Fewer People Applying for CAT 2025? Registration Closes with 12% Drop in Applicants

According to online reports, CAT 2025 registration window has closed with a significant drop in applicant numbers, signaling a potential shift in MBA education. The number of email registrations for CAT 2025 closed at approximately 3.42 lakh, a decrease of roughly 46,000 compared to last year's 3.88 lakh. This marks a dip of nearly 12%.

The email registration referred here is the total number of unique email addresses used to initiate the CAT registration process on the official portal, regardless of whether the application was ultimately submitted. Not every email registration leads to a completed application. Many aspirants create multiple IDs, while several candidates drop out before paying the application fee.

This has led to a long discussion among CAT aspirants and education experts. While some question if the appeal of an MBA is declining, others suggest the market is simply correcting itself by filtering out less serious applicants.

CAT 2025 is scheduled to be conducted on November 30, 2025. The registration window was open till September 20, 2025. Successfully registered candidates will now be able to download their admit card through the official portal @iimcat.ac.in, from November 5, 2025. IIM Kozhikode might also open a correction window for students who made a mistake in their application form. For details, check CAT 2025 exam updates here

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How many students register for CAT every year?

Every year, IIM releases a proper report on the number of candidates who registered and appeared for CAT exam after the declaration of results. In 2024, the number of actual CAT applicants increased by 0.3%. Additionally, the registrations for CAT 2023 increased by ~30%, the highest since 1977.

*This number is based on online reports stating CAT 2025 email registrations till 4:37 PM on September 20, 2025.

According to the Collegedunia Team, the significant difference between CAT 2025 email registration and final applications is due to the multi-step form process, eligibility verification, and completion requirements. The recent drop in email registrations is noteworthy but not drastic enough to indicate a major shift in candidate interest or competitive intensity for the CAT exam. 

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• IIM Ahmedabad Raises CAT Cutoff for MBA Admission 2026; WAT-PI Weightage at 60%
• MDI Gurgaon MBA Admission Criteria 2026-28 Revised; Check New Criteria Here