CAT 2026 registrations have crossed 3.20+ lakh as of September 22, 2026, and the registration window has been closed. IIM Indore opened the CAT 2026 registration process on August 3, 2026, at 10 AM.
| Click here to register for CAT 2026 (Closed on 22nd Sept’26 at 5 PM) |
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| CAT 2026 Registration Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration started | August 3, 2026, at 10 AM |
| Registrations reported | 3.20 lakh+ as of September 22, 2026 |
| Extended last date | September 22, 2026 CLOSED |
| Last time to apply | 5:00 PM |
| Admit Card | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam Date | November 29, 2026 |
| Exam slots | 3 |
| Test cities | Around 170 |
CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026, in three slots across around 170 cities
Related Links:
- CAT 2026 Exam Date November 29 Confirmed by Trends: Full Schedule & Slot Details
- CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Reservation Policy
How Many Students Applied for CAT 2026?: Latest Update
- More than 3.20+ lakh candidates had registered for CAT 2026 as of September 22, 2026, according to the latest registration count reported while the application window remains open.
- The CAT 2026 registration has been closed, and the current figure is not the final official registration count.
- CAT 2026 registrations started on August 3, 2026, at 10 AM.
- IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026, in three sessions.
| CAT 2026 Registration Details | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Registration Started | August 3, 2026 |
| Registration Time | 10:00 AM |
| Students Applied as of September 3 | 3.20 lakh+ |
| Registration Last Date | September 22, 2026 CLOSED |
| Last Time to Apply | 5:00 PM |
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | November 29, 2026 |
| Exam Slots | 3 |
Is 3.20+ Lakh the Final CAT 2026 Registration Count?
No. The 3.20+ lakh figure is an interim count because the CAT 2026 application window remains open until September 22 at 5 PM. The final number of eligible registrations will be available after the registration process closes.
Candidates should therefore not use the current figure as the final number of CAT 2026 applicants.
Ques. Is 3.20+ lakh the final number of CAT 2026 applicants?
Ans. No. The 3.20 lakh+ figure is an interim count because CAT 2026 registration is still open. The final number will be available after the registration deadline.
Ques. When will CAT 2026 registration close?
Ans. CAT 2026 registration has been closed on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
CAT Registration Trends: How Many Students Applied in Previous Years?
- CAT registrations crossed the three-lakh mark in both 2023 and 2024 before falling to 2.95 lakh in 2025.
- The latest 2026 figure of 3.08 lakh+ has already exceeded the 2025 registration count, although the final 2026 number is yet to be confirmed.
| CAT Year | Registered Candidates | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 3.20 lakh+ | Registration Closed |
| 2025 | 2.95 lakh | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 3.29 lakh | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.28 lakh | +28.6% |
| 2022 | 2.55 lakh | +10.4% |
| 2021 | 2.31 lakh | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 2.27 lakh | -7.0% |
Note: * CAT 2026 represents the registrations reported as of September 3, 2026. Registration is still open.
Candidates can also check:
- CAT Exam Centers 2026: Check State-wise List of CAT Test Centers
- CAT Syllabus 2026- Download Syllabus PDF, Section-wise Weightage and Preparation Tips
How Many Students Give CAT Exam Every Year?
- Every year, around 2-3 lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam. The number of registrations is usually higher because some candidates do not appear on the exam day.
- In recent years, the number of candidates appearing for CAT has remained between 1.9 lakh and 2.93 lakh.
- CAT 2024 recorded the highest number of candidates appearing in this recent five-year period, with about 2.93 lakh test-takers.
- The number of candidates appearing increased by around 71,000 from 2022 to 2023, a rise of about 30%.
- In CAT 2025, around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared, which was about 12% lower than the 2024 figure
| CAT Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.95 lakh | 2.58 lakh | 87% |
| 2024 | 3.29 lakh | 2.93 lakh | 89% |
| 2023 | 3.28 lakh | 2.88 lakh | 88% |
| 2022 | 2.56 lakh | 2.22 lakh | 87% |
| 2021 | 2.30 lakh | 1.92 lakh | 83% |
| 2020 | 2.28 lakh | 1.90 lakh | 83% |
How Many Students Will Appear for CAT 2026?
- The exact number of students who will appear for CAT 2026 will be known only after the exam. However, the recent attendance rate gives a useful estimate.
- With 3.08 lakh+ registrations already recorded by September 21, the final registration count could move closer to the recent 3-lakh level. Based on these trends, around 2.5-2.7 lakh candidates appearing for CAT 2026 is what we are expecting.
| CAT Year | Registered Candidates | Appeared Candidates | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 3.20 lakh+ | 2.8-3.0 lakh (Expected) | 85-88% (Estimated) |
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date
The CAT 2026 registration last date was September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Candidates who have not completed their applications are not eligible for the CAT 2026 exam.
| CAT 2026 Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification | July 25, 2026 |
| Registration Starts | August 3, 2026 |
| Registration Last Date | September 22, 2026, 5:00 PM CLOSED |
| Admit Card | November 4, 2026 |
| CAT Exam Date 2026 | November 29, 2026 |
| Result | First week of January 2027 |
CAT 2026 Registration Fee
The CAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
| Category | CAT 2026 Fee | CAT 2025 Fee | Increase |
| General/EWS/NC-OBC | ₹2,700 | ₹2,600 | ₹100 |
| SC/ST/PwD | ₹1,350 | ₹1,300 | ₹50 |
The fee has increased by ₹100 for the first category group and ₹50 for SC/ST/PwD candidates compared with CAT 2025.
How Many Students Applied in CAT 2026 Registration FAQs
Ques. How many students have registered for CAT 2026?
Ans. More than 3.20 lakh candidates had registered for CAT 2026 as of September 22, 2026. The registration window is still open, so this is not the final count.
Ques. When is the CAT 2026 registration last date?
Ans. The CAT 2026 registration last date was September 22, 2026, at 5 PM.
Ques. How many candidates registered for CAT 2025?
Ans. Around 2.95 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2025, while approximately 2.58 lakh appeared for the examination.
Ques. How many students appeared for CAT 2024?
Ans. Around 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2024, compared with approximately 3.29 lakh registrations.
Ques. Will CAT 2026 registrations cross 3.10 lakh?
Ans. The latest reported figure has already crossed 3.08 lakh, but the final number cannot be confirmed until registration closes on September 22. A September 21 competitor report expected the number to rise further before the deadline, but that remains an estimate rather than an official final count
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