CAT Admit Card 2026 OUT (November 6): Download Link Live on iimcat.ac.in

The CAT Admit Card 2026 download link appeared on iimcat.ac.in around 12 PM on Friday, November 6, 2026, but was removed shortly before 1 PM. IIM Indore has not yet announced when it will be restored. The release date was revised from the originally scheduled Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and IIM Indore has said admit cards have been generated for all eligible candidates. Once the link is back, log in with your CAT User ID and password, download the PDF and print two copies. The download window runs until exam day, Sunday, November 29, 2026. Without a printed admit card and an original photo ID, you won’t be allowed into the test centre.

Your admit card will show your slot, so read up on CAT 2026 slot timing and reporting time now and plan your travel as soon as you see it. While you wait, put the time into timed CAT mock tests and full CAT previous year papers, sitting at the hour of your likely slot.

Here’s the part most pages skip. The admit card isn’t just an entry pass. It’s the first time you see your slot, your exact centre and the time the gate shuts. That information decides your travel plan, your sleep schedule the night before and, in some cases, whether you need a hotel booking in another city. So download it as soon as the link is restored, not in week three.

CAT Admit Card 2026: Official iimcat.ac.in Login

CAT Admit Card 2026 Live Updates (November 6)

Update (November 4, 2026, Afternoon): The CAT 2026 admit card release has been postponed from November 4 to November 6, 2026. As per the revised notice reported on November 4, the admit card download window will now run from November 6 to November 29, 2026. The exact release time has not been officially confirmed. The CAT 2026 exam date (November 29) is unchanged. The official CAT 2026 mock test is also expected on iimcat.ac.in from November 6. The application correction window closed on October 6, so your photo, signature and test city preferences are now locked.

Earlier Update (November 4, 2026, Morning): The CAT 2026 admit card link was scheduled to go live on iimcat.ac.in on November 4, with an expected release window of 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

CAT Admit Card 2026: Important Dates

Here is a quick summary of the CAT admit card 2026, from the revised release date to the documents you need at the centre. Bookmark this table so you can check the key facts without scrolling through the full page.

Particulars	Details
Conducting Institute	IIM Indore
CAT Admit Card 2026 Original Release Date	November 4, 2026 (Wednesday) – Postponed
CAT Admit Card 2026 Revised Release Date	November 6, 2026 (Friday) OUT – Today
Admit Card Status	Out download link live on iimcat.ac.in
Release Time	Around 12 PM, November 6, 2026
Download Window	November 6 to November 29, 2026
CAT 2026 Official Mock Test	Expected from November 6, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 29, 2026 (Sunday) – No change
Exam Mode and Slots	Computer-based test, three slots
Login Credentials	CAT 2026 User ID and password
Official Website	iimcat.ac.in
Documents Needed at Centre	Printed admit card + original government photo ID

CAT Admit Card 2026 Postponed to November 6: What Changed and What Didn't

Quick answer: Only the admit card download date has moved, from November 4 to November 6, 2026. The exam date, slot pattern, test cities you selected and documents required at the centre all remain the same.

Item	Earlier Schedule	Revised Schedule
Admit Card Release	November 4, 2026	November 6, 2026
Download Window	November 4 to November 29, 2026	November 6 to November 29, 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date	November 29, 2026	November 29, 2026 (unchanged)
Days Between Admit Card and Exam	25 days	23 days

IIM Indore has not shared a detailed reason for the revision. What matters for you: keep your User ID and password handy and avoid fake "admit card out" links on social media. Two fewer days between the admit card and the exam also means you should book any outstation travel as soon as you see your centre.

What to Do While You Wait for the CAT Admit Card Link to Open

• Find your login details now. Search your inbox for the IIM CAT registration email and note your User ID. If you've forgotten your password, test the reset flow before the link opens, when the site is busiest.
• Keep your photo ID ready. Check that the name on your Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence matches your CAT application exactly.
• Get a passport-size photo printed. Use the same photo you uploaded in your CAT application, since you'll paste it on the admit card.
• Keep two days free in your plan for travel bookings. If you selected cities outside your hometown, be ready to book trains or a room as soon as your centre is visible.

CAT 2026 Admit Card Release Date and Time

IIM Indore is releasing the CAT 2026 admit card today, November 6, 2026, on iimcat.ac.in. The date was originally November 4, 2026, as per the official CAT 2026 schedule, and was revised on November 4. The release time has not been officially announced, so any site quoting an exact hour is guessing. Check the website through the day and download the card once the link appears.

Why be cautious? Because the last few years show what can happen. The CAT 2025 admit card was scheduled for November 5, 2025, but IIM Kozhikode pushed it to November 12, and the link went live around noon that day. CAT 2023 moved even further, from October 25 to November 7, 2023. Candidates who'd been refreshing since the original date spent days anxious for nothing. This year's postponement is shorter, at two days, but the lesson is the same.

The table below compares the CAT admit card 2026 schedule with previous years. It shows when the hall ticket was scheduled and when it actually went live.

CAT Year	Scheduled Release Date	Actual Release	Exam Date
CAT 2026	November 4, 2026	Revised to November 6, 2026 (today)	November 29, 2026
CAT 2025	November 5, 2025	November 12, 2025 (around 12 PM)	November 30, 2025
CAT 2024	November 5, 2024	November 5, 2024	November 24, 2024
CAT 2023	October 25, 2023	Revised to November 7, 2023	November 26, 2023
CAT 2021	October 27, 2021	October 27, 2021 (5 PM)	November 28, 2021

The takeaway: trust only announcements on iimcat.ac.in. If the link isn't live yet, it simply hasn't been switched on. There's no backdoor.

How to Download CAT Admit Card 2026

1. Open iimcat.ac.in. Type the address yourself. Don't click a "direct download" link forwarded on WhatsApp or Telegram.
2. Click Registered Candidate Login. If you see a "CAT 2026 Admit Card" link on the homepage, it leads to the same login page.
3. Enter your User ID and password. Most "invalid credentials" errors come from a stray space when you paste the User ID. Type it in.
4. Go to the Admit Card tab on your candidate dashboard.
5. Download the PDF and save it to both your phone and your laptop or email.
6. Check every detail before printing (use the table in the next section).
7. Print two copies on A4 paper. A colour print shows your photo more clearly, which helps at the verification desk.

Is There a Direct Download Link for the CAT 2026 Admit Card?

No. Every CAT admit card sits behind the candidate's own login. A link that promises your hall ticket without your User ID and password is fake at best and a phishing attempt at worst. If someone asks for your CAT password "to download it for you", say no.

Will the CAT Admit Card Be Sent by Post, Email or SMS?

No. IIM Indore does not post a hard copy, and the admit card is not attached to any email or SMS. You may receive an alert when it's live, but the only way to get the PDF is to log in on iimcat.ac.in.

Download FREE CAT 2026 Study Material by Supergrads

Details Mentioned on the CAT 2026 Admit Card: What to Check First

Set aside five minutes the moment the PDF opens. Keep your photo ID next to the screen. You're comparing three things: the admit card, your application, and the ID you'll carry.

Use this checklist to verify each detail on your CAT admit card 2026. The last column tells you whether an error can be corrected through the helpdesk or is final.

Detail Printed	What to Check	If It's Wrong
Name	Exact spelling matches your photo ID	Email the CAT helpdesk the same day
Photograph and Signature	Clear, not cropped, the same as you uploaded	Email the helpdesk with a screenshot
Date of Birth, Category, PwD Status	Match your application form	Email the helpdesk with supporting proof
Exam Slot	Morning, afternoon or evening	Cannot be changed
Reporting and Gate Closing Time	Note both; plan around reporting time	Cannot be changed
Test Centre Address	In one of your preferred cities; open the map link	Cannot be changed

Found a Mistake on Your CAT Admit Card?

Write to cathelpdesk@iimcat.ac.in immediately. Put your User ID in the subject line, describe the error in two lines and attach a screenshot of the admit card next to the correct document. You can also call the helpline number listed on the Contact page of iimcat.ac.in. Do this in the first week. Helpdesks get slower as November 29 gets closer, and nobody wants to be waiting on a reply on November 27.

What you can't fix: your slot, test city and centre. The only chance to change test city preferences was the October 5 to 6 correction window. If your centre is a long way off, book travel now (or a room near the centre for the night before, if you have a morning slot).

CAT 2026 Key Numbers: Registrations, Test Cities and Slots

Quick answer: CAT 2026 has recorded about 2.84 lakh registrations, with nearly 2.5 lakh candidates expected to appear. The exam runs in three slots on November 29 across approximately 170 test cities in India.

Particulars	CAT 2026
Total Registrations	About 2.84 lakh (as reported)
Expected Test-Takers	Nearly 2.5 lakh
Test Cities	Approximately 170 cities across India
Test City Preferences Allowed	Five, in order of preference
If No Preferred City Is Available	A nearby city may be allotted
Exam Slots	Three slots on one day

With around 2.5 lakh candidates across three slots, release day will be busy on iimcat.ac.in. If the site is slow today, try again late at night or early the next morning. You have until November 29.

CAT 2026 Slot Timings, Reporting Time and Gate Closing

Your CAT admit card 2026 shows one of three two-hour slots on November 29, along with your reporting and gate closing time. The exam timings below follow the standard CAT pattern, while reporting times are based on previous years, so treat your own admit card as the final word.

Slot	Exam Time	Expected Reporting Time	Gate Closing
Slot 1 (Morning)	8:30 AM to 10:30 AM	About 7:00 AM	As printed on admit card
Slot 2 (Afternoon)	12:30 PM to 2:30 PM	About 11:00 AM	As printed on admit card
Slot 3 (Evening)	4:30 PM to 6:30 PM	About 3:00 PM	As printed on admit card

A morning-slot candidate who leaves home at 7:30 AM "because the exam starts at 8:30" is cutting it dangerously fine. The 90 minutes before your slot go into queues, frisking, ID checks, biometric capture and finding your lab. Once the gate closes, it stays closed. Read the full CAT slot timings guide for slot-wise planning.

Documents to Carry with the CAT Admit Card 2026

The CAT admit card 2026 alone won't get you into the exam hall; you also need a valid original photo ID. Check the table below and keep every document that applies to you in one folder before exam day.

Document	Rule
Printed CAT 2026 Admit Card	Mandatory. Two A4 copies. Paste a passport-size photo (the same one you uploaded) in the box provided. Leave the signature box blank; you sign it in front of the invigilator.
Original Photo ID	Mandatory. A valid government ID such as Aadhaar, PAN card, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence. The name must match your admit card. Check the full accepted list printed on your admit card.
PwD Certificate	Only for PwD candidates. Original certificate in the prescribed format.
Scribe Affidavit	Only if you use a scribe. Signed affidavit, and the scribe brings their own original photo ID.

A PDF on your phone does not count. Phones can't go into the exam hall anyway, and the printed copy is the document the invigilator signs and verifies. Leave the CAT application form at home; nobody will ask for it. Before you pick an outfit, glance through the CAT exam dress code so metal buttons or a smartwatch don't slow you down at frisking.

CAT Admit Card 2026 Download Problems and Fixes

Thousands of candidates hit small errors while downloading the CAT admit card 2026, especially on release day. Find your problem in the table below, along with its likely cause and a quick fix.

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Admit card link not visible	Link not activated yet on release day	Check iimcat.ac.in again later today; past releases came around 12 PM or 5 PM. Ignore unofficial "link out" messages
"Invalid credentials"	Extra space in pasted User ID, or wrong password	Type the User ID manually; use Forgot Password
Forgot User ID	Registration email lost	Search your inbox for the IIM CAT registration email; else use the retrieval option or email the helpdesk
Site not loading	Lakhs of candidates logging in on release day	Wait 30 minutes; try late night or early morning
PDF blank or not opening	Incomplete download or browser PDF viewer issue	Download again; open in a different PDF reader
Photo missing or blurred	Image issue in your application record	Email the helpdesk with a screenshot right away
Admit card lost after printing	Misplaced copy	Log in again and re-download; it stays available until November 29

What to Do in the 23 Days After You Get Your Admit Card

Twenty-three days sounds like plenty. It goes fast. Here's a simple way to split it:

• Day 1 (November 6 or the day the link opens): download, verify, email the helpdesk if anything is off.
• Week 1: print two copies, paste the photos, put them in a clear folder with your photo ID. Map the route to your centre and check the travel time for your slot's reporting hour, on a Sunday.
• Weeks 2 and 3: take the official CAT mock test on iimcat.ac.in (expected from November 6) so the exam interface isn't new on test day. Keep your mock schedule matched to your slot timing. A Slot 1 candidate should be solving DILR at 9 AM, not at 9 PM.
• Final 48 hours: reread the instructions page of your admit card, pack the folder, lay out dress-code-safe clothes and sleep early. One more mock the night before rarely adds marks.

Need test-day pacing practice? Work through CAT previous year papers in timed 40-minute sections, the same way the actual exam locks each section.

CAT 2026 Official Mock Test on iimcat.ac.in

Quick answer: The official CAT 2026 mock test is expected on iimcat.ac.in from November 6, 2026, alongside the admit card. It is free and shows you the actual exam interface: the section timer, the question palette, the on-screen calculator and how TITA (type in the answer) questions are entered.

Take it at least twice. Use the first attempt only to learn the interface; don't judge your score. In the second attempt, sit at the same hour as your allotted slot. The official mock isn't a predictor of your percentile, so keep your regular CAT mock test series running for difficulty and pacing.

Practice Now: CAT Previous Year Papers

Inside the Exam Hall: Rules Printed on Your Admit Card

CAT 2026 has three sections: VARC, DILR and Quant. Each gets 40 minutes, and you can't jump between them. You'll stay for the full two hours even if you finish early. A scribble pad and pen are provided; return them at the end. Phones, smartwatches, calculators and jewellery stay outside, and there's no locker, so leave valuables at home. Finally, the admit card is provisional: if your eligibility is found lacking later, your candidature can be cancelled at any stage. For the full list, see the CAT exam day instructions.

Can We Change the Test City after the CAT 2026 Admit Card is Issued?

Unfortunately, you can’t change your test city after your CAT exam admit card has been issued. The authorities don’t allow any modifications once the admit card is released. Additionally, CAT slots which indicate the specific date and time of your exam are also allotted during this stage and cannot be changed after issuance.

You'll have to take the exam at the centre listed on your admit card. The only chance to change your test city is during the form correction window, which is before the admit cards are released.

Your CAT admit card 2026 is the most important document that is required even after the examination for further processing.

There is a high chance that students usually forget to keep a record of their admit cards. Here are the Backup Tips for your CAT Admit Card 2026

• Always have multiple printed copies on hand.
• Store a copy on Google Drive or Dropbox.
• Then send it to your email for easy access.
• Save it in note-taking apps like Evernote.
• Copy it to a USB drive or external hard drive.

Practice Now: mock tests for CAT 2026

Safety Tips for Your CAT Admit Card 2026

• Keep printed copies in a safe place.
• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Refresh all copies if there are any changes.
• Don’t access it on public networks.
• Always download from the official CAT website.

Practice: CAT DILR Questions and Answers

Is CAT 2026 Admit Card Required During the Interview Process?

Yes, it is essential to keep your CAT admit card 2026 even after the examination, as it serves as proof of your attendance and may be required during the MBA admission process, particularly for document submission during personal interviews at various colleges and institutes.

Furthermore, the CAT hall ticket contains personal and residential information that could be misused if it falls into the wrong hands. Therefore, candidates must safeguard their CAT hall tickets throughout the admission process and beyond. If disposal is necessary after admission, it should be done cautiously.

After the Exam: CAT 2026 Answer Key and Result Timeline

Quick answer: After the November 29 exam, IIM Indore is expected to release the provisional answer key and response sheet in early December 2026, followed by the final result between late December 2026 and early January 2027. These dates are not yet officially confirmed.

Event	Expected Timeline
CAT 2026 Exam	November 29, 2026
Provisional Answer Key and Response Sheet	First week of December 2026 (expected)
Objection Window	A few days after the answer key release (expected)
CAT 2026 Result	Late December 2026 to first week of January 2027 (expected)
Score Validity	Till December 31, 2027

You'll need your CAT User ID and password again to see your response sheet and scorecard, so don't lose them after the exam. Once results are out, shortlists and WAT-PI calls follow; check the CAT exam accepted colleges list to plan your applications.

Expert Tips to Handle Last-Minute Issues with CAT 2026 Admit Card

It can be nerve-wracking if something goes sideways with your CAT hall ticket at the last minute. But don't panic! Here are some simple tips on how to handle those last-minute hiccups:

1. Download and Print Early

Don't wait until the last day. Get your admit card as soon as the link opens today, November 6. This gives you time to spot any issues.

2. Check Every Detail Carefully

Once you have the CAT hall ticket, double-check your name, date of birth, category, exam date, time, and centre. Make sure everything matches your application.

3. Photograph Check

Ensure the photograph printed on the admit card is clear and matches the one you uploaded. If it's missing or unclear, keep extra copies of the photo you used during registration handy.

4. ID Proof Ready

Keep your original, valid photo ID proof ready a day or two before the exam. Ensure it matches the ID you provided in your application.

5. Have a Backup

Save a digital copy of your admit card on your phone or email. This can be useful if you misplace the physical copy.

Practice: CAT Last Year Papers with Solutions

Final Checklist: 48 Hours Before the CAT Exam 2026

It is essential to have all the necessary documents ready for the main exam day. Here is the final checklist to review 48 hours before the CAT exam. Going through the CAT Exam analysis can also help you identify important preparations and common pitfalls to avoid on exam day.

• Ensure you print your CAT hall ticket, affix your photo to it, and carefully read all the instructions to familiarise yourself with the rules and the exact location of your exam centre. 

• Keep your original ID proof ready, the same one you used in your application. 

• Only carry the allowed items, such as pens and a clear water bottle (if permitted), and remember that no gadgets are usually allowed. Additionally, adhere to the CAT exam dress code, which restricts wearing items like jewelry, metal accessories, or clothing with large pockets to ensure smooth security checks. Plan your travel to the centre so you know how to get there, and aim for an early start to avoid any rush. 

• Get good sleep before the exam, eat light and healthy meals, and stay hydrated. 

• Try to relax a bit in these last hours and have an emergency contact number handy just in case. You've put in the work, now go and give it your best shot!

Also Read: CAT Exam Accepted Colleges

Conclusion

The admit card for CAT Exam 2026 is vital for taking the CAT Exam. It contains essential information about the exam and the applicant, which is necessary to enter the hall. With the release scheduled for today, November 6, 2026, download it as soon as the link opens, verify every detail and keep two printed copies ready well before November 29.

The applicant will not be allowed to take the exam without the admit card. Hence, the CAT admit card 2026 is a must for the exam.

Check |  CAT Exam Subjects List 2026