CAT Form Fees 2026 for General, EWS, SC, ST and PwBD

CAT Form Fees 2026

The CAT form fee is a compulsory, one-time payment that candidates must make. The Indian Institutes of Management use a category-based fee structure, with a lower application fee for SC, ST and PwBD candidates.

For CAT 2026, the application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. Candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwBD categories must pay ₹1,350. These amounts have increased from the CAT 2025 fees of ₹2,600 and ₹1,300, respectively. must be paid online through the CAT registration portal. Candidates should note that payment of the CAT form fee completes only the CAT examination registration process. Some non-IIM business schools may require candidates to submit separate application forms and pay additional application fees.

Download CAT 2026 Notification PDF

CAT Form Fees 2026: Category-Wise Amount

The CAT application fee depends on the category selected by the candidate in the registration form.

Candidates need to pay the CAT registration fee only once, regardless of the number of IIM programmes selected in the application form. The payment does not have to be made separately for each participating IIM. candidates must select the IIM programmes they wish to apply for while completing the form. Missing a programme preference may prevent them from being considered for that particular programme later.

CAT Form Fee Increase from Last Year

The revised fee should be considered while planning the total cost of MBA entrance examinations, especially for candidates applying for CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT and other management entrance tests during the same admission cycle.
Also Read: Major Changes in CAT 2026 Notification? Exam Pattern, Fees

CAT Form Fees for General, EWS and NC-OBC Candidates

General (Open), Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC) candidates must pay ₹2,700 as the CAT 2026 application fee. All three categories fall under the same application fee slab. NC-OBC candidates do not receive a reduction in the CAT registration fee. Their reservation benefits apply during the admission and seat-allocation process, provided they satisfy the eligibility requirements and submit valid category certificates.

Candidates selecting EWS or NC-OBC must ensure that their certificate follows the prescribed format and remains valid for the relevant admission cycle. Selecting a reserved category without having the required documentation may create problems during shortlisting or document verification.

Candidates should therefore verify the following before paying:

• The selected category is correct.
• The candidate’s name matches the supporting documents.
• The category certificate follows the officially prescribed format.
• The certificate details are entered correctly.
• The uploaded document are clear and readable.

Important: Category details may not be freely editable after the application is submitted. Candidates should review this section carefully instead of relying on the correction window.

Also Read: IIM Reservation Policy 2026: Category-wise Admission Criteria

CAT Form Fees for SC, ST and PwBD Candidates

Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates must pay ₹1,350 as the CAT form fee for 2026. This is 50 percent (Half) of the amount charged to General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates. candidates must upload the relevant SC, ST or disability certificate during the application process. The document must be issued by a competent authority and should meet the specifications mentioned in the CAT registration guide.

A PwBD candidate belonging to another reserved category does not have to pay the fee twice. The candidate pays the applicable ₹1,350 fee once while submitting the CAT form.

Candidates should not choose a reserved category only to access the lower application fee. The category claim is verified during the IIM admission process, and an invalid claim may lead to disqualification of the candidate’s eligibility or admission.

Also Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026, Age Limit, Reservation Policy

How to Pay the CAT Application Fee Online

The CAT application fee is paid during the final stage of the online application process. Candidates cannot complete the registration through cash, cheque or demand draft.

Follow these steps to pay the CAT form fee:

1. Visit the official CAT website and open the registration portal.
2. Register using a valid mobile number and email address.
3. Log in using the generated CAT user ID and password.
4. Enter personal, academic, category and work-experience details.
5. Select the preferred IIM programmes and examination cities.
6. Upload the photograph, signature and applicable certificates.
7. Review the complete application form.
8. Open the payment section.
9. Select an available online payment method.
10. Complete the transaction and wait for confirmation.
11. Download the submitted application form and payment receipt.

The application should be considered complete only when the portal displays a successful payment or submission status. Candidates should save the transaction ID, payment receipt and final application PDF for future reference.

Avoid closing the browser, refreshing the page or pressing the back button while the payment is being processed. These actions may interrupt the transaction.

Also Read: Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration, Check Now

CAT Fee Payment Methods and Transaction Charges

CAT form fee payment is completed online. The payment options displayed on the portal may include debit cards, credit cards, net banking and UPI. The exact options and respective charges can depend on the payment gateway available during registration.

Based on previous year trends, following is a tentative list of the payment gateway options available and the expected respective charges:

These transaction charges may be added to the CAT form fee. Therefore, the final amount debited from the candidate’s account can be slightly higher than ₹2,700 or ₹1,350. Candidates should treat the total shown on the official payment page as the final payable amount because gateway charges and supported methods may be revised. Before starting the payment, candidates should confirm that their account has sufficient funds and that online transactions are enabled. Those using UPI should also check their daily transaction limit.

Money debited but the portal is showing payment unsuccessful?

When money is debited but the application portal shows an unsuccessful payment, candidates should first check the payment status on the CAT portal. They should avoid making repeated payments immediately unless the portal instructs them to try again. The bank statement, transaction reference number and screenshot of the failed-payment message should be preserved for raising a complaint.

Is the CAT Registration Fee Refundable?

No, the CAT registration fee is non-refundable after a successful payment. Candidates generally cannot claim a refund just because they decided not to appear for the examination, enter incorrect information, miss the test or withdraw from the admission process. Action should be made between a successful registration payment and a failed transaction. If the amount is deducted but the CAT portal does not receive or confirm the payment, the transaction may be reversed by the bank or payment gateway. This is a failed-payment reversal, not a refund of a successfully submitted CAT application.

Candidates should complete a final review before paying the fee. They must especially check their name, date of birth, category, email address, mobile number, academic information, uploaded documents and programme preferences. A few minutes spent reviewing the form can prevent an incorrect, non-refundable submission.

CAT Form Fees 2026: Conclusion

The CAT Form Fees 2026 vary according to the candidate’s category. General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates must pay ₹2,700, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates must pay ₹1,350. Candidates may also have to pay additional transaction charges depending on the payment method and gateway used during registration. Before completing the payment, candidates should carefully review their category, personal details, uploaded certificates, academic information and IIM programme preferences. Since the CAT application fee is non-refundable after successful submission, checking every detail before payment can help prevent costly registration mistakes.