CAT Eligibility 2026: Qualification, Age Limit and Marks
The CAT Eligibility 2026 criteria require candidates to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or an accepted professional qualification with the prescribed minimum marks.
Candidates belonging to the General, EWS and NC-OBC categories must have at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. The minimum requirement is 45% marks or an equivalent CGPA for SC, ST and PwD candidates.
Final-year graduation students and candidates awaiting their results can also apply provisionally. However, meeting the basic CAT eligibility conditions does not guarantee an interview call or admission to an Indian Institute of Management.
CAT Eligibility 2026: Quick Answer
You can apply for CAT 2026 when you meet any one of these conditions:
- You hold a recognised bachelor’s degree with the required marks.
- You are appearing in the final year of a bachelor’s degree.
- You have completed your degree requirements but are awaiting the result.
- You hold a completed professional qualification such as CA, CS, ICWA/CMA or FIAI.
The published eligibility criteria do not prescribe a separate age cap, compulsory work experience or a fixed number of attempts.
CAT 2026 Latest Update
The official CAT 2026 advertisement was published on July 26, 2026. Registration opens on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM and closes on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM.
The admit-card download window will run from November 4 to November 29, 2026. CAT 2026 will be conducted in three sessions on November 29, 2026. The result is tentatively scheduled for the first week of January 2027.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Official date |
|---|
| Advertisement published | July 26, 2026 |
| Registration begins | August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM |
| Registration closes | September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM |
| Admit-card download | November 4 to November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam date | November 29, 2026 |
| Tentative result declaration | First week of January 2027 |
Candidates should complete the registration process early instead of waiting until the final date.
CAT Eligibility 2026 Overview
| Eligibility factor | CAT 2026 requirement |
|---|
| Minimum qualification | Recognised bachelor’s degree or accepted equivalent qualification |
| General, EWS and NC-OBC marks | Minimum 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| SC, ST and PwD marks | Minimum 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| Final-year candidates | Eligible to apply provisionally |
| Result-awaited candidates | Eligible to apply provisionally |
| Professional qualifications | CA, CS, ICWA/CMA or FIAI |
| Age limit | No separate age cap specified |
| Work experience | Not required for CAT registration |
| Number of attempts | No fixed attempt limit specified |
CAT 2026 Educational Qualification
Candidates must meet at least one of the following educational conditions:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with the prescribed minimum marks.
- Possess an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- Hold an accepted professional qualification with the required percentage.
- Be appearing in the final year of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.
- Have completed the degree requirements but be awaiting the final result.
Which Bachelor’s Degrees Are Accepted?
The bachelor’s degree should be awarded by:
- A university incorporated under an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature.
- An educational institution established under an Act of Parliament.
- An institution declared a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.
- An institution awarding an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education.
CAT does not restrict applicants to a particular graduation stream. Therefore, eligible graduates from arts, commerce, science, engineering, law, medicine, management, humanities and other recognised disciplines may apply.
CAT 2026 Minimum Graduation Marks
The minimum graduation percentage depends on the candidate’s category.
| Category | Minimum marks required |
|---|
| General | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| EWS | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| NC-OBC | 50% or equivalent CGPA |
| SC | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| ST | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
| PwD | 45% or equivalent CGPA |
General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates require at least 50% marks. SC, ST and PwD candidates receive a relaxation of five percentage points and require at least 45% marks.
These percentages are the minimum requirements for appearing in CAT. Individual IIMs may apply separate academic, percentile and selection criteria during admission.
How Are Graduation Marks Calculated?
Candidates must calculate their graduation percentage according to the procedure followed by their university or educational institution.
When Percentage Marks Are Awarded
Candidates should use the aggregate percentage calculated under their university’s official rules.
Depending on the institution, the aggregate may include:
- All semesters or academic years
- Core and elective subjects
- Practical examinations
- Other components included in the official result
Candidates should not use only their best subjects or highest-scoring semesters unless their university officially follows that method.
When CGPA or Grades Are Awarded
Candidates must first use the CGPA-to-percentage conversion method certified by their university or institution.
When the university does not provide a conversion scheme, the equivalent percentage is calculated as:
Equivalent percentage = Candidate’s CGPA ÷ Maximum possible CGPA × 100
For example, a CGPA of 7.5 on a 10-point scale would be converted as follows:
7.5 ÷ 10 × 100 = 75%
The university’s official conversion method takes priority wherever one exists. Candidates should retain the conversion certificate or supporting document for verification.
Can Final-Year Students Apply for CAT 2026?
Yes. Candidates appearing in the final year of their bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification can apply for CAT 2026.
Their eligibility remains provisional until they:
- Complete all degree requirements.
- Obtain the minimum marks required for their category.
- Submit the prescribed academic proof.
- Meet the deadline specified by the admitting IIM.
A selected candidate may need to submit a certificate from the principal, registrar or another authorised institutional official confirming the completion of degree requirements.
Failure to complete the degree or secure the required percentage can result in cancellation of provisional admission.
Can Result-Awaited Candidates Apply?
Yes. Candidates who have completed their degree requirements but are awaiting the final result may also apply provisionally.
They must later establish that they meet the applicable marks requirement by submitting documents such as:
- Final-semester or final-year marksheets
- Consolidated graduation marksheet
- Provisional degree certificate
- Degree-completion certificate
- Official CGPA conversion proof, where applicable
A candidate whose final result falls below the prescribed percentage will not meet the eligibility requirement.
CAT Eligibility for Professional Qualification Holders
Candidates with specified professional qualifications may apply for CAT 2026.
| Qualification | Full form |
|---|
| CA | Chartered Accountant |
| CS | Company Secretary |
| ICWA/CMA | Cost and Management Accountant |
| FIAI | Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India |
Professional qualification holders must meet the percentage requirement applicable to their category:
- 50% for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates
- 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates
Candidates should enter their professional qualification details exactly as stated in their official marksheets and certificates.
CAT Age Limit, Attempts and Work Experience
The basic CAT 2026 requirements can be understood as follows:
| Requirement | CAT 2026 rule |
|---|
| Minimum age | No separate minimum age specified |
| Maximum age | No separate upper age specified |
| Attempt limit | No fixed number of attempts specified |
| Work experience | Not compulsory for registration |
CAT Age Limit 2026
The published eligibility criteria do not prescribe a separate minimum or maximum age cap.
Therefore, academically eligible applicants may include:
- Final-year students
- Fresh graduates
- Working professionals
- Candidates with an academic or career gap
- Candidates planning a career change
- Candidates who graduated several years ago
Age alone does not disqualify a candidate who meets the required academic conditions.
CAT 2026 Number of Attempts
The official eligibility conditions do not state a fixed limit on the number of CAT attempts.
Candidates who appeared for CAT in earlier years may register again, provided they meet the CAT 2026 eligibility requirements. Each attempt requires a fresh application and payment of the applicable registration fee.
Is Work Experience Required?
No. Work experience is not a basic requirement for CAT registration.
Both fresh graduates and experienced professionals can apply. However, some IIMs may award weightage to relevant professional experience during shortlisting or final selection.
Candidates should therefore distinguish between:
CAT exam eligibility: Work experience is not compulsory.
IIM admission criteria: Work experience may receive weightage.
Can Candidates with Backlogs Apply?
A backlog does not automatically prevent a candidate from applying for CAT.
However, the candidate must ultimately:
- Clear all pending subjects.
- Complete the bachelor’s degree.
- Meet the category-wise marks requirement.
- Submit the required academic documents.
- Fulfil the deadline prescribed by the admitting institution.
An unresolved backlog that prevents completion of the degree can affect provisional admission.
Do Class 10 and Class 12 Marks Affect CAT Eligibility?
Class 10 and Class 12 marks are not the basic qualifying criteria for appearing in CAT 2026.
The primary eligibility requirement is based on the candidate’s:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Recognised equivalent qualification
- Accepted professional qualification
- Category-wise graduation marks
However, individual IIMs may consider Class 10, Class 12 and graduation performance while preparing admission shortlists.
Therefore, a candidate may be eligible to appear for CAT but may not meet the selection criteria of every IIM.
Does an Academic or Career Gap Affect Eligibility?
An academic or employment gap does not automatically make a candidate ineligible for CAT.
Candidates with a gap may apply when they satisfy the educational qualification and marks requirements.
However, applicants may be asked to explain a lengthy gap during an admission interview. They should provide accurate information about their education, employment, preparation or other activities during that period.
CAT 2026 Application Document Checklist
Candidates should keep the following documents and information ready before registration:
Class 10 academic details
Class 12 academic details
Semester-wise graduation marks
Consolidated graduation marksheet
Bachelor’s degree or provisional certificate
Final-year or degree-completion certificate, where applicable
Professional qualification documents, where applicable
Official CGPA conversion proof
Valid category certificate, where applicable
PwD certificate, where applicable
Recent photograph
Scanned signature
Work-experience details, where applicable
The candidate’s name, date of birth, marks and category details should match the official records.
Who Is Not Eligible for CAT 2026?
A candidate may not meet the eligibility requirements when:
- The candidate neither holds nor is completing a recognised bachelor’s degree.
- The candidate does not possess an accepted equivalent or professional qualification.
- A General, EWS or NC-OBC candidate has less than 50% marks.
- An SC, ST or PwD candidate has less than 45% marks.
- The qualification was awarded by an unrecognised institution.
- A provisionally eligible candidate fails to complete the degree.
- The final result does not meet the prescribed marks.
- Incorrect academic or category information is submitted.
- Required supporting documents cannot be produced.
Eligibility may be verified at different stages of the selection and admission process.
CAT Eligibility and IIM Admission Criteria Are Different
Meeting the CAT eligibility criteria only allows a candidate to register for and appear in the examination.
It does not guarantee:
- A qualifying CAT percentile
- An IIM interview call
- Admission to an IIM
- Admission to every IIM programme
- Selection by a non-IIM institution
Each IIM follows an independent admission policy. Depending on the institute and programme, the selection process may consider:
Overall CAT percentile
Sectional CAT percentiles
Class 10 and Class 12 marks
Graduation performance
Relevant work experience
Academic diversity
Gender diversity
Written Ability Test
Personal Interview
The official CAT advertisement clearly states that fulfilling the minimum eligibility conditions does not ensure consideration for shortlisting by an IIM.
CAT Eligibility 2026 Self-Check
Before applying, confirm that:
You hold or are completing a recognised bachelor’s degree.
You meet the minimum marks requirement for your category.
Your university or institution is recognised.
Your CGPA conversion follows the official university method.
You can provide the required academic records.
You have a valid category certificate, where applicable.
Your application details match your official documents.
You can complete any pending degree requirements on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum qualification for CAT 2026?
Candidates must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree, equivalent qualification or accepted professional qualification. Final-year candidates may also apply provisionally.
What graduation percentage is required for CAT 2026?
General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates require at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. SC, ST and PwD candidates require at least 45%.
Is there an age limit for CAT 2026?
The published CAT 2026 eligibility criteria do not specify a separate minimum or maximum age cap.
Can candidates awaiting graduation results apply?
Yes. Candidates who have completed their degree requirements but are awaiting results may apply provisionally.
Can CA, CS or CMA candidates apply for CAT?
Yes. Candidates with completed professional qualifications such as CA, CS, ICWA/CMA or FIAI may apply if they meet the applicable marks requirement.
Is work experience compulsory for CAT?
No. Work experience is not required for CAT registration. However, individual IIMs may consider it during admission.
Conclusion
The CAT Eligibility 2026 criteria require candidates to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or accepted professional qualification with the prescribed minimum marks.
General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates require at least 50%, while SC, ST and PwD candidates require at least 45%. Final-year students and result-awaited candidates can apply provisionally.
The published eligibility criteria do not prescribe a separate age cap, compulsory work experience or fixed attempt limit. However, each IIM follows its own shortlisting and admission policy.
Verify your graduation marks, degree recognition, CGPA conversion and supporting documents before applying. Complete the CAT 2026 registration before September 15, 2026, and regularly check the official CAT portal for amendments or further instructions.
