The Indian Institutes of Management have extended the registration deadline for the Common Admission Test 2026, providing candidates with an additional week to complete the application process. The revised deadline for CAT 2026 registration is September 22, 2026, at 5 PM.
The registration deadline was earlier scheduled to close on September 15. The extension gives candidates who had not completed their applications an additional opportunity to register for one of India's most important management entrance examinations. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026.
CAT is conducted annually for admission to postgraduate management programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management and is also accepted by several other business schools across India. The examination is therefore an important part of the admission process for candidates seeking MBA and other management programmes.
According to the revised schedule, CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026. The examination will be held in three sessions across approximately 170 test cities in India. Candidates will be assigned an examination centre based on their preferences and availability.
Candidates who have not yet registered should use the additional time carefully and complete the application process before the new deadline. Registration involves entering personal and academic information, selecting category details where applicable, uploading the required documents and submitting the application fee.
Applicants should carefully review every detail before submitting the form. Errors in personal information, academic details, category information or other application fields can create difficulties later in the admission process. Candidates should also make sure that uploaded photographs, signatures and other documents meet the specifications mentioned in the official CAT instructions.
The IIMs have indicated that candidates who successfully complete their applications and pay the required fee will have access to a limited correction facility after registration closes. According to current information, the correction window will allow changes to certain details, including the photograph, signature and test city preferences. Candidates should not assume that every field in the application form can be edited after submission.
The examination will be conducted as a computer-based test. CAT 2026 will have three sections, and candidates will be required to complete each section within the prescribed time. Recent information from the examination authorities indicates that the total test duration will be 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted to each section. Candidates will not be permitted to move between sections while answering a particular section.
The three broad areas assessed through CAT are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Candidates should prepare for all sections because performance across the examination can influence their overall percentile and the subsequent admission process.
The extension of the registration deadline does not change the CAT 2026 examination date. Candidates should therefore use the additional registration period without delaying their preparation. With the examination scheduled for November 29, aspirants have limited time to complete their preparation, practise mock tests and improve their performance across the three sections.
CAT scores are used by the IIMs as one component of their admission processes. Each IIM follows its own selection criteria, and a CAT score alone does not automatically guarantee admission. Institutes may consider other factors such as academic performance, work experience, category, written assessments, interviews and other parameters depending on their individual admission policies.
Candidates should therefore understand that registering for CAT is only the first stage of the management admission process. After the examination, candidates who meet the relevant requirements may be considered by participating institutions according to their respective selection procedures.
The extension is particularly relevant for candidates who were unable to complete their forms before the original September 15 deadline. The additional week provides more time to check eligibility, gather documents, complete payment and submit the application.
However, candidates should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit their forms. Heavy traffic on the registration portal, payment problems or document-upload issues can create difficulties close to the deadline. Completing the application well before September 22 can help reduce the risk of last-minute problems.
Candidates should also keep their login credentials safe after registration. These details may be required for accessing future examination-related information, downloading the admit card and checking other updates.
The examination city is another important part of the application process. Candidates can provide their preferred test cities during registration, but the final centre allocation depends on availability. In areas with high demand, the examination authority may allot a centre close to the preferences selected by the candidate. Once the centre is allotted, changes may not be permitted.
The CAT examination is conducted in multiple cities to provide candidates from different parts of the country with access to test centres. The approximately 170-city network for CAT 2026 is intended to accommodate candidates across different regions of India.
The November 29 examination date also gives candidates a clear preparation target. Aspirants can divide the remaining preparation period into stages covering concept revision, sectional practice, mock examinations and analysis of performance. Regular practice can help candidates identify areas that require additional attention.
Candidates should also follow official announcements rather than relying exclusively on information circulated through social media or unofficial websites. Changes to examination dates, admit cards, test centres, correction facilities or other procedures should be confirmed through the official CAT portal.
The registration extension is therefore an important update for all CAT 2026 aspirants who have not yet submitted their applications. The new deadline is September 22 at 5 PM, while the entrance examination remains scheduled for November 29.
Candidates should complete the application process within the revised deadline and ensure that all information submitted is accurate. After registration, they should focus on preparation and regularly check the official CAT website for admit card and examination-related announcements.
The extension provides additional time, but it does not remove the need for timely preparation. With the examination date approaching, candidates can use the additional registration period to complete their application while continuing their preparation for the three sections of the test.
CAT 2026 remains an important gateway for candidates seeking admission to management programmes at IIMs and other participating institutions. The revised registration deadline gives eligible applicants one more opportunity to enter the examination process.