CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 is an important part of the application process. Candidates should confirm their eligibility before applying for the exam in order to avoid rejection of their applications in future.
The CAT exam eligibility criteria differ for general, OBC, SC/ST categories in terms of the minimum marks required in a bachelor’s degree. There is no age criterion usually mentioned in the notification. You should enter only correct details about your eligibility (age/qualification/qualifying percentage) in the CAT 2026 application form.
Candidates whose applications are found valid will only be issued a CAT admit card and will be allowed to appear in the exam. Read ahead for the detailed CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for MBA admission.
What is the CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026?
The CAT exam eligibility criteria are the minimum qualifications required to appear in this test. In simpler terms, they should have a bachelor’s degree in any stream from a recognised University.
Yes. Relaxation will be given in the minimum marks secured by the reserved category candidates in their bachelor’s degree. Final year students can also apply for the exam.
Learn more about the CAT eligibility criteria 2026 on this page.
Minimum CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria Overview
The CAT exam is held for MBA admissions in all IIMs and top B-schools in India. Here is the quick overview of the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria shared below:
| Particulars | Details |
| Basic Qualification | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Minimum Marks in Bachelor’s degree for General/OBC category | 50% |
| Minimum Marks in Bachelor’s degree for SC/ST category | 45% |
| Professional Qualifications | CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI) |
| Age Limit | Not Specified |
| Number of Attempts | No Limit |
| Work Experience | Not Mandatory |
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026 Explained
The CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 is an important step in your application process. You should read the criteria carefully to know whether you are qualified for the exam. You will also be asked to provide certain documents to prove your eligibility claims.
So, if you are claiming reservation benefits, you must keep your category certificates ready. Similar rules apply for PWD applicants.
Failing to provide any of the necessary documents can lead to cancellation of your candidature. We have discussed the complete CAT exam eligibility criteria 2026 for MBA in this article
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Academic Qualification
Academic qualification is an important component of the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria. Check the educational qualification required to apply for the CAT exam:
- Bachelor’s Degree awarded by any University or educational institution as incorporated by an Act of Parliament or State legislature in India or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. You can have an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
- Candidates need to secure at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in the case of candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Disability (PwD) categories] in their bachelor’s degree.
- Candidates appearing for the final year of a Bachelor’s degree can also apply.
- Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ST/PwD) can also apply.
CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026: Final Year Students
Many of you ask whether a final year student can apply for the CAT 2026 exam. The answer is yes. You can find the CAT eligibility criteria for final year students.
- Aspirants appearing for the final year of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent can apply.
- Candidates who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply.
- Such candidates, if selected, will be permitted to join the MBA course provisionally, only if they provide a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution stating that they have completed all the requirements for securing the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Professional Degree Holders
IIMs have also specified CAT exam eligibility criteria for professional degree holders. If you have any one of the following qualifications, then you might be eligible for the CAT 2026 exam:
- Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks.
- Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with the required percentage.
- Must be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage.
- SC/ST/PwD candidates must secure at least 45% marks. General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates must obtain at least 50% marks.
CAT Eligibility Criteria for the General Category
The CAT eligibility criteria for the general category include both age and qualification details. You can check the complete details below:
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks from any recognised University.
- Final year students can also apply for the CAT 2026 exam.
- Those who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with 50% marks can also apply.
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for the OBC Category
The CAT 2026 eligibility criteria for the OBC category include both age and qualification details. You can check the complete details below:
- Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks from any recognised University.
- Candidates who are in their final year or awaiting the results can also apply for the CAT 2026 exam.
- Those who possess a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with 50% marks can also apply.
CAT Eligibility Criteria for the SC/ST Category
The CAT exam eligibility criteria for the SC/ST category include both age and qualification details. You can check the complete details below:
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 45% marks from any recognised University.
- Final year candidates can also apply for the CAT 2026 exam.
- Aspirants who have completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with 40% marks can also apply.
CAT Eligibility Criteria for MBA: Age Limit
There is no age criterion mentioned in the CAT notification. Candidates are eligible for this national-level entrance test till they satisfy all the prescribed eligibility conditions.
There is no minimum or maximum age limit for the CAT exam. If you are a graduate with the minimum required percentage, you can apply for the CAT exam.
CAT Age Criteria 2026
Many candidates ask what the CAT age limit is for general, OBC, SC, ST, and other categories. There is no information outlined in the notification PDF.
However, candidates should always check the official website for all the latest updates on the CAT age criteria. Check the CAT 2026 eligibility criteria in terms of age limit below:
- Minimum CAT age limit: Not specified
- Maximum CAT age limit: Not Specified
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Working Professionals
The CAT eligibility criteria for working professionals are the same as the criteria for all candidates. Having certain work experience can benefit you in your final IIM admission.
Some IIMs and colleges allocate certain weightage to the work experience component in their final selection criteria. To appear in the CAT exam, the working professionals must fulfil the following eligibility requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks [45% for SC/ST/PwD) awarded by any recognised University/Institute.
- They must have completed a Bachelor’s degree or completed a professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA (CMA)/Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)) with the required marks.
- The percentage of marks secured will be computed based on the practice as followed by the respective University/Institution.
List of Documents Required for CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates should keep certain documents ready at the time of filling out the CAT application form. This will help them submit only valid details, and these documents will also be asked for in the further admission process.
A copy of the SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD certificate(s) must be uploaded when filling out the CAT application. Failing to provide a copy of the caste/class certificate will result in rejection.
Make sure all the documents are issued by a competent authority to avoid disqualification. The list of documents required for the CAT eligibility criteria 2026:
- Bachelor’s degree from any recognised University.
- SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD certificate(s)
- Proof of Identity
- Proof of Date of Birth
- Work Experience details (if any)
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for PWD Candidates
According to the provisions of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act 2016), 5% seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD). “Person with Benchmark Disability” implies a candidate with not less than 40% of a specified disability. The categories of disability are:
a) Blindness and low vision
b) Deaf and hard of hearing
c) Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy.
d) Autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness
e) Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d)
f) Other ‘specified disabilities’ mentioned in ‘The Schedule’ of the RPwD Act 2016
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for MBA: Reservation Criteria
Candidates belonging to reserved categories can avail of the reservation facility as per the legal requirements. Here is the category-wise reservation criteria for the CAT exam eligibility shared below:
| Category | Reservation |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% of seats |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% of seats |
| Other Backward Classes candidates from the “non-creamy” layer (NC-OBC) | 27% of seats |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 10% of seats |
CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Things to Remember
You should keep certain things related to the CAT exam eligibility to avoid any confusion. Some of the important points are given below:
- A bachelor’s degree is the minimum qualification.
- Candidates with or without experience can apply for the CAT exam.
- Final year students can also apply.
- Reserved category candidates need to upload their SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwD certificate(s)when filling out the CAT application
- No age limit is outlined in the CAT notification.
CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for all IIMs
IIMs may verify your eligibility at different stages of the selection process. You should note that merely fulfilling the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee that you will be shortlisted by IIMs.
Here is the CAT eligibility criteria for different IIMs.
| IIM | CAT Exam Eligibility |
| IIM Ahmedabad | Bachelor’s degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% marks for Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category candidates). Final year students can also apply. |
| IIM Bangalore | A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Applicants from SC, ST and PwD categories should have a minimum of 45% or equivalent CGPA.A completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA(CMA)/FIAI) |
| IIM Calcutta | Bachelor’s degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% marks for Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category candidates). Final year students can also apply. |
| IIM Lucknow | Bachelor’s degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% marks for Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category candidates). Candidates appearing for the final year of a bachelor’s degree/equivalent can apply. |
| IIM Mumbai | Bachelor’s degree, with at least 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ST/PWD) from any recognised University. Final-year students or those awaiting results can also apply. |
Conclusion
Knowing the CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 is important before applying. Candidates must check the educational qualification, minimum marks, and other rules.
Final-year graduation students can also apply for CAT 2026. Since CAT is highly competitive, early preparation can help you score better.
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