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The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 is not just another entrance exam. It's a checkpoint for more than 70,000 MBA aspirants who want a seat in over 1300 AICTE-approved institutions across India. The exam acts as a gateway for management programs. The CMAT 2026 Notification will be released along with the application form link in November 2026. It shall hold all the important information regarding the exam, such as the eligibility criteria, the revised exam structure, important dates, and the syllabus. The CMAT notification PDF 2026 will be made available in the sections below for you to download and refer to.
We’ve broken down every detail: from the notification release to eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, fees, and selection. If you're looking to reduce the back-and-forth of information hunting, consider this your single source of truth. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam and they will release the notification on their official website nta.ac.in/CMAT
Why the CMAT Notification Matters?
Everything starts with the notification. None of you can register, prepare, or even plan realistically without knowing the official timeline. The notification is the project kick-off. The details mentioned in the CMAT MBA notification 2026 are as follows:
- Official exam dates
- Registration start and end
- Fee submission deadlines
- Admit card release schedule
- Exam guidelines and eligibility
- Final result timelines
CMAT Notification Timeline (Tentative)
Based on the previous records, the CMAT 2026 schedule has been provided below for your reference. The dates are tentative and may vary with the official notification.
|
Event |
Expected Date |
|
CMAT Notification Release Date 2026 |
November 2025 |
|
CMAT 2026 Registration Window Opens |
November 2025 |
|
CMAT Registration Deadline |
December 2025 |
|
CMAT Last Date for Fee Payment |
Last Week of December 2025 |
|
CMAT Form Correction Window |
Last Week of December 2025 |
|
CMAT Admit Card Release 2026 |
January 20, 2026 |
|
CMAT 2026 Exam Date |
January 25, 2026 (Tentative) |
|
CMAT Answer Key Publication |
January 2026 End |
|
CMAT Result Announcement |
February to April 2026 Window |
Who Should Apply for CMAT?
CMAT is built for graduates who want to pursue MBA or PGDM programs. You need to fulfill the basic CMAT eligibility criteria to successfully apply for it. The details of the CMAT eligibility will be mentioned in detail in the CMAT notification PDF. However, a breakdown for the same has been provided below for your reference.
|
Parameters |
Requirement |
|
Nationality |
Indian only |
|
Age Limit |
No upper age limit; must be 20+ |
|
Education |
Bachelor’s degree in any stream |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible, if result is declared before admissions start |
CMAT Application Form Process
The CMAT application form 2026 process will be provided in detail in the CMAT 2026 notification pdf. However, the steps have been shared below for your reference. The CMAT registration link will be provided below when released.
Steps to Apply for CMAT
The step-by-step application process for CMAT is as follows:
- Step 1: New Registration – Enter name, email, phone number
- Step 2: Login – Use the generated Application No. and password
- Step 3: Form Fill-Up – Enter academic, personal, and category details
- Step 4: Upload Documents – Photograph, signature, PwD certificate (if applicable)
- Step 5: Fee Payment – Online via Debit/Credit/UPI/NetBanking
- Step 6: Confirmation Page – Save the final submission copy
Documents Required for CMAT Form Filling
The list of documents required when filling out the CMAT 2026 application form is as follows:
|
Document |
Mandatory |
|
Class 10th & 12th Marksheet |
Yes |
|
Graduation Marksheet |
Yes (if graduated) |
|
Photo ID & Address Proof |
Yes |
|
Category Certificate |
Yes (if applicable) |
|
PwD Certificate |
Yes (if applicable) |
|
Email ID & Phone Number |
Yes |
CMAT Application Fee Structure
The CMAT application fee is different for male and female candidates. The details are provided below.
|
Category |
Male |
Female |
Transgender |
|
General (UR) |
INR 2500 |
INR 1250 |
INR 1250 |
|
Gen-EWS/SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD |
INR 1250 |
INR 1250 |
INR 1250 |
Note: Payment gateway charges & GST are extra.
CMAT Exam Structure
After you have fulfilled the eligibility criteria, you need to grasp the CMAT exam structure. It is advised that you go through the CMAT exam pattern and syllabus before preparing for the exam. Knowing the exam pattern will guide you towards the CMAT marking scheme, negative markings, total marks, and the exam duration as well.
CMAT Exam Pattern
The details of the CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern has been delineated below.
|
Section |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
|
Quantitative Techniques & DI |
20 |
80 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
20 |
80 |
|
Language Comprehension |
20 |
80 |
|
General Awareness |
20 |
80 |
|
Innovation & Entrepreneurship |
20 |
80 |
|
Total |
100 |
400 |
CMAT Marking Scheme
The CMAT exam marking scheme is as follows:
- +4 for correct answers
- -1 for incorrect answers
- No marks for unanswered questions
- Dropped questions (due to tech errors) will be awarded full marks
Read These CMAT Articles to Boost your preparation:
- How to Score 99 percentile in CMAT 2026?
- CMAT GK Syllabus 2026
- Is Calculator Allowed in CMAT 2026 Exam?
CMAT Syllabus Breakdown
After understanding the paper pattern, it is advised that you jot down or have a printout of the CMAT 2026 syllabus with you. The CMAT syllabus pdf will be attested with the CMAT 2026 notification pdf for you to refer. However, instead of waiting for the notification pdf, it is advised that you refer to the syllabus provided below to start with you preparations. It is usually advised to start the CMAT 2026 preparations at least 6 months before the exam.
| Subjects | Topics |
| CMAT General Awareness Syllabus 2026 |
|
| CMAT Data Interpretation and Quantitative Techniques Syllabus 2026 |
|
| CMAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus 2026 |
|
| CMAT Language Comprehension Syllabus 2026 |
|
| CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Syllabus 2026 (Optional Subject) |
|
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Score
There are various colleges accepting CMAT score in India. The list of such colleges has been provided below.
|
College |
Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
|
JBIMS, Mumbai |
99.9 |
|
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai |
95–99 |
|
Goa Institute of Management |
95–99 |
|
SIMSREE, Mumbai |
99+ |
|
PUMBA, Pune |
95–99 |
|
Welingkar Institute, Mumbai |
85–95 |
|
National Institute of Bank Management |
90–95 |
|
Amity University, Noida |
85–90 |
|
NIT Calicut |
85–90 |
|
Tezpur University |
80–85 |
CMAT Preparation
It is important for you to know that what is a good score in CMAT and target the same for the upcoming examination. After you have gone through the CMAT paper pattern and syllabus in detail, you can now start preparing for the examination. There are a few guidelines to be followed for CMAT exam preparation, such as:
- Understand the CMAT exam pattern.
- Develop a solid conceptual understanding of the crucial CMAT course subjects.
- Practice CMAT previous year tests, sample tests, and CMAT mock exams.
- Choose a test plan based on the skills, address your areas of weakness, and review essential formulas.
Also Read:
The CMAT 2026 notification will go live in November 2025. Once it’s out, everything else falls into place—registration, fee payment, scheduling, and prep plans. If you’re targeting a top AICTE-approved MBA or PGDM program without competing through CAT or XAT, CMAT is not just an alternative.
FAQs on CMAT Notification
Q: What is the date of the CMAT 2026 notification?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is likely to publish the CMAT 2026 notification in November 2025. It will contain important dates, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern and application. The official site should be checked regularly by the candidates so that they do not miss any important deadlines.
Q: Who can apply to CMAT 2026?
In order to apply to CMAT 2026, you must be Indian citizens and should have a Bachelor degree in any stream. The ones in their final year can also apply provided your results are announced prior to the commencement of the admission cycle. CMAT exam has no age restriction.
Q: What is CMAT 2026 exam pattern?
CMAT 2026 is a 3-hour computer-based exam that consists of 100 questions in five sections: Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. There are 20 questions in each section. The paper is worth 400 marks and +4 marks are awarded on correct answers and -1 mark on wrong answers. You must go through the CMAT exam pattern in detail to understand the points.
Q: How much is the CMAT 2026 application fee?
The application fee of CMAT 2026 is 2500 INR (General (UR) male) and 1250 INR (Female, reserved category, and transgender). The fee can be paid online through debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI. Depending on the mode of payment, additional processing charges and GST might be charged.
Q: Which colleges are accepting CMAT 2026 score?
The CMAT 2026 scores are valid in more than 1300 AICTE approved institutes such as JBIMS Mumbai, KJ Somaiya, Goa Institute of Management, PUMBA, and Welingkar. The cutoff percentile, selection procedure and counseling steps are different in each college. After the announcement of CMAT results, you have to apply individually to their favorite colleges.
