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CAT Exam Fees 2026: Category-Wise Registration Fee, Payment Methods & Charges

Pragati Srivastava • 6 Mins read • 21 Oct 26

CAT Exam Fees

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CAT 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 29 November 2026.
The CAT 2026 admit card will be available for download from 4 November 2026.

CAT exam fees are the amount charged at the time of registration of the Common Admission Test (CAT) examination. The registration fee varies by category, and candidates must pay the required amount to complete their CAT application process.

As per the official CAT 2026 Information Bulletin released by the IIM, CAT exam fees 2026 are as follows:

General / EWS / NC-OBC: ₹2,700
SC / ST / PwBD: ₹1,350

The last date to pay the CAT registration fees 2026 has already passed. Candidates registered successfully can now appear for the CAT 2026 exam on 29 November 2026.

This blog covers complete information on CAT exam fees 2026, including category-wise fees, payment methods, and other important details. Let’s explore it!

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CAT Exam: Quick Highlights

Before moving forward to the exam fees for CAT 2026, candidates must take a quick look at the essential insights of the entrance exam.

Aspect	Details
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT)
Conducting Authority	One of the IIMs
CAT Exam Date 2026	29 November 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Duration	120 Minutes (2 Hours)
Courses Covered	MBA and other management programs
Eligibility	Bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks Final year graduation students are also eligible.
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in

CAT Exam Fees 2026: Category-Wise

The table below highlights the category-wise CAT exam registration fees for 2026.

Category	CAT Registration Fee 2026
General / EWS / NC-OBC	₹2,700
SC / ST / PwBD	₹1,350

How to Pay CAT Exam Fees 2026?

Fee payment is the most important and final step in the application process of CAT. Candidates must follow the given steps carefully for the CAT exam fee payment process.

First, carefully check all the details entered in the CAT application form before proceeding with the fee payment.
Select the available payment method, such as a debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
Enter the required payment details according to the selected payment method.
Complete the payment and wait for the confirmation status.
Download and save the payment receipt or payment transaction number for future reference.

CAT Exam Fees: Accepted Payment Methods

According to the official document released by IIM, the accepted CAT exam fee payment methods are:

UPI
Debit Card
Credit Card
Net Banking

Candidates can choose any one of these payment options to complete their CAT application fee payment process. In addition to the exam fee, there are some additional charges depending on the selected payment method, as shown in the table below:

Mode of Payment	Transaction Charges
UPI – Bank Account	NIL
Debit Card – RuPay	NIL
Debit Card – Visa/MasterCard (transaction amount up to ₹2,000)	0.50% of the transaction amount
Debit Card – Visa/MasterCard (transaction amount above ₹2,000)	0.90% of the transaction amount
Credit Card – Visa/MasterCard/RuPay	1.00% of the transaction amount
Credit Card – American Express/Diners	2.75% of the transaction amount
Credit Card – Commercial/Corporate	NA
Credit Card – International	NA
Net Banking – HDFC/SBI/ICICI/Axis/Kotak	₹18 per transaction
Net Banking – Other Banks	₹12 per transaction
Wallets and Cash Cards	1.75% of the transaction amount
EMI/BNPL/EasyPay – Visa/MasterCard/RuPay/Bank Account/NBFC, etc.	NA
EMI/BNPL/EasyPay – American Express/Diners Credit Card	NA
UPI on Credit Cards and Wallets	As per existing credit card and wallet rates
UPI/UPI QR/Bharat QR – Credit Card, Debit Card, Wallet, Loans, etc.	As per the respective payment method charges; otherwise, NA

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Common Mistakes to Avoid While Paying CAT Registration Fees

Here are some common mistakes to avoid while paying the CAT exam fees and completing the registration process.

Missing the Payment Deadline: Complete the CAT registration fee payment before the last date to avoid rejection of the application.
Wrong Payment Mode: Use only the payment methods available on the official CAT registration portal, such as debit/credit cards, internet banking, or UPI.
Wrong Entry Details: Verify the name, date of birth, email address, and contact details before submitting the CAT application form.
Ignoring Transaction Charges: Check whether any additional transaction charges apply to the CAT application fee payment. These charges may vary depending on the payment method.
Not Saving the Receipt: Download or take a screenshot of the CAT fee payment receipt as proof of successful payment.
Making Several Payments: Wait for the payment confirmation before attempting another transaction to avoid duplicate payments.
Using Expired or Low-Balance Cards: Ensure that the payment card is active and has sufficient balance to complete the CAT exam fee payment.
Ignoring Payment Failure Refunds: If a payment fails but the amount is deducted, check the transaction status and follow the bank's or payment provider's instructions regarding the refund.

CAT Exam Fees 2026: FAQs

Ques. What are the CAT exam fees for 2026?

Ans. The CAT exam fees for 2026 are ₹2,700 for General, EWS, and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.

Ques. What are the CAT exam fees for General category candidates?

Ans. General category candidates must pay ₹2,700 as the CAT 2026 registration fee.

Ques. What are the CAT exam fees for OBC candidates?

Ans. Candidates belonging to the NC-OBC category must pay ₹2,700 to register for CAT 2026.

Ques. What are the CAT exam fees for SC/ST candidates?

Ans. SC and ST candidates must pay ₹1,350 as the CAT 2026 registration fee.

Ques. Are CAT exam fees different for female candidates?

Ans. No, the CAT registration fee is based on the candidate's category rather than gender. Female candidates must pay the applicable category-wise fee.

Ques. What is the CAT exam date 2026?

Ans. The CAT 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on 29 November 2026 (Sunday). IIM Indore is going to conduct the examination in three sessions.

Ques. What is the last date to pay the CAT exam fee 2026?

Ans. The last date to pay the CAT 2026 application fee was 24 September 2026, up to 5:00 PM. Candidates can no longer pay the application fee as the deadline has passed.

Ques. What should I do if my CAT 2026 application fee payment fails?

Ans. If no money was deducted, candidates can try the payment again. If the amount was deducted, they should check the transaction and payment status before making another payment.

Ques. Whom should I contact if my CAT exam fee payment fails?

Ans. Candidates can contact the CAT 2026 helpdesk at 1800-210-0175 for payment-related issues. They should keep their CAT User ID and payment transaction number ready.

Ques. How can I confirm that my CAT exam fee payment is successful?

Ans. Candidates can log in to the official CAT website and check their application status. They should also look for the payment confirmation message and confirmation email or SMS.