CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Reservation Policy

CAT Eligibility Latest Updates

• Eligibility Query Contact Update - January 27, 2026 - Updated contact information for eligibility, category, and PwD certificate queries released by the CAT Centre office.
• Cutoff Release for Reserved Categories - January 16, 2026 - CAT Cutoff 2026 announced for reserved categories, impacting eligibility for IIM shortlists and admissions.
• Exam Pattern Update Impacting Eligibility - January 8, 2026 - New CAT 2026 exam pattern published with no changes to core eligibility criteria like qualification marks.
• PI Shortlists Release - December 24, 2025 - IIM PI shortlists for 2025 admissions released, based on CAT scores and eligibility requirements for multiple campuses.
• IIM CAP Eligibility Details - December 22, 2025 - Explanation of IIM CAP 2025 eligibility and admission process for CAT-qualified candidates provided in official update.
• Syllabus and Eligibility Overview - December 18, 2025 - Detailed overview of CAT 2025 eligibility criteria, including category-wise percentages, published alongside syllabus.
• Eligibility Criteria Confirmation - October 29, 2025 - Confirmation of CAT 2025 eligibility details, including no age limit and minimum 50% marks in bachelor's degree (45% for reserved categories).
• Official Notification Release - July 28, 2025 - CAT 2025 official notification released, outlining eligibility requirements such as a bachelor's degree and reservation policies.

CAT Exam Eligibility Highlights

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA to qualify for the CAT exam. Those belonging to reserved categories need 45% marks. Final-year students can apply if they complete their degree requirements before the specified deadline.

• Educational qualification requires a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Minimum aggregate of 50% for general category candidates.
• Reserved categories have a relaxed criterion of 45% aggregate.
• Professional qualifications like CA, CS, or ICWA count as equivalents.

No age limit restricts eligibility for the CAT exam. Candidates can attempt the test multiple times without restrictions. Eligibility also extends to those with equivalent qualifications from recognised institutions.

• No upper or lower age limit applies to applicants.
• Unlimited attempts allowed for all candidates.
• Final-year undergraduates remain eligible if they meet degree completion norms.
• Work experience is not mandatory for eligibility.

Reserved category candidates must provide valid certificates to claim relaxation. Equivalent qualifications include those recognised by the Ministry of Education. All eligibility criteria align with official guidelines from the conducting IIM.

• Valid reservation certificates are required for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD categories.
• Equivalent degrees must be approved by UGC or AICTE.
• Non-creamy layer status applies to OBC candidates.
• PwD candidates get additional relaxations as per norms.

Eligibility verification occurs during the admission process. Candidates must ensure their qualifications meet the standards. Any discrepancy can lead to disqualification at later stages.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university to qualify for CAT. General category applicants need at least 50% aggregate marks in their degree. Reserved category candidates require a minimum of 45% marks, as per official guidelines.

• A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution is mandatory.
• General and NC-OBC candidates must secure 50% or equivalent CGPA.
• SC, ST, and PwD candidates need 45% or equivalent CGPA.
• Final-year students can apply if they complete their degree with the required marks before admission.

No age limit applies to CAT 2026 eligibility. Professional degrees like CA, CS, or ICWA count as equivalent qualifications. Candidates must ensure their documents meet the criteria during verification.

• Equivalent qualifications include those recognised by UGC or AICTE.
• Reserved category applicants should have valid certificates in government-approved formats.
• EWS candidates follow specific income and asset limits for eligibility.
• No work experience is required for appearing in the exam.

Eligibility extends to Indian nationals and foreign candidates meeting academic standards. However, IIMs may have additional criteria beyond CAT scores. Applicants should verify category details accurately during registration.

CAT 2026 eligibility ensures inclusivity for diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, non-fulfilment of criteria leads to disqualification at any stage. Therefore, candidates must review requirements carefully before applying.

• Foreign nationals need equivalent qualifications and valid passports.
• Category changes are not allowed post-registration.
• Eligibility verification occurs during the admission process by IIMs.

CAT Eligibility 12th Marks

CAT eligibility criteria do not specify any minimum marks requirement in the 12th standard for candidates to appear in the exam. Applicants must provide their 12th marks details during the application process as per official guidelines. However, these marks do not determine eligibility to take the test itself.

• No minimum percentage is mandated in 12th for the CAT exam eligibility across all categories.
• Candidates enter their 12th marks in the application form for record purposes only.
• 12th scores may influence later admission processes, but not CAT eligibility.
• Eligibility focuses on graduation marks, leaving 12th without thresholds.

Official notifications confirm that 12th marks serve informational roles rather than eligibility barriers. Candidates from any 12th percentage can apply if they meet graduation criteria. This approach ensures broad access to the CAT exam.

• General category applicants face no 12th marks cutoff for eligibility.
• Reserved categories also have no 12th percentage requirements.
• 12th details are verified during the application but not used for disqualification.
• Focus remains on higher education qualifications over 12th performance.

Verification of 12th marks occurs post-application but does not affect eligibility status. All eligible candidates can proceed regardless of their 12th performance. This policy aligns with CAT's emphasis on graduate-level qualifications.

• 12th marks are not a barrier for international applicants either.
• Professional qualifications do not override the lack of 12th-grade thresholds.
• Official sources emphasise no role for 12th in eligibility decisions.
• Candidates should report accurate 12th marks to avoid discrepancies.

12th marks data helps in comprehensive profiling, but stays irrelevant for CAT eligibility checks. Authorities collect this information for transparency. Therefore, aspirants focus on other criteria while noting 12th details.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university to meet the CAT educational qualifications. This degree requires at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA for general category applicants. Reserved categories need a minimum of 45% marks. Additionally, professional qualifications like CA, CS, or ICWA also qualify if they meet the percentage criteria.

• Bachelor's degree holders from any recognised institution are eligible with the specified aggregate marks.
• Equivalent qualifications, such as those from professional bodies, must align with university standards.
• Final-year students can apply provisionally, provided they complete their degree with the required marks before admission.
• CGPA conversions follow the institution's method to determine eligibility equivalence.

The educational requirement emphasises a strong academic foundation for management studies. Candidates with engineering or commerce backgrounds often apply, but any discipline qualifies. Furthermore, the criteria ensure fairness across diverse educational systems. Therefore, verifying degree recognition is essential for all applicants.

• Professional degrees like Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) are accepted with minimum marks.
• Marks calculation includes all subjects over the degree duration for the aggregate percentage.
• Applicants from foreign universities must provide equivalence certificates from AIU.
• No specific stream restriction applies; arts, science, or humanities graduates qualify equally.

Educational qualifications for CAT focus on bachelor's level achievements. Specifically, integrated programs of at least three years duration count as valid. Moreover, candidates must maintain academic integrity in their records. This structure supports inclusive access to the exam.

• Degrees from UGC-recognised universities ensure validity under the criteria.
• Equivalent CGPA is calculated using the formula provided by the issuing institution.
• Short-term diplomas or certificates do not substitute for a full bachelor's degree.

The criteria accommodate various grading systems through official conversions. Candidates with non-traditional qualifications should confirm eligibility early. Therefore, thorough documentation of educational history is crucial.

CAT Eligibility 2026 for Final Year Students

Final year students pursuing a bachelor's degree can apply for CAT 2026. They must ensure completion of their degree requirements before joining any program. This provision allows flexibility for those nearing graduation.

• Applicants in the final year of a bachelor's program qualify if they meet minimum aggregate marks upon completion.
• General category students need at least 50% marks in their degree.
• Reserved categories require 45% aggregate marks for eligibility.
• Equivalent qualifications from recognised universities are accepted.

Final year candidates must submit a certificate from their institution confirming their status. They should provide proof of meeting eligibility criteria during admissions. This ensures smooth transition post-exam.

• No specific age limit applies to final year applicants.
• Professional degrees like CA, CS, or ICWA count as equivalents for eligibility.
• Backlogs in previous semesters do not disqualify if resolved by degree completion.
• Eligibility extends to final year students from any stream or discipline.

Final year students should verify their university's recognition status. They must achieve the required percentage in the final results. This rule aligns with standard CAT guidelines for ongoing graduates.

Eligibility for final year students emphasises timely degree completion. Candidates need to maintain academic standards throughout their program. This approach supports aspiring MBA students in transition.

• Final year marksheets must be submitted during the IIM verification process.
• Non-fulfilment of degree requirements leads to disqualification.
• Work experience is not mandatory for final year applicants.
• Reservation policies apply equally to final year candidates.

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy

The CAT 2026 reservation policy follows the Government of India guidelines to promote inclusivity in management education. It applies to admissions in IIMs and participating institutions, ensuring seats for reserved categories. This policy relaxes eligibility criteria for certain groups, such as lower aggregate marks requirements.

• Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates receive 15% seat reservation across IIMs.
• Scheduled Tribes (ST) are allocated 7.5% of seats to support tribal communities.
• Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC) get 27% reservation for equitable access.
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) benefit from a 10% quota introduced in recent years.
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD) have a 5% horizontal reservation across categories.

Reservation extends to eligibility thresholds for CAT 2026 applicants. General category candidates need 50% in graduation, but the reserved categories have relaxed norms. This ensures diverse representation in MBA programs.

• SC, ST, and PwD candidates require only 45% aggregate in a bachelor's degree for eligibility.
• NC-OBC and EWS follow the 50% mark but gain from seat quotas during admissions.
• Candidates must provide valid certificates to claim reservations, as per official norms.
• The reservation applies to both sectional and overall cutoffs in some IIM selection processes.

The policy mandates IIMs to fill reserved seats first before general ones. It includes provisions for subcategory priorities within reservations. Additionally, unfilled reserved seats may convert under specific rules.

• PwD reservation is horizontal, cutting across all other categories for added inclusivity.
• EWS candidates need income certificates to qualify for the 10% quota.
• ST reservations prioritise candidates from notified tribes for fair distribution.
• Overall, the policy aims to balance merit with social justice in CAT-based admissions.
• Verification of reservation claims occurs during the admission process to prevent misuse.

CAT 2026 incorporates these reservations in its common admission process for multiple IIMs. The policy aligns with constitutional provisions for affirmative action. Furthermore, it influences waitlist movements based on category-wise vacancies.

• SC candidates get priority in shortlisting if they meet the minimum criteria.
• Reservation percentages are strictly adhered to in final seat allotments.
• PwD includes specific disability types like visual, hearing, and locomotor impairments.
• The policy is uniform across all 20 IIMs for consistency.

CAT Eligibility vs IIMs Eligibility

CAT eligibility sets the baseline for candidates to register and appear for the exam. IIMs generally align with these criteria but may impose additional requirements for admission. Understanding the differences ensures applicants meet all standards for their target programs.

• CAT requires a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates).
• IIMs follow similar academic thresholds, though some specify full-time degrees in specific disciplines for certain programs.
• Final-year students can apply for CAT, but IIMs often require degree completion before program commencement.
• No age limit applies to CAT, and most IIMs maintain this policy for their flagship MBA programs.

IIMs sometimes emphasise work experience, which CAT does not mandate. This distinction affects shortlisting for interviews. Additionally, reservation policies apply uniformly, but IIMs verify them during selection.

• CAT allows candidates from any recognised university, while select IIMs prefer degrees from institutions accredited by specific bodies.
• Professional qualifications like CA, CS, or ICWA count as equivalent to a bachelor's degree for both CAT and IIMs.
• IIMs may require minimum marks in specific subjects for specialised programs, unlike the general CAT criteria.
• Non-resident Indians follow the same CAT eligibility, but IIMs might have separate quotas or processes.

The table highlights key comparisons for clarity. CAT focuses on broad access, whereas IIMs add layers for holistic evaluation. Therefore, meeting the CAT criteria is essential but not sufficient for IIM admission.

• CAT accepts equivalent qualifications, and IIMs do too, but verify them rigorously.
• Some IIMs mandate engineering backgrounds for tech-focused programs, differing from CAT's open policy.
• Both allow multiple attempts, but IIMs consider the overall profile beyond exam scores.

Eligibility verification occurs at different stages. CAT checks during registration, while IIMs do so post-shortlisting. This phased approach helps maintain fairness across applicants.

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