CAT 2026 admit card out tomorrow, November 4: download from iimcat.ac.in before Nov 29 exam

By TUF News Desk · Published 3 November 2026 · 4 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

Registered candidates for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 get their hall tickets tomorrow. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, which is conducting this year’s exam, will release the admit cards on November 4, 2026, on the official exam portal, iimcat.ac.in.

The admit card is the one document no candidate can walk into the exam hall without. It carries the details that decide where and when a candidate sits the test, so the first job after downloading it is to read it carefully rather than just saving the file and moving on.

How to download the admit card

The download link will be activated on the candidate login portal on November 4. Candidates need the user ID and password created at registration time to log in. The steps are straightforward:

1. Visit the official CAT website.
2. Click on the registered candidate login link.
3. Enter the user ID and password.
4. Open the admit card download link on the dashboard.
5. Download the PDF and take a clear printout.

Save a copy on the phone as well as on email. If the portal is slow in the first few hours after the link goes live, waiting and trying again later in the day is usually enough, since the link stays active until the exam.

What to check on the hall ticket

The admit card lists the candidate’s name, photograph and registration number, along with the allotted examination centre, test slot and reporting time. Any mismatch in the name or photograph should be reported to the CAT helpdesk at once, since corrections get harder as the exam date nears.

The slot printed on the card is final. Candidates cannot ask for a different session after the admit cards are out, so travel plans should be made around the allotted slot and centre, not around a preferred timing.

Exam day: November 29, three sessions

CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, at centres across India. IIM Indore will run the test in three sessions: 8:30 am to 10:30 am, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Each candidate’s session is printed on their own admit card.

On exam day, candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card and a prescribed photo identity proof. A phone screenshot is not a substitute for the printout at most centres, so the paper copy matters. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers universities and exam centres commonly ask for, and it is worth a quick read before packing the exam-day folder.

Why this exam matters

CAT is the gateway to postgraduate management programmes at the IIMs and several other participating institutions. Scores from the November 29 test will feed into the admission rounds of business schools over the following months, which is why candidates shortlisting schools after the exam should weigh factors beyond the brand name. Our guide to choosing a university in India sets out the questions worth asking before picking a programme.

For now, though, the immediate task is simple. Download the admit card on November 4, check every detail on it, and keep the printout safe until November 29.

Frequently asked questions

When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?

IIM Indore will release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 4, 2026, on the official exam portal iimcat.ac.in.

How do I download the CAT 2026 admit card?

Visit iimcat.ac.in, open the registered candidate login, enter your user ID and password, and download the admit card PDF from your dashboard.

When is the CAT 2026 exam and in how many sessions?

CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in three sessions: 8:30 am to 10:30 am, 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

What should I carry to the CAT 2026 exam centre?

Carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a prescribed photo identity proof. Check the name, photograph, centre and slot on the hall ticket as soon as you download it.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Indian Express, Times Now, NDTV