Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
CAT Admit Card Date:12 Nov' 25 - 30 Nov' 25
CAT exam fees have increased again this year. The CAT 2025 official notification was released in the form of a newspaper advertisement on July 27, 2025. The increased CAT 2025 exam fees are mentioned in the same notification. This year for the CAT exam, aspirants belonging to the unreserved category will have to pay Rs 2600, and for reserved category candidates, the CAT registration fee is Rs 1300. It is also official now; IIM Kozhikode will set the CAT 2025 question paper, and the exam will be held on November 30, 2025 (Sunday). Along with the CAT exam fee hike, the CAT notification also mentions all the key dates about CAT 2025.
This Story also Contains
Candidates from the general category now pay Rs 2600, up from Rs 2500 in the previous year, while applicants in the reserved category will pay Rs 1300, up from Rs 1250 in 2024. The modest yet significant fee hike, about a 4% increase for both category groups, adds a layer of financial consideration for CAT 2025 aspirants. Read this piece by Careers360 to know “how much have CAT exam fee has increased over the past five years.”
As mentioned above, the CAT application fee for 2025 has been increased to Rs 2600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1300 for SC/ST/PWD candidates.
On July 27, 2025, IIM Kozhikode released the official CAT 2025 notification in the form of a newspaper advertisement, confirming the CAT exam date as November 30, 2025, with CAT registration starting from August 1, 2025.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
Ranked No. 3 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2025 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 89 LPA
Here we have compiled CAT exam fee data from the past few years that shows a steady upward trajectory in CAT application fees.
CAT exam year | Category (General/ EWS/ NC-OBC Fee) | SC/ST/PWD fee |
2020 | Rs 2000 | Rs 1000 |
2021 | Rs 2200 | Rs 1100 (+10%) |
2022 | Rs 2300 (+4.5%) | Rs 1150 (+4.5%) |
2023 | Rs 2400 (+4.3%) | Rs 1200 (+4.3%) |
2024 | Rs 2500 (+4.2%) | Rs 1250 (+4.2%) |
Here we have listed a comparison of the CAT exam fee of past five years category wise.
General/ Unreserved category- CAT exam fee increased from Rs 2000 to Rs 2600, which is a total raise of Rs 600 or 30%.
Reserved category (SC/ST/PWD)- CAT registration fee increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 1300 which is a total raise of Rs 300 or 30%.
Affordability Concerns- In social media groups, several CAT aspirants have expressed frustration over raising CAT exam fee costs, highlighting the strain caused when applying to multiple MBA entrance exams or colleges.
Transaction Charges- On top of the CAT application fee, candidates have to pay additional charges depending on the payment mode.
Credit cards: 1.2% (2.85% for AmEx)
Debit cards: 0.75–0.90%
Net banking: Rs 20 fixed
UPI: generally no fees
Non-Refundable Nature- The CAT exam fee is non-refundable, even in case of CAT application form corrections. Online minor details can be edited such as photo, signature, CAT exam centre are allowed without full repayment.
The CAT exam fee has steadily increased, moving from Rs 2000/ Rs 1000 in 2020 to Rs 2600/1300 in 2025. That is a consistent annual hike of Rs 4 to 10%, resulting in a 30% rise over five years. That usually places additional financial pressure on CAT aspirants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT fee hike of Rs 100 for the general category and rs 50 for the reserved category is a part of a routine annual revision that helps cover inflation and administrative costs.
The official CAT 2025 notification was released by IIM Kozhikode on July 27, 2025, in the form of a newspaper advertisement. The official website launch for CAT 2025 is awaited and can be released anytime soon.
For CAT 2025, the CAT application fee for General/ EWS/ NC-OBC category candidates has been increased from Rs 2500 to Rs 2600, reflecting a Rs 100 hike over the previous year.
Reserved category candidates (SC/ST/PWD) will have to pay an CAT application fee for Rs 1300 for CAT 2025, up from Rs 1250 in 2024 which is a increase of Rs 50.
No, the CAT application fee is non-refundable. Once paid, it cannot be refunded under any circumstances, even in the event of CAT exam cancellation or application error.
On Question asked by student community
It's definitely possible to find CUSAT CAT Chapter-wise Previous Year Questions (PYQs), though they might not be consolidated into one single official book.
Here's the best approach, based on the question paper information:
Online Repositories: The official CUSAT website often provides PDF dumps of the full question papers (like the one linked in the Careers360 article). You'll need to manually sort the questions chapter-wise or subject-wise (Physics, Chemistry, Maths).
Publisher Guides: Specialized coaching institutes or publishers create comprehensive guides that have already performed the chapter-wise sorting for you.
Focus Subjects: Since the exam covers your Class 11 and 12 PCM syllabus, using JEE Main chapter-wise books for practice is often a highly effective substitute for the CUSAT paper format.
Consistent practice with these organized questions is the key to cracking the exam! Check the resource page for question paper updates. https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/cusat-cat-question-paper
Hello,
Since the CAT application form correction window is closed, you must contact the CAT help desk immediately to explain the situation, as you can't edit a wrong date of birth after submission. If it's a major error like date of birth, you may need to go to the exam center with proof and the correct admit card, although getting it corrected before the exam date is the most important first step.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hi there,
You have to apply separately for each symbiosis college, like SIBM Pune, as they as not automatically included. The CAT form automatically includes many IIMs, but the SNAP exam is a separate test that is given for admission to Symbiosis Institute, which requires its own separate application and fee.
Hope it helps!!!
Toppers usually study 3–6 focused hours a day, but it’s not just about time — it’s about smart preparation and consistency. Focus on quality practice, regular mocks, and targeted revision.
Check this complete guide to learn how toppers plan their day and reach 99 percentile: Read Now
Hello,
To get admitted to the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), BHU, for an MBA in 2026, you must clear the CAT entrance exam. For that you need to fill out the application form of the CAT in August 2026, which you can get on the Official CAT website
I hope it will clear your query!!
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
IBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR
Ranked No. 3 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2025 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 89 LPA
Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
'A+ +'NAAC accreditation| AICTE accreditation -Attracts Illustrious In-House and Visiting Faculty
NAAC A++ Grade | MBA program graded A** (National) by CRISIL | AACSB, ACBSP and BGA Member