Common Management Admission Test Eligibility Criteria 2027
Common Management Admission Test Eligibility Criteria
CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Highlights
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) eligibility criteria for 2026 define the nationality, age limit, and educational qualifications needed to apply. The National Testing Agency (NTA) announces the official eligibility criteria along with the notification on its website, cmat.nta.nic.in.
CMAT 2026 registration has ended. The final date to apply was November 24, 2025, and the fee payment deadline was November 25, 2025. The registration was extended from its initial November 17 date. The CMAT exam is scheduled for 25 January 2026 and will be held in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode.
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Students in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree program in any discipline can also apply. |
| Minimum Marks | No minimum aggregate marks are required. |
| Nationality | The candidate must be an Indian resident. |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit. |
Who Can Apply for CMAT 2026
Applicants must hold a graduation degree in any discipline. Candidates appearing in their final year graduation exam can also apply, provided their results are released before the beginning of the 2026-27 academic session.
- Academic Requirement: A graduation degree in any discipline is required.
- Minimum Marks in Graduation: No minimum aggregate marks are required to fill the CMAT application form.
- Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens and hold valid ID proofs.
- Age Limit: There is no maximum age limit to appear for the exam.
Course-Wise CMAT Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for admission to PGDM/MBA, PGCM, and Executive PGDM programs depends on the requirements set by each university or institution. NTA does not conduct centralized CMAT counselling; each participating college conducts its own counselling and sets its own eligibility criteria.
| Name of the Programme | Eligibility Details |
|---|---|
| MBA, PGDM, etc. | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an AICTE-recognized university/institution. |
| Executive PGDM | Bachelor’s degree from an AICTE-recognized university/institution. Minimum experience of 5 years of relevant managerial or supervisory experience. |
| Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM) | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an AICTE-recognized university/institution. |
CMAT Reservation Policy
The reservation policy for CMAT covers categories such as Other Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities (PwD), and provisions for a scribe or reader. Candidates from these categories should check the specific rules announced by NTA or the participating institutions.
CMAT Eligibility Criteria: Direct Answer
Candidates who hold a Bachelor's degree, or are enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor's degree program, are eligible for CMAT. AICTE has not set any minimum marks criteria for the exam.
Who Can Apply
Any candidate with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline can appear for the CMAT exam. Candidates who are in the final year of their Bachelor's degree program are also eligible.
The university from which a candidate completed graduation must be recognized by AICTE. Candidates are eligible irrespective of the marks obtained by them.
Eligibility for Distance Learning Graduates
Yes, candidates who have completed their graduation through distance learning mode are eligible for CMAT. The university must be recognized by AICTE.
Minimum Marks Required
AICTE has not set any minimum marks criteria for CMAT. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree, or those enrolled in the final year of a Bachelor's degree program, are eligible regardless of the marks they have obtained.
CMAT Reservation Policy
For admission to CMAT score-accepting colleges, the candidate must check the reservation policy applicable to that particular institute. Private institutions have their own reservation policy.
The reservations mentioned below apply to colleges and institutes that fall under the dominion of the Central Government of India.
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| PwD (each category) | 5% |
| GEN-EWS Category | 10% |
Apart from the above reservation criteria, candidates should note the following points:
- Private entities may hold different rules and regulations for reserved candidates.
- For colleges run or aided by State Governments, the reservation policy of the respective State Governments shall apply.
OBC Reservation Details
Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) are as per the Central list of Other Backward Classes available on the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), Government of India website - ncbc.nic.in. Candidates falling in this list may mention OBC in the Category column.
State list OBC candidates who are not in the OBC-NCL (Central List) must choose the General category.
PwD Reservation Details
Candidates registering for CMAT under the PwD category must keep the following points in mind:
- As per Section 2(t) of the RPwD Act, "Persons with Disability (PwD)" means any person with long-term mental, intellectual, physical, or sensory impairment which hinders full and effective participation in society equally with others.
- As per Section 2(r) of the RPwD Act 2016, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities means a person with not less than forty percent (40%) of a specified disability, where a specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms, and includes a person with a disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority.
The "Specified Disabilities" mentioned in the Schedule of the RPwD Act 2016 are provided in the official notification.
CMAT Scribe Policy
PwD candidates who are visually impaired, dyslexic, have a disability in the upper limbs, or have lost fingers/hands that prevent them from properly operating the Computer Based Test platform can avail of the services of a scribe. Candidates must remember the following points:
- Applicants who require such aids must opt for the same during CMAT Registration. No such arrangement shall be made after the completion of registration.
- A scribe will be provided only by the NTA. Candidates will not be allowed to bring their own scribe.
- Test-takers who fall under persons with benchmark disability, whether they avail of a scribe or not, will be allotted 60 minutes extra to complete their examination.
CMAT Documents Required
The list of documents required for CMAT registration is specified in the official information bulletin.
CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: FAQs
Frequently asked questions about CMAT eligibility are answered below.
CMAT Eligibility Criteria
Anyone with a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university can apply for the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT). There is no restriction on the stream of graduation.
CMAT Exam Mode and Test Centers
CMAT is conducted in online Computer Based Test (CBT) mode only. The exam is held at more than 150 test centers.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will not conduct CMAT in home-based remote proctored Internet Based Test (IBT) mode.
PwD Category Eligibility
Candidates with a disability of not less than 40% are considered under the Persons with Disability (PwD) category. The disability must be certified by a medical authority.
The categories defined for PwD candidates are:
- Visually impaired
- Locomotor Disability
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Mental Behaviour
- Chronic Neurological conditions
- Blood Disorder
CMAT Reservation Criteria
Reservation applies to colleges and institutions that fall under the domain of the Government of India. The reservation percentages are as follows:
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 27% |
| PwD (each category) | 5% |
| GEN-EWS Category | 10% |
Final-Year Students
Final-year students can apply for CMAT. Applicants appearing for their final year exams can apply if their results are released before the commencement of the academic year.
Age Limit for CMAT
NTA does not specify any upper age limit for CMAT. Candidates of all age groups can apply, provided they meet the academic eligibility criteria for graduation.