CAT 2026 : Introduction

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 is one of India's biggest management entrance exams. It's a national-level test, and the IIMs conduct it every year on a rotation basis. This year, IIM Indore is expected to conduct CAT 2026. For reference, IIM Kozhikode ran CAT 2025, and IIM Calcutta ran CAT 2024. More than two lakh candidates from across the country appear for this exam each year.

A good CAT score opens a lot of doors. You can use it to apply to over 1,200 top MBA colleges in India, including the 21 leading IIMs. NITIE Mumbai is now known as IIM Mumbai, and it accepts the CAT score too.

Objective of the CAT Exam

The exam checks your speed and accuracy across three main areas:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)

The difficulty level ranges from moderate to hard. It tests your time management and how well you understand core concepts, not just what you've memorised.

Programs Offered in IIMs Through CAT Score

The CAT score isn't only for a full-time MBA. You can also use it to apply for other management programs, such as an Executive MBA, a PhD, or a Fellow Programme in Management (FPM).

Here are the main courses you can get into at the IIMs through your CAT score:

IIM	Courses Offered Through CAT
IIM Ahmedabad	PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGP, PhD
IIM Amritsar	MBA, EMBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, PhD
IIM Bangalore	PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD
IIM Bodh Gaya	PGP, PhD (FPM)
IIM Calcutta	MBA, PhD
IIM Indore	PGP, PGP-HRM, FPM
IIM Jammu	PGP, PhD
IIM Kashipur	MBA, MBA (Analytics), MBA (WX), PhD, EFPM
IIM Kozhikode	PGP, PGP-BL, PGP-F, PGP-LSM, PhD, PhD (PT)
IIM Lucknow	PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM, FPM
IIM Nagpur	PGP, PhD
IIM Raipur	PGP, FPM/PhD, EFPM
IIM Ranchi	PGP, PGP-HRM, PGP (Business Analytics), PhD, EPhD
IIM Rohtak	PGP, EPGPX, EPGDSM, PhD, Part-Time FPM
IIM Sambalpur	MBA, PhD, E PhD
IIM Shillong	PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE, PhD, PhDWP
IIM Sirmaur	MBA, MBA (T&HM), PhD
IIM Tiruchirappalli	PGPM, PGPM-HR, PGPBM, FPM, E-FPM
IIM Udaipur	MBA, PhD
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGP, PGPEx, PGPDGM, PhD
IIM Mumbai	MBA, MBA in Sustainability Management, MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management

With so many programs and specialisations across the IIMs, CAT gives you a wide range of ways to build a career in management.

Why CAT 2026 Matters

CAT 2026 is a real opportunity for students and working professionals who want to study management at the top IIMs and other well-known B-schools. With IIM Indore expected to conduct the exam this year, a strong score can set you on the path to a solid management career.