CMAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Total Marks & Reservation

CMAT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Common Management Admission Test or CMAT is a business aptitude test conducted for admission to MBA/PGDM courses in various B-schools accepting CMAT scores across India. To have a clear picture of whether you can attempt CMAT exam, it’s essential to be familiar with the CMAT eligibility criteria. To be eligible to appear for CMAT 2026, candidates must meet the following requirements:

CMAT Eligibility - Academic Qualifications

• Graduates who have completed a degree in any discipline from recognized institutes are eligible to apply for CMAT exam.
• Final-year students can also apply for CMAT 2026 exam.

CMAT 2026 Eligibility - Nationality

• To apply for CMAT 2026, the candidate must be a citizen of India.

CMAT Exam Eligibility - Minimum Marks

• There is no minimum aggregate marks requirement to fill out the CMAT Application Form 2026.
• However, many top colleges accepting CMAT scores may have a minimum score requirement of 50% (45% for reserved categories). 

CMAT Eligibility Criteria - Age Limit

• There are no age restrictions set by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates appearing in CMAT 2026.

Applicants should meet these CMAT eligibility criteria to appear for the CMAT exam by ensuring that they have the correct official documents to prove they fulfill all the minimum academic requirements.

CMAT Exam Eligibility For Specific Programs

For specific programs like Executive PGDM, MBA/PGDM, and Post Graduate Certificate in Management, the CMAT eligibility criteria may differ. These courses often require work experience in addition to academic scores, which can enhance the candidates' profiles.

Executive PGDM:

• Candidates should have completed their graduation degree in any discipline.
• Additionally, candidates must have a minimum of five years of work experience.

MBA/PGDM:

• A graduation degree or equivalent from a recognized university is required.
• The course duration of the bachelor's degree must be three years or above.
• Minimum marks of 50% (45% for reserved categories) in the qualifying examination.

PGCM (Post Graduate Certificate in Management):

• Eligibility criteria specific to PGCM may vary for different B-schools, which will be available on the official website of the respective B-schools.
• Generally, a graduation degree in any discipline is a must requirement with a minimum of 50% marks in graduation, which may vary for reserved categories.
• The duration of the program may also influence eligibility; generally, it is for a minimum period of three years after graduation.

CMAT Reservation Criteria 2026

The CMAT eligibility criteria do not specifically mention reservation policies. However, business schools that accept CMAT scores will follow reservation criteria set by the Government of India. During the admission process, these B-schools adhere to the government-mandated reservation percentages for different categories.

CMAT Reservation For Persons With Disabilities

Candidates with a disability of 40 percent or more from the listed disabilities can apply for admission under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category. The specific disabilities included are:

• Blindness or low vision
• Deafness or hearing impairment
• Locomotor disabilities, including conditions like cerebral palsy, leprosy survivors, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy
• Autism, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and mental illnesses
• Individuals with multiple disabilities from the above categories
• Other specified disabilities as mentioned in the RPwD Act 2016

Candidates can change their category on CMAT application form only until the application submission deadline. 

Note: Make sure the candidates are filling out the form with utmost precision, as no further changes will be allowed once the form is submitted.

CMAT Eligibility For Scribe 

Candidates with disabilities in the categories of blindness, locomotor disabilities (affecting both arms), and cerebral palsy can request assistance from a scribe, reader, or lab assistant on the day of the CMAT exam. These candidates must submit a written request to the CMAT Test Centre Superintendent along with a disability certificate issued by an authorized Medical Officer.

• The CMAT Test Center Superintendent will provide a scribe or reader who is at least one year younger than the candidate academically.
• Candidates using a scribe or reader can ask to meet them a day before the exam to ensure they are suitable and comfortable working together.
• Candidates utilizing a scribe or reader will receive an extra 60 minutes on top of the regular test duration during CMAT exam.