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

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

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 13 Sep' 25

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 27 Jul 2025, 12:47 PM IST

The payment of the CAT exam fees 2025 is a must for all the candidates who wish to appear for the CAT examination. CAT 2025 exam fees is out as official CAT notification 2025 has been released. CAT Notification 2025 is out on the news paper on July 27, 2025. CAT exam fees increased slightly. CAT 2025 fees for general candidate is Rs. 2600/- while CAT 2025 fees for ST/SC candidates are Rs 1300/-. Last year, the CAT exam fees for OBC and the general category of Rs 100 and CAT exam fees was 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 in online via debit/credit card, net banking, and UPI transactions. Keep reading this article to find more information on CAT exam fees, fees for registration fees, CAT exam fees for OBC category students and more.

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT Exam Fees for Registration
  2. CAT Exam Fees 2025 - Latest Updates & Payment Details
  3. How to pay the CAT exam fees for CAT registration
  4. CAT Exam Fees for IIMs
  5. Are there any Late or Extra Charges for the CAT Exam?
  6. What is the Refund and Cancellation Policy of the CAT 2025 Exam Application Form?
  7. Common Mistakes to Avoid While Paying CAT Exam 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 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 exam fees for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates

Rs. 2600

CAT 2025 exam fees for SC, ST and PwD

Rs. 1300

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

The above mentioned fees includes both CAT registration fees and the IIM application fees. Keep in mind that the CAT exam fees is non-refundable.

CAT Exam Fees 2025 - Latest Updates & Payment Details

  • Payment of the CAT exam fee is mandatory for all candidates.
  • The official notification will confirm the fee structure, which is out on July 27, 2025.
  • This year, CAT exam fees increased by ₹100 for General/OBC categories, making it ₹2,600.

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.
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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 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 glitched 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 Exam 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: What are the fees of a CAT exam?
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 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.

Q: Can a poor student join IIM?
A:

Candidates from any financial strata can join the IMs situated across the nation. For candidates having financial constraints IIMs have tie-ups with various financial institutions for availing loan facilities at a reasonable interest rate.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello

As you said you by mistakenly done that,  you don't need to get worry regarding that ,

Just inform the help desk and carry the correct certifications , the state certificate will not disqualify you .

The steps you can follow is -

1. You can check if the correction window is available or not

2. Contact the CAT desk immediately.

Hope this helps

In CAT registration, you cannot create a new user ID with the same mobile number, even if you use a different email ID. Each mobile number and email can be linked to only one account. If you already registered once, the system will not accept a duplicate with that number. To register again, you must use a new mobile number and new email ID. If you lost your old login, you can recover it through the forgot password/user ID option on the CAT portal.



Yes, you can fill the CAT form even if you currently have a backlog. CAT eligibility requires you to be in your final year of graduation or already graduated backlogs don’t stop you from applying.

While filling the form:

  • Enter the aggregate percentage/CGPA of marks you have obtained up to the latest semester for which results are declared (in your case till 4th semester).

  • There will be an option to mention that you have a backlog.

  • If you clear the backlog later, you’ll just need to show the updated marks during admission.

Hello Aspirant,

Yes, you can apply for the CAT exam as a final-year student. You must declare your backlog on the online application form. You do not write about it on the final-year student certificate; that document is to certify your enrollment status. You must clear all backlogs before the final admission process to any MBA college.

Hello,

Thank you for your question!

KL- MAT syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English/Verbal Ability, and General Awareness (similar to MAT/CMAT pattern).

CAT scores are valid in many private universities including KL University, but always check the year’s admission notification.

CAT vs other exams: CAT is toughest (IIMs + top B-schools), while MAT/CMAT/ATMA are relatively easier and accepted by many mid-level private universities.

Hello it will clear your doubt!