CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Marks, IIM Requirements & More
Before beginning your CAT preparation, it is essential to confirm that you meet the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria. Candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be allowed to sit for the exam, or their admission may be cancelled at a later stage. CAT 2026 eligibility is based on educational qualification and percentage of marks in graduation. There is no age limit, and there is no cap on the number of attempts.
CAT 2026 Eligibility at a Glance
|
Criterion |
Details |
|
Exam Name |
Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
|
Conducting Body |
IIM Indore (expected) |
|
Minimum Qualification |
Bachelor's Degree from a recognised university |
|
Minimum Marks – General/EWS/NC-OBC |
50% or equivalent CGPA |
|
Minimum Marks – SC/ST/PwD (DA) |
45% or equivalent CGPA |
|
Age Limit |
No age restriction |
|
Number of Attempts |
No restriction |
|
Nationality |
Indian & Foreign Nationals (NRI/PIO/OCI) |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible (conditionally) |
Educational Qualification
The most important eligibility requirement for CAT 2026 is holding a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
-
The degree must be from a university or institution recognised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or an equivalent statutory body.
-
The stream of graduation does not matter — candidates from Engineering, Commerce, Arts, Science, Law, Medicine, or any other stream are equally eligible.
-
AICTE-approved programmes and Open University degrees (like IGNOU) are also accepted, provided they meet the minimum marks criteria.
Category-wise Marks Criteria
|
Category |
Minimum Graduation Marks |
|
General |
50% marks or equivalent CGPA |
|
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) |
50% marks or equivalent CGPA |
|
Non-Creamy OBC (NC-OBC) |
50% marks or equivalent CGPA |
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) |
45% marks or equivalent CGPA |
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) |
45% marks or equivalent CGPA |
|
Persons with Disability (PwD / DA) |
45% marks or equivalent CGPA |
Note: If your university awards grades instead of marks, CGPA will be converted to percentage as per the university's conversion formula.
Eligibility for Final Year Students
Candidates who are currently in the final year of their bachelor's programme or are awaiting their results can also apply for CAT 2026. However, the following conditions apply:
|
Condition |
Details |
|
Application |
Allowed provisionally |
|
Admission |
Will remain provisional |
|
Deadline to Submit Degree |
As specified by the respective IIM |
|
Condition for Final Admission |
Must meet minimum marks criteria after results |
|
Failure to Meet Criteria |
Provisional admission will be cancelled |
Nationality Eligibility
|
Nationality |
Eligibility |
|
Indian Citizens |
Fully eligible |
|
NRI (Non-Resident Indian) |
Eligible |
|
PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) |
Eligible |
|
OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) |
Eligible |
|
Foreign Nationals |
Eligible (exam in India only) |
All candidates must appear for the exam in India. CAT is not conducted abroad.
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Work Experience
Work experience is not mandatory for CAT eligibility. However, it is a positive factor in the IIM shortlisting process and can influence the final composite score.
|
Work Experience |
Impact on CAT Eligibility |
Impact on IIM Admission |
|
0 years (fresher) |
Fully eligible |
No negative impact; diversity factor considered |
|
1–3 years |
Fully eligible |
Positive weightage in some IIMs |
|
3–5+ years |
Fully eligible |
Can increase shortlisting score |
|
5+ years (Executive MBA) |
Fully eligible |
Required for PGPX programmes |
CAT 2026 Eligibility vs IIM Admission Eligibility
It is important to understand that meeting CAT eligibility only means you can sit for the exam. IIM admission involves a separate, multi-stage process.
|
Stage |
Criteria |
|
CAT 2026 Exam |
Meets educational qualification + minimum marks |
|
IIM Shortlisting |
CAT percentile + past academics + work experience + diversity |
|
WAT-PI Round |
Written Ability Test + Personal Interview performance |
|
Final Offer |
Composite score including all above factors |
IIM Cutoff Percentiles (Reference from CAT 2025)
|
IIM |
General Category Cutoff |
SC/ST Cutoff |
|
IIM Ahmedabad |
99+ percentile |
85+ percentile |
|
IIM Bangalore |
99+ percentile |
85+ percentile |
|
IIM Calcutta |
99+ percentile |
85+ percentile |
|
IIM Lucknow |
97+ percentile |
80+ percentile |
|
IIM Kozhikode |
95+ percentile |
75+ percentile |
|
IIM Indore |
95+ percentile |
75+ percentile |
|
New IIMs |
90–95 percentile |
70+ percentile |
Cutoffs are illustrative based on CAT 2025 data and may vary for CAT 2026.
Documents Required to Verify Eligibility
|
Document |
Purpose |
|
Graduation Degree Certificate |
Proof of educational qualification |
|
Mark Sheets (All Years) |
Verification of minimum percentage |
|
Category Certificate (if applicable) |
SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD reservation |
|
PwD Certificate (if applicable) |
For disability-based reservation |
|
Identity Proof (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport) |
Identity verification |
Frequently Asked Questions
General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates need at least 50% in graduation. SC/ST/PwD candidates need at least 45%.
No. Candidates from any stream — engineering, arts, commerce, science — are eligible.
Yes. There is no upper age or experience limit for CAT 2026.
No. Eligibility only allows you to sit for the exam. IIM admission depends on CAT score, academics, work experience, and PI performance.
