The following table summarizes the crucial details for the most popular national and private university-level engineering entrance examinations for the 2026 admission cycle.
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Tentative Exam Dates (2026) | Key Institutes | Eligibility Criteria Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. JEE Main | National Testing Agency (NTA) | Session 1: Jan 21 – Jan 30, 2026
Session 2: Apr 01 – Apr 10, 2026 | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | No age limit. Must have passed/appearing in Class 12 in 2024, 2025, or 2026 with PCM. |
| 2. JEE Advanced | One of the 7 Zonal IITs | May 2026 (Tentative) | IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) | Qualify JEE Main (Top 2.5 lakh candidates) and meet the 75% aggregate in Class 12 (or Top 20 percentile). |
| 3. BITSAT | BITS Pilani | Session 1: May 2026
Session 2: June 2026 | BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad | Must have passed Class 12 with 75% aggregate in PCM/PCB (60% in each subject). |
| 4. VITEEE | Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Apr 28 – May 03, 2026 (Tentative) | VIT Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal, Amaravati | Must have passed Class 12 with a minimum 60% aggregate in PCM/PCB (50% for reserved categories). |
| 5. SRMJEEE | SRM Institute of Science & Technology | Phase 1: Apr 23 – 28, 2026
Phase 2: Jun 10 – 15, 2026
Phase 3: Jul 04 – 05, 2026 | SRM Campuses (Chennai, Delhi-NCR, AP, etc.) | Must have passed Class 12 with a minimum 50-60% aggregate (varies by campus) in PCM/PCB. |
| 6. MET | Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Phase 1: April 2026
Phase 2: May 2026 | Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Campuses | Must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Mathematics, and English, with a minimum 50% aggregate in PCM. |
| 7. COMEDK UGET | COMEDK | May 2026 (Tentative) | Private Engineering Colleges in Karnataka | Must have passed Class 12 with PCM, obtaining a minimum 45% aggregate (40% for reserved categories). |
| 8. MHT CET | State CET Cell, Maharashtra | May 2026 (Tentative) | Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra (including COEP, VJTI) | Must be an Indian National and have passed Class 12 with PCM/PCB. Minimum 45% aggregate (40% for reserved categories). |
| 9. WBJEE | West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board | April 2026 (Tentative) | Jadavpur University, Presidency University | Must have passed Class 12 with 45% aggregate (40% for reserved categories) in PCM and English. |
| 10. UPSEE (CUET) | NTA / AKTU | May 2026 (Tentative - via CUET) | AKTU-affiliated colleges in Uttar Pradesh | Admission primarily through CUET-UG score. Check individual college/course-specific Class 12 requirements. |
Staying ahead of the application deadlines is crucial for 2026 aspirants.
JEE Main 2026 (Session 1):
Registration Start: October 31, 2025 (Confirmed)
Registration Deadline: Late November 2025
JEE Main 2026 (Session 2):
Registration Start: Late January / Early February 2026
BITSAT 2026:
Registration Start: Late January 2026
Session 1 Last Date: Late April 2026
| Exam | Application Start (Tentative) | Application Deadline (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| VITEEE | October 2025 (Already started for some courses) | March 31, 2026 |
| SRMJEEE | October 30, 2025 (Phase 1) | Phase 1: April 16, 2026 |
| MET | Late September / Early October 2025 | Phase 1: March 15, 2026 |
While most entrance exams do not require a minimum score just to appear for the test, an important distinction must be made for admission to top government colleges:
IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs: Candidates must either secure a minimum of 75% marks in the Class 12 (or equivalent) board examination OR must be among the top 20 percentile of the successful candidates in their respective board examination.
