CAT 2026 recorded a total of 2,84,000 registrations, as announced by IIM Indore after the registration window closed on September 22, 2026. This is a 3.7% decline from the 2,95,000 candidates who registered for CAT 2025. The exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026. Registration opened on August 3 and was extended by one week from the original deadline of September 15. Students on forums note that the declining registration count is a positive sign for aspirants, though getting a call from a top IIM still requires a 99+ percentile score regardless of total applicants.
Table of Contents
- CAT 2026 Registration Overview
- Year-Wise Registration Trends (2020 to 2026)
- State-Wise Test City Distribution
- Category-Wise and Gender-Wise Breakdown
- What the Drop in Registrations Means for Aspirants
- Frequently Asked Questions
CAT 2026 Registration Overview
IIM Indore officially released the final CAT 2026 registration count in October 2026. A total of 2,84,000 candidates completed their registration by paying the application fee. A larger number of 3,27,000 CAT user IDs were created during the window, but not all candidates completed the fee payment step. The table below captures the key details of CAT 2026 registrations.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Registered Candidates | 2,84,000 |
| Total CAT User IDs Generated | 3,27,000 |
| Change from CAT 2025 | 3.7% decrease (2,95,000 registered in CAT 2025) |
| Organizing IIM | IIM Indore |
| Registration Open Date | August 3, 2026 |
| Registration Close Date | September 22, 2026 (extended from September 15, 2026) |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Number of Exam Slots | 3 (Morning, Afternoon, Evening) |
| Number of Test Cities | 170+ cities across India |
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
Year-Wise Registration Trends (2020 to 2026)
CAT registrations grew steadily from 2020 to 2023, reaching a peak of 3,30,000 in 2023. Since then, the numbers have declined for three consecutive years. The 2026 figure of 2,84,000 is the lowest in the past five years. This trend is linked to growing interest in alternative MBA entrance exams and changing career preferences among graduates.
| Year | Total Registered Candidates | Change from Previous Year | Organizing IIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2020 | 2,27,000 | Decline due to COVID | IIM Indore |
| CAT 2021 | 2,31,000 | +1.8% | IIM Ahmedabad |
| CAT 2022 | 2,55,000 | +10.4% | IIM Bangalore |
| CAT 2023 | 3,30,000 | +29.4% (highest ever) | IIM Lucknow |
| CAT 2024 | 3,29,000 | Flat at -0.3% | IIM Calcutta |
| CAT 2025 | 2,95,000 | -10.3% | IIM Kozhikode |
| CAT 2026 | 2,84,000 | -3.7% | IIM Indore |
State-Wise Test City Distribution
IIM Indore does not publish an official state-wise breakdown of CAT registrations. However, the exam is conducted in over 170 cities across India. States with more test cities tend to have higher candidate participation. The table below lists major states and their CAT 2026 test cities, based on the officially released list of exam centres.
| State / Region | Major CAT 2026 Test Cities | Historical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Kolhapur | Consistently among the highest candidate pools, led by Mumbai and Pune |
| Delhi NCR | Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad | One of the top two regions by candidate volume every year |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Agra, Mathura | Large student population drives high participation |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubli, Belagavi | Strong IT and engineering graduate base boosts CAT registrations |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem | Consistent participation, especially from engineering graduates |
| West Bengal | Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri, Asansol | Primary hub for eastern India CAT aspirants |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimnagar | Growing IT sector in Hyderabad drives MBA demand |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar | Strong business culture leads to high MBA interest |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer | Notable student base, Kota coaching ecosystem adds to numbers |
| Andhra Pradesh | Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Guntur | Engineering and science graduates form the bulk of aspirants here |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior | IIM Indore’s home state, historically sees strong local participation |
| Bihar and Jharkhand | Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Muzaffarpur, Gaya | Increasing aspirant base in recent years |
Category-Wise and Gender-Wise Breakdown
IIM Indore has not released the category-wise and gender-wise data for CAT 2026 registrations. This data is typically made available closer to or after the result date. The tables below show data from the two most recent years for reference.
Gender-Wise Registration (CAT 2025)
In CAT 2025, male candidates formed a clear majority of registrants, though female participation has been rising each year.
| Gender | Registered Candidates (CAT 2025) | Percentage Share |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 1,85,000 | 62.7% |
| Female | 1,10,000 | 37.3% |
| Transgender | 9 | Less than 0.01% |
| Total | 2,95,000 | 100% |
Category-Wise Registration (CAT 2024)
The General category accounts for the largest share of CAT applicants. The table below reflects the category-wise split from CAT 2024, the most recent year with publicly available data.
| Reservation Category | Percentage of Registered Candidates (CAT 2024) |
|---|---|
| General (Open) | 67.53% |
| NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Layer OBC) | 16.91% |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 8.51% |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 4.80% |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 2.25% |
What the Drop in Registrations Means for Aspirants
CAT 2026 has 45,000 fewer registered candidates than CAT 2024, a decline of 13.7% over two years. This is the third consecutive year of falling registrations after the 2023 peak. Here is what this trend means for candidates appearing in November 2026:
- Fewer total candidates means the absolute number competing for a given percentile band is lower, which is a marginal advantage for borderline candidates.
- The number of IIM seats has not changed significantly, so the seats-to-applicants ratio is slightly more favorable than in 2023 and 2024.
- The difficulty of the exam is not affected by registration numbers. CAT uses a normalization process based on relative performance within each exam slot.
- Candidates should not read the registration decline as a sign of reduced quality in the candidate pool. Top scorers remain highly competitive.
- Students who registered but do not appear on exam day further reduce effective competition. Historically, 85 to 90% of registered candidates actually take the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many candidates registered for CAT 2026?
A total of 2,84,000 candidates successfully registered for CAT 2026. IIM Indore, the organizing body, confirmed this figure after the registration window closed on September 22, 2026. This is 11,000 fewer than the 2,95,000 who registered for CAT 2025.
Why did CAT 2026 registrations fall for the third year in a row?
CAT registrations peaked at 3,30,000 in 2023 and have been declining since. Analysts point to several reasons: growing popularity of other MBA entrance exams such as XAT and GMAT, a shift among engineering graduates toward jobs over postgraduate study, and economic uncertainty affecting higher education spending. The trend does not mean MBA interest is falling overall but that the aspirant pool is choosing different routes.
Does a lower registration count make it easier to get into an IIM?
Marginally, yes, but only at the extremes. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta still shortlist candidates with 99+ percentile scores. The total number of seats at top IIMs has not increased proportionally. A candidate who scores 98 percentile in 2026 faces slightly less competition than in 2023, but the bar set by individual IIMs has not moved significantly.
Is there an official state-wise breakdown of CAT 2026 registrations?
No. IIM Indore does not release state-wise registration data as part of its official statistics. What is available is the list of over 170 test cities across India, which gives a broad idea of geographic distribution. States such as Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have the highest number of test cities and historically contribute the most candidates.
What is the gender ratio among CAT 2026 applicants?
IIM Indore has not yet published the gender split for CAT 2026. Based on CAT 2025 data, male candidates formed 62.7% of registrants (1,85,000) and female candidates 37.3% (1,10,000). The female participation rate has been increasing steadily over the last five years, rising from under 30% to over 37%.
How many of the 2,84,000 registered candidates will actually appear for CAT 2026?
Historically, between 85% and 90% of registered candidates appear for the exam. In CAT 2025, roughly 2,58,000 out of 2,95,000 registered candidates appeared. If a similar rate holds, CAT 2026 could see between 2,41,000 and 2,55,000 candidates on November 29, 2026.
What was the highest-ever CAT registration count?
CAT 2023 holds the record with 3,30,000 registrations. This was a jump of 29.4% from the 2,55,000 registered in CAT 2022. Since then, registrations have fallen in 2024, 2025, and now 2026, bringing the count back to levels last seen in 2022.
Which states have the most CAT 2026 test centres?
Maharashtra has the most CAT test centres, covering cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad. Delhi NCR follows, with centres in Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh also have a large number of centres spread across multiple cities.
When is the CAT 2026 admit card available?
The CAT 2026 admit card is available for download from November 4, 2026. Candidates can download it from the official CAT website using their registration number and password. The admit card must be carried to the exam centre along with a valid government-issued photo ID. The exam itself is on November 29, 2026.
What are the three exam slots for CAT 2026 on November 29?
CAT 2026 is held in three slots on November 29, 2026. Slot 1 runs from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM with reporting by 7:00 AM and last entry at 8:15 AM. Slot 2 runs from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM. Slot 3 runs from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Each candidate is assigned one slot and cannot change it after the admit card is released.
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