List of Entrance Exams in India After 10+2
Students in India have access to a wide range of entrance examinations after completing Class 12, across disciplines like Engineering, Medicine, Law, Design, Social Sciences, and more. Below is a categorized list with key timelines, followed by a detailed overview of each major exam.
List of Major Entrance Exams and Their Timelines
| Stream | Exam Name | Notification | Exam Dates | Result Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | JEE Main | December | Jan-Feb | February |
| Engineering | JEE Advanced | April | June | June |
| Engineering | BITSAT | Jan–April | May–June | July |
| Engineering | COMED-K | Feb–April | May | June |
| Engineering | IPU-CET (B.Tech) | April–May | June | July |
| Engineering | Manipal B.Tech (Phase 1) | March | April | June |
| Engineering | Manipal B.Tech (Phase 2) | March | May | June |
| Engineering | VITEEE | March | April | July |
| Engineering | AMU (via CUET) | February | May | July |
| Defence | NDA NA 1 | December | April | May |
| Defence | NDA NA 2 | December | September | September |
| Defence | Indian Maritime University CET | March | June | June |
| Defence | Indian Navy B.Tech Scheme | January | Merit-Based | June–July |
| Defence | Indian Navy Sailors Recruitment | December | February | To be notified |
| Defence | Indian Army TES | August | Based on JEE | At selection |
| Medical | NEET | February | May | June |
| Fashion & Design | NIFT (GAT + CAT) | November | February | May |
| Fashion & Design | NID DAT | October | Jan (Prelims), Apr (Mains) | Feb (Prelims), May (Mains) |
| Fashion & Design | AIEED | February | April | June |
| Fashion & Design | SEED | September | January | January |
| Fashion & Design | FDDI AIST | December | June | June |
| Fashion & Design | NATA | April | June–August | June–August |
| Fashion & Design | CEPT UG | March | May | June |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | CUET UG | April | July | September |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | TISS-BAT | February | May | June |
| Humanities & Social Sciences | EFLU Entrance (via CUET) | — | — | — |
| Agriculture & Hotel Management | ICAR AIEEA (via CUET) | — | — | — |
| Agriculture & Hotel Management | IPMAT | March | June | June |
| Agriculture & Hotel Management | NCHMCT JEE | February | May | June |
| Agriculture & Hotel Management | BUAT (UPCATET) | February | May | June |
| Law | CLAT | August | December | December |
| Law | AILET | September | December | December |
| Science | JEST | May | July | August |
| Science | NEST | February | June | July |
| Mathematics | ISI Admission Test | March | May | June |
| Mathematics | BHU UET (via CUET) | — | — | — |
Brief Overview of Major Entrance Exams After Class 12
Engineering Entrance Exams
- JEE Main
Conducted by NTA, this national-level exam is the gateway to IIITs, NITs, and other top institutes. It’s also the qualifying test for JEE Advanced.
Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test) - JEE Advanced
Taken by candidates shortlisted through JEE Main, this exam determines admission to prestigious IITs.
Mode: Online - BITSAT
Held by BITS Pilani, this entrance is for admission to its campuses in Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad.
Mode: Online - COMED-K
A state-level exam for admission into over 190 private engineering colleges in Karnataka.
Mode: Online - IPU-CET (B.Tech)
Conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University for its engineering programmes.
Mode: Offline - Manipal MET
Held by Manipal Academy of Higher Education in two phases for B.Tech courses.
Mode: Online - VITEEE
Conducted by VIT for admission to its engineering programs. The exam includes Aptitude, Physics, Chemistry, Math/Biology, and English.
Mode: Online - AMU (via CUET)
Aligarh Muslim University admits B.Tech aspirants through the CUET UG score.
Mode: CUET – Online
Medical Entrance Exam
- NEET (UG)
A national-level test for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses. Mandatory for medical aspirants across India.
Mode: Offline (Pen-and-paper)
Defence Entry Exams
- NDA & NA (I & II)
Conducted by UPSC for entry into Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of NDA and Naval Academy.
Mode: Offline (Objective) - Indian Maritime University CET
For maritime and naval engineering courses.
Mode: Online - Indian Navy B.Tech Entry Scheme
Direct SSB call based on JEE scores; no written exam.
Mode: Merit-Based - TES (Army Technical Entry Scheme)
Admission based on JEE Main scores and interview selection.
Mode: Merit-Based
Fashion & Design Entrance Exams
- NIFT (GAT + CAT)
For B.Des and B.FTech courses at NIFT. Includes both a general and creative aptitude test.
Mode: GAT – Online; CAT – Offline - NID DAT
For B.Des courses at National Institute of Design. Consists of Prelims and Mains.
Mode: Offline - SEED (Symbiosis Design)
For design courses at Symbiosis Institute.
Mode: Online + PRPI round - AIEED
Conducted by ARCH Academy for design and business programmes.
Mode: Online - FDDI AIST
Entrance for footwear design and development programs.
Mode: Offline - NATA
Mandatory for B.Arch admissions across India.
Mode: Online - CEPT UG
For UG courses in architecture, design, and planning.
Mode: Online (MCQ-based)
Humanities & Social Sciences Entrance Exams
- CUET UG
Conducted by NTA for UG admissions across Central Universities.
Mode: Online - TISS-BAT
Tata Institute’s test for undergraduate programs in social sciences.
Mode: Offline (90 minutes) - EFLU (via CUET)
Admission to English and language courses offered through CUET.
Agriculture & Hotel Management Exams
- IPMAT
A gateway to IIM Indore’s five-year BBA+MBA programme.
Mode: Online - NCHMCT JEE
Entrance for Hospitality and Hotel Management programmes.
Mode: Online - BUAT (UPCATET)
Held for admission into Banda University’s agriculture and horticulture programs.
Mode: Offline - ICAR AIEEA (via CUET)
Undergraduate agriculture admissions through CUET UG scores.
Law Entrance Exams
- CLAT
Conducted by Consortium of NLUs for admissions to 5-year integrated law programmes.
Mode: Offline - AILET
Held by NLU Delhi for admission to its exclusive UG and PG law programs.
Mode: Online
Science Entrance Exams
- JEST
Joint Entrance Screening Test for admissions to PhD and Integrated PhD programs in Physics, Theoretical Computer Science, etc.
Mode: Offline - NEST
Entrance for integrated M.Sc. in basic sciences at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai.
Mode: Online
Mathematics Entrance Exams
- ISI Admission Test
For entry into Statistics and Mathematics UG programmes at Indian Statistical Institute.
Mode: Offline
