Entrance Exams After 12th in 2026: The Complete CareerDiksha Calendar
Table of Contents
- The Ultimate List of Upcoming Entrance Exams in India (2026)
- 1. Engineering Entrance Exams 2026
- 2. Medical & Pharmacy Entrance Exams 2026
- 3. Common University Entrance Test
- 4. Law Entrance Exams 2026
- 5. Management (MBA) Entrance Exams 2026
- 6. Science, Research & Other Trending Exams
- How CareerDiksha Can Help You?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Q1: Has the BCECE Engineering exam been scrapped?
- Q2: Is AIIMS a separate exam in 2026?
- Q3: Can I give State exams if I am from a different state?
The Ultimate List of Upcoming Entrance Exams in India (2026)
Are you a Class 12 student or a graduate planning your next big career move? Navigating the maze of entrance exams in India can be overwhelming. With over 50 major examinations conducted annually for Engineering, Medical, Law, and Management, missing a single deadline can cost you a year.
At CareerDiksha, we have curated the most comprehensive list of upcoming entrance exams for the 2026 academic session. Whether you are aiming for IITs, AIIMS, NLUs, or top Central Universities, this guide covers everything from National level giants to crucial State level tests.
Career Planning After 12th in India: The 5 Best Steps
1. Engineering Entrance Exams 2026
Engineering remains the most popular career choice in India. While JEE is the gold standard, many state and private university exams offer excellent pathways to top colleges.
Exam Name | Level | Conducted By | Purpose/Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
JEE Main | National | NTA | Gateway to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs. Qualifier for JEE Advanced. |
JEE Advanced | National | IITs (Rotation) | Exclusive gateway to the IITs. |
BITSAT | University | BITS Pilani | Admission to BITS Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad campuses. |
VITEEE | University | VIT | Admission to Vellore Institute of Technology campuses. |
SRMJEEE | University | SRM Univ. | B.Tech admissions for SRM University campuses. |
COMEDK UGET | State | Consortium | Engineering seats in private colleges of Karnataka. |
WBJEE | State | WBJEEB | Top engineering colleges in West Bengal (including Jadavpur). |
MHT CET | State | Maharashtra CET Cell | Engineering/Pharmacy in Maharashtra. |
KCET | State | KEA | Government engineering seats in Karnataka. |
TS EAMCET | State | JNTU Hyderabad | Engineering/Agriculture in Telangana. |
AP EAPCET | State | JNTU Kakinada | Engineering/Pharmacy in Andhra Pradesh. |
KEAM | State | CEE Kerala | Engineering admissions in Kerala. |
Assam CEE | State | ASTU | Engineering colleges in Assam. |
GUJCET | State | GSEB | Engineering/Pharmacy in Gujarat. |
CG PET | State | CPEB | Engineering in Chhattisgarh. |
LPU NEST | University | LPU | Scholarship and admission test for Lovely Professional University. |
AEEE | University | Amrita Univ. | Admission to Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. |
UPESEAT | University | UPES | Petroleum and generic engineering at UPES Dehradun. |
IIST Admission | National | IIST | Aerospace |
CareerDiksha Note: Exams like UPSEE have been restructured. Admissions to AKTU (UP) are now largely conducted through CUET UG or JEE Main scores.
Career Planning After 12th in India: The 5 Best Steps
2. Medical & Pharmacy Entrance Exams 2026
The landscape of medical education has become streamlined with NEET being the single window for undergraduates.
Exam Name | Course | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
NEET UG | MBBS/BDS/Ayush | The only exam for MBBS in India (includes AIIMS & JIPMER). |
NEET PG | MD/MS | For postgraduate medical admissions. |
INI CET | MD/MS | For PG admission to AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, and NIMHANS. |
GPAT | M.Pharm | Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test for Masters in Pharmacy. |
BCECE | Pharmacy/Agri | Engineering/Medical scrapped; now only for Pharmacy/Agriculture in Bihar. |
3. Common University Entrance Test
Since its inception, CUET has become the second-largest exam in India.
- CUET UG 2026: Conducted by NTA. Mandatory for admission to all Central Universities (DU, BHU, JNU, AMU, Allahabad University) and many private/state universities for BA, B.Sc, B.Com, and Integrated courses.
- CUET PG 2026: The single window opportunity for postgraduate admissions in central universities.
4. Law Entrance Exams 2026
For students aspiring to become advocates or corporate lawyers, these exams are the stepping stones to National Law Universities (NLUs).
Exam Name | Level | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
CLAT | National | Admission to 24+ NLUs (excluding NLU Delhi). |
AILET | National | Exclusive entrance for NLU Delhi. |
SLAT | University | Admission to Symbiosis Law Schools. |
LSAT India | International | Accepted by Jindal Global Law School and others. |
MH CET Law | State | 3-year and 5-year LLB in Maharashtra (GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune). |
TS/AP LAWCET | State | Law admissions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. |
AIBE | Post-Degree | Certification exam to practice law in India (after graduation). |
5. Management (MBA) Entrance Exams 2026
For graduates looking to boost their career with an MBA or PGDM.
- CAT 2025/26: The toughest and most prestigious exam for IIMs.
- XAT: Conducted by XLRI, accepted by 150+ B-Schools.
- MAT: Conducted by AIMA (4 times a year). Easier difficulty level.
- CMAT: NTA conducted exam for AICTE approved colleges.
- SNAP: For Symbiosis International University.
- NMAT: For NMIMS Mumbai and other associated colleges.
- IBSAT: For ICFAI Business Schools.
- TANCET: MBA/MCA admissions in Tamil Nadu government colleges.
- KMAT (Kerala/Karnataka): State-level management tests.
Career Planning After 12th in India: The 5 Best Steps
6. Science, Research & Other Trending Exams
If you are inclined towards pure sciences, architecture, or design:
- NATA: The compulsory exam for B.Arch (Architecture) admissions.
- CEED / UCEED: Design exams for IITs.
- IISER Aptitude Test (IAT): For BS-MS dual degree programs in IISERs.
- NEST: For admission to NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.
- GATE: For M.Tech and PhD in IITs/IISc (also used for PSU Recruitment).
- IIT JAM: M.Sc admissions in IITs and IISc.
- ICAR AIEEA: Now merged largely with CUET for Agriculture admissions.
How CareerDiksha Can Help You?
Choosing the right exam is just the first step. At CareerDiksha, we help you:
- Form Filling Support: Never miss a deadline or make a mistake in application forms.
- College Predictors: Understand which college you can get based on your rank.
- Personalized Counseling: Unsure if you should choose Engineering vs. Law? We help you decide based on your aptitude.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Has the BCECE Engineering exam been scrapped?
Yes, admissions to Engineering and Medical courses in Bihar are now done through JEE Main and NEET UG respectively. BCECE is now conducted primarily for Agriculture and Pharmacy streams.
Q2: Is AIIMS a separate exam in 2026?
No. Admission to MBBS in all AIIMS institutes (New Delhi, Jodhpur, Bhopal, etc.) is done strictly through the NEET UG merit list.
Q3: Can I give State exams if I am from a different state?
Most state exams like MHT CET or KCET have a domicile requirement for government seats, but they often have an "All India Quota" for private colleges. However, exams like COMEDK are open to students from all over India.
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