CAT 2023 Exam: 3.3 Lakh Applicants Apply This year, Breaking Record

The registration process for admission to the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other Management Institutes across India have ended. This year a record 3.3 lakh candidates seeking admission to these management programmes registered themselves for the C AT 2023, up from 2.5 lakh last year, an increase of 30%. The test is set be held on November 26. The rise was 11% in 2022.

"Registrations this year are the highest in the history of CAT, ever since it was started in 1977. In fact, it never touched the 3-lakh mark before. In absolute numbers, an increase of 75,000 applications, year-on-year, is a record in itself," Prof Sanjeet Singh of IIM-Lucknow said.

The high numbers, said experts, reflect sustained student interest in the field of management and in IIMs.

Two years after the Covid-19 pandemic, 3.3 lakh candidates from across the country registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2023, a new record in the number of people seeking admission to the management programmes of the IIMs and other business schools. The registrations stood at 2.5 lakh last year. The test is to be held on November 26.

According to CAT 2023 convener Prof Sanjeet Singh of IIM-Lucknow, the organising institute for the test this year, there is a record increase of 30% in applications just in one year. The rise was 11% in 2022.

"Registrations this year are the highest in the history of CAT, ever since it was started in 1977. In fact, it never touched the 3 lakh mark before. In absolute numbers, an increase of 75,000 applications, year-on-year, is a record in itself," Prof Singh told TOI.

The high numbers, said experts, reflect sustained student interest in the field of management and in the IIMs. "I believe increased publicity about CAT on social media platforms, and adding more test cities, with an increase in exam centres, particularly in tier-II cities, have resulted in this highest-ever registration," Professor Singh added.

Of the total 3.3 lakh, 1.17 lakh, or 38%, are female. There has been a 3% increase in female registrations. Over the past decade, IIMs have taken multiple steps to increase gender diversity in management education. Consequently, IIMs have anywhere between 30% and 45% female students on their campuses.