
- Post-Application Important Dates (Tentative):
- Application Form Correction Window: Expected from November 20 – November 21, 2025. Use this window to correct non-critical errors like academic details or address.
- CMAT 2026 Admit Card Release: Expected in mid-January 2026.
- CMAT 2026 Exam Date: Expected to be held in the last week of January 2026.
- Acceptance: CMAT scores are accepted by over 1,000 AICTE-approved B-schools, including highly-ranked institutions across Maharashtra (for state-level MBA admissions), Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, and Pune, offering a wide array of choices for MBA/PGDM programs.
Conclusion
The CMAT 2026 registration process demands immediate attention from MBA aspirants. With the November 17, 2025, deadline fast approaching, securing your application and fee payment on cmat.nta.nic.in is paramount. A high CMAT percentile is a direct path to many sought-after management programs without the intense competition of exams like CAT. Complete your registration now and transition your focus to mastering the five sections for the upcoming January 2026 examination.
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