Choosing the right entrance exam, and starting your preparation on time, is the first big decision of college life. In India, different courses have different exams: some are held at the national level, some by individual states, and some by universities or colleges themselves. This page helps you see which exam leads to which course, who conducts it, and where to read a detailed guide next.
Types of entrance exams in India
- National level exams: students from across the country take the same exam, such as NEET UG, JEE Main and CUET UG.
- State level exams: held for admission to colleges in one state, often with some preference for students of that state. See our State-wise NEET guide.
- University or college level exams: some universities conduct their own entrance tests.
National exams listed by NTA
The official website of the National Testing Agency, nta.ac.in, lists these among its exams:
- NEET UG: for medical courses.
- JEE Main: for engineering. Read our Engineering Courses Guide for the branches and careers.
- CUET UG and CUET PG: for admission to central and participating universities.
- AIAPGET: for AYUSH postgraduate courses.
- CMAT: for management courses. More in our national level management exams page.
- NCHM JEE: for hotel management. Details on our NCHM JEE page.
- UGC-NET and CSIR-UGC NET: for research and teaching eligibility.
Always check the NTA website for the latest exam list, notices and dates, because these change from time to time.
Latest official update
- JEE Main 2027: the NTA website carries a notice inviting online applications for JEE (Main) 2027 Session 1. NTA’s tentative examination calendar lists Session 1 on 20 to 24 and 28 January 2027 and Session 2 on 2 to 7 April 2027.
- UGC-NET December 2026: NTA has extended the application deadline, so check the notice for the new last date.
- NEET UG 2027: no notice is published yet on neet.nta.nic.in, and the NTA calendar does not list it so far.
- AIAPGET 2026: the result has been declared on the NTA website.
Dates in the NTA calendar are tentative and may change.
Last checked on official websites: 3 November 2026. We update this section regularly.
Exams and guides by course
Pharmacy: Pharmacy Entrance Exams in India, GPAT Entrance Guide and Pharmacy Courses.
Nursing: Nursing Entrance Exams in India, Nursing Entrance Exams and Undergraduate in Nursing.
Ayurveda and Homeopathy: Ayurveda Entrance Exams and Homeopathy Entrance Exams.
Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy Entrance Exams.
Management: National level, State level, University level and Executive / Professional MBA exams.
Defence and Law: The National Defence Academy and Naval Academy examination is listed on the official UPSC website, upsc.gov.in. Information on CLAT is published by the Consortium of National Law Universities at consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
5 steps to start your preparation
- Decide your course: choose based on your interest and eligibility.
- Identify the right exam: confirm from the regulator or college website which exam is accepted.
- Study the syllabus and pattern: read the syllabus, marking scheme and eligibility in the official notice.
- Make a timetable: divide the months before the exam topic-wise and keep weekly revision.
- Keep documents ready: scan your photo, marksheets and ID in advance for the application form.
After the exam: how to choose a college
After the result, counselling and admission begin. While choosing a college, always check its approval and the recognition of your course. Read our step-by-step guide: How to avoid fake colleges: check UGC, AICTE and NAAC approval (in Hindi). To browse colleges, visit Explore Colleges.
If you work in a college and want to prepare for NAAC accreditation, you can learn about the NAAC consultancy by Bhavya Gyan Consultants.
Build your career alongside your degree
Communication and employability skills matter as much as the degree. Explore the courses at Bhavya Gyan Academy. Preparing your first resume? Read our guide: Fresher resume kaise banayein (in Hindi). You can also check our site JobsHub for jobs.
More entrance exams: stream-wise list
| Category Group | Entrance Exam Name | Programs Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Medical & Health Sciences | Medical Entrance Exams | MBBS, BDS |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Dental Entrance Exams | BDS, MDS |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy Entrance Exams | BOT, MOT |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Radiology & Imaging Entrance Exams | B.Sc Radiology, Imaging Technology |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) Entrance Exams | DMLT, B.Sc MLT |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Optometry Entrance Exams | B.Optom, M.Optom |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Public Health Entrance Exams | BPH, MPH |
| Medical & Health Sciences | Hospital Administration Entrance Exams | BHA, MHA |
| AYUSH (Other) | Unani Entrance Exams | BUMS, MD Unani |
| AYUSH (Other) | Siddha Entrance Exams | BSMS, MD Siddha |
| AYUSH (Other) | Naturopathy & Yoga Entrance Exams | BNYS, MD Yoga |
| AYUSH (Other) | AYUSH PG & Research Entrance Exams | MD/MS, PhD |
| Science & Research | Science UG Entrance Exams | B.Sc |
| Science & Research | Science PG Entrance Exams | M.Sc |
| Science & Research | Biotechnology Entrance Exams | B.Sc / M.Sc Biotechnology |
| Science & Research | Microbiology Entrance Exams | B.Sc / M.Sc Microbiology |
| Science & Research | Bioinformatics Entrance Exams | UG / PG Bioinformatics |
| Science & Research | Integrated Science Entrance Exams | Integrated B.Sc–M.Sc |
| Science & Research | Research / PhD Entrance Exams | PhD, Integrated PhD |
| Commerce & Finance | Commerce Entrance Exams | B.Com, M.Com |
| Commerce & Finance | Accounting & Finance Entrance Exams | BAF, MAF |
| Commerce & Finance | Chartered Accountancy (CA) | CA Foundation–Final |
| Commerce & Finance | Company Secretary (CS) | CS Foundation–Professional |
| Commerce & Finance | Cost & Management Accounting (CMA) | CMA Foundation–Final |
| Commerce & Finance | Banking & Insurance Entrance Exams | Banking, Insurance Programs |
| Law & Legal Studies | Law Entrance Exams | LLB, BA LLB, LLM |
| Law & Legal Studies | Integrated Law Entrance Exams | 5-Year Law Programs |
| Law & Legal Studies | Judicial Services Entrance Exams | Judge / PCS-J |
| Computer & IT (Non-Engineering) | Computer Applications Entrance Exams | BCA, MCA |
| Computer & IT (Non-Engineering) | Data Science Entrance Exams | UG / PG Data Science |
| Computer & IT (Non-Engineering) | Artificial Intelligence Entrance Exams | AI & ML Programs |
| Computer & IT (Non-Engineering) | Cyber Security Entrance Exams | UG / PG Cyber Security |
| Computer & IT (Non-Engineering) | Software & IT Entrance Exams | IT & Software Courses |
| Arts & Humanities | Arts & Humanities Entrance Exams | BA, MA |
| Arts & Humanities | Psychology Entrance Exams | BA / MA Psychology |
| Arts & Humanities | Social Work Entrance Exams | BSW, MSW |
| Arts & Humanities | Journalism & Mass Communication Entrance Exams | BJMC, MJMC |
| Arts & Humanities | Fashion Designing Entrance Exams | Fashion UG / PG |
| Arts & Humanities | Fine Arts Entrance Exams | Painting, Sculpture, Music |
| Arts & Humanities | Hotel Management Entrance Exams | BHM, HMCT |
| Education & Teaching | Teaching Entrance Exams | B.Ed, M.Ed |
| Education & Teaching | Integrated Education Entrance Exams | BA-B.Ed, B.Sc-B.Ed |
| Education & Teaching | Special Education Entrance Exams | Special B.Ed |
| Architecture & Design | Architecture Entrance Exams | B.Arch, M.Arch |
| Architecture & Design | Interior Design Entrance Exams | Interior Design UG/PG |
| Architecture & Design | Urban & Regional Planning Entrance Exams | Planning Courses |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Agriculture Entrance Exams | B.Sc Agri, M.Sc Agri |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Horticulture Entrance Exams | Horticulture Programs |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Veterinary Science Entrance Exams | BVSc, MVSc |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Fisheries Entrance Exams | Fisheries Science |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Dairy Technology Entrance Exams | Dairy Tech Programs |
| Agriculture & Life Sciences | Forestry & Environmental Science Entrance Exams | Forestry, EVS |
| Defence, Maritime & Aviation | Defence Entrance Exams | NDA, CDS, AFCAT |
| Defence, Maritime & Aviation | Merchant Navy Entrance Exams | Nautical Science |
| Defence, Maritime & Aviation | Maritime Studies Entrance Exams | Marine Programs |
| Defence, Maritime & Aviation | Aviation & Pilot Training Entrance Exams | CPL, Aviation Courses |
Further reading (Official resources)
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Consortium of National Law Universities
- National Medical Commission (NMC)
- University Grants Commission (UGC)
FAQs
How do I choose the right entrance exam?
First decide your course, then check which exam is accepted for it. Some courses (like MBBS or engineering) use national exams, while others use state or university exams. Confirm with the course regulator or the college’s official website.
Is an entrance exam compulsory for every college admission?
No. Some courses admit students on merit (marks in the qualifying exam), while others require an entrance exam. Always check the admission policy of the college and course from an official source before applying.
Which exams does NTA conduct?
According to the official NTA website (nta.ac.in), its exams include NEET UG, JEE Main, CUET UG, CUET PG, UGC-NET, AIAPGET, CMAT, NCHM JEE and JIPMAT, among others. Check the website for the latest list and notices.
Where should I check exam dates and eligibility?
Always on the official website of the exam conducting body. Dates, eligibility and syllabus can change, so confirm every detail from the official notice, even after reading a guide like this one.
How do I choose a college after the entrance exam?
Check the college’s approval and the course recognition with UGC or the relevant regulator before paying any fees. Our guide on how to avoid fake colleges explains this step by step.
Conclusion
The right exam, information from official websites and timely preparation make admission much easier. Bookmark this page and read the detailed guides above for your course. Exam dates and eligibility can change every year, so always check the official notice before filling any form.
