CAT 2026 Application Fee: Category-Wise Fee Structure and Online Payment Methods

CAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,400 for General, EWS, and OBC-NCL category students and ₹1,200 for SC, ST, and PwD students, payable entirely online through the official portal iimcat.ac.in via net banking, credit/debit card, or UPI.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management as the primary gateway to MBA and PGDM programmes at IIMs and hundreds of other top business schools across India. Paying the application fee is a mandatory final step of the registration process. Based on previous-year trends, CAT 2026 registration is expected to open in August 2026, with the official notification anticipated around July 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.

• General/EWS/OBC-NCL fee: ₹2,400 — applicable to all open and non-creamy layer candidates.
• SC/ST/PwD fee: ₹1,200 — a 50% concession offered to reserved and differently-abled students.
• Payment is accepted only online via net banking, credit card, debit card, and UPI — no offline or demand draft mode.
• The CAT application fee is non-refundable once the transaction is complete.
• CAT 2026 official notification is expected around July 23, 2026 on iimcat.ac.in.

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CAT 2026 Category-Wise Application Fee

CAT 2026 follows a two-slab fee structure. Students from the General, EWS, and OBC-NCL categories pay the full fee, while SC, ST, and PwD students are eligible for a 50% concession. The table below reflects expected fees based on CAT 2025 trends.

The fee structure above is expected based on CAT 2025 data. Students should check the official CAT 2026 notification at iimcat.ac.in for the confirmed amounts once released. PwD students who also belong to SC or ST retain the ₹1,200 concession and are not charged separately under both heads.

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Online Payment Methods for CAT 2026

CAT 2026 accepts only digital payment. No offline payment mode such as demand draft or cash challan is available. The official portal supports the following payment methods:

Always use a stable internet connection during payment. Save the payment confirmation page with the transaction ID as proof. If you are paying via UPI, ensure your daily transaction limit is set above ₹2,400 before you begin. Credit card payments may attract a small processing fee depending on the card issuer — check with your bank before transacting.

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How to Pay CAT 2026 Application Fee: Step-by-Step

Fee payment is the last step of the CAT 2026 application process. Complete all earlier sections of the form before proceeding to pay. Follow these steps once you are logged in at iimcat.ac.in:

1. Go to iimcat.ac.in and click "New Candidate Registration" if you have not registered yet.
2. Enter your name, valid email ID, and mobile number. Verify both via OTP sent by the system.
3. Log in with the credentials received on your registered email.
4. Fill in the CAT 2026 application form — personal details, academic qualifications, work experience, and category details.
5. Choose up to three preferred test cities in order of priority.
6. Upload your photograph, signature, and category certificate (if applicable) in the specified format.
7. Preview and verify all entered details on the review page.
8. Click "Proceed to Payment" and select your preferred payment method.
9. Complete the transaction and download or print the payment confirmation showing your application number and transaction ID.

Do not press the back button or close the browser tab during the payment process. If the fee is deducted but your application status does not update, wait 48 hours for automatic reconciliation. If the issue persists beyond 48 hours, contact the CAT 2026 helpdesk with your transaction ID and bank statement.

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CAT 2026 Registration Important Dates

The dates below are expected based on CAT 2025 trends and will be confirmed in the official notification on iimcat.ac.in. Mark these tentative deadlines on your calendar to avoid last-minute rush.

Students should complete registration and fee payment well before the last date. The portal tends to experience heavy traffic in the final days of the application window, which can cause technical delays.

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Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration

Gather the following documents before you start filling the CAT 2026 application form. All uploads must conform to the size and format guidelines on the portal to avoid rejection.

Students in the final year of graduation who have not yet received their degree can apply provisionally. They must provide proof of graduation before the IIM interview or admission process begins. Category certificates must be current and issued in the applicant’s name by the appropriate state or central authority.