CAT Exam Fees 2025 For General, OBC, SC/ST, Refund Policy, Extra Charges Revealed

CAT Exam Fees 2025 For General, OBC, SC/ST, Refund Policy, Extra Charges Revealed

Malvika ChawlaUpdated on 04 Aug 2025, 03:30 PM IST

CAT registration fees 2025 is Rs.2600 for General, EWS, NC-OBC, and Rs. 1300 for SC, ST and PwD. CAT 2025 exam date is November 30 and the CAT registration 2025 window will remain open till September 13. CAT exam fee has been increasing consistently from the past 2-3 years. MBA aspirants interested in taking CAT this year must fill the form and pay the CAT application fee 2025 before the last date for duly submission of the application. All candidates will need to pay the fees in an online mode. Read this article to get complete information about CAT 2025 registration fees.

LiveIIM CAT 2025 Result (OUT) LIVE: MBA admission criteria for IIMs; CAT score weightage, cut-offsDec 26, 2025 | 11:01 PM IST

IIM Kozhikode will retain its three-stage admission process for the MBA (PGP) 2026–28 batch, with CAT 2025 scores carrying a final weightage of 35 percent. The minimum overall CAT cut-off for general category candidates remains at 85 percentile, with sectional qualifying scores required in VARC, DILR, and QA. Shortlisting of candidates will be based on CAT performance, academic record, and personal interview rounds.

Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT Exam Fees 2025
  2. CAT Exam Fees 2025 (General/OBC/SC/ST)
  3. CAT Registration Fees 2025: Payment Modes & Additional Charges
  4. CAT Exam Fees 2025: Refund Policy
  5. CAT 2025 Registration Process
CAT Exam Fees 2025 For General, OBC, SC/ST, Refund Policy, Extra Charges Revealed
CAT Exam Fees 2025 For General, OBC, SC/ST, Refund Policy, Extra Charges Revealed

CAT Exam Fees 2025

All candidates must note that the CAT registration fees for 2025 will vary depending on the category of the candidates, which could, General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates will need to pay Rs. 2,600. Candidates from SC, ST and PwD categories will need to pay Rs. 1,300. The registration fees will only be paid via online modes and is non-refundable under any circumstances.

CAT Exam Fees 2025 (General/OBC/SC/ST)

The CAT 2025 application fees will vary for each category. Moreover, the exam fees will be payable only through online modes such as credit/debit cards or mobile net banking. All candidates must note that the CAT 2025 exam fees are non-refundable.

In a latest update, CAT 2025 exam conducting body, IIM Kozhikode has revised the CAT registration fees for all categories, continuing the trend of annual fee hike. Following is the CAT exam fees as per the official CAT notification:

Category

CAT 2025 Exam Fees

CAT 2024 Exam Fees

Increased by how much?

CAT Exam Fees 2025 for General

Rs. 2,600

Rs. 2,500

Rs. 100

CAT Exam Fees 2025 for EWS

Rs. 2,600

Rs. 2,500

Rs. 100

CAT Exam Fees 2025 for NC-OBC

Rs. 2,600

Rs. 2,500

Rs. 100

CAT Exam Fees for SC

Rs. 1,300

Rs. 1,250

Rs. 50

CAT Exam Fees for ST

Rs. 1,300

Rs. 1,250

Rs. 50

CAT Exam Fees for PWD

Rs. 1,300

Rs. 1,250

Rs. 50

CAT Registration Fees 2025: Payment Modes & Additional Charges

All candidates will be required to pay the CAT 2025 registration fees through online mode only. Other than this, no other payment method like cheque, cash or demand draft will be accepted. Some of the commonly accepted payment methods will include credit cards, debit cards, UPI, mobile banking and mobile wallets. Additionally, all candidates must note that transaction charges may also apply based on the payment option they choose.

Following is the breakdown of CAT 2025 application fees which will be accepted by the following payment methods:

Payment Mode

Transaction Charges

Credit Cards (MasterCard/Visa)

1.20% of the amount (minimum Rs. 5)

Credit Card (American Express)

2.85% of the amount (minimum Rs. 5)

Debit Cards (MasterCard/Visa)

0.75% for payments up to Rs. 2000, 0.90% for payments made above Rs. 2000

Net Banking

Flat Rs. 20 per transaction

UPI/Mobile Wallets

No extra charges will be applicable. But chargers may vary depending on the wallet provers (make sure you check individually)

Note: Make sure you confirm the final payable amount (including charges) before making the payment. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection and valid cards to avoid any transaction failure.

CAT Exam Fees 2025: Refund Policy

As discussed earlier, the CAT registration fees once paid are non-refundable. This clause is applicable to all cases, whether the candidate will appear for the exam or if they withdraw themselves.

Furthermore, the CAT application fees will not be used to reapply in case the candidates wish to submit a fresh form due to mistakes and they will be required to pay the full fees again.

However, MBA aspirants will get an option to edit certain fields in the CAT application form during the form correction window. This will be applicable for options like test center, photograph and signature once the application form has been submitted.

CAT 2025 Registration Process

CAT 2025 registration process commenced on August 1, 2025 (10 PM onwards) and will conclude by September 13, 2025 (5 PM). During this period, all candidates will be required to complete the application process by visiting the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.

The CAT registration form will include the following sections which must be filled:

  • Personal Details

  • Academic Details

  • Work Experience (if applicable)

  • IIM Program Preferences

  • Test City Selection (up to 5)

  • Online Payment of CAT 2025 fees

BIMTECH PGDM Admissions 2026

AACSB Accredited | Highest CTC: 22 LPA | Last Date: 31st December 2025

Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Which IIM has less fees?
A:

It is considered that both IIM Bodh and IIM Sirmau are said to have lower MBA fees as compared to other IIMs. Moreover, these institutes are considered to offer good value for money due to their competitive placement records and modern infrastructure.

Q: How to get a refund from a CAT exam?
A:

As per CAT refund policy, the authority has clarified that CAT registration fees are non-refundable under any circumstances. Therefore, all candidates must ensure that they carefully make the payments.

Q: What is the fees for CAT registration 2025?
A:

Candidates from General, EWS and NC-OBC category will need to pay Rs. 2,600. Whereas, candidates from SC,ST and PwD categories will be required to pay Rs. 1,300.

Articles
|
Upcoming Bschool Exams
Ongoing Dates
ACAT Application Date

7 Oct'25 - 26 Jan'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
VITBEE Application Date

31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
B-MAT Application Date

19 Nov'25 - 8 Feb'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Online MBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Online BBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Direct Tax Laws and Practice
Via Tezpur University, Tezpur
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello

Scoring 94.3 percentile in CAT is really good, so you should feel proud of yourself. With this percentile, the top old IIMs are tough, but you still have a realistic chance in new and baby IIMs like Raipur, Trichy, Kashipur, Nagpur, Bodh Gaya, Vizag, etc. Your chances will also depend on sectional percentiles, category, academics, and work experience. Do apply widely and prepare well for WAT–PI, because a strong interview can really help.

You can click on the link I am attaching below for more details.

CLICK HERE

With a CAT 2025 percentile of 86.5, BBA graduation score of 67%, and 10th marks of 76%, you meet most of the basic academic requirements for MBA admission at Nirma University. However, Class 12 marks are an important factor to consider in your case.

Nirma University’s Institute of Management usually specifies a minimum eligibility of 50% aggregate in Class 10, Class 12, and graduation for general category candidates (45% for reserved categories). Since you have scored 48% in Class 12, you are slightly below the usual minimum requirement. This means that, strictly speaking, you may face eligibility issues at the application or shortlisting stage.

That said, Nirma University follows a composite score–based shortlisting process. CAT score, academic profile, work experience (if any), diversity factors, and performance in PI are all considered together. In some admission cycles, candidates marginally below the Class 12 cutoff have still been allowed to participate in the selection process, especially if their CAT percentile and interview performance were strong.

However, you should be realistic. A low Class 12 score does weaken your profile and cannot be fully “compensated” by CAT score alone. The PI performance can help improve your chances only if you clear the basic eligibility criteria set by the institute for that particular year. Final admission depends on institute-level scrutiny of documents.

What you should do:

  • Carefully check the latest Nirma MBA admission brochure for the exact Class 12 eligibility clause.

  • Apply if you meet the minimum eligibility or if the institute allows provisional consideration.

  • Prepare very well for the PI to justify academic improvement from Class 12 to graduation.

  • Keep backup MBA colleges that accept 85–90 percentile and have more flexible academic criteria.

In summary, admission to Nirma University is possible but uncertain due to your Class 12 marks. Your CAT score and PI can strengthen your case, but they may not completely override the minimum eligibility requirement.

Hello aspirant,

Here below I am providing you with the name of some of the best CAT coaching in Chandigarh:

  • Career Launcher
  • Quantifiers CAT Academy
  • iQuanta
  • EduCorp Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd
  • SuperGrads Coaching Centre
  • Time Chandigarh

Thank you

Yes, with an 89 percentile in CAT, your daughter has a good chance of securing admission in several reputed MBA colleges in India, though top IIMs may be difficult unless she has strong academic diversity, category reservation, or exceptional profile factors. At this percentile range, many well-known Tier-2 and upper Tier-3 management institutes consider candidates for their flagship MBA/PGDM programs.

Institutes such as IMI New Delhi, IMT Hyderabad, XIMB HRM, GIM Goa (certain programs), FORE School of Management, LBSIM Delhi, TAPMI Manipal (borderline), IFMR GSB, Great Lakes (PGDM) and several reputed university MBA programs actively shortlist candidates around the 85–90 percentile range. Final selection does not depend on CAT score alone; academic background, work experience, diversity, performance in GD/PI/WAT also play a significant role.

To maximise chances, she should apply to a balanced mix of colleges, prepare well for interviews, and highlight strengths such as internships, certifications, leadership roles, or work experience. If her profile is average and she aims for higher-ranked institutes, she may also consider repeating CAT with focused preparation to push her percentile above 95.

With an overall CAT percentile of around 80 and belonging to the NC-OBC category, you do have a reasonable set of MBA college options in India, including some IITs, though the older IIMs and top IIT MBA programs will be difficult at this score.

Among the IITs, you can realistically look at newer and mid-tier MBA programs. IIT Jodhpur (MBA), IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, and IIT Dharwad have historically considered candidates in the 75–85 percentile range under reserved categories like NC-OBC. These institutes usually evaluate candidates on a composite score that includes CAT performance, academic background, work experience (if any), and interview performance. However, IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur, and Roorkee typically require much higher CAT percentiles even for reserved categories, so the chances there are quite low at 80 percentile.

Apart from IITs, several good government and semi-government institutions can be strong options. NIT Trichy (DOMS), NIT Warangal (SOM), NIT Calicut (SOM), and NIT Durgapur are worth applying to, as NITs often have relatively lower cutoffs for NC-OBC candidates compared to IIMs. Central universities such as Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad, and Delhi School of Management (DTU) can also be considered, subject to their sectional cutoffs and your academic profile.

In the private B-school space, there are multiple reputed institutes where an 80 percentile with NC-OBC reservation offers a fair chance. These include IMT Nagpur and IMT Hyderabad, GIM Goa (for some programs), TAPMI Manipal, FORE School of Management, K J Somaiya Mumbai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, IRMA Anand (profile dependent), and IFMR GSB at Krea University. At these institutes, interview performance, SOP quality, and overall profile play a major role in final selection.

Overall, it is advisable to apply broadly and not rely on a single institute. Focus on newer IITs, NITs, and well-established private B-schools, and prepare thoroughly for the personal interview and group discussion rounds, as at this percentile level, strong performance beyond CAT can significantly improve your final admission chances.