The entrance exams, explained
Who runs each exam, what it opens, and what sitting it is actually like. Dates are not listed here on purpose — they change every year, so confirm them on the portal named.
Run by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). Opens: Engineering, farm science, nursing and allied courses in Karnataka.
Computer-based. Separate papers for Physics, Chemistry and Maths/Biology. Government-quota seats need 7 years of study in Karnataka.
Run by National Testing Agency (NTA). Opens: MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, B.Sc Nursing and notified allied health courses.
Pen-and-paper OMR, single shift of 3 hours 20 minutes, offered in 13 languages. 200 questions of which 180 are attempted, +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong one.
Run by National Testing Agency (NTA). Opens: NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and the JEE Advanced qualifier for IITs.
Computer-based, held in two sessions with the better score counting. The top 2.5 lakh qualifiers become eligible for JEE Advanced, which allows only 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years.
Run by Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka. Opens: Private and deemed engineering colleges in Karnataka.
Computer-based, held across roughly 400 centres nationwide. Open to candidates from any state.
Run by National Testing Agency (NTA). Opens: Central and participating universities for BA, B.Sc, B.Com and more.
Computer-based. From 2026 the subject list is cut from 63 to 37, you may pick up to 5 subjects (down from 6), each paper runs 60 minutes with all 50 questions compulsory, marked +5 and -1. You may now choose a subject even if you did not study it in Class 12.
Run by Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). Opens: Lateral entry to 2nd year BE/B.Tech for diploma holders.
Computer-based, with a separate paper for each engineering stream. Needs 45% in the final year of the diploma (40% for reserved categories in Karnataka).
Run by Consortium of National Law Universities. Opens: 5-year integrated LLB at National Law Universities.
Pen-and-paper. Needs 45% at Class 12 for the general category and 40% for SC/ST. There is no age limit. AILET is a separate exam with a similar syllabus, run only for National Law University Delhi.
Run by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Opens: National Defence Academy and Naval Academy, leading to a commission as an officer.
Written exam followed by a five-day SSB interview and a medical board. Age 16.5 to 19.5 at course start with no relaxation, and candidates must be unmarried. Class 12 pass for the Army wing; PCM required for Navy and Air Force. Women are eligible for all three wings.
Run by Council of Architecture (CoA). Opens: B.Arch, the 5-year professional architecture degree.
200 marks split between a drawing section and multiple-choice questions. Needs PCM with 50% at Class 12. JEE Main Paper 2 is the alternative route for NITs and centrally funded institutes.
UCEED / NID DAT / NIFT
uceed.iitb.ac.in · admissions.nid.edu · nift.ac.inPrelims usually late in the year, mains early the next
Run by IIT Bombay, National Institute of Design, and NIFT respectively. Opens: B.Des programmes in product, communication, fashion and interaction design.
Aptitude and drawing tests rather than syllabus exams. Open to any Class 12 stream — no Maths or Science needed. Seats are few nationally, so apply to several institutes.
Run by Indian Maritime University. Opens: DNS, B.Sc Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering.
Covers Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English, general knowledge and aptitude. Typically needs 60% in PCM and 50% in English, plus a DG Shipping approved medical including 6/6 eyesight and no colour blindness.
Run by National Testing Agency, for NCTE. Opens: ITEP — the 4-year integrated B.A B.Ed / B.Sc B.Ed degree.
Computer-based, taken straight after Class 12 in any stream. Under NEP 2020 the 4-year integrated degree becomes the minimum teaching qualification by 2030, progressively replacing the standalone B.Ed.
Run by CBSE for CTET; state boards for their own TET. Opens: Eligibility to be appointed as a teacher in government schools.
Not an admission exam — an employment eligibility test taken AFTER your teaching qualification. Paper 1 is for Classes 1-5 and needs D.El.Ed; Paper 2 is for Classes 6-8. A B.Ed alone does not qualify you for primary-teacher posts.
Run by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Opens: Legal commercial drone flying in India.
Not a school-style entrance exam. You train 5 to 7 days at a DGCA-authorised RPTO, pass written and practical assessments and hold a medical certificate. Minimum age 18 and a Class 10 pass — no degree needed.
Run by Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI). Opens: CS Executive programme after 10+2.
Computer-based, covering business communication, legal aptitude and reasoning, economics and current affairs. Open after 10+2 in any stream except fine arts.
Run by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Opens: CA Intermediate, the first formal step toward becoming a Chartered Accountant.
Pen-and-paper, four papers covering accounting, business law, maths/statistics and economics. You can register after Class 12 and sit it after a short mandatory study period.
Run by Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI). Opens: CMA Intermediate, the first step toward becoming a Cost and Management Accountant.
Pen-and-paper, four papers covering accounting, laws and ethics, maths/statistics and economics. Open after Class 12 in any stream.
Run by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Opens: IAS, IPS, IFS and other central civil services.
Three stages: an objective Preliminary exam, a descriptive Mains exam of nine papers, and a Personality Test (interview). Open to any graduate; most candidates spend a year or more preparing.