CAT 2026 admissions to top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will feature new admission processes impacting prospective MBA students. IIM Indore will administer the CAT 2026 exam on November 29, 2026. While the exam structure and syllabus remain unchanged, application fees have increased.
Joint Admission Process Introduced by Four IIMs
Four IIMs – Kashipur , Raipur , Ranchi , and Tiruchirappalli – have launched a Joint Admission Process (JAP) for their two-year MBA programs. IIM Raipur is coordinating this initiative. Candidates invited after CAT results will undergo a common interview process. However, individual IIMs will determine final admission decisions, merit lists, and weightages independently. Aspirants must note that academic cut-offs and selection weightages may differ across these four institutes, despite the shared interview format.
Common Admission Process No Longer Uniform
The structure of the Common Admission Process (CAP) is no longer uniform across all IIMs. For CAT 2026, institutes like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sirmaur participated in CAP. Other IIMs, such as IIM Udaipur, have opted out of CAP. IIM Udaipur will conduct its own selection process, including a written test and Personal Interview, alongside CAT performance evaluation. This change requires candidates to track the individual admission policies of each IIM they are targeting.
IIM Indore Increases CAT Score Weightage
IIM Indore has revised its admission criteria for the 2026-28 MBA batch. The institute increased the weightage given to the CAT score. It also reduced the importance of Class 10 marks and introduced work experience as a selection parameter. This demonstrates that IIMs can adjust their selection criteria annually, affecting the relative importance of CAT scores, academics, and work experience.
High CAT Percentile Alone Insufficient for Admission
Securing a high CAT percentile is not a guarantee of admission to an IIM. Institutes like IIM Ahmedabad consider a composite score that includes CAT performance, past academic records, an Analytical Writing Test, and a Personal Interview. Similarly, IIM Calcutta uses multiple stages and parameters for its selection process. This means that even if a candidate meets the minimum CAT cut-off, shortlisting can depend on academics, sectional performance, work experience, and diversity factors.
Academic Profile and Work Experience Remain Crucial
An applicant's profile beyond the CAT score continues to be significant. IIM Ahmedabad's selection process evaluates past academic performance alongside CAT, written ability tests, and interviews. The institute admits students from diverse academic backgrounds. Work experience can also influence selection, depending on the specific IIM and admission cycle. IIM Indore's recent policy change, incorporating work experience, highlights its importance.
CAT 2026 Examination Details
IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026 . The exam will have three sessions. The registration fee for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates is Rs 2,700 . Fees for SC, ST, and PwD candidates have also been revised. The exam pattern and syllabus for CAT 2026 remain the same as previous years. Registration is open until September 15, 2026 , at 5 PM.
