The application fees for the Common Admission Test (CAT) have risen by 31 per cent since 2021. On the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised a question to the Ministry of Education regarding the steep hike in CAT application fees. Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), the exam serves as a gateway for students aspiring to pursue MBA programmes.
Owaisi informed the Lok Sabha that, as compared to CAT 2024, there has been an approximate increase of 5 per cent in the application fee of CAT 2025. This year’s exam was conducted on November 30, in three slots and was hosted by IIM Kozhikode.
For CAT 2025, the application fee is Rs 2,600 for General and OBC candidates, and Rs 1,300 for SC, ST, and PwBD applicants. In comparison, the fee in 2021 was Rs 2,200 for General/OBC and Rs 1,100 for SC, ST, and PwBD categories.
CAT 2025 Live Updates
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Dr Sukanta Majumdar, replied to Owaisi’s question that the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are governed under the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017, and are empowered to determine, specify, and receive payments of fees and other charges.
Also Read | India sees 26% surge in MBA applications as UK, Canada programmes report declines amid visa uncertainty
“The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are governed under the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017, as amended from time to time. Under the Act, the IIMs are empowered to determine, specify and receive payments of fees and other charges,” said MoS Dr Sukanta Majumdar.
How is the CAT application fee used by IIMs?
The Minister elaborated on how the application fees are used by the conducting IIM to successfully conduct the CAT exam. “The CAT application fee is decided every year to cover the administrative, logistical, and operational costs involved in conducting the exam in that year on a national scale,” he said, adding that the CAT fee is non-refundable as the logistics and arrangements for the CAT exam are planned based on the number of candidates who have submitted their application forms and paid the exam fees.
Story continues below this ad
The fee of the Common Admission Test is used in organising venues, scheduling, and preparing the necessary resources for each candidate. If a candidate decides not to attend the exam after all these arrangements are made, the fees cannot be refunded, as it would not be feasible for the concerned IIM to reverse the extensive planning and resource allocation already completed.
