CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Check Age Limit, Educational Qualifications & Reservation Criteria

CMAT eligibility criteria 2026 require you to be of Indian nationality and to have a bachelor's degree in any field from a recognised university with a minimum of 50%. You must be at least 21 years old to apply, and there is no maximum age limit. It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for PGDM and MBA courses differ.

Candidates in their final year are also eligible to apply for the CMAT 2026 examination. You must acknowledge that you must meet the eligibility requirements to take the exam. Those who do not meet the eligibility requirements will be denied by the NTA officials.

CMAT Exam 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The following are the basic eligibility criteria for CMAT:

• Applicants for the CMAT 2026 must be Indian residents.
• Candidates must have a three-year bachelor's degree or equivalent in any stream from an AICTE-approved institute/university.
• Candidates in the last year of their bachelor's degree are also eligible to apply for the CMAT exam, as long as their results are available before the academic year begins.
• There are no minimum scoring requirements for CMAT 2026.  Candidates must have passed their graduate examinations.
• However, maximum CMAT participating colleges require a minimum score of 50% (45% for reserved categories).
• There is no upper age limit for applying and taking the CMAT exam.

Also Read: CAT vs CMAT vs NMAT vs MAT which is better?

CMAT Course-wise Eligibility Criteria

Each course has its own set of eligibility requirements that you must meet to be admitted. You will be eligible for MBA and PGDM programs only if you meet the minimal prerequisites for each program.

Prospective test takers should examine the CMAT exam eligibility criteria for the schools they want to enrol in. Details about the ICTE CMAT qualification for course selection are listed in the tabular column below.

Course	CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
PGCM	Minimum qualification: A Bachelor's degree with a minimum duration of 3 years is compulsory for a candidate to clear CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026.
PGDM and MBA	Minimum marks: For a candidate to appear for CMAT 2026, a minimum of 50% marks for the general category and 45% marks for reserved categories is required. Minimum qualification: A Bachelor's degree with a minimum duration of 3 years is required for a candidate to clear CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026.
Executive PGDM	Minimum marks: The candidate must have a minimum of 50% marks for the general category and 45% marks for reserved categories. Minimum qualification: A Candidate should have a Bachelor's degree with a minimum duration of 3 years. Minimum Experience: The candidate must at leave have 5 years of relevant experience in managerial and supervisory capacities.

CMAT Exam Reservation Criteria 2026

There is no reservation policy for the CMAT exam, but B-schools that accept CMAT marks would evaluate reservation criteria as defined by the Government of India. To get reservation benefits at the time of admission, candidates must include their reservation status (caste/PwD category) on the CMAT application form.

CMAT Minimum Marks Required

The minimum required percentage to be eligible for the CMAT exam is given below for the categories to which the candidates belong.

Category	Percentage
General	50%
SC	45%
ST	45%
OBC	45%

CMAT Reservation Policy

Candidates who apply for admission through CMAT can take advantage of government-approved reservations at AICTE-accredited institutions. To be eligible for a reservation, candidates must present the required documents that have been confirmed by the authorised authority.

Student Category	Reservation Percentage
General/Open	50.5%
SC	15%
ST	7.5%
OBC(NCL)	27%
PwD	5% in each category

CMAT PwD Category Reservation Policy

Candidates with 40% or more handicap (from the following specified disabilities) can seek admission under the PwD category:

• Blindness and low vision.
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Cerebral palsy, healed leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy are all examples of locomotor disabilities.
• The RPwD Act 2016 defines'specified disabilities' as autism, intellectual disability, learning impairment, mental illness, and multiple disabilities from (1) to (4).
• Candidates can change their category in the CMAT 2026 application form until the deadline for application submission.  After that, no changes will be permitted.

Also Read: List of Colleges Accepting CMAT Score 2026: Fees, Placement Companies, Average Package

CMAT Exam Eligibility for Scribe/Reader

Candidates with disabilities in the categories of blindness, locomotor disability (both arms affected BA), and cerebral palsy can use the services of a scribe/reader/lab assistant on CMAT exam day. Such candidates must make a written request to the CMAT Test Centre superintendent for Scribe/Reader requirements, along with a disability certificate produced by an accredited Medical Officer.

• The CMAT Test Centre Superintendent will assign a scribe/reader who is at least one year younger than the contestant academically.
• Candidates who hire a scribe/reader can request that the Centre Superintendent meet with the designated scribe a day before the exam to confirm their fitness and general familiarity.
• Candidates who use a scribe/reader will be given an additional 60 minutes beyond the duration of the CMAT exam.

Also Read: CMAT Tie-breaking rules: Check Affecting Factors

Conclusion

Applicants for CMAT 2026 must possess a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Graduates who are in their last year of study can also apply, provided they get their degree before admission. There is no age limit or restriction on the number of chances or attempts. Anyone competent is eligible.