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    CAT Exam Fees 2025 INCREASED: Registration Fee, Payment Process, & IIM MBA Fees

    CAT Exam Fees 2025 INCREASED: Registration Fee, Payment Process, & IIM MBA Fees

    Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 12 Sep 2025, 10:11 AM IST

    The payment of the CAT exam fees 2025 is a must for all candidates who wish to appear for the CAT examination. CAT 2025 exam fees is out as the official CAT notification 2025 has been released. CAT 2025 fees for general candidates are Rs. 2600/-, while the CAT 2025 fees for ST/SC candidates are Rs 1300/-. Last year, the CAT exam fees for OBC and the General category were Rs 100 and the CAT exam fees were Rs 2500. Meanwhile, for reserved categories, the CAT exam fee was Rs. 1250. Candidates must note that the CAT exam fees will be paid only online via debit/credit card, net banking, and UPI transactions. The last date for CAT 2025 registration is September 13, 2025. Keep reading this article to find more information on CAT exam fees, CAT registration 2025 fees, CAT exam fees for OBC category students and more.

    This Story also Contains

    1. CAT Exam Fees for Registration
    2. How to pay the CAT exam fees for CAT registration
    3. CAT Exam Fees for IIMs
    4. Are there any Late or Extra Charges for the CAT Exam?
    5. What is the Refund and Cancellation Policy of the CAT 2025 Exam Application Form?
    6. Common Mistakes to Avoid While Paying CAT registration 2025 fees
    CAT Exam Fees 2025 INCREASED: Registration Fee, Payment Process, & IIM MBA Fees
    CAT Exam Fees 2025

    CAT Exam Fees for Registration

    The CAT exam fee for registration is a one-time payment to be made to register for the CAT examination. The CAT registration fees will be paid at the time of filling out the online application form, which is expected to start in the first week of August 2025.

    The CAT exam fees 2025 for MBA are different for different categories. For General category candidates, the CAT exam fee is Rs. 2500, whereas for candidates from SC, ST, and PwD categories, the CAT exam fee is Rs. 1250.

    Category

    CAT Exam Fees for Registration

    CAT registration 2025 fees for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates

    Rs. 2600

    CAT registration 2025 fees for SC, ST and PwD

    Rs. 1300

    *Note that the CAT 2025 exam registration fees might differ slightly from last year. We will update the fees accordingly.

    The above-mentioned fees include both the CAT registration fees and the IIM application fees. Keep in mind that the CAT registration 2025 fees are non-refundable.

    How to pay the CAT exam fees for CAT registration

    Payment of the CAT exam fees will be the last step in the CAT registration 2025 process. Candidates applying for the CAT examination can pay the CAT exam fees by following the steps given below.

    Steps for paying the CAT exam fees

    • Step 1: Click on the payment tab for the CAT exam fees.
    • Step 2: Next, choose the method of payment. Candidates can choose from different payment options like debit or credit card (master/Visa), net banking, PayU, BillDesk, and Paytm UPI.
    • Step 3: Fill in the payment details required, like card number, CVV, or UPI address in case of UPI payment.
    • Step 4: Wait for payment confirmation status.
    • Step 5: Download the payment invoice and take a few printouts for future reference.

    Different Modes of Payment for CAT 2025 Exam Fees

    The transaction fees for each payment method are mentioned in the table below.

    Mode of Payment

    Transaction Charges

    Credit Card (Master/ Visa)

    1.20% of the transaction amount, subject to a minimum of Rs 5.

    Credit Card (American Express)

    2.85% of the transaction amount, subject to a minimum of Rs 5.

    Debit Card (Master/ Visa)

    • 0.75% of the transaction amount for a value up to Rs 2000, subject to a minimum of Rs 5.
    • 0.90% of the transaction amount for a value above Rs 2000.

    Net Banking

    Rs 20 per transaction

    CAT Exam Fees for IIMs

    Candidates taking the CAT exams will have to pay the application fees in addition to the CAT exam fee for every IIM they apply to. It is a mandatory part of the application process for every IIM application. The CAT MBA fees for various IIMs are given in the table below.

    IIM

    CAT MBA Fees

    IIM Ahmedabad

    Rs. 25 Lakhs

    IIM Bangalore

    Rs. 24.5 Lakhs

    IIM Calcutta

    Rs. 23 Lakhs

    IIM Lucknow

    Rs. 26.5 Lakhs

    IIM Indore

    Rs. 21.17 Lakhs

    IIM Kozhikode

    Rs. 22.5 Lakhs

    IIM Amritsar

    Rs. 21 Lakhs

    IIM Nagpur

    Rs. 18.9 Lakhs

    IIM Sambalpur

    Rs. 21.01 Lakhs

    IIM Trichy

    Rs. 21 Lakhs

    IIM Raipur

    Rs. 18 Lakhs

    IIM Ranchi

    Rs. 17.5 Lakhs

    IIM Vizag

    Rs. 18.5 Lakhs

    IIM Udaipur

    Rs. 22.2 Lakhs

    IIM Bodh Gaya

    Rs. 17 Lakhs

    IIM Shillong

    Rs. 22.71 Lakhs

    IIM Sirmaur

    Rs. 17.5 Lakhs

    IIM Rohtak

    Rs. 17.9 Lakhs

    IIM Mumbai

    Rs. 21 Lakhs

    Are there any Late or Extra Charges for the CAT Exam?

    No, there is no provision for a late fee or extra charges to apply for the CAT exam. However, CAT has a specific registration window where the application and the fees must be submitted within the stipulated time frame. Any application submitted after the deadline will not be accepted by the conducting body. Therefore, it is advised that all candidates must register and pay the CAT application fee before the closing date to avoid any last-minute technical glitches or hassles.

    What is the Refund and Cancellation Policy of the CAT 2025 Exam Application Form?

    All MBA aspirants must note that the fee paid for the CAT exam applications is non-refundable under any circumstances. Post payment of the CAT exam fees, the fees will not be transferable to another candidate or adjusted for future exams.

    Therefore, it is advised that candidates ensure they make the payment carefully. In rare cases, if the candidate makes a double payment due to technical glitches, they might be able to get their CAT exam fees refunded. In case your CAT exam fee payment fails, but the amount is still deducted, you must contact the CAT helpdesk immediately.

    CAT Fees Cancellation Policy

    Once the CAT application form has been submitted and the payment has been made, there is no option to cancel your CAT registration or receive a refund. Or, if you decide not to take the CAT 2025 exam, your registration fee will still NOT be refunded.

    Common Mistakes to Avoid While Paying CAT registration 2025 fees

    Here are some of the common mistakes to avoid while paying the CAT exam fees:

    • Incorrect Payment method
    • Entering wrong details such as card number, expiry date, CVV, UPI ID or net banking credentials.
    • Poor internet connection
    • Insufficient funds
    • Multiple attempts
    • Ignoring confirmation
    • Exceeding transaction limits
    • Using expired bank card
    • Not following instructions
    • Wating to make the payment till last moment.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is 70 a good score in CAT?
    A:

    A 70 percentile in the CAT exam is considered to be moderate to good score which can open doors to manu reputable B-schools in India. 

    Q: How much is the CAT exam fee?
    A:

    The CAT exam fee is Rs. 2500 for candidates of the General and OBC categories. For SC, ST, and PWD category candidates the CAT exam fee is Rs. 1250. The CAT exam fee is to be paid online via credit/debit card, net banking, and UPI.

    Q: Is CAT score valid for 2 years?
    A:

    No, a CAT score is valid for one year only. This means that the score from a particular CAT exam can be used for admission in the academic year immediately following the exam. 

    Q: Is CAT a 2 hour exam?
    A:

    Yes, the CAT exam duration is 2 hours (120 minutes). Each section is timed for 40 minutes, resulting in a total time duration of 2 hours. 

    Q: What is CAT exam eligibility?
    A:

    To be eligible for the Common Admission Test (CAT) exam, candidates need a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD category. There is no upper age limit for CAT exam, but candidates should have completed their graduation or should be in the final year of graduation.

    Q: Is the CAT exam fee refundable?
    A:

    No, the CAT exam fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

    Q: Can I pay the CAT exam fee offline?
    A:

    No, the CAT exam fee must be paid online through credit/debit cards, net banking, or UPI.

    Q: What is the CAT exam fee for General category candidates?
    A:

    The CAT exam fee for General and OBC candidates is ₹2,500.

    Q: What is the lowest MBA fee?
    A:

    The lowest MBA fee stands at Rs. 17 lakhs at IIM Bodh Gaya. It is the cheapest among all the IIMs. Other than IIM Bodh Gaya IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Vizag are also some of the more pocket-friendly options for candidates seeking an MBA from IIM.

    Q: Why is IIM so expensive?
    A:

    One of the reasons for IIM being so expensive is that they are not completely government-funded educational institutions. Apart from this the infrastructure, faculty, and placement records also make the IIMs very expensive.

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