The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) will conduct the Common Admission Test (C-CAT) 2026 for admission to all Post Graduate (PG) Certificate Programmes in the February 2026 batch. The exam will be held in computerised mode at designated CDAC centres on 10 and 11 January 2026.
Candidates must apply online through www.cdac.in or acts.cdac.in. Only those who qualify in the January 2026 C-CAT will be considered for admission. Selection is based on the C-CAT rank, along with the candidate’s preferred course and centre choices.
CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The C-CAT consists of three sections:
| Section | Duration | Medium | Applicable Courses |
| Section A | 1 hour | English | All courses |
| Section B | 1 hour | English | Selected courses |
| Section C | 1 hour | English | Selected courses |
Depending on the course category chosen, candidates must attempt:
- Two sections: Section A + Section B, or
- All three sections: Section A + Section B + Section C
Candidates are required to appear only for the sections relevant to their chosen course category.
CDAC C-CAT Marking Scheme
- Each section contains 50 objective-type questions
- Each question has four options, with only one correct answer
- Marks Distribution:
- +3 for correct answer
- −1 for wrong answer
- 0 for unattempted questions
- Maximum marks per section: 150
Candidates are advised to carefully select their course categories while filling out the application form, as it determines the sections they must attempt in C-CAT.
Qualified candidates will be shortlisted for admission to PG certificate programmes at CDAC centres across India based on C-CAT ranks and preferences.
