CAT 2026
CAT 2026 Latest News: Admit Card and Exam Updates
Latest checked status, 7 October 2026: CAT registration, the payment-only extension and the limited correction window have ended. Admit-card download is scheduled to begin on 4 November, followed by the exam on 29 November. Read the dated notices below before acting on an older registration headline.
Last verified: 7 October 2026. This is an independent preparation guide; applications, admit cards and official notices are available through iimcat.ac.in.
What changed most recently?
The September 29 official notice announced a limited edit window from October 5 at 10:00 AM to October 6 at 5:00 PM. That window has now ended. It covered photograph, signature and test state/city preferences for successfully registered candidates who had paid the fee.
There is no new registration opportunity in that notice. The next scheduled milestone displayed on the CAT website is admit-card download from November 4.
CAT 2026 official notice tracker
This tracker separates publication dates from the dates on which an action was due. A notice can remain online after its action window has closed.
| Notice or source | What it established | What it means on October 7 |
|---|---|---|
| September 29 edit-window release | Limited edits on October 5–6 | The announced correction period is over |
| September 22 fee-payment release | Eligible registered candidates could pay until September 24 | Payment extension is over; registration was not reopened |
| Current CAT homepage | Final registration cutoff September 22; admit cards November 4; test November 29 | Use the remaining future milestones |
| July 26 bulletin and press release | Eligibility, fees, test structure and initial calendar | Use later notices where deadlines changed |
What should candidates do now?
Check that you have your submitted application and payment record, then return to preparation. On November 4, access the candidate login through iimcat.ac.in and read your allotted centre and session details.
An unresolved application problem should go to the official helpdesk; a news article cannot determine whether an individual form is valid or promise an exception. Do not follow unofficial payment or login links received through messages.
- Keep your registered email and phone available.
- Retain the exact application and transaction records.
- Use the official portal for candidate-specific status.
- Review all three sections through mocks and targeted error correction.
Earlier CAT reporting: read with its publication context
The articles below explain earlier announcements. A headline saying registration started describes a past event; it does not mean applications are open today. The current-status summary at the top of this page is the reference for this review date.
Checking XAT, SNAP, NMAT and CMAT updates
Other MBA entrance exams have separate registration, scheduling and institution-application rules. A change to CAT does not extend any of those deadlines. The links below are official destinations for their current calendars; this CAT update does not represent them as open or closed without a separate current check.
For a useful shortlist, first confirm whether the target programme accepts the exam, then check both the exam registration and the programme application deadline. Preserve the confirmation from each process.
How to verify a new deadline headline
Open the announcement from the exam’s own website, check the notice date and identify exactly who can act. Then separate registration, payment, corrections, admit-card download and college admissions. Similar wording can describe very different permissions.
A source note is useful only if the linked document supports the claim. This page links directly to the CAT notices used in this update and labels completed windows rather than leaving old instructions active.
Sources and verification notes
Official sources were checked on 7 October 2026. Later dated notices take precedence over the original bulletin where a deadline has changed. Study plans and worked examples are editorial guidance, not official exam rules.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CAT registration open on October 7?
No. Registration ended September 22, payment-only relief ended September 24 and the announced edits ended October 6.
What was the latest correction window?
The September 29 notice set October 5 at 10:00 AM to October 6 at 5:00 PM for photograph, signature and test state/city preferences.
When is the next scheduled CAT event?
Admit-card download begins November 4, followed by the November 29 exam.
Can an old news article confirm today’s application status?
No. Check the current official portal and later dated notices, and distinguish the action each deadline covers.