Entrance Exams
24 exams · dates, eligibility & results
MAH MBA CET (Maharashtra MBA/MMS Common Entrance Test)
MAH MBA CET 2026 was conducted in March 2026 for admission to MBA and MMS programmes at government, aided, and unaided private B-schools in Maharashtra through the CAP (Centralised Admission Process). JBIMS Mumbai — Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies — is the standout reason to write MAH MBA CET seriously. JBIMS consistently ranks among India's top 10 MBA programmes with median placements matching Tier 2 IIMs but at fees of under ₹2 lakh for 2 years at the government institute. Other strong MAH CET colleges include SIMSREE Mumbai, PUMBA Pune, KJ Somaiya, Chetana, and N.L. Dalmia. Maharashtra domicile holders compete for a larger seat pool; non-Maharashtra candidates can apply for All India category seats. Even with CAT/XAT scores, JBIMS is competitive — MAH CET specific preparation is required.
GATE
GATE 2026 (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) was conducted in February 2026 across 30 test papers. Results were declared on March 19, 2026. GATE scores are valid for 3 years and are used for admission to MTech, ME, and PhD programmes at IITs, NITs, IISc, and other universities through COAP/CCMT counselling. A GATE score is also the primary recruitment route for major Public Sector Undertakings — ONGC, BHEL, NTPC, DRDO, BARC, ISRO, OIL India, GAIL, IOCL, PGCIL — for engineering and technical officer positions. For NE India students, GATE is particularly important: Oil India Limited (Duliajan, Assam) and ONGC (Nazira, Assam) actively recruit through GATE. IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar both offer MTech/ME programmes for GATE-qualified students with ₹12,400/month stipend at government institutes. GATE 2027 registration typically opens August–September 2026.
NIFT Entrance Exam
NIFT 2026 entrance exam was conducted in January 2026 for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes — fashion design, textile design, leather design, accessory design, knitwear design, fashion communication, fashion management, and fashion technology — at 17 NIFT campuses including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar. NIFT is India's premier fashion and design institution, established by the Ministry of Textiles. There is no NIFT campus in Northeast India yet, but NIFT Kolkata and NIFT Bhubaneswar are the most accessible options for NE students. Demand for design professionals in NE India is growing in handloom and textile design — Assam silk (Muga, Eri, Pat), Naga shawls, Mizo puan, and Manipuri textiles represent a ₹500 crore+ organised sector where NIFT-educated designers can contribute to brand development, product design, and export market access.
XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
XAT 2026 was conducted on January 5, 2026 by XLRI Jamshedpur — India's premier HR and general management institution. XAT score is accepted by 150+ B-schools including XLRI, XIMB Bhubaneswar, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, GIM Goa, SPJIMR Mumbai, LIBA Chennai, and many others. XAT is one of the most analytically demanding MBA entrance exams — its unique Decision Making section tests business judgement, ethics, and analytical reasoning under ambiguity, not just quantitative speed. For NE India students, Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XUB) accepts XAT scores and is accessible from NE. XLRI Jamshedpur's location in Jharkhand is geographically closest to the eastern/NE region among top B-schools. XAT 2027 registration typically opens October 2026.