CMAT Selection Process: Registration Dates, List of Documents, Procedure

CMAT selection process 2026 will be conducted separately by all the 1300 participating colleges. There is no common CMAT selection process for the admission process. The CMAT participating colleges 2026 will release their cutoff marks and selection process schedule separately. The selection process is expected to be held in March 2026.

The dates will be announced on the official website i.e., cmat.nta.nic.in by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The scores of this exam are accepted at more than 1300 B-schools, and each institute releases a separate set of CMAT cuts off which you must check before applying. The exam will be held on Jan 24, 2026. The CMAT admission process includes two steps-  Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

The institutes will release your shortlist based on your CMAT scores for the GDPI rounds. After the shortlist is out, you will be required to register yourselves and apply for the colleges.

CMAT Selection Process Dates

The tentative schedule for CMAT 2026 selection process has been provided below. The officials have not announced any date for the same yet.

CMAT 2026 selection process Dates

Specifications	Dates
CMAT Exam 2026	Jan 24, 2026
CMAT Shortlist Out	Feb 2026
CMAT selection process 2026 Date	March 2026

CMAT Selection Procedure

The admission process in some B-Schools includes a group discussion round to shortlist you for CMAT selection process 2026. The selection procedure varies within institutes. The selection procedure of CMAT 2026 mostly comprises GD (Group Discussion), PI (Personal Interview), or WAT (Written Ability Test).

After CMAT written exam, the selection process goes on in the following way:

• Group Discussion
• Personal Interview
• Written Ability Test
• Final Selection

You will be required to attend the different stages of CMAT selection process 2026, as elaborated below:

1. Group Discussion

A group will have around 10 candidates and you will be given a topic to discuss on the day of CMAT selection process 2026. The key area tested here is communication skills. Apart from this, GD also helps one to find the best team player. The ones who begin the discussion first, who negotiate better, and who express their thoughts in an orderly fashion will have an edge over others.

2. Personal Interview

This round is to test your personality and interpersonal skills. The interviewer also checks your subject knowledge and questions will be asked based on your job or education.

3. Written Ability Test

In the written ability test of CMAT selection process, you will be asked to write on a particular topic. Newspaper reading will help you to perform well. This is to check how you articulate your thoughts and ideas in English without any factual flaws.

4. Final Selection

Based on your performance, in the previous stages, the final selection of CMAT selection process 2026 will take place. The scores obtained in the personal interview, group discussion and the written test will be cumulated and a final merit list will be released by the conducting authority.

The selected ones will be contacted by the various institutions, based on your scores in the final merit list. The method of contact can range from emails to normal phone calls or SMS, depending upon the institution. It is advised that you regularly check the official website for further details regarding CMAT selection process 2026.

Documents Required for CMAT Selection Process

The ones attending the selection process sessions must have documents ready yourselves before you appear for the same. The selection process process will be held after the declaration of the result. You should be very cautious about documents required for the selection process process and you should be aware of the fact that documents should not be missed out.

Important documents which are required at the time of CMAT 2026 selection process are as follows:

• 10th and 12th Marksheets
• Degree certificate
• Call Letter for CMAT selection process 2026 
• Admit Card
• CMAT 2026 Scorecard
• Payment Challan Copy for selection process Process
• 5 Passport Size Colour Photographs
• Caste Certificate
• Domicile Certificate
• Valid Photo ID Recognized by the Indian Government

CMAT Reservation Policy

The exam has reservation policy criteria and the ones who are taking the exam under these criteria need to follow specific rules and regulations when appearing for selection process. Parameters involving CMAT Reservation Criteria are as follows:

• Guidelines: Every participating institute has its own unique set of guidelines according to the category and directions of its corresponding state government.
• Horizontal Reservations: There are provisions of a horizontal reservation for the Physically Handicapped (PH), Defence Persons, and the girl child category candidates, which again vary from institute to institute. The priority of candidates in horizontal reservation also varies as per CMAT selection process 2026.
• Undisclosed: NTA does not provide any information on a reservation of seats for various categories such as Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), or Other Backwards Classes (OBC).
• Unofficial: There is no official announcement made by NTA on the reservation of seats for the selection process, for the Physically Handicapped (PH) category, Kashmiri Migrant (KM) category, girl child category, and Defence Persons category.
• Creamy/Non-Creamy Layer: Reservation of seats for OBC candidates through the NTA CMAT selection process 2026 will also depend on a layer, from which they belong, that is, creamy and non-creamy layer.
• Statutory Provisions: The reservation of seats in the management programme through CMAT selection procedures will be done based on prevalent statutory provisions of the State Government under which a particular participating institute falls.

CMAT Participating Institutes

CMAT scores will be accepted by over 1000 B-schools in India. Some of the best-known B-schools accepting CMAT scores are discussed below:

1. Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai 

• Course Offered: MBA (Full-Time) 
• CMAT Cutoff: Around 99 percentile 
• Overview: JBIMS is one of the best management institutes in India, but traditionally accepts scores from CAT examinations for MBA admissions. But it accepts CMAT scores also. It is renowned for its strong alumni network and industry tie-ups. 

2. University of Mumbai - Department of Management Studies (DMS)

• Course Offered: MBA (Full-Time) 
• CMAT Cutoff: 95-99 percentile 
• Overview: The DMS offered at the University of Mumbai delivers quality MBA programs and uses scores from CMAT for intake to its MBA courses. DMS is famous for its robust curriculum and good placement records. 

3. Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai 

• Offered Course: PGPM - Post Graduate Program in Management 
• CMAT Cutoff: 90-95 percentile 
• Overview: Great Lakes Institute is among the country's leading B-schools; it is equally sound in terms of both its full-time and executive management programs. The institute has an industry orientation and its approach towards management education has always been good for industries; it accepts scores of CMAT. 

4. Institute of Management Development and Research, Pune 

• Course: PGDM 
• Cut-off percentage through CMAT 80-85 percent. 
• Overview: IMDR, Pune is a well-known B-school in Maharashtra which takes CMAT scores for the PGDM programme. This institute has an excellent record of placements and provides a wholesome management education. 

5. SIBM, Pune - Symbiosis Institute of Business Management 

• Course Offered: MBA (Full-Time) 
• CMAT Cut-Off: 85-90 percentile 
• Overview: Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) is another ranking institute that accepts Apart from tests like SNAP, CMAT scores are used. The courses offered are different, with exceptional faculty members, and a very good placement record with SIBM. 

Read More: List of Colleges Accepting CMAT Score 2026