XAT 2026 Notification Released: Know Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility & More

XAT 2026 Notification Released: Know Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility & More

Ongoing Event

XAT Application Date:10 Jul' 25 - 05 Dec' 25

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 09 Jul 2025, 01:26 PM IST

XAT Notification 2026 - XLRI Jamshedpur has released the official XAT notification in online mode on July 10, 2025. The official notification of XAT 2026 includes XAT registration date, application last date, exam date, eligibility and admit card date, result date, answer key date, dates for payment of fees, application correction date and much more. XAT 2026 is a national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to institutes accepting XAT scores. Read this complete article by Careers360 to know in detail about XAT notification 2026.

This Story also Contains

  1. XAT 2026 Notification - Important Events
  2. Past Years XAT Notification Exam Dates
  3. XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
  4. XAT Registration 2026
  5. XAT Exam Pattern 2026
  6. About XAT 2026
XAT 2026 Notification Released: Know Registration, Exam Dates, Eligibility & More
XAT Notification

XAT 2026 Notification - Important Events

The schedule of Xavier’s Aptitude Test will mentioned in the XAT 2026 notification. Candidates can go through the expected XAT 2026 exam dates mentioned below in the table to keep themselves updated:

XAT Exam Dates 2026

XAT Particulars

XAT Dates

XAT notification date 2026

July 9, 2025

XAT 2026 registration form date

July 10, 2025

XAT last date for registration

December 5, 2025

XAT exam 2026 admit card date

December 20, 2025

XAT exam date 2026

January 4, 2026

Response sheet of XAT 2026

To be announced

Release of XAT 2026 answer key

To be announced

Last date to file an objection against the XAT answer key

To be announced

XAT 2026 result date

To be announced

XAT 2026 scorecardLast week of January to last week of March 2026

Past Years XAT Notification Exam Dates

XAT notification 2026 has been released in online mode on July 9, 2025 and the exam will be held on January 4, 2026. Check the table below to know the dates-

XAT Exam and Notification Past Years Dates

Year

Date of issuance of notification

Date of Examination

XAT 2025July 15, 2024January 5, 2025
XAT 2024July 15, 2023January 7, 2024
XAT 2023First week of August 2022January 8, 2023
XAT 2022July 29, 2021January 2, 2022
XAT 2021September 7, 2020January 3, 2021

XAT 2020

August 23, 2019

January 5, 2020

XAT 2019

August 20, 2018

January 6, 2019

XAT 2018

August 16, 2017

January 7, 2018

XAT 2017

August 22, 2016

January 8, 2017

XAT 2016

September 4, 2015

January 3, 2016

Other Top MBA Entrance Exams

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

XAT 2026 eligibility criteria mention the academic qualifications required by the candidates when filling out the application form. As per the XAT eligibility criteria 2026, students should have completed his/her graduation from a recognized university/institute with minimum marks criteria. Candidates who do not adhere to the eligibility criteria of the XAT 2026, their candidature will stand cancelled during the admission process.

XAT Registration 2026

Registration for XAT 2026 will begin in online mode from July 10, 2025 onwards. Students must note that there is no provision for buying the application form of XAT 2026 in offline mode, the whole process is held in online mode only.

XAT Exam Pattern 2026

XAT 2026 will be held online mode in test centres across India. As per the exam pattern of XAT 2026, the paper will be divided into four sections. The table below briefs the XAT 2026 exam pattern:

XAT Exam Pattern

Name of Sections

No. of Questions

Duration

Verbal and Logical Ability (VA & LR)

75

180 Minutes (170 minutes for part I and 10 minutes for part 2)

Decision Making (DM)

Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (QA & DI)

General Knowledge (GK)

20

XAT 2026 Marking Scheme:

As per the marking scheme of XAT 2026,

  • One mark will be given for every correct answer.
  • 1/4th of the total mark allotted per question will be deducted for every incorrect or wrong answer.
  • - 0.10 marks will be reduced for more than eight unattempted questions.
  • There will be no negative marking in the XAT General Knowledge (GK) section.
Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024

IBSAT 2025-ICFAI Business School MBA/PGPM 2026

IBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR

About XAT 2026

Xavier Aptitude Test, also known as XAT is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur. It is a national-level postgraduate entrance examination conducted for admission to XLRI and 150+ B-schools. XAT 2026 will be held for three hours and thirty minutes in online mode. Approx more than 75,000 students appear for XAT every year.

XLRI offers various programmes in management such as Business Management (BM), Human Resource Management (HRM), Global Business Management (GBM), and General Management Programme (GMP).

B-Schools Accepting XAT Score - Location-Wise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Where will the official notification of XAT 2026 be released?
A:

The official notification of XAT 2026 has been released in online mode at the official website - xatonline.in.

Q: When will XAT 2026 exam be conducted?
A:

The XAT 2026 exam will be held on January 4.

Q: What will be the duration of XAT 2026 exam?
A:

The duration of the XAT 2026 exam will be 3 hours (180 minutes).

Q: What is the eligibility criteria for appearing XAT 2026 exam?
A:

Recognized Bachelor’s Degree of minimum three years duration or equivalent in any discipline. All Indian candidates must appear for XAT 2026. However, NRI and Foreign candidates may apply through GMAT score.

Articles
|
Next
Certifications By Top Providers
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Online MBA
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Online MBA Business Analytics
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
The Science and Business of Biotechnology
Via Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Marketing Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to XAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to XAT ?

GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.

The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.

If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.

Hii,

No, not all MBA programs require these tests. These are merely entrance exams that are accepted by a lot of universities. Depending on the college you wish to attend, you can take any of them (such as MAH CET, MAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, or ATMA).

Additionally, some universities have entrance exams of their own. Therefore, for the majority of MBA admissions, you only need to take one appropriate exam. To find out which tests the college accepts, always visit their website.

Yes, it is definitely possible for you to get an interview call from Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai for their PGDM program, even with a 73 percentile in XAT 2025. While the typical cutoff for XAT may be higher, around 85 percentile, Great Lakes considers a variety of factors in their selection process, including academic performance, work experience, and diversity in the class.


Since you are a non-engineer female candidate, that diversity is seen as a positive aspect. Even with your XAT score, if you have a strong academic record, relevant work experience, and a clear passion for management, you can still stand out in the application process.

To increase your chances:

Prepare thoroughly for the interview by focusing on your experiences, what drives you, and how you align with the program’s values.

Highlight your unique background and any leadership roles you’ve had.

Show how Great Lakes fits with your career goals.

While the competition can be tough, if you present a well-rounded application and give your best in the interview, you can definitely convert the call into an offer.

With a 74 percentile in the XAT 2025 exam, you are eligible to apply to several reputable MBA colleges in India. Some of the top institutions that typically accept candidates within the 70-80 percentile range include KIIT School of Management (KSOM), Bhubaneswar; Jaipuria Institute of Management (multiple campuses); Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool), Bangalore; Woxsen University, Hyderabad; IFMR Graduate School of Business at KREA University, Sri City; BIM Trichy (Bharathidasan Institute of Management), Tiruchirappalli; and XIME Bangalore (Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship).

To proceed, research each institution's application deadlines and procedures and ensure you submit all required documents promptly. Be prepared for further selection stages such as group discussions, personal interviews, and written ability tests. Evaluate each program's curriculum, faculty, placement records, and campus culture to determine the best fit for your career goals. While your XAT percentile is significant, remember that your overall profile, including academic records, work experience, and extracurricular activities, also plays a crucial role in the selection process.

Admission to MICA's PGDM and PGDM-C programs involves a multi-stage selection process. The final composite score is calculated with the following weightage:

  • CAT/ XAT/ GMAT - 35%
  • MICAT - 25%
  • GE (Group Exercise) - 10%
  • PI - 20%
  • Academic performance (10th, 12th, Graduation) - 5%
  • Extra- curricular - 5%

Your XAT score is 73, performing exceptionally well in MICAT can enhance your chances of being shortlisted for the GE and PI rounds. Specific score requirements for MICAT are not publicly disclosed, focusing on thorough preparation and aiming for high performance in each section will strengthen your application.