CAT 2026 : Eligibility Criteria

However, before applying, it is necessary to verify whether one meets all the eligibility requirements for CAT 2026. One can be relieved since these eligibility criteria are easy to meet, and many graduates qualify for them easily.

CAT 2026 Age Limit

No upper age limit exists for CAT 2026. You can apply at any age provided that you have a valid bachelor’s degree.

Age Limit	CAT Criteria
Lower Age Limit	Not Applicable
Upper Age Limit	Not Applicable

CAT 2026 Educational Qualification

Qualification requirements for applying to CAT 2026:

• You need a bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% marks or CGPA equivalent. This condition is applicable for General, EWS, and NC-OBC category.
• If you belong to SC/ST/PwD category then the percentage requirement is 45%.
• Your degree must be from a recognised university.
• A candidate with professional degree such as CA, CS, ICWA, CMA can also apply for CAT 2026 with above-mentioned marks percentage.
• Final year students are also eligible.

Eligibility for Final-Year Students

Even if you are in your last year of graduation, you can still apply. This applies to those who have done their course work and are now only waiting for the result of their examinations.

If you are chosen, you will be provisionally admitted at first. Then you need to provide a document from your University Registrar stating that you have fulfilled all requirements of your degree.

Eligibility for Engineers

Engineers who have graduated with not less than 50% marks or the equivalent grade point average (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) may apply for CAT 2026. Even engineers of the final year may apply if they complete their degree in time and fulfill the requirements by the deadline, which is July 31.

Eligibility for Non-Engineers

The CAT entrance test is accessible to candidates from all streams. Thus, if you belong to the commerce, arts, humanities, or sciences stream, then you are fully eligible for it. All you need is to have a graduation degree in any discipline, with a minimum of 50 percent marks (or 45 percent in case of SC/ST/PwD candidates).

Eligibility for Working Professionals

No work experience is required in order to apply for CAT 2026. Fresher candidates may also apply. The significance of work experience will be applicable later on when the IIMs select the candidate.

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy

CAT 2026 is conducted under the quota system of the Government of India. This allows equal opportunities for the aspirants coming from various social and economic backgrounds. This includes candidates belonging to SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD categories, while others belong to the General category.

Here's the seat reservation breakup as per government rules:

Category	Reservation Percentage
General (Unreserved)	40.5%
Scheduled Caste (SC)	15%
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	7.5%
Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC)	27%
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS)	10%
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD)	5%

Important Points for Reserved Category Candidates

If you come under the reserved category, here are some things that you should remember:

• Your SC or ST caste needs to be on the government of India schedule.
• Your caste certificate needs to be on the proper form which contains details such as the name of your caste or tribe, your SC/ST status, district and state and the proper schedule.
• You need to attach a valid SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD certificate while registering yourself. In case, you don't have one, your application won't be accepted.
• Once again, you will be required to produce the certificate during your interview and joining process.
• If you belong to PwD category, you should get yourself registered for a UDID card and submit it along with your application form.

PwD consists of categories like blindness or low vision, deafness or hard of hearing, locomotor disability, autism, intellectual disability, mental illness, multiple disabilities and others as mentioned under RPwD Act, 2016.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CAT 2026 exam can be taken by those candidates who have completed their undergraduate degree in any field and secured at least 50% marks in the exams. Those final year students who wish to take CAT 2026 are also eligible to give this exam.