Contents
- 1 CDAC C-CAT Syllabus
- 1.1 Quick-Glance Table: CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- 1.2 Understanding the C-CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- 1.3 2026 Difficulty Level Prediction
- 1.4 The “Killer” Edge: Weightage & Trend Analysis
- 1.5 Detailed Syllabus for Section A (Aptitude & Reasoning)
- 1.6 Detailed Syllabus for Section B (Technical Core)
- 1.7 Detailed Syllabus for Section C (Hardware focus)
- 2 CDAC C-CAT
- 3 FAQs
CDAC Common Admission Test (C-CAT) is an entrance exam conducted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) for admission to postgraduate diploma courses in Advanced Computing, Mobile Computing, and Big Data Analytics. The syllabus for CDAC C-CAT is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge of various topics related to computer science and IT.
The CDAC C-CAT Syllabus 2026 is divided into three sections: Section A (Aptitude), Section B (Computer Science Core), and Section C (Electronics). Most applicants for the PG-DAC course only need to prepare for Sections A and B, while candidates for VLSI or Embedded Systems must attempt all three sections.
CDAC C-CAT Syllabus
Quick-Glance Table: CDAC C-CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | Subject Coverage | No. of Questions | Duration |
| Section A | English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning | 50 | 60 Mins |
| Section B | C Programming, Data Structures, OOPs (C++), OS, Networking | 50 | 60 Mins |
| Section C | Computer Architecture, Digital Electronics, Microprocessors | 50 | 60 Mins |
| Marking | +3 for Correct, -1 for Incorrect | Total: 150/Section | – |
Understanding the C-CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
The C-CAT is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) where each section is independent. You cannot carry over time from Section A to Section B. For the 2026 session, CDAC has maintained the +3/-1 marking scheme, making accuracy more vital than the number of attempts.
2026 Difficulty Level Prediction
Based on the 2025 trends, Section B is expected to be the “Rank Decider.” While Section A remains moderate, Section B’s focus on Pointer Arithmetic and Memory Management in C has become increasingly rigorous. We predict a Moderate-to-High difficulty for the August 2026 batch, specifically in the Data Structures module.
The “Killer” Edge: Weightage & Trend Analysis
Instead of studying everything, focus on the high-yield topics. Here is the IndCareer exclusive weightage breakdown based on the last 3 exam cycles:
| Module | High-Priority Topics (Expected Weightage) | Expert Tip |
| C Programming | Pointers & Strings (40%), Loops (20%), Pre-processors (15%) | 7-8 questions purely on “Output Finding” from Pointers. |
| Data Structures | Linked Lists & Trees (50%), Sorting/Searching (30%) | Focus on “Time Complexity” and “Dry Running” recursion. |
| Operating Systems | Process Scheduling (35%), Deadlocks (25%), Semaphores (20%) | Numerical questions on Turnaround Time (TAT) are common. |
| Networking | OSI Layers (40%), IP Addressing/Subnetting (30%) | Memorize specific protocols at each layer. |
Detailed Syllabus for Section A (Aptitude & Reasoning)
This section tests your basic mental ability. High scores here are essential for a rank under 500.
- English: Sentence correction, idioms, and reading comprehension.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Averages, Profit & Loss.
- Reasoning: Series completion, Blood relations, Direction sense, and Data Interpretation (DI).
Detailed Syllabus for Section B (Technical Core)
This is the heart of the CDAC C-CAT Syllabus 2026.
- C Programming: Deep dive into
*ptr,malloc,statickeywords, and storage classes. - Data Structures: Linear (Arrays, Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists) and Non-Linear (Trees, Graphs).
- OOPs (C++): Polymorphism, Inheritance, Virtual Functions, and Constructors.
- Networking: TCP/UDP, HTTP/FTP, and basic Network Security.
Detailed Syllabus for Section C (Hardware focus)
Mandatory only for PG-DVLSI, PG-DESD, and PG-DIoT.
- Digital Electronics: K-Maps, Logic Gates, Multiplexers, and Flip-flops.
- Microprocessors: 8085/8086 Architecture, Instruction Sets, and Interrupts.
- Computer Architecture: Cache memory mapping, Pipelining, and I/O Organization.
CDAC C-CAT
Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) is an autonomous research and development organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India. CDAC provides advanced training and certification programs in Information Technology and Electronics. One such program is the CDAC Common Admission Test (C-CAT).
Quick Links
CDAC C-CAT Syllabus – Overview
| Aspect of CDAC C-CAT Syllabus | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of exam | CDAC C-CAT |
| Full form of exam name | Centre for Development of Advanced Computing Common Admission Test |
| Official Body for exam and CDAC C-CAT syllabus | CDAC |
| Full form of organization | Centre for Development of Advanced Computing |
| Scope of CDAC C-CAT syllabus | National |
| Exam Type | PG Diploma Entrance Exam |
| Courses for which CDAC C-CAT syllabus is to be studied | PG Diploma courses |
| Official website for CDAC C-CAT syllabus | cdac.in |
FAQs
The syllabus for CDAC C-CAT includes English, Mathematics, and Aptitude in Section A and Computer Science/IT in Section B, Computer Architecture, Digital Electronics, Microprocessors in Section C. The detailed syllabus is mentioned above.
Yes, the syllabus for CDAC C-CAT is the same for all three courses – PG-DAC, PG-DMC, and PG-DBDA.
Each section of CDAC C-CAT has 50 questions.
Yes, there is negative marking in CDAC C-CAT. Each incorrect answer carries negative one mark.
No, C-CAT 2026 remains a purely Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) format.
There is no official sectional cutoff, but you must score positive marks in all attempted sections to be eligible for the ranking list.