What sets XAT apart is not just its extensive acceptance by over 250 top B-schools across India, but also its longstanding tradition of nurturing management talent through a holistic, aptitude-based evaluation model.

75+ Years Strong: A Legacy of Leadership

XAT stands as the only MBA/PGDM entrance test in India with a 75+ year heritage, establishing it as the gold standard for MBA/PGDM aspirants seeking excellence in management education. XLRI, which has conducted the test since its inception, has continuously adapted the exam to meet the evolving needs of education and industry, while maintaining its core value of student-centric integrity.

“XAT is not just an entrance test, it’s a tradition of excellence that has shaped leaders for over 75+ years. With XAT 2026, we are not only continuing that legacy but also evolving to meet the changing needs of today’s aspirants. Our goal is to provide more than just a test. We aim to deliver guidance, mentorship, and a truly aspirant-first experience from day one.” — Prof. Rahul Shukla, Convenor, XAT 2026

Pan-India Test Centres: Bringing Opportunity Closer to Home

XAT 2026 will be conducted in over 100 cities across India, ensuring accessibility for candidates from both metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions. Whether you're in a major city or a smaller town, XAT ensures you have access to a testing centre near you.

Test cities include Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Aligarh, Allahabad, Ambala, Amravati, Amritsar, Anantapur, Arrah, Aurangabad City (Maharashtra), Baddi, Balasore, Bareilly, Bhatinda, Bhagalpur, Bhilai Nagar, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bikaner, Bilaspur, Bengaluru, Berhampur, Chandigarh/Mohali, Chennai, Chikkaballapur, Coimbatore, Cuttack, Darbhanga, Davanagere, Dehradun, Delhi-NCR, Dhanbad, Dhenkanal, Dibrugarh, Durgapur/Asansol, Ernakulam, Gandhinagar, Goa, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Gwalior, Haldwani, Hazaribagh, Hisar, Hooghly, Hubballi (Hubli), Hyderabad, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Jammu, Jamshedpur, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Kalyani, Kannur, Kanpur, Karimnagar, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Kota, Kottayam, Kurnool, Kurukshetra, Lucknow, Madurai, Mangalore, Mehsana, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Muzaffarpur, Mumbai, Mysuru (Mysore), Nagpur, Naharlagun, Nanded, Nashik, Patiala, Patna, Pune, Raipur, Rajahmundry, Rajkot, Ranchi, Roorkee, Rourkela, Salem, Sambalpur, Shimla, Shillong, Sikar, Siliguri, Surat, Tejpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupathi, Tiruvallur, Udaipur, Udupi, Ujjain, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vellore, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam.

Why Choose XAT 2026?

● Accepted by 250+ leading B-schools, including XLRI, XIMB, IMT, TAPMI, GIM, MICA, IRMA, Weschool, Great Lakes, and more.

● Nationwide accessibility with 100+ test cities.

● Holistic evaluation — assessing not just academics, but decision-making and analytical skills.

● XAT aspirants are preferred by top B-Schools over other entrance exams because of the holistic test pattern.

● XAT does not have sectional time limits, giving aspirants the flexibility to manage time as per their strengths.

● Students can switch between sections during the exam, reducing pressure and allowing strategic thinking.

● XAT is conducted in January, giving an additional month of preparation after other entrance exams.

● Preparation for XAT largely overlaps with other entrance test preparations, requiring only a few mocks and solving previous year papers in addition.

● The exam is held in a single slot, ensuring fairness with no need for score normalisation.

● Applying for XAT alongside other entrance tests is a smart choice, offering a second high-quality opportunity without extra effort.

Important Dates:

How to Apply:

1. Visit xatonline.in
2. Click on “Register for XAT 2026”
3. Complete the online application and payment process
4. Receive confirmation and stay updated through the XAT portal