CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Who Can Take the CAT Exam?
Before you open a single CAT prep book, there is one question worth settling first: are you actually eligible? Every year, thousands of students start preparing for CAT without confirming whether they meet the eligibility criteria. Some discover too late that their degree is not recognised. Others realise their aggregate falls short by a fraction of a percent. The CAT eligibility criteria 2026 are straightforward, but the edge cases around distance degrees, backlogs, CGPA conversions, and category-wise cutoffs trip up more aspirants than you would expect. Here is the complete breakdown so you can settle this once and move on to what matters: preparation.
To appear for CAT 2026, you need a bachelor's degree (any discipline) with at least 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final year students can apply. There is no age limit and no cap on the number of attempts. Indian nationals, NRIs, and foreign nationals with valid degrees are all eligible.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Core Requirements
The CAT eligibility criteria have remained largely unchanged for over a decade. IIM conducts CAT as a common entrance test, and the eligibility is standardised across all participating IIMs. There are exactly four checkpoints you need to clear.
You must hold a bachelor's degree from a university recognised by the UGC, AICTE, or a relevant statutory body. The degree can be in any discipline: engineering, commerce, arts, science, law, medicine, or any other field. There is no restriction on the stream of graduation.
Degrees from deemed universities, autonomous institutions, and central/state universities are all accepted. The key requirement is official recognition by a government body.
General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates need a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (or equivalent CGPA) in their bachelor's degree. SC, ST, and PwD candidates need a minimum of 45%.
The aggregate is calculated as per the method used by your university. If your university uses CGPA, the equivalent percentage is determined by the university's own conversion formula.
There is no age limit for appearing in the CAT exam. Whether you are 21 or 45, you can register and take the test. Working professionals, career changers, and repeat aspirants of any age are all eligible. This is one of the most frequently asked questions about CAT eligibility criteria, and the answer is unambiguous: age is not a barrier.
You can take CAT as many times as you want. There is no restriction on the number of attempts. Many successful IIM students have taken the exam two or three times before getting their target score. Each attempt is independent, and IIMs consider only the most recent valid CAT score.
The CAT eligibility criteria above are for appearing in the exam itself. Individual IIMs may have additional criteria for their admission process (WAT/PI rounds, work experience weightage, academic diversity). Clearing the CAT eligibility bar does not automatically guarantee an interview call.
CAT Eligibility: Minimum Percentage and CGPA Requirements
The minimum percentage requirement is the single most important CAT eligibility criterion. It determines whether your application will even be accepted during CAT registration. Here is how it works across different grading systems.
| Grading System | General / EWS / OBC-NCL | SC / ST / PwD | How Calculated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage-based | 50% aggregate | 45% aggregate | Sum of all semester/year marks, divided by total maximum marks |
| CGPA (10-point scale) | 5.0 CGPA | 4.5 CGPA | University's official conversion formula applied |
| CGPA (4-point scale) | 2.0 CGPA | 1.8 CGPA | University's official conversion formula applied |
| Grade-based (no CGPA) | Equivalent to 50% | Equivalent to 45% | University issues an equivalence certificate |
What Counts as "Aggregate"?
The aggregate percentage means the total marks obtained across all semesters or years of your degree programme, divided by the total maximum marks. It is not the average of your best semesters. It is not the final year percentage. It is the cumulative total across the entire degree.
For universities that award CGPA without a percentage equivalent, the candidate must obtain a certificate from the university confirming the equivalent percentage. Some universities provide this on the transcript itself. Others require a separate application.
If your university does not have an official conversion formula and does not issue equivalence certificates, IIMs typically use the formula: Percentage = CGPA x 10 (for a 10-point scale). However, this varies by IIM. Check the specific IIM's admission policy for the exact conversion method they accept.
Students with a CGPA of 4.9 on a 10-point scale (49% equivalent) in the General category often assume they are close enough. They are not. The 50% cutoff is strict. If your aggregate falls below the threshold by even 0.1%, your CAT application will be rejected. There is no rounding up.
Eligible for CAT? Find out where you stand before you start preparing.
Check your predicted CAT score range →Category-Wise CAT Eligibility: SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD
The CAT eligibility criteria differ based on reservation category. The relaxation applies only to the minimum percentage requirement. The educational qualification (bachelor's degree from a recognised university) remains the same for all categories.
| Category | Minimum Marks | Certificate Required | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 50% aggregate | None | No relaxation available |
| EWS | 50% aggregate | EWS certificate from competent authority | Certificate must be recent (issued within the valid period) |
| OBC-NCL | 50% aggregate | OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate | NCL certificate is mandatory; creamy layer candidates treated as General |
| SC | 45% aggregate | Caste certificate from competent authority | 5% relaxation on minimum marks |
| ST | 45% aggregate | Tribe certificate from competent authority | 5% relaxation on minimum marks |
| PwD | 45% aggregate | Disability certificate (40%+ disability) | 5% relaxation; can be combined with other categories |
OBC-NCL candidates do not receive the 5% marks relaxation. The relaxation to 45% applies only to SC, ST, and PwD candidates. OBC-NCL candidates must meet the same 50% threshold as General candidates. The reservation benefit for OBC-NCL applies during the IIM admission process (seat allocation), not during the CAT eligibility check.
All category certificates must be valid and issued by a competent government authority. The EWS certificate, in particular, has a validity period and must be recently issued. Expired certificates will not be accepted during verification.
Edge Cases: Who Else Can (and Cannot) Appear for CAT 2026
The core CAT eligibility criteria 2026 are simple. The confusion starts at the edges. Here are the most common scenarios that students ask about, and the definitive answers based on past CAT bulletins.
Final Year Students
Yes, students in the final year of their bachelor's degree can appear for CAT 2026. This is explicitly allowed. However, you must complete your degree and meet the minimum percentage requirement before the admission deadline of the IIM you are accepted to. If you fail to provide proof of completion, your admission offer will be cancelled.
Distance Learning and Open University Degrees
Degrees from IGNOU, state open universities, and other distance learning institutions are accepted, provided the university is recognised by UGC-DEB (Distance Education Bureau). The degree must appear in the UGC-DEB list of approved programmes. Not all distance programmes are approved, so verify yours specifically.
Part-Time and Correspondence Degrees
Part-time degrees from recognised universities are accepted for CAT eligibility. The key is UGC recognition. If your university and programme are on the UGC list, you are eligible. The mode of study (full-time, part-time, correspondence) does not disqualify you.
Three-year diploma holders who have not completed a full bachelor's degree are not eligible for CAT. A diploma is not a degree. However, if you completed a diploma followed by a lateral-entry bachelor's degree (common in engineering), the bachelor's degree satisfies the CAT eligibility criteria as long as the university is recognised.
Professional Qualifications (CA, CS, ICWA)
Candidates with professional qualifications like Chartered Accountancy (CA), Company Secretary (CS), or ICWA are eligible for CAT, provided these qualifications are recognised as equivalent to a bachelor's degree by the relevant authority. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) generally recognises CA as equivalent to a degree.
Foreign Degrees
Candidates with degrees from foreign universities are eligible, provided the degree is recognised by the AIU (Association of Indian Universities) or the university holds an equivalence granted by a competent Indian authority. NRI candidates and foreign nationals can appear for CAT under the same educational criteria.
Candidates with Backlogs or ATKT
If you have active backlogs at the time of CAT registration, you can still register and appear for the exam. However, you must clear all backlogs and complete your degree with the required percentage before the IIM admission deadline. Uncleared backlogs at the time of admission verification will disqualify you.
Some students assume that clearing CAT with a high score will override the percentage requirement. It will not. Even with a 99.9 percentile, if your aggregate is 49.8% in the General category, no IIM will admit you. The eligibility cutoff is non-negotiable.
Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration
When you register for CAT 2026, you need specific documents ready. Missing or incorrect documents can delay your application or cause rejection. Here is the complete document list that proves you meet the CAT eligibility criteria 2026.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Photograph | Recent passport-size colour photograph, white background, JPEG/PNG format, size as specified in the bulletin |
| Signature | Scanned signature on white paper, JPEG/PNG format |
| Class 10 marksheet | For date of birth verification |
| Class 12 marksheet | For academic record verification |
| Graduation marksheets | All semester/year marksheets; final year students upload available marksheets |
| Degree certificate | For completed graduates; final year students exempt until admission |
| Category certificate | SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD certificate from competent authority (if applicable) |
| Valid photo ID | Aadhaar, passport, PAN card, or voter ID |
Scan all documents in advance and keep them in a single folder. The CAT registration window is typically open for 3-4 weeks in August. Having documents ready means you can complete registration in one sitting instead of scrambling for marksheets at the last minute.
How the CAT 2026 Registration Process Works
Understanding the registration process helps you verify your CAT exam eligibility well in advance. The process follows a fixed sequence every year.
- Official notification: IIM releases the CAT 2026 bulletin (typically July-August) on the official CAT website. The bulletin contains the exact eligibility criteria, registration dates, and exam date.
- Online registration: Create an account on the CAT website, fill in personal and academic details, upload documents, and select test cities (up to 6 preferences).
- Fee payment: Pay the CAT registration fee online. The fee is approximately Rs. 2,400 for General/EWS/OBC-NCL candidates and Rs. 1,200 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Admit card download: Available approximately 2-3 weeks before the exam date. Contains your test centre, slot, and reporting time.
- Exam day: CAT 2026 is expected in the last week of November 2026. The exam is conducted in three slots across a single day.
The registration portal validates your eligibility at the application stage. If your academic details do not meet the minimum criteria, the system will flag it during submission. However, the final verification happens during the IIM admission process, where original documents are checked physically. Once registered, use the time before the exam to practise CAT-level questions and track your readiness with the score predictor.
Already eligible? The next step is knowing where you stand.
See the CAT 2026 preparation timeline →The Eligibility Verdict
- You need a bachelor's degree (any stream) from a UGC/AICTE recognised university. Final year students can apply.
- 50% aggregate minimum for General/EWS/OBC-NCL. 45% for SC/ST/PwD. No rounding, no exceptions.
- No age limit. No cap on attempts. You can take CAT at 22 or 42.
- Distance, part-time, and professional degrees (CA, CS) are accepted if recognised.
- Backlogs are fine at registration, but must be cleared before IIM admission.
- CAT eligibility gets you into the exam. IIM admission has its own additional criteria beyond the CAT score.
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