14% jump in CAT 2016 registrations compared to CAT 2015 registrations: Convenor

CAT 2016 registration number crossed 2.08 lakh applicants at 3.30 PM on September 22, 2016 even before the 5 days extension in CAT 2016 registration window was announced by IIM Bangalore. Going by the trend it appears that CAT 2016 registration number will break past 6 years record.

Sharing the significant rise in the number of applicants for CAT 2016 Prof Rajendra K Bandi, convener CAT 2016 and faculty at IIM Bangalore said on September 22, The total number of submitted applications as at 3:30 p.m. is 2.08 lakhs, which is far in excess of the applications for the comparable period last year. This number is expected to go up further by 5:00 p.m. today, the original deadline. The corresponding number last year was 1.83 lakhs
Before extending the deadline, CAT 2016 registration process was to close at 5 PM on September 22 and even before it could come to close, the registration number not only crossed the last year corresponding period total but also came very close to final registration number which had total 2.18 lakh applicants even after extension for 5 days in 2015.

Ready to break 6 years record: May go beyond 2.50 lakhs
Earlier it appeared that CAT 2016 registrations would get a dip as compared to last year CAT registrations. Last year CAT registrations were highest during past 5 years and created a history of recording such a high number at 2.18 lakhs. But after announcement of 5 days extension in last date of CAT 2016 registration, it looks that CAT 2016 registrations are ready to break the last year record also and will have the highest registration number during past 6 years.
It may be noted that last year also the registration number significantly increased in last 2 weeks and after the last date was extended, it got a shot in the arm and reached the 5 year all time high to 2.18 lakhs.
This year also during the initial 3-4 weeks the CAT 2016 registration increased very slowly but during the last 2 weeks it continued to increase at a very fast pace. With the number shared by CAT 2016 convener and with 5 days still left for CAT 2016 registration, it is expected that the registration may go beyond 2.50 lakh applicants.

6 years CAT registration data
Following are the CAT registration numbers since 2010-

CAT year
Total registration in lakhs

2010
2.04

2011
2.05

2012
2.14

2013
1.95

2014
1.97

2015
2.18 (218664)

2016 (5 days still to go for last date)
2.08 till 3.30 PM on Sep 22

Source: CAT data and MBAUniverse.com analysis
Last 2 weeks in 2015: 1.28 lakhs were added
Moving up swiftly at high pace in just 4-5 days since Sept 13, 2015 when CAT 2015 registration number was around 92000+ the total candidates registered for CAT crossed 1.60 lakhs. And during the next week covering the extended period also, it crossed 2.18 lakhs.

If the CAT 2016 registration number goes on increasing by the same pattern of last year, it can very well cross 2.50 lakh applicants.
CAT 2016 Registration date extended to Sep 27, till 5PM
With a view to provide relief to the candidates who could not register till September 22, CAT 2016 convener & IIM Bangalore faculty Prof Rajendra K Bandi has taken care to extend the last date for CAT 2016 registration from September 20 to 27, 2016.

However, unlike the closing hours of midnight in last year registration, the CAT 2016 registration will close at 5PM on September 27.
The candidates had requested CAT 2016 exam centre for extension of the last date in registration and although the CAT 2016 convener remained firm earlier not to extend the last date, later on acceded to the genuine requests of the candidates.

Make sure to register in time
While the extension of the deadline in CAT 2016 registration process has been notified on the CAT website, the suggestion by the CAT convener to register early and before the last date needs to be followed.
In fact due to great rush of aspirants during the last few days, despite all the arrangement made not to let the CAT 2016 site go slow or face any technical glitches, it becomes unavoidable as some or other technical problem in the process of on-line registration process flares-up. If all goes well on the last day of registration, the internet banking site stalls the transmission of payment in time due to which your payment gets stuck in transit. It is therefore better to register and apply for CAT 2016 well before the closing date as now you still have 5 more days to register.

CAT 2016 registration process is On-line and it is also advisable to keep all the details ready with you as per the registration guidelines before proceeding for registration. Please remember Common Admission Test (CAT) 2016 to be held on December 4, 2016 is the only exam that can make you eligible to get into the flagship PGP 2017-19 programme of 20 IIMs.