CMAT 2026: Registration Open, Exam Date to be Announced; Check Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Preparation, Top Colleges

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national MBA Entrance Exam for admission to 1000+ AICTE Approved PGDM Institutions, University MBA Departments and their Constituent/Affiliated Colleges across the country. However, IIMs and many top MBA colleges like MDI Gurgaon and XLRI Jamshedpur do not accept CMAT exam scores. Check list of MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT exam 2025 scores.

Till 2018, CMAT Test was conducted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). National Test Agency (NTA) is conducting this Test since 2019. CMAT 2026 official website is exams.nta.ac.in/cmat.

CMAT 2026 registration is open. NTA has not announced CMAT 2026 exam date yet. However, based on previous year trends, the expected CMAT exam date is in early January, 2026. Last year, CMAT exam date 2025 was January 25, 2025. CMAT exam difficulty level is moderate. CMAT exam duration is 180 minutes. CMAT Exam Pattern is divided into five sections: Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Check details below. 

CMAT 2026 registration start date was October 17, 2026. CMAT 2026 registration last date is November 17, 2026. NTA has not announced CMAT 2026 exam date yet. However, based on previous year trends, the expected CMAT exam date is early January, 2026. Check all CMAT 2026 important dates below in the table below.

NTA has released the pattern and marking scheme for CMAT Exam 2026. CMAT 2026 Exam Pattern consists of 100 objective type (MCQs) questions which are equally divided into five sections: Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. CMAT 2026 exam duration is 180 minutes.

There is no sectional time limit. CMAT 2026 marking scheme is as follows: 

• Each question carries 04 (four) marks.
• For each correct response, candidate will get 04 (four) marks.
• For each incorrect response, 01 (one) mark will be deducted from the total score.
• Un-answered/un-attempted will be given no marks. 

CMAT Exam Pattern section wise 2026 is given in table below.  

CMAT 2026 Syllabus is divided into five sections: Language Comprehension; Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. A brief overview is given below.

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation: Syllabus for this section includes Arithmetic (Ratio, Time & Work, Averages, Percentages, Profit & Loss), Algebra, Geometry, Probability, Number Properties, and Data Interpretation through tables, pie charts, bar diagrams, and graphs.

Language Comprehension: Syllabus for this section includes grammar, tenses, vocabulary, sentence correction, jumbled paragraphs, and reading comprehension passages focused on inference, central idea, idioms, and expression.

Logical Reasoning: Syllabus for this section includes questions on arrangements (linear, circular, sequencing), puzzles, coding-decoding, statement-conclusion, Venn diagrams, and visual reasoning.

General Awareness: Syllabus for this section includes Static GK, Current Affairs, and Business & Economics awareness such as fiscal/monetary policies, international organizations, key personalities, and national events.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Syllabus for this section includes government schemes, start-up concepts, innovation management, key entrepreneurs, terminology (bootstrapping, break-even point), and recent developments in business and policy.

Check section wise detailed CMAT Exam Syllabus 2026.

Based on exam pattern, syllabus and previous year’s questions, CMAT 2026 preparation strategy for each section is as follows:

• Language Comprehension: Focus on Reading Comprehension and Grammar—practice RCs, sentence correction, idioms, and parajumbles daily.
• Quantitative Techniques & DI: Strengthen Arithmetic fundamentals and practice data interpretation sets—cover topics like TSD, Profit & Loss, SICI, and Pie Charts.
• Logical Reasoning: Practice both verbal and non-verbal reasoning—work on number series, directions, assumptions, arguments, and family trees.
• General Knowledge: Revise static GK with emphasis on Indian polity, history, and constitution—supplement with weekly updates on major national/international events.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Study key startup concepts, government schemes, and entrepreneur types—focus on terms like bootstrapping, lean startup, and funding stages.

In addition to preparing fundamentals for above sections, you must take full-length CMAT mock tests regularly, and then analyse your performance to identify weak areas and improve time management. Read following section on how to take free Mock CMAT tests online. 

CMAT Mock Tests and Previous Year question papers are the best preparation tools. Toppers recommend to take as many CMAT mocks and analyse each of them thoroughly. You can take free mock tests on MBAUniverse.com from links below. 

• CMAT Mock Test 2026
• CMAT Previous Year Papers
• CMAT Sample Papers 2026 

CMAT 2026 eligibility criteria is given below.

• The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline.
• Candidates appearing for the final year of Bachelor’s Degree, whose result will be declared in June/July 2026, can also apply for CMAT exam.
• The candidate must be a Citizen of India.
• There is no age restriction for appearing in CMAT exam.

CMAT Registration 2026 Process

CMAT 2026 Registration process is open. CMAT 2026 registration dates are from October 17, 2026 to November 17, 2026 (last date). CMAT Exam Fees is for Male Candidates is Rs. 2500 and for Female Candidates is Rs. 1250. CMAT Registration can be completed online on CMAT official website https://cmat.nta.nic.in/ by following four simple steps given below. 

Step 1: Apply For Online Registration 

Step 2: Fill in the Online Application Form 

Step 3:  Pay Examination Fee  

Step 4: Download Confirmation Page

All these steps can be done together or at separate dates and timings. But remember CMAT registration process will be considered complete only after you have paid the requisite CMAT exam fees, submitted the application and received the confirmation message from National Testing Agency.

CMAT Admit Card  is a mandatory document to enter the exam centre to take the exam. NTA will upload the Admit card on official NTA CMAT exam website a few days before the exam. Only successfully registered candidates can download the CMAT admit card. The last date to download the Admit Card is exam date.

CMAT 2026 Exam Centres are located across all the States in India. NTA will conduct CMAT exam in more than 100 cities at 175 Exam Centres across the country. A candidate should choose four most preferred CMAT test cities at the time of filling the CMAT application form. NTA will allot one of cities. Check list of CMAT Exam Cities in India and how to select CMAT exam centre while filling CMAT registration form 2026.

Top CMAT Colleges in India are Welingkar Mumbai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, IFMR Krea University, IMI Bhubaneswar, Jaipuria Noida and Jaipuria Lucknow. But remember, CMAT admission process is not centralized by NTA or AICTE. You need to apply separately to CMAT colleges of your choice with your CMAT Scores. Thereafter, CMAT accepting institution will release their own CMAT Scores Cut Offs to qualify for admission. Check complete list MBA colleges accepting CMAT Exam scores.

A total of 74,012 candidates registered for CMAT 2025 exam, while 63,145 candidates appeared in the examination. A total of 34,717 female candidates registered for CMAT Exam 2026. Male candidates were 39,293, while there were 2 transgender candidates. Total number of candidates who registered for CMAT 2024 was 76,745. However, only 65,127 candidates actually took CMAT 2024 exam. CMAT 2026 Registration Numbers are expected to remain the same as in previous two years. CMAT Registration Numbers for last few years are as below:

CMAT Official Website: The CMAT 2026 Official Website is cmat.nta.nic.in. This is the website that candidates should use to register for the exam and pay CMAT exam fees. 

CMAT 2026 Helpline Number 
In case of any emergency regarding CMAT exam registration or admit card, you can contact NTA CMAT Helpdesk on the following CMAT helpline number and contact details: 

• website: https://cmat.nta.nic.in
• Telephone number: 011-40759000
• Email: [email protected]

In summary, CMAT registration is open and last date to register for CMAT exam 2026 is November 17, 2026. CMAT 2025 notification is also out. NTA has not announced CMAT 2026 exam date yet. However, based on previous year trends, the expected CMAT exam date is in early January, 2026. CMAT Official Website 2026 is cmat.nta.nic.in. This is CMAT NTA NIC in 2026. Also read CMAT Exam Pattern, CMAT Syllabus, CMAT Preparation, and top MBA colleges accepting CMAT 2026 scores.