CAT 2026 Registration Last Date Today at 5 PM: Apply at iimcat.ac.in, Check Fees, Eligibility, Pattern and Last-Minute Tips

CAT 2026 registration closes today, September 15, at 5 PM, giving MBA aspirants only a few remaining hours to complete the Common Admission Test application through the official IIM CAT portal. IIM Indore, which is conducting CAT 2026, has not announced an extension so far, meaning candidates who have not yet registered should complete the entire application, upload documents, pay the fee and submit the form before the 5 PM deadline.

CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29 across approximately 170 cities in three sessions.

The admit card is scheduled to become available from November 4.

Candidates should not assume that creating a registration ID is enough. The application is only complete after all required information, uploads and fee payment have been successfully submitted.

CAT 2026 Important Dates

Event	Date
Registration Opened	August 3, 2026 at 10 AM
Registration Deadline	September 15, 2026 at 5 PM
Admit Card	From November 4, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam	November 29, 2026
Exam Sessions	3
Approximate Test Cities	170
Conducting IIM	IIM Indore

No Extension Announced So Far

CAT registration deadlines have sometimes been extended in previous cycles.

That historical pattern should not be treated as a guarantee for 2026.

As of the morning of September 15, candidates should work toward the officially notified 5 PM closing time.

How to Apply for CAT 2026

1. Open the official CAT website.
2. Complete candidate registration.
3. Verify mobile number and email.
4. Log in using the generated credentials.
5. Enter personal information.
6. Add academic qualifications.
7. Enter work-experience details where applicable.
8. Select IIM programmes.
9. Choose test-city preferences.
10. Upload photograph and signature.
11. Upload category or PwD certificates where applicable.
12. Pay the application fee.
13. Review and submit the form.

CAT 2026 Application Fee

Category	Registration Fee
SC/ST/PwBD	Rs 1,350
All Other Candidates	Rs 2,700

The CAT fee is paid only once even if the candidate applies to multiple IIM programmes through the CAT application.

The fee is non-refundable.

Who Is Eligible for CAT 2026?

General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates should have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA under the applicable rules.

For SC, ST and PwBD candidates, the minimum is 45%.

Students in the final year of a bachelor’s programme can also apply subject to CAT eligibility conditions.

Final-Year Students Do Not Need to Wait for Graduation

A final-year student can sit for CAT and participate in MBA admissions.

If selected, the student must later satisfy the degree-completion requirements of the admitting institute.

Documents Required for CAT Application

Candidates should keep relevant records ready, including:

• Class 10 marksheet
• Class 12 marksheet
• Graduation marksheets or certificate
• Category certificate where applicable
• PwD certificate where applicable
• Scribe certificate where applicable
• Scanned photograph
• Scanned signature

Use the Correct Photograph and Signature

Upload problems are common during last-minute registration.

Before uploading, check:

• File format
• File size
• Image clarity
• Background requirements

Do Not Make Category Claims Without Valid Documentation

Applicants using reservation categories need to comply with certificate requirements.

A false or invalid category claim can create serious problems later during IIM admission verification.

Check Name Consistency

Your name should be consistent across:

• CAT form
• Academic records
• Government identity documents

If records differ legitimately, follow the official application guidance.

Payment Failure Is a Common Last-Day Problem

Portal congestion, banking errors or payment-gateway delays can occur close to deadlines.

Students should not wait until 4:55 PM.

Complete payment early enough to verify successful submission.

Save the Application Confirmation

After submission, save:

• Application form
• Payment confirmation
• Registration details

CAT Correction Window Will Be Limited

After registration closes, IIM Indore is expected to provide a short correction opportunity for successfully registered and paid candidates.

Current reporting says corrections will be limited to selected fields such as:

• Photograph
• Signature
• Test-city preferences

This means candidates should not deliberately submit incorrect academic or personal details assuming everything can be edited later.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

CAT will be conducted in computer-based mode for 120 minutes.

The examination contains three sections:

Section	Common Name
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	VARC
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	DILR
Quantitative Ability	QA

Candidates get 40 minutes for each section under the current pattern.

You Cannot Freely Move Between Sections

CAT’s sectional timing means a candidate needs a strategy for each part of the examination.

Time saved in one section cannot simply be transferred to another section.

CAT Is More About Question Selection Than Attempting Everything

CAT is designed so that most candidates will not solve every question.

A strong candidate needs to decide quickly:

• Which questions are easy
• Which are time-consuming
• Which should be skipped

VARC Preparation

VARC tests reading and verbal reasoning.

Students should work on:

• Reading comprehension
• Paragraph logic
• Summary questions
• Sentence arrangement

Read Difficult Material Regularly

CAT passages can come from:

• Economics
• Philosophy
• Science
• History
• Social theory

Students who read only easy news articles may struggle with dense passages.

DILR Requires Set Selection

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning can become difficult when candidates choose the wrong set.

Practice should focus on quickly identifying:

• Solvable sets
• High-time-cost sets
• Hidden constraints

QA Needs Strong Fundamentals

Quantitative Ability tests mathematical problem solving.

Common preparation areas include:

• Arithmetic
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Number systems
• Modern mathematics

Arithmetic Often Provides a Strong Foundation

Students weak in mathematics can begin with:

• Percentages
• Ratios
• Profit and loss
• Time and work
• Time-speed-distance

Mocks Should Become Central After Registration

Once the application is submitted, CAT preparation should shift increasingly toward timed mocks.

A mock is useful only when analysed properly.

What to Analyze After Every Mock

Divide mistakes into categories:

• Conceptual errors
• Careless mistakes
• Poor question selection
• Time-management errors
• Guessing errors

CAT Percentile Is Relative

CAT does not operate like a school examination where 90% marks automatically means a 90 percentile.

Percentile represents performance relative to other candidates.

A 99 percentile means a candidate has performed better than approximately 99% of test takers, subject to the official calculation methodology.

CAT Score Alone Does Not Guarantee IIM Admission

This is one of the biggest misconceptions among first-time applicants.

IIM shortlisting can involve:

• Overall CAT percentile
• Sectional percentile
• Class 10 marks
• Class 12 marks
• Graduation performance
• Work experience
• Academic diversity
• Gender diversity

A 99 Percentile Can Still Miss a Shortlist

A candidate can achieve an exceptional overall percentile but fail to meet a sectional cutoff or lose points in an institute’s composite-score formula.

There is no single universal IIM admission rule.

Each IIM Publishes Its Own Admission Policy

CAT is a common examination, but IIM admissions are decentralized.

Applicants should later check the admission policy of each target institute.

CAT Is Used Beyond the IIMs

Many non-IIM management schools also accept CAT scores.

This gives candidates options beyond the Indian Institutes of Management.

Do Not Choose MBA Colleges Based Only on Average Salary

Students should compare:

• Programme quality
• Fees
• Placement outcomes
• Batch size
• Location
• Industry connections
• Return on investment

MBA Cost Can Be Significant

Management education can involve substantial tuition and living costs.

Students should calculate expected borrowing and repayment carefully.

What to Do After Submitting CAT 2026 Form

Once registration is complete:

1. Save the confirmation.
2. Check whether correction is required.
3. Restart regular mock tests.
4. Prepare a section-wise weakness list.
5. Monitor admit-card updates.
6. Research MBA colleges gradually.

Do Not Waste September Obsessing Over Percentile Predictions

At this stage, candidates should focus on improving raw performance.

Percentile depends on:

• Paper difficulty
• Candidate performance
• Normalization

The Final 75 Days Can Change a CAT Result

CAT preparation is highly responsive to focused practice.

A candidate can improve significantly by:

• Taking mocks
• Fixing arithmetic basics
• Reading daily
• Improving DILR set selection
• Reducing careless mistakes

Final Takeaway

CAT 2026 registration closes today, September 15, at 5 PM, and candidates should not rely on a possible deadline extension.

The application fee is Rs 2,700 for most candidates and Rs 1,350 for SC, ST and PwBD applicants. CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore on November 29 in three sessions across approximately 170 cities, with admit cards scheduled from November 4.

For anyone who has not yet applied, the immediate priority is simple: complete the form, upload the correct documents, make successful payment and save the final confirmation before 5 PM.

After that, attention should shift from registration to execution — mocks, sectional strategy, accuracy and careful preparation for an examination where intelligent question selection can matter as much as knowledge.

ARTICLE 9

ABVP and NSUI Spar Over Student Welfare as DUSU Elections 2026 Put Hostels, Safety, Fees and Campus Life at Centre

Student welfare has become the central battlefield in the Delhi University Students’ Union Elections 2026 as ABVP and NSUI compete over who offers more credible solutions on hostels, affordable accommodation, women’s safety, transport, academic reforms, mental health, employment and basic campus facilities. With voting scheduled for September 18, both organisations are presenting increasingly detailed welfare agendas while questioning whether their rivals can actually deliver what they promise.

The campaign has taken on additional urgency after the fatal Satya Niketan building collapse, which killed seven people, including five students, and intensified concerns about the shortage and safety of private student accommodation around Delhi University.

Housing is now one of the few issues on which rival student organisations broadly agree that urgent action is needed, even though their proposed solutions differ.

DUSU Elections 2026: Key Dates

Event	Date
Voting	September 18, 2026
Day College Voting	8:30 AM to 1 PM
Evening College Voting	3 PM to 7:30 PM
Counting/Results	September 19, 2026

Why Student Welfare Is Dominating the Election

DUSU campaigns have traditionally included ideological and national political themes.

This year, practical student concerns have become especially prominent.

Major issues include:

• Hostel shortages
• Unsafe PG accommodation
• Rent
• Metro costs
• Exam delays
• Mental health
• Women’s safety
• Employment

ABVP Manifesto Is Built Around Four Themes

ABVP has structured its manifesto into:

• Awas
• Bhagidari
• Vishwas
• Parinaam

The four areas broadly address housing, student participation, trust and welfare, and measurable academic outcomes.

ABVP Puts Hostel Construction at the Centre

Its accommodation agenda includes:

• New hostels
• Separate girls’ hostels
• Student Housing Cell
• Housing helpline
• PG and hostel safety audits
• Improved hygiene

Satya Niketan Collapse Has Changed the Political Context

The building collapse exposed the risks students can face when institutional hostel capacity is insufficient.

Thousands of DU students live in privately managed:

• PGs
• Rented rooms
• Shared flats

These properties may vary widely in safety and quality.

NSUI Has Also Made Affordable Housing a Major Promise

NSUI’s manifesto is titled Accountable DU | Accountable DUSU.

Its housing proposals include:

• A verified DU portal for affordable PGs and rentals
• Stronger rent-control measures
• Greater hostel access

A Verified PG Portal Could Help Students

Students searching for accommodation often depend on:

• Brokers
• WhatsApp groups
• Social media
• Unverified property listings

A university-backed portal could theoretically provide greater transparency if listings were actually verified.

Verification Would Need Real Safety Standards

A useful housing portal should ideally include information on:

• Fire safety
• Structural safety
• Rent
• Facilities
• Complaint history
• Distance from campus

NSUI Has Taken the Hostel Issue to Court

NSUI president Vinod Jakhar has also filed a public-interest petition seeking a time-bound hostel-development policy for Delhi University colleges.

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to relevant authorities.

The case has added a legal dimension to what is otherwise an election issue.

ABVP Says Housing Needs Both Hostels and Regulation

ABVP’s approach combines new university accommodation with stronger oversight of private housing.

Its manifesto calls for regulatory compliance and fire-safety checks for PGs and hostels.

Which Housing Model Is Better?

Students may ultimately need both.

Delhi University cannot build thousands of hostel beds overnight.

In the short term, safer private accommodation may remain essential.

Over the longer term, institutional hostel capacity can reduce dependence on the rental market.

NSUI Promises Metro Concession Passes

Transport is another important affordability issue.

Many DU students travel daily by:

• Metro
• Bus
• Shared transport

NSUI has proposed concessional Metro passes to reduce commuting costs.

Can DUSU Directly Cut Metro Fares?

No student union independently controls Delhi Metro pricing.

DUSU could campaign or negotiate for concessions, but implementation would require cooperation from relevant public authorities.

Feasibility Matters in Student Manifestos

A good election promise should answer:

• Who has authority to implement it?
• How will DUSU influence that authority?
• What is the timeline?
• How will students measure progress?

NSUI Proposes Five-Day Academic Week

Another proposal calls for classes to run Monday through Friday.

NSUI argues that this could create more time for:

• Internships
• Extracurricular activities
• Skill development

A Five-Day Week Would Require Academic Approval

DUSU cannot independently rewrite university timetables.

Implementation would involve academic bodies and individual institutions.

24x7 Libraries Are Another Major NSUI Promise

Round-the-clock library access may particularly benefit students who:

• Live in crowded accommodation
• Do not have quiet study spaces
• Prepare for competitive examinations
• Work during the day

Libraries Need Staffing and Security

Keeping a library open 24 hours requires:

• Staff
• Lighting
• Security
• Transport considerations

The operational plan matters as much as the promise.

NSUI Also Promises Subsidised Canteens

Food expenses form a major part of student budgets.

Affordable campus meals can benefit students who live away from home.

However, subsidisation requires funding and quality monitoring.

Women’s Welfare Is Prominent in Both Campaigns

ABVP has proposed:

• Girls’ hostels
• Security patrols
• Pink booths
• Sanitary napkin facilities
• Women health services

NSUI has proposed:

• Two days of menstrual leave per month
• Zero tolerance toward sexual harassment
• Women’s safety measures

Menstrual Leave Is Likely to Generate Debate

Supporters may argue that it recognizes health needs.

Critics may ask how attendance systems would work.

If considered, the policy would need clear rules around:

• Eligibility
• Attendance
• Privacy
• Academic requirements

Mental Health Has Become an Election Issue

NSUI has promised stronger counselling and mental-health support.

ABVP’s manifesto also includes health and well-being infrastructure.

This reflects increased awareness of:

• Academic pressure
• Isolation
• Financial stress
• Career uncertainty

Counselling Services Need Qualified Professionals

Mental-health support cannot be reduced to one helpline number.

Effective systems may require:

• Professional counsellors
• Referral systems
• Privacy
• Emergency support

ABVP Focuses on Examination Reforms

Its Parinaam agenda includes:

• Student-friendly examinations
• Time-bound results
• Greater transparency
• Internships
• Centralized placement support

Result Delays Can Have Real Consequences

A delayed result can affect:

• Postgraduate admissions
• Job offers
• Scholarships
• Visa applications

NSUI Wants Free Rechecking and Revaluation

The organisation has proposed free mechanisms for students seeking review of examination results.

Transparent evaluation can help reduce distrust in grading systems.

Academic Reform Also Includes FYUP

NSUI has promised greater clarity and reform around the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme introduced under the NEP framework.

Students have raised concerns in recent years about:

• Course structure
• Skill courses
• Workload
• Credit distribution

ABVP Emphasizes Skill and Employment Support

ABVP’s manifesto includes:

• Industry-linked curriculum
• Internships
• Digital skills
• Placement support

Employability Is Becoming a Major Campus Issue

Students increasingly judge universities not only by degrees but also by:

• Internships
• Placements
• Skills
• Career counselling

A Central Placement System Could Reduce College Gaps

Some DU colleges have stronger placement cells than others.

A broader university-wide system could potentially provide more equal access to employers.

PwD Accessibility Is Part of ABVP’s Agenda

ABVP has promised stronger support for students with disabilities.

Accessibility includes:

• Ramps
• Lifts
• Accessible websites
• Assistive technology
• Accessible hostel rooms

NSUI Also Frames Welfare Around Inclusion

Its manifesto includes scholarship and social-justice commitments for students from disadvantaged groups.

DUSU Has Influence, but Not Unlimited Power

A major issue with student manifestos is that many promises depend on authorities outside DUSU.

DUSU does not directly control:

• Delhi Police
• DMRC
• Municipal building regulation
• University construction budgets
• Every college governing body

Student Unions Can Still Apply Pressure

Even when they lack direct authority, elected representatives can:

• Raise issues
• Organize campaigns
• Negotiate with officials
• File petitions
• Demand timelines

Manifesto Accountability Should Continue After September 19

Students can improve campus politics by saving the manifestos and asking the winners later:

• Which promises were pursued?
• Which authorities were approached?
• What progress was made?
• Which commitments failed?

Housing May Be the Defining Issue of DUSU 2026

Despite political differences, several student organisations have made accommodation central to their campaigns.

That suggests the problem extends beyond one party.

Final Takeaway

ABVP and NSUI are competing aggressively over student welfare ahead of the September 18 DUSU election, with both sides placing housing, safety, affordability and academic administration at the centre of their campaigns.

ABVP has emphasized new hostels, PG safety, women’s security, student representation, examination reforms, internships and placement support. NSUI has promised verified affordable housing, rent-control implementation, Metro concessions, a five-day academic week, 24x7 libraries, subsidised canteens, menstrual leave, mental-health support and examination reforms.

The campaign reflects a broader change in DU student politics: practical issues such as rent, safety, transport and career outcomes are increasingly becoming electoral issues rather than background concerns.

For students, the key question should not simply be which manifesto contains more promises. It should be which commitments are within DUSU’s direct control, which require coordination with public authorities, and whether elected leaders continue pursuing them after the campaign banners disappear.