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CAT 2026 Registration Deadline Nears: IIM Indore to Close Application Window on September 15; Check Application Fee and How to Apply

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Praful Bhatnagar
College Admin | Updated on Sep 9, 2026

CAT 2026 Registration Deadline Nears: IIM Indore to Close Application Window on September 15; Check Application Fee and How to Apply: CAT 2026 Registration: Candidates planning to appear for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 should complete their online application process soon, as the registration window is scheduled to close on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. The registration process is currently active for eligible candidates through the official CAT website.

IIM Indore, the organising institute for CAT 2026, opened the online registration and application portal on August 3, 2026. Aspirants seeking admission to postgraduate management programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other participating management institutions can submit their applications within the prescribed deadline.

Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the last moment and should complete the registration, application form submission and payment process well before the closing time.

CAT 2026 Registration Window Open Until September 15

The online application facility for CAT 2026 is presently available through the official portal:

CAT 2026 Official Registration Portal

Applicants must ensure that their complete application form, including the required payment, is submitted before 5:00 PM IST on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Candidates should carefully check every detail entered in the application form before making the final payment. Once the application fee has been paid and the form is finally submitted, changes to the submitted information may not be permitted.

Direct Link for CAT 2026 Registration

Candidates can access the CAT 2026 registration page directly through:

CAT 2026 New Candidate Registration

Those who have already created their registration credentials can access their application dashboard through:

CAT 2026 Registered Candidate Login

How to Fill the CAT 2026 Application Form?

Candidates can follow the step-by-step procedure below to complete the CAT 2026 registration and application form:

Step 1: Visit the Official CAT Website

Go to the official CAT portal and select 'Register' under the New Candidate Registration section.

Step 2: Complete Basic Registration

Enter the required basic information, including:

  • Name

  • Date of Birth

  • Email Address

  • Country

  • Mobile Number

Candidates will then need to complete the OTP verification process.

Step 3: Receive User ID and Password

After successful registration, a system-generated User ID and Password will be sent to the candidate's registered email address and mobile number.

Step 4: Log in to the Application Dashboard

Return to the official website and use the Registered Candidate Login option. Enter the login credentials and click on 'GO TO APPLICATION'.

Step 5: Enter Personal and Contact Details

Candidates must provide the required personal information, including:

  • Personal details

  • Emergency contact information

  • Communication address

All information should be entered accurately and carefully.

Step 6: Fill Academic Qualification Details

Applicants must provide details of their educational qualifications, including:

  • Class 10 marks and academic details

  • Class 12 marks or Diploma details

  • Bachelor's degree marks and qualification information

  • Details of any other higher educational qualifications

Candidates should ensure that all academic information matches their official records.

Step 7: Add Work Experience Details

Candidates who have relevant post-graduation full-time work experience may enter the required details of their employment experience completed up to July 31, 2026.

Step 8: Select Preferred IIM Programmes

Applicants must select their preferred IIM programmes and choose the corresponding interview cities from the options available in the application form.

Step 9: Choose CAT 2026 Test Cities

Candidates must select five different test city preferences and arrange them according to their order of priority.

Applicants should select their preferred examination cities carefully.

Step 10: Upload Required Documents

Candidates will be required to upload scanned copies of the following documents, wherever applicable:

  • Passport-size photograph

  • Signature

  • Category certificate

  • Disability certificate

Applicants should ensure that all uploaded documents meet the prescribed specifications and requirements.

Step 11: Preview the Complete Application

Before making the payment, candidates should click on the 'PREVIEW' option and carefully review all the information entered in the application form.

After verifying the details, candidates must:

  • Select the required confirmation checkbox

  • Accept the payment declaration

  • Proceed to the online payment section

Step 12: Pay the CAT 2026 Application Fee

The application fee can be paid online through the BillDesk payment gateway using any of the following payment methods:

  • UPI

  • Net Banking

  • Credit Card

  • Debit Card

  • Wallet

Step 13: Complete Final Submission

After the successful completion of the payment process:

  • Submit the application form

  • Save the transaction reference number

  • Download the confirmation page from the candidate dashboard

Candidates should retain the confirmation page and transaction details for future reference.

CAT 2026 Application Fee

The CAT 2026 registration fee varies according to the candidate's category.

Candidate Category CAT 2026 Application Fee

SC / ST / PwBD Candidates

INR 1,350

General / EWS / NC-OBC Candidates

INR 2,700

Candidates must successfully complete the online payment process to finalise their CAT 2026 application.

CAT 2026 Registration Last Date

The final deadline for submitting the CAT 2026 application form is:

Event Date and Time

CAT 2026 Registration Last Date

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Final Submission Deadline

5:00 PM IST

Candidates must complete the entire application process before the deadline. This includes:

  • Completing the application form

  • Reviewing the details through the preview option

  • Confirming the submitted information

  • Accepting the required declaration

  • Successfully paying the registration fee

Applicants should not assume that merely filling out the application form will complete their registration. The application must be properly submitted and the required fee must be successfully paid through the official payment system before the 5:00 PM IST deadline on September 15, 2026.

Important Instructions for CAT 2026 Applicants

Candidates are advised to keep the following points in mind while completing their registration:

Verify Every Entry Carefully: Applicants should review their personal, academic and contact details before final submission.

Do Not Wait for the Last Day: Heavy traffic or technical issues near the deadline may create difficulties. Candidates should submit their forms as early as possible.

Keep Documents Ready: Photograph, signature and applicable category or disability certificates should be prepared in advance according to the prescribed requirements.

Save Login Credentials: Candidates should securely retain their User ID and Password for future access to the application dashboard.

Keep Payment Details: The transaction reference number and confirmation page should be downloaded and saved after successful payment.

Check Test City Preferences: Candidates should carefully arrange all five examination city choices in their preferred order.

CAT 2026 Registration: What Candidates Should Do Now

With the registration deadline approaching, management aspirants should immediately verify their eligibility and complete the online application process. Candidates should first register on the official portal, receive their login credentials and then proceed to fill out the detailed application form.

Before payment, it is essential to review every section of the application carefully, including personal information, educational qualifications, work experience details, programme preferences, interview cities and examination centre choices.

Candidates must remember that the CAT 2026 registration process will close on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Therefore, eligible applicants should complete all formalities, including payment and final submission, well before the prescribed deadline.

The CAT examination remains one of the most important entrance tests for candidates aspiring to pursue postgraduate management education at the IIMs and other leading management institutions in India. With the application window now entering its final phase, interested candidates should complete their registration without delay and keep a copy of their submitted application and payment confirmation for future use.