About 2.84 lakh candidates have registered for CAT 2026, a dip from recent years. Here is how the number compares year by year and what it does and does not mean for your preparation.

Key Takeaways

•       CAT 2026 registrations: about 2.84 lakh, as reported in the media.

•       Versus 2025: down about 10,000, roughly 3.7%, from about 2.95 lakh.

•       Versus the 2024 peak: down roughly 13.7% from about 3.29 lakh.

•       Exam date: Sunday, 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore.

•       What it means: fewer registrations do not automatically make an IIM call easier. Percentiles are relative to those who appear.

How Many Candidates Registered for CAT 2026?

About 2.84 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2026. That is around 10,000 fewer than the roughly 2.95 lakh who registered for CAT 2025, a fall of about 3.7%. Compared with the 2024 peak of about 3.29 lakh, it is a drop of roughly 13.7%.

CAT Registrations and Appearing Candidates: Year-Wise

The 2026 appearing figure is a projection based on attendance trends, not an official number. The actual count will be known only after the exam on 29 November 2026.

Does a Drop in CAT Registrations Make an IIM Call Easier?

Not in a way you can count on. Registrations include many candidates who never appear, and the candidates who decide the cut-offs are the serious test-takers in the top percentile bands. CAT also reports percentile, which is your rank relative to everyone who appears that year, so a smaller pool does not lower the score you need in the same proportion.

For context, reports put IIM seats at 8,284 or more based on the last three years. Against about 2.84 lakh registrations, that is a rough ratio of one seat for every 34 registrations, but it is not the same as your own chance, which depends on your percentile, profile and each IIM's selection criteria.

What Do the Numbers Say About CAT Trends?

•       Peak: registrations peaked at about 3.28 to 3.29 lakh in 2023 and 2024.

•       Dip: 2025 fell to about 2.95 lakh and 2026 is at about 2.84 lakh.

•       Attendance: around 87 to 89 out of every 100 registrants appeared in 2023, 2024 and 2025, so the number actually writing the exam is lower than the registration count.

CAT 2026 Registrations: Quick-Reference

What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Do Now?

•       Ignore the headline: the registration count does not change what you need to do in the last few weeks.

•       Keep taking mocks: follow our CAT 2026 last 30 days checklist and learn how to analyze CAT mocks.

•       Revise your plan: read our CAT 2026 last 45 days strategy.

•       Sort exam-day details: see the CAT 2026 admit card guide and the CAT 2026 important dates.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAT 2026 Registrations

How many candidates registered for CAT 2026?

About 2.84 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2026, according to media reports of the registration figures. IIM Indore conducts the exam on Sunday, 29 November 2026.

How does CAT 2026 registration compare with 2025?

CAT 2025 had about 2.95 lakh registrations, so CAT 2026 is down by about 10,000, or roughly 3.7%.

How does CAT 2026 registration compare with 2024?

CAT 2024 had about 3.29 lakh registrations, the highest in recent years. CAT 2026 at about 2.84 lakh is roughly 13.7% lower.

What were the CAT registration numbers in the last few years?

About 2.55 lakh in 2022, 3.28 lakh in 2023, 3.29 lakh in 2024, 2.95 lakh in 2025 and about 2.84 lakh in 2026.

How many candidates actually appear for CAT?

Fewer than register. About 2.22 lakh appeared in 2022, 2.88 lakh in 2023, 2.93 lakh in 2024 and 2.58 lakh in 2025. For 2026, reports project around 2.5 lakh appearing if attendance trends continue, which is an estimate and not an official figure.

Does a drop in registrations make it easier to get into an IIM?

Not necessarily. Registrations are not the same as the serious candidates competing for calls, and CAT scores are converted to percentiles within your own year. Your preparation and mock performance matter far more than the registration count.

How many IIM seats are available through CAT?

Reports put the number at 8,284 or more seats across the IIMs, based on the last three years. The exact number for the 2026-27 cycle can differ.

Is the 2.84 lakh figure official?

The figure comes from media reports of the registration count. IIM Indore has not published a detailed registration breakdown in the sources used for this article.

Why did CAT registrations fall in 2026?

No official reason has been given. Registrations have moved up and down over the years, and CATKing does not attribute the change to any single cause.

When is CAT 2026 and when will the result come?

CAT 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The result is expected in the first week of January 2027.

Should the lower registration number change your CAT 2026 preparation?

No. Percentiles depend on how you perform relative to the candidates who appear, so the right response is to keep taking mocks, analysing them and sticking to your plan.