MBA
Mar 15, 2026
IIM Bangalore to Convene CAT 2026: Major Changes in Exam Pattern and Sectional Weightage Expected
V
Vikram Das
Mar 15, 2026
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The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore has been officially designated as the convening body for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026. In a preliminary briefing held today, the CAT 2026 committee suggested that the upcoming exam might feature a revised structure aimed at better assessing the multidisciplinary aptitude of future managers. While the core sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)—will remain, the weightage and the number of questions in each may see a shift.
Sources within the IIM consortium indicate that there is a growing consensus to increase the weightage of the DILR section to test the analytical and decision-making capabilities of candidates more rigorously. This move aligns with the changing demands of the corporate world, where data-driven insights are becoming paramount. Additionally, there are discussions about introducing a few 'short-answer' type questions in the VARC section that would require candidates to summarize passages, moving beyond the traditional multiple-choice format.
The official notification for CAT 2026, including the finalized syllabus and exam dates, is expected to be released in July 2026. However, the announcement of IIM Bangalore as the convener has already set the wheels in motion for coaching institutes and aspirants. IIM Bangalore last conducted the CAT in 2022, and that edition was noted for its high-quality DILR sets and a balanced Quantitative section. Experts believe that Prof. Sanjeev Swami, who is rumored to be the CAT 2026 convener, will emphasize 'application over calculation.'
Registration for the exam is likely to begin in the first week of August and continue until late September. The exam itself is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026, following the tradition of holding the test on the last Sunday of November. CAT scores are the primary gateway for admission to the 21 IIMs and over 100 other top-tier management institutes in India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
Aspirants are advised to start their preparation by focusing on building strong fundamentals in logical reasoning. 'The potential shift in weightage means that students can no longer rely solely on their mathematical prowess to clear the overall cut-offs,' says Amit Bansal, a CAT mentor. The IIMs are also expected to continue their focus on academic diversity, encouraging students from non-engineering backgrounds to apply by adjusting the shortlisting criteria for the interview stage.
Sources within the IIM consortium indicate that there is a growing consensus to increase the weightage of the DILR section to test the analytical and decision-making capabilities of candidates more rigorously. This move aligns with the changing demands of the corporate world, where data-driven insights are becoming paramount. Additionally, there are discussions about introducing a few 'short-answer' type questions in the VARC section that would require candidates to summarize passages, moving beyond the traditional multiple-choice format.
The official notification for CAT 2026, including the finalized syllabus and exam dates, is expected to be released in July 2026. However, the announcement of IIM Bangalore as the convener has already set the wheels in motion for coaching institutes and aspirants. IIM Bangalore last conducted the CAT in 2022, and that edition was noted for its high-quality DILR sets and a balanced Quantitative section. Experts believe that Prof. Sanjeev Swami, who is rumored to be the CAT 2026 convener, will emphasize 'application over calculation.'
Registration for the exam is likely to begin in the first week of August and continue until late September. The exam itself is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026, following the tradition of holding the test on the last Sunday of November. CAT scores are the primary gateway for admission to the 21 IIMs and over 100 other top-tier management institutes in India, including FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, and MDI Gurgaon.
Aspirants are advised to start their preparation by focusing on building strong fundamentals in logical reasoning. 'The potential shift in weightage means that students can no longer rely solely on their mathematical prowess to clear the overall cut-offs,' says Amit Bansal, a CAT mentor. The IIMs are also expected to continue their focus on academic diversity, encouraging students from non-engineering backgrounds to apply by adjusting the shortlisting criteria for the interview stage.