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

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

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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.

CAT Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
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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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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

At KIMS Amalapuram, the internship stipend for MBBS students is generally reported to be around 20,000 per month, though some students have mentioned that in certain years no stipend was provided at all, which means it can vary depending on the policies in place at the time of your internship. To get the most accurate and updated information, it is always best to confirm directly with the college administration or recent interns, but on average, you can expect a stipend in the range of 18,000-20,000 per month during the compulsory rotating internship.

Hello Aspirant,

Since your payment status shows "S" , it means your payment is successful. The "payment unsuccessful" message on the form is likely a temporary system error or a delay in updating.

Do not make another payment.

Making a second payment could cause a double debit, which is difficult to get a refund for. You should:

  1. Wait 24-48 hours for the status to update automatically.

  2. Download and save a copy of your form and a screenshot of the "S" payment status as proof.

  3. Check your bank statement to confirm the money has been debited.

  4. If the issue is not fixed after 48 hours, contact the official CAT helpdesk immediately with your transaction details.

Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.

  • Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.

Admission Process:

  1. Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.

  2. Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.

  3. Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.

  4. Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.

  5. Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time).

  • Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.

Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.

For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page