CMAT 2026 Notification: Check Dates, PDF Download Link, Eligibility and More

Updated By Tiyasa Khanra on 21 Aug, 2025 15:09

The CMAT 2026 exam will be conducted most likely in the last week of January 2026 in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for a duration of 180 minutes. The registration process will begin in the second week of November 2025 and will continue till the last week of December 2025. The admit cards can be expected to be released in the third week of January 2026.

Predict your Percentile based on your CMAT performance

Predict Rank

About CMAT Notification 2026

The CMAT notification 2026 will be released in the second week of November 2025 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) along with the application form. The application process will be closed in the last week of December 2025. The notification PDF includes details regarding the exam date along with the eligibility criteria, syllabus and more. The CMAT 2026 evaluates candidates in areas related to business and management studies. To simplify the admission process to management programs, CMAT assesses candidates for different skill sets, including quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, language comprehension, and general awareness.

Upcoming Management Exams :

CMAT Notification 2026 PDF Download Link

The CMAT notification 2026 link will be activated below after it will be released by NTA in the second week of November 2025:

CMAT Notification 2026 PDF Download Link (To be activated)

CMAT 2026 Notification & Exam Dates

The CMAT has been conducted in April-May for the past few years, but this year, NTA has moved the exam to January, a date earlier than in previous years, putting CMAT back to a January schedule as in 2019. In a departure from previous years, the CMAT 2026 notification has been released by NTA providing all details with regard to the schedule of CMAT 2026, inclusive of the date of the exam. Check out the same below:

Event

Date

CMAT 2026 Notification Release

Second week of November 2025

CMAT 2026 Registration Starts

Second week of November 2025

Registration Ends

Last week of December 2025

Fee Payment Window Closes

Last week of December 2025

Form Correction Window

Last week of December 2025

Announcement of City Intimation

Third week of January 2026

CMAT Admit Card 2026 Release

Third week of January 2026

CMAT 2026 Exam Date

Fourth week of January 2026

  • Shift 1: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

  • Shift 2: 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

CMAT 2026 Preliminary Answer Key

Fourth week of January 2026

CMAT 2026 Result Declaration

Second week of February 2026

CMAT Notification 2026 Key Highlights

As we head towards the CMAT 2026, gaining insight into the important highlights aspects of the exam pattern, marking scheme, and the application process along with other pertinent information will be critical to securing a seat in any of the top business schools.

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

Conducting Body

National Testing Agency (NTA)

Frequency

Annually

Registration Mode

Online

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test (CBT)

Medium of Exam

English

Exam Duration

180 Minutes

Exam Sections

Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Number of Questions

100

Marking Scheme

+4 marks for correct answer

-1 mark for incorrect answer

Application Fee (General)

INR 2,500 (Male); INR 1,250 (Female)

Application Fee (Reserved Categories)

INR 1,250 (Male/Female)

Official Website

cmat.nta.nic.in

Purpose

Admission to MBA/PGDM programs in AICTE-approved institutions

New Additions in 2026

NTA announced exam schedule early (January 2026)

Top Management Colleges :

CMAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria

CMAT 2025 eligibility is based on academic qualifications and other criteria prescribed for appearing in the exam. The complete details of the criteria are given below:

  1. Nationality

All applicants for the CMAT 2025 examination must be Indian nationals. This provision applies to all the candidates. Consequently, international applicants shall not be allowed to apply for the CMAT examination.

  1. Academic Qualifications

The candidates aspiring to appear in CMAT- 2025 must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized University or an institution approved by UGC, or equivalent. A number of such academic options will keep this exam from being confined to graduates of particular disciplines. Also, final-year students of their respective undergraduate programs may also apply, provided they submit evidence of completion of the degree asper the dates decided by the examination authorities. It is important that the said candidate gets this degree before the course commencement.

  1. Age Limit

One of the most important conditions for eligibility in CMAT is that there are no upper or lower-age limits for candidates applying for the exam. This implies that candidates of all ages who meet other eligibility criteria can appear for the exam without concern over age restrictions. Candidates belonging to any age group-both fresh undergraduates and professionals who are looking to pursue further education can apply for CMAT 2025.

  1. Number of Attempts

Another significant feature of CMAT 2025 is that there are no limits on how many times a candidate can apply. This means that the candidates have the privilege of taking the test multiple times, therefore enhancing their chances of getting a high score and admission into a good management program. Candidates may choose to appear for the examination as many times as they feel like if they meet other criteria.

  1. Reservation Policy

CMAT 2025 follows the reservation policies of the government in Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Relaxation and other concessions during the admission process are granted to candidates belonging to such categories. For availing reservation benefits, candidates should submit all relevant documents like caste certificates and disability certificates, if applicable, during the application processes. 

  1. Other Requirements

Besides the basic qualifications and nationality requirements, candidates must ensure that necessary supplementary documents are available for verification during the application process. All information in registration must be accurate and corroborate with the supporting documents. Any discrepancy between application form information and documents may lead to disqualification from the admission process. Thus, candidates must thoroughly verify these details before application submission to avoid troubles later in the process.

CMAT Marking Scheme 2026

The marking scheme for the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 should be known to the candidates for the purpose of strategizing their preparation and optimizing their scores.

  • Correct Answer: Each correct answer earns four marks.
  • Incorrect Answer: Each incorrect response incurs a penalty of one mark.
  • Unanswered Questions: There will be no award or penalty for any question that has not been answered.

Revised CMAT 2026 Application Fee

The revised CMAT 2026 application fee structure is detailed below:

Category

Fee

General (Male)

INR 2500

General (Female)

INR 1250

Gen-EWS/OBC (Male)

INR 1250

Gen-EWS/OBC (Female)

INR 1250

SC/ST/PwD (Male)

INR 1250

SC/ST/PwD (Female)

INR 1250

Transgender

INR 1250

Want to know more about CMAT

Still have questions about CMAT ? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Top