CMAT 2026: Important Dates [Official] & Application | CMAT Mock Test Series PDF Download

Introduction

CMAT 2026 Syllabus: Key Highlights

CMAT exam offers MBA/PGDM admission opportunities in 1000+ AICTE-approved Management Institutes. Key highlights are:

• Now, there are five sections (Innovation and Entrepreneurship was introduced in 2022) in the CMAT Exam with 100 questions instead of the earlier 125 questions.
• Each section has 20 MCQ-type questions carrying +4 marks for each correct answer.
• The syllabus for each of the five CMAT exam sections is on par with other top MBA entrance tests.
• The CMAT exam syllabus has not been strictly defined by AICTE or the National Testing Agency (NTA), which will conduct the CMAT exam 2026.
• The CMAT syllabus covers all the important topics on which questions are formed in each section.

CMAT Eligibility 2026

• CMAT eligibility does not impose any age bar to appear in the CMAT 2026 exam.
• Graduation Degree should be UGC recognised, AICTE approved, and Government of India recognised.
• The candidate applying for CMAT 2026 must fulfil one of the following eligibility criteria:
  • Completed a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage of marks, or
  • Completed professional degree (CA/CS/ICWA) with the required percentage, or 
  • Should be in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree with the required percentage 
• The percentage of marks obtained by the candidate would be calculated based on the practice followed by the respective University/Institution.
• In the case of grades / CGPA, the conversion to a percentage of marks would be based on the procedure as certified by the respective University/ institution following the CMAT exam eligibility criteria.
• If any University/institution confirms that there is no scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result by 100 as per the CMAT 2026 eligibility.
• Mere fulfilment of minimum CMAT eligibility criteria 2026 will not ensure consideration for shortlisting by B-schools.
• One of the key points prescribed by NTA-CMAT 2026 eligibility is that the candidates must declare and maintain a valid and unique email account and a phone number throughout the selection process.

CMAT 2026 Test Pattern: Sectional Composition

To know the overall CMAT 2026 syllabus, you should be aware of the following details about the CMAT Exam:

• Revised CMAT exam pattern.
• Sectional composition of the CMAT exam.
• Sectional weightage of each section in the CMAT exam.
• The five Sections in CMAT 2026 with a number of questions and maximum scoring chances are as under:

Key Features of CMAT 2026 Syllabus

• CMAT Syllabus is divided into five sections – Language Comprehension; Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; General Awareness and Innovation; and Entrepreneurship.
• Each of the five sections in the CMAT syllabus has an equal weightage of 20%, with 20 questions.
• The CMAT is not a high-difficulty level exam
• The topics in the CMAT syllabus on which Questions are asked are mostly straightforward.

1. CMAT Syllabus: Composition

Here is the updated CMAT syllabus for all the sections of CMAT. The CMAT 2026 exam syllabus includes some forgotten topics which may appear again in the CMAT exam.

2. Sectional Sub-division of CMAT 2026 Syllabus

CMAT syllabus 2026 is further subdivided. This sectional subdivision in the CMAT syllabus makes CMAT 2026 as an exam with six effective sections.

3. Section-Wise CMAT Syllabus

CMAT Syllabus 2026 containing all the sections is shared below:

Section 1: CMAT Syllabus on Language Comprehension

CMAT defines its Verbal Ability section as Language Comprehension. It covers a comprehensive English test which includes the test of grammar, tenses, vocabulary, jumbled paragraphs and reading comprehension.

Key topics in the CMAT Syllabus are: 

• Usage of Articles
• Non-finites
• Dangling Modifiers
• Usage on Nouns & Pronouns, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions –regular and followed, Verbs, Syntax, Subject-verb Agreement, Simple, continuous, Perfect tenses and Conditional-unreal past.
• Jumbled paragraphs

RC Passages
CMAT gives you shorter RC passages of 500-600 words. The passages are not very difficult. There is no fixed rule on framing the questions based on the Reading comprehension passage, which is followed by at least 4-5 questions each.
Questions could be any of the following types:

• Questions based on inference drawn
• Questions based on the Central idea of the passage
• Questions based on phrases, idioms
• Questions based on the expression in the passage.

Section 2: CMAT Syllabus on Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation 

Questions in this section are usually single and are not based on sets. Major topics are:

Quantitative Techniques

• Arithmetic-Ratio, mixtures, work, average, percentage, time & speed, profit and loss, interest, basic statistics
• Number properties
• Probability
• Counting principles
• Geometry
• Algebra
• Derivatives ( Maxima-Minima)

Data Interpretation

• Table and pie chart
• Bar diagrams and graphs
• Charts

Section 3: CMAT Syllabus on Logical Reasoning

The section is a mix of the topics from arrangements like linear, seating, sequencing & arranging with conditions to coding.
Major Topics in the Logical Reasoning Syllabus for CMAT are:

• Statement-conclusion
• Logical puzzle,
• Numerical puzzle
• Venn diagram
• True/false statements
• Visual reasoning

Section 4: CMAT Syllabus on General Awareness

This section in the CMAT Syllabus can be divided into three parts, and each part has to be given due weightage. 

• Conventional GK 
• Current GK (current affairs, based on the last six to nine months)
• Business & Economics GK -for example, changes in Fiscal and Monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate, Devaluation and Revaluation of the Rupee. 
• Business, National and International events
• Who’s Who
• Constitution of India
• Currency and Capitals of the countries
• States of India
• International Organizations
• Monetary and Fiscal Tools
• Emblem
• Identification of Personalities, Companies, etc.

Section 5: CMAT Syllabus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The recently included new section in the CMAT exam on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with 20 questions, covers a comprehensive test on your knowledge regarding Innovative business practices, Government plans and policies, global entrepreneurs and personalities, among others. 

Key topics in the CMAT Syllabus on Innovation & Entrepreneurship are

• Government Publications, Policies and Practices on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, for example,e who publishes Economic Survey of India, the Publication of Gazettes, the Process to Sell off the Assets of a Bankrupt firm
• Launch of New Business Ventures with New Ideas like –Who launched the first live Payments Bank in India; Who launched Paytm, Ru Pay, UPI App based Tez, etc.
• Terminology-like Boot strapping, Auctioner, Liquidator, Mixed Economy, Tenacity, Neuroticism, Environmental, Innovation Management, Start Ups, Overtrading, Different among Proprietor, Partnership, Private Ltd firms and companies; Marketable Product, Patent, Trade Mark, Break Even Point
• Latest Who’s Who, Places, Books in News: For example – Which City in India is ranked as one of the five fastest growing start-up cities in the world;  Title of Biography of JRD Tata; Which country is ranked no.1 in ease of doing business in the last 5 years
• Process and Stages to Start an Entrepreneurship Venture: You are supposed to know the basics about the process, like business viability, developing a business plan, and key areas that help to understand the feasibility of the business.
• Comprehension Passage followed by a Bunch of Questions: This key part of the syllabus in this section is the Comprehension passage with 600-700 words, on any business or economy topic, especially on entrepreneurship, innovation, business plan or others. There is one passage which is followed by 10-12 questions on phrases used in the passage, Statement & Arguments, true false, inferences from the passage, fill in the blanks, among other types of questions.

CMAT Registration 2026: Application Form

Candidates must be very cautious while filling out the CMAT Registration Form 2026. No changes are allowed by the NTA post-closure of the correction window. All the steps to submit the CMAT Application Form 2026 are discussed below. 

Step 1: Generation of Login Credentials

To avoid any difficulties while CMAT Registration, candidates need to keep all the necessary documents ready.
After entering all the basic information on the online application form for CMAT 2026, the system is going to generate the application number that is required to complete the other steps of the application form. With the help of the application number and password, the candidate can log in directly to the application portal.
To complete CMAT Registration 2026, candidates must follow the steps given below:

• Go to the official website of CMAT 2026 at cmat.nta.nic.in
• Click on the link “Fill Online Application Form”
• Navigate to the ‘New Registration’ tab placed under the New Candidate Registration box.
• Go through all the instructions along with all the processes.
• Also, download the Information Bulletin in PDF format and select the tab with ‘Click here to Proceed’.
• Enter the information in all the sections mentioned below:
  1. Personal details
  2. Contact details
  3. Choose Password
  4. Security Pin

Step 2: Filling out the CMAT Application Form

By using the application number that is system-generated, candidates can create a password to log in to the site to fill CMAT Application Form.

• Candidates need to fill in all the required fields like academic qualifications, work experience, and personal details.
• Applicants can choose a maximum of four options for the exam city from a list of CMAT 2026 Exam Centres.
• Candidates belonging to the NCR area can select the New Delhi exam centre as a preference.

Step 3: Scan and Upload Images

Applicants need to scan and upload the documents listed below.

• Photograph
• Signature

After uploading the documents, candidates need to enter the security pin. Then select the “I have verified uploaded images” tab after careful analysis of the uploaded documents. 

Document Specifications

A scanned copy of the photograph and signature needs to be uploaded as per the following dimensions:

Step 4: Payment of CMAT 2026 Application Fee

After completion of the above-mentioned steps in filling out the online CMAT 2026 Application Form, candidates are required to pay the CMAT Registration Fee online. The fee structure will remain the same this year as well. Category-wise Application Fee is disclosed below.

Modes to Pay the Application Fee for CMAT

• Online Payment - Applicants need to choose an option for online payment and pay using any mode: SBI/ HDFC /PAYTM Credit Card/ Debit Card/Net Banking & UPI Payment. After the completion of the payment for CMAT 2026, applicants will receive a confirmation email and SMS on their registered email ID or mobile phone.
• Cash Payment- Also, applicants can PAY BY CASH through their designated branch of SBI. It will apply to candidates staying in India.
  1. After generating the challan candidate must take at least 3 printouts of this challan. Subsequently, he needs to fill in all the information about the bank in the specific section and reach the nearest SBI branch to pay by cash.
  2. Applicants need to deposit cash 2 days before the last date of CMAT Registration 2026. Collect a copy from the bank.
  3. After 2 days of payment, applicants will receive a confirmation email and SMS via the registered number. The fee paid is non-refundable.