The Common Management Admission Test or the CMAT is carried out by the AICTE (All India Council for Technological Education). It is an online test generated by the computer. The test is a national level test which helps educational institutions chooses suitable potential candidates for admissions. These tests are normally used for management programs. These programs should be permitted by the AICTE. It is an entrance test for Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and Post Graduate Program in Management (PGP).

The first version of CMAT took place in 2012. The first CMAT test was conducted in February 2014 and the results followed in March. There were a great many examinations by 2011 like SAT, XAT, JMET, exams that were state specific, exams taken by MBA colleges and universities, etc. The AICTE launched CMAT so that students would have to give only one exam instead of multiple amounts and this would relieve their stress as they would also have to study less and repetitive studies would be omitted. This also helped ease some financial tension from the backs of the families of the students as they would only have to pay the fees for one exam rather than multiple examinations.

 A few major Business based institutes refused to keep CMAT, labeling their reasoning as the exam having come out too late. But many institutes have still accepted it with ease. The CMAT exam was previously held twice a year, but starting this year it is to be held only once, most probably in January. Graduates who have scored a 50% in any course, as well as students studying in their final year of their Graduate Course, are eligible to apply for the CMAT test. The student/ candidate applying for the Common Management Admission Test should be a citizen of India; NRIs are included in these criteria. AICTE has planned on introducing CMAT abroad as well for NRIs, Foreign Nationals etc to give to gain admission in Indian institutions.