What Is the Fee for CAT Application 2026?

The CAT 2026 application fees will most likely be around 2500-2600 rupees for General / EWS / NC-OBC applicants and 1200-1300 rupees for SC/ST/PwD applicants, as per the latest trends. The final fee will be checked in the official notification that will be released for the Common Admission Test, conducted by one of the Indian Institutes of Management every year. Candidates must carefully review category-wise charges and make payment while the registration to avoid rejection of the application.

It is important to understand the CAT registration charges category wise, payment process, and eligibility criteria before applying. Let's find out about everything in detail.

Read More - Which Book Is Best for CAT 2026 Exam?

CAT 2026 Application Fee – Category Wise Structure

Although waiting for the official notification, the expected CAT registration charges category wise are:

Key Points:

• Fee to be paid online while registering.

• The application fee is non-refundable.

• For category selection must be correct at the time of form filling.

CAT Previous Year Fee Trend

Analysis of past trends is useful for estimating the likely fee for 2026.

Trend Analysis:

• Gradual increase of Rs. 100 - 200 every 1-2 years

• Reserved category fee has been kept at around 50% of General fee.

This means that there is likely to be a slight increase in the CAT 2026 application fee.

CAT Important Dates 2026 (Expected)

Candidates are advised to follow official announcements about CAT important date 2026.

CAT Exam Fee Payment Process

The process of paying the CAT exam fee is entirely online.

Available Payment Modes:

• Credit Card

• Debit Card

• Net Banking

• UPI

• Wallet Payments (if enabled)

Steps to Pay CAT Fee:

1. Complete registration through the Internet.

2. Fill in personal and academic information.

3. Upload documents.

4. Select test cities.

5. Proceed to payment gateway.

6. Complete transaction and download receipt of confirmation.

Important: Incomplete payment is a rejection of the application.

Is CAT Application Fee Refundable?

No. The application fee of CAT is usually non-refundable under any circumstances. Exceptions may only be made in the case of:

• Double payment

• Technical errors in transaction

Always keep proof of transaction for reference.

CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

Before paying the fee, the candidates must satisfy the CAT eligibility criteria:

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD).

• Final year students can also apply.

• No upper age limit.

• Experience - No restriction on number of attempts.

Meeting eligibility is mandatory for the purpose of not being disqualified.

Additional Costs Beyond CAT Application Fee

Apart from the registration charges, the aspirants should take into consideration:

1. Preparation Material

2. MBA College Application Fees

• Each IIM and other B-schools may have their own separate admission process.

• Interview and travel costs may apply.

Recommended Study Resources

To get the best return on your investment in your CAT 2026 application fee, invest in quality preparation materials:

1. CAT Preparation Books 2026

• Quantitative Aptitude guides

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension books

• Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation material

2. CAT Mock Test Papers

• Full-length timed tests

• Sectional mock tests

• Performance analysis tools

3. CAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper

To help, a cat exam previous year question paper practice:

• Understand the level of difficulty

• Improve speed

• Identify repeated question patterns

Consistency is the key to high percentile performance.

Common Mistakes While Paying CAT Fee

• Selecting wrong category

• Waiting until last date (server issues)

• Incomplete document upload

• Ignoring eligibility rules

Always check details prior to final submission.

Conclusion

The CAT 2026 application fee is likely to be around Rs 2500-2600 for General candidates and Rs 1200-1300 for reserved categories as per the previous trends. Understanding CAT registration charges category wise, CAT exam fee payment process as well as checking CAT eligibility criteria before applying can avoid costly mistakes. Along with tracking CAT important dates 2026, candidates must also invest in good cat preparation books 2026, practice with cat mock test papers, and solve cat exam previous year question paper regularly to maximize their chances of getting selected for admission at top IIMs.

Applying early and planning smartly is the best course of action.