CAT 2026 Registrations Stand at 2.84 Lakh as Application Numbers Shift From Previous Peak

CAT 2026 Registrations Stand at 2.84 Lakh as Application Numbers Shift From Previous Peak: The official registration figures for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 has been released by IIM Indore, revealing that a total of 2.84 lakh candidates registered for this year's MBA entrance exam. While this shows a slight downward adjustment from the recent surge seen in previous sessions, the numbers reflect steady interest among management aspirants across India.

CAT 2026 Registration Statistics & Trends: A Shift in Numbers

As per the official update issued by IIM Indore, 2.84 lakh applicants will be competing for seats in top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and premier business schools. Looking back at historical data, CAT application numbers reached a high peak during CAT 2024 (conducted by IIM Calcutta) when registrations touched 3.29 lakh. In CAT 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, registrations stood at 2.95 lakh, while 2.58 lakh candidates actually appeared for the exam.

Despite this slight dip from previous peaks, the overall volume remains well above the 2.5-lakh mark, proving that MBA continues to be a highly preferred postgraduate choice.

Key Highlights for CAT 2026 Aspirants

• Exam Execution: CAT 2026 will be conducted in three computer-based slots nationwide.

• Competition Level: Lower candidate volume slightly improves the ratio of applicants per seat, but cutoff expectations for top IIMs remain high.

• Selection Process: Remember that clearing the CAT exam cutoffs is only the first step; individual IIMs place significant weightage on personal interviews (PI) and academic background during final shortlisting.

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