NEW DELHI, Nov 4: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore has postponed the release of the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 admit cards by two days, giving registered candidates a revised date of November 6 to access their examination hall tickets.
The admit cards were earlier scheduled to be released on November 4. However, according to the revised announcement, eligible candidates will now be able to download their documents between November 6 and November 29 through the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.
The examination authority has confirmed that admit cards for all eligible applicants have already been generated. However, the download facility will become accessible only from the revised date.
Candidates will have to use their registered CAT application login ID and password to access the hall ticket.
The announcement is important for thousands of management aspirants preparing to appear for the national-level entrance examination, which provides admission opportunities to postgraduate management programmes offered by the Indian Institutes of Management and several other participating institutions.
The examination itself remains scheduled for November 29, 2026, and will be conducted in three sessions.
CAT 2026 Admit Card: Revised Important Dates
The postponement changes the previously announced schedule for downloading examination documents, while the examination date remains unchanged.
According to the revised timetable:
Event
Date
Earlier admit card release date
November 4, 2026
Revised admit card release date
November 6, 2026
Last date to download admit card
November 29, 2026
CAT 2026 examination
November 29, 2026
Mock test availability
November 6, 2026
Candidates should regularly check the official website for updates regarding the examination and download facility.
The revised schedule does not indicate a postponement of the actual entrance examination. Applicants should therefore continue preparing according to the November 29 examination date.
How to Download CAT 2026 Admit Card
Registered candidates will be required to follow the online procedure to obtain their hall tickets.
The download process will be available through the official website once the link is activated.
Applicants can follow these steps:
Visit the official CAT website at iimcat.ac.in.
Locate the CAT 2026 admit card download link on the homepage.
Click on the candidate login option.
Enter the registered CAT application ID and password.
Submit the login details to access the candidate dashboard.
Open the admit card download section.
Check the information mentioned on the document.
Download and save the hall ticket.
Take a printed copy for examination-day requirements.
Candidates should ensure that their login credentials are available before attempting to download the document.
If applicants experience technical difficulties, they should revisit the official portal or use the available examination helpdesk facilities.
Details Candidates Must Verify on the Hall Ticket
After downloading the CAT 2026 admit card, candidates should carefully examine all the information printed on it.
The document contains important examination-related details that candidates need to follow on the test day.
These include the candidate’s name, registration information, examination centre, examination date, reporting time and session details.
Applicants should also check whether their personal details correspond with the information submitted during registration.
Any discrepancy in the examination document should be brought to the attention of the examination authorities through the official communication channels.
Candidates are advised not to wait until the final days to download their hall tickets, as early access provides sufficient time to identify potential errors and make necessary enquiries.
The admit card is an important examination document, and candidates should keep it safely until the admission process is completed.
CAT 2026 Mock Test to Be Available From November 6
Alongside the admit card facility, IIM Indore will also make the CAT 2026 mock test available on November 6.
The practice test is intended to familiarise candidates with the computer-based examination environment and the interface used during the actual assessment.
Mock tests are particularly useful for applicants who want to understand how questions are displayed, how answers are selected and how the examination interface operates.
Candidates can use the practice facility to become comfortable with the test environment before appearing for the actual examination.
The mock test can also help applicants assess their time management and identify areas that require additional preparation.
However, students should understand that a mock examination is primarily a practice resource and should not be treated as an indication of the actual CAT question paper.
Aspirants are encouraged to use the available time to revise important topics, practise sample questions and improve their familiarity with the examination format.
CAT 2026 Examination to Be Held in Three Sessions
The Common Admission Test 2026 will take place on November 29 in three separate sessions.
The examination is conducted as a computer-based test and assesses candidates across three major areas.
These include:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section evaluates reading comprehension, language understanding and verbal reasoning.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Questions assess the ability to interpret information, identify patterns and solve logical problems.
Quantitative Ability (QA): This section examines mathematical understanding and the ability to solve numerical problems.
Candidates should carefully review the official examination instructions and familiarise themselves with the time allocation and rules applicable to each section.
According to the published examination information, candidates will receive 40 minutes for each section and will not be permitted to move between sections while attempting questions within a particular section.
Understanding these restrictions is important for developing an effective examination strategy.
Additional Security Arrangements for CAT 2026
The IIMs have also introduced additional measures to strengthen examination security and ensure a fair testing environment.
These include face-matching arrangements and the deployment of mobile jammers at selected examination centres.
Such measures are intended to strengthen identity verification and reduce the possibility of unfair practices during the examination.
The use of identity verification procedures is particularly important in large-scale entrance examinations conducted across numerous cities.
Candidates should ensure that their identity documents and other required materials are in order before reaching their allotted examination centres.
They should also follow the instructions provided on the admit card and avoid carrying prohibited items into the examination premises.
The examination authorities are expected to communicate the applicable centre-specific instructions through the official information channels.
CAT Scores to Remain Valid Until December 31, 2027
CAT scores are used by the Indian Institutes of Management and other participating management institutions for admission-related assessments.
According to the published information, CAT 2026 scores will remain valid until December 31, 2027.
Candidates should remember that obtaining a valid CAT score does not automatically guarantee admission to an IIM or another participating institution.
Admission decisions depend on the respective institutions’ selection procedures, which may consider entrance examination performance, academic records, work experience, written assessments, interviews and other applicable criteria.
Different management institutions may also follow different eligibility and shortlisting requirements.
Applicants should therefore examine the admission policies of the institutions they intend to apply to rather than relying exclusively on their CAT examination scores.
Candidates Advised to Continue Preparation
The two-day change in the admit card release schedule does not alter the examination date, making continued preparation important for all registered applicants.
Candidates should use the remaining preparation period to revise important concepts, practise previous examination questions and improve their performance in mock tests.
Time management is particularly important in CAT because applicants have to solve questions across different sections within a fixed duration.
Students should also avoid spending excessive time on difficult questions when other manageable questions remain unanswered.
Regular practice can help candidates develop a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses.
The availability of the official mock test from November 6 will provide another opportunity to become familiar with the examination interface.
Important Instructions for CAT Aspirants
With the examination approaching, candidates should keep their application credentials secure and monitor the official portal for announcements.
They should download the admit card as soon as the facility becomes available and verify all examination-related information.
Applicants should also check the location of their examination centres in advance and plan their travel arrangements to avoid last-minute difficulties.
The reporting time, permitted identification documents and other instructions mentioned on the hall ticket should be followed carefully.
Candidates must rely on official announcements for any further changes to the examination schedule.
Final Update
IIM Indore’s decision to move the CAT 2026 admit card release from November 4 to November 6 gives applicants a revised timeline for accessing their examination documents.
With the mock test also scheduled to become available on November 6 and the main examination remaining fixed for November 29, candidates should focus on their preparation while completing all necessary examination formalities.
The official website, iimcat.ac.in, will remain the primary platform for downloading hall tickets and checking examination-related announcements.