CAT 2026 Reservation Policy & Exam Details
Candidates preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 can now access the official seat reservation breakdown and exam schedule. Conducted by IIM Indore, CAT 2026 serves as the gateway to premier management programmes across Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and participating business schools nationwide.
Understanding the Government of India quota structure, key registration deadlines, and eligibility standards is essential for all candidates seeking admission.
CAT 2026 Reservation Policy: Category-Wise Breakdown
The Indian Institutes of Management follow the statutory reservation norms prescribed by the Government of India. Reserved social categories—SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and EWS—account for 59.5% of the total intake, leaving 40.5% for open/general seats. Horizontal reservation applies to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD).
Category Reservation Percentage Seats Classification Scheduled Caste (SC) 15% Vertical Reservation Scheduled Tribe (ST) 7.5% Vertical Reservation Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) 27% Vertical Reservation (Non-Creamy Layer) Economically Weaker Section (EWS) 10% Vertical Reservation Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) 5% Horizontal Reservation General / Open Category 40.5% Unreserved
Key Reservation Rules Explained
Horizontal PwD Quota: The 5% PwD reservation operates horizontally across all categories. Rather than forming a separate pool, a PwD applicant is allocated a seat within their primary social category (General, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, or EWS).
Category Documentation: Applicants claiming SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, or PwD quotas must upload valid, government-approved certificates in the prescribed format during application processing.
Selection Criteria: Holding a quota category does not guarantee an IIM seat. Candidates must still meet CAT minimum cutoff percentiles, sectional score thresholds, and individual institute criteria (academic background, work experience, and interview performance).
CAT 2026 Key Dates & Full Schedule
The online registration window for CAT 2026 remains open until September 15, 2026.
Event Official Date Registration Start Date August 3, 2026 Registration Deadline September 15, 2026 (5:00 PM IST) Admit Card Release November 4, 2026 CAT 2026 Exam Date November 29, 2026 Declaration of Results First week of January 2027
CAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Slot Timings
CAT 2026 will be held as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) lasting 120 minutes (40 minutes per section). Candidates are not permitted to switch between sections during the test.
Test Structure
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Examination Session Timings
| Session | Exam Timing |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 (Morning) | 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM |
| Slot 2 (Afternoon) | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Slot 3 (Evening) | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
Eligibility Criteria & Application Fees
Minimum Marks Requirements
General / OBC-NCL / EWS: Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.
SC / ST / PwD: Bachelor’s degree with at least 45% marks or equivalent CGPA.
Final-Year Students: Undergraduate students in their final year of study or awaiting final results are eligible to apply provisionally.
Application Fee Structure
General, EWS, and OBC-NCL Candidates: ₹2,700
SC, ST, and PwD Candidates: ₹1,350
