CAT 2026 admit card postponed to November 6: download till Nov 29, mock test out too
By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The wait for the CAT 2026 admit card just got two days longer. The Indian Institute of Management Indore, which is conducting this year’s Common Admission Test, has pushed the hall ticket release from November 4 to November 6, according to an official media release issued on Wednesday, November 4.
Candidates who were expecting the download link on November 4 will now wait until Friday. The exam date itself has not moved.
The admit cards have already been generated for all eligible candidates, the release said. They will be available for download from November 6 to November 29, 2026, the day of the exam.
How to download the admit card
The hall ticket will be available only through the candidate login on the official CAT portal. Candidates will need the login ID and password created at registration time.
- Visit the official CAT website.
- Click on the CAT 2026 candidate login link.
- Enter the login ID and password.
- Open the admit card download link on the dashboard.
- Download the PDF and take a clear printout.
The download window stays open till exam day, so a slow portal on the first morning is not a reason to panic. Download early and read every detail on the card. The name, photograph, allotted centre, test slot and reporting time are printed on it. Any mismatch in the name or photograph should be reported to the CAT helpdesk at once. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers exam centres commonly ask for.
A mock test on the same day
November 6 brings something else besides the admit card. The official CAT mock test will also be available on the CAT website from that day.
The mock test contains sample questions meant to familiarise candidates with the exam format and the computer-based interface. For first-time test takers, it is the closest preview of the real screen. Treat the mock as part of preparation, not as an optional extra.
Tighter checks at test centres
The IIMs have also announced additional security arrangements for this year’s exam. These include face matching and the deployment of mobile jammers at select examination centres.
Face matching means the photograph on the admit card will be checked against the candidate at the centre, so the photo on the card needs to match the person walking in. The jammers are aimed at blocking mobile signals inside select centres. Candidates should plan to arrive early enough for these checks.
Exam day: November 29
CAT 2026 will be held on Sunday, November 29, 2026, in three sessions at centres in around 170 cities. Each candidate’s session is printed on their own admit card, and that slot is final.
The test is the gateway to postgraduate management programmes at the IIMs and several other business schools. Our guide to choosing a university in India sets out the questions worth asking before picking a programme.
Wait for November 6, download the admit card, check every detail on it, try the mock test, 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 6, 2026, on iimcat.ac.in. The release was postponed from November 4.
How do I download the CAT 2026 admit card?
Visit iimcat.ac.in, open the CAT 2026 candidate login, enter your login ID and password, and download the admit card PDF from your dashboard. The download window runs from November 6 to November 29, 2026.
When is the official CAT 2026 mock test available?
The official mock test will be available on the CAT website from November 6, 2026. It contains sample questions to familiarise candidates with the exam format and interface.
When is the CAT 2026 exam?
CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in three sessions at centres in around 170 cities. Each candidate’s session is printed on their admit card.
Frequently asked questions
When will the CAT 2026 admit card be released?
IIM Indore will release the CAT 2026 admit card on November 6, 2026, on the official exam portal iimcat.ac.in. The release was postponed from November 4.
How do I download the CAT 2026 admit card?
Visit iimcat.ac.in, open the CAT 2026 candidate login, enter your login ID and password, and download the admit card PDF from your dashboard.
When is the official CAT 2026 mock test available?
The official mock test will be available on the CAT website from November 6, 2026. It contains sample questions to familiarise candidates with the exam format and interface.
When is the CAT 2026 exam?
CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, in three sessions at centres in around 170 cities.
Sources: NDTV, Careers360, Edex Live