Choosing a career in engineering allows students to explore exciting opportunities in technology, innovation, and problem-solving. However, before taking admission into a good engineering college, most students need to clear certain entrance exams. These top engineering exams help colleges select students with strong skills in science and mathematics. There are 20 or more national and state-level engineering exams, including the most famous JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Every year, roughly 14-15 lakh students register for these exams. In 2025, around 15,39,484 students registered for JEE Main across its two sessions, and about 14,75,103 appeared. According to the reports, most students take around three different engineering exams, trying to balance national-level tests with state-level or institute-specific tests. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most important engineering exams, what they offer, and the other essential details related to these exams.
Highlights of Top 10 Engineering Exams After 12th
This table lists the top engineering entrance exams in India for 2026 along with their tentative schedules. Since most exams take place between January and June, students can easily plan their preparation. As per the released dates, JEE Main session will take place between January 21 to 30, 2026. The JEE Advanced Exam 2026 is expected to take place in the third week of May 2026.
| Exam Name | Exam Dates 2026 (Tentative) |
| JEE Main | Jan 21-30, 2026 (Session 1) |
| Apr 2-9, 2026 (Session 2) | |
| JEE Advanced | May 2026 |
| BITSAT | May 3rd week 2026 (Session 1) |
| June 3rd week 2026 (Session 2) | |
| VITEEE | Apr 28 – May 3, 2026 |
| SRMJEEE | Apr 23-28, 2026 (Session 1) |
| Jun 10-15, 2026 (Session 2) | |
| Jul 4-5, 2026 (Session 3) | |
| COMEDK | May 1st week 2026 |
| KIITEE | Apr 3rd week 2026 (Phase 1) |
| Jun 3rd week 2026 (Phase 2) | |
| WBJEE | Apr last week 2026 |
| MHT CET | Apr 2nd week 2026 (PCB) |
| Apr last week 2026 (PCM) | |
| NMIMS CET | Jan-Mar 2026 (Session 1) |
| Apr-Jun 2026 (Session 2) |
Top Engineering Exams in India After 12th
Given below are the complete details of the top 10 engineering exams in India after students have cleared their 12th exams:
JEE Main
JEE Main is one of the most popular engineering entrance exams in India and is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It acts as the gateway to NITs, IIITs, and several top engineering institutes, and it is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. The application process usually begins around October-November, where students can apply online by registering, filling in personal and academic details, uploading documents, and paying the exam fee. The exam is held once a year and follows a computer-based format. For B.E./B.Tech aspirants, the paper includes questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | October-November |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Papers | Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), Paper 2B (B.Planning) |
| Question Type | MCQs + Numerical Value Questions |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
JEE Advanced
JEE Advanced is the prestigious entrance exam for admission to the IITs. Only students who qualify JEE Main with a top rank are eligible to appear for this exam. The application process usually begins in April, when eligible candidates can register online through the official website. The exam consists of two mandatory papers, each held in CBT mode. The pattern changes slightly every year, but it mainly includes multiple question types from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | One of the IITs (rotational) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | April |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Papers | Paper 1 & Paper 2 (both compulsory) |
| Duration | 3 hours each |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Eligibility | Must qualify JEE Main with top rank (top 2.5 lakh candidates) |
BITSAT
BITSAT is the engineering entrance exam conducted by BITS Pilani for admissions into its campuses in Pilani, Goa, and Hyderabad. Applications usually open in January, and students can apply online by filling out the registration form and selecting preferred exam dates. The exam is held twice in multiple sessions and is known for its speed-based MCQ format. It tests Physics, Chemistry, English Proficiency, Logical Reasoning, and Mathematics/Biology.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | BITS Pilani |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | January-April |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Number of Sessions | 2 |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Maths/Biology, English, Logical Reasoning |
| Question Type | MCQ |
| Duration | 3 hours |
VITEEE
VITEEE is conducted by the Vellore Institute of Technology for admissions to its B.Tech programmes across all VIT campuses. Applications generally begin in October, and students can submit forms online by providing required details and paying the fee. The exam is fully computer-based and includes multiple-choice questions from Mathematics/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Aptitude, and English.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | October-March |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Subjects | Math/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Aptitude, English |
| Number of Questions | 125 |
| Marking Scheme | No negative marking |
| Duration | 2.5 hours
|
SRMJEEE
SRMJEEE is conducted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology. Applications usually begin around November, and students can register online through the official portal. The exam is held in multiple phases, giving students more flexibility. It is held in CBT mode and includes MCQs from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, English, and Aptitude.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | SRM Institute of Science & Technology |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | November-April |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Sessions | 2-3 |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, English, Aptitude |
| Question Type | MCQ |
Get more details about Exam Updates
COMEDK UGET
COMEDK UGET is a widely taken exam for admission to engineering colleges in Karnataka under the COMEDK consortium. Applications generally open in February, and the process is fully online. The exam is held in CBT mode and includes MCQs from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | COMEDK (Karnataka) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | February-March |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Question Type | MCQ |
| Duration | 3 hours |
KIITEE
KIITEE is conducted by KIIT University for admission to its engineering and other undergraduate programs. The exam is held in phases, giving students multiple opportunities. Applications are submitted online through the official website. The exam is computer-based and includes MCQs from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (or Biology).
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | KIIT University |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Fee | No fee (usually) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Phases | Multiple phases |
| Subjects | PCM / PCB |
| Question Type | MCQ
|
WBJEE
WBJEE is the state-level engineering entrance exam for West Bengal. Applications generally open in December, and students can apply online. The exam is typically conducted in offline mode and consists of two papers: Mathematics (Paper 1) and Physics & Chemistry (Paper 2). WBJEE is important for students seeking admission to government and private engineering colleges in West Bengal.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | WBJEE Board |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | December-January |
| Exam Mode | Offline (OMR-based) |
| Papers | Mathematics; Physics & Chemistry |
| Duration | 2 hours per paper |
| Question Type | MCQ |
MHT CET
MHT CET is conducted by the Maharashtra State CET Cell for admissions into engineering and other professional courses in Maharashtra. Applications usually start in January, and the exam is computer-based. Engineering candidates appear for PCM papers. The exam tests numerical ability and understanding in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and is accepted by hundreds of colleges across the state.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | Maharashtra State CET Cell |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Usual Application Period | January-March |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Question Type | MCQ |
NMIMS CET
NMIMS CET is conducted by NMIMS University for engineering and other undergraduate admissions. The exam is held in multiple sessions spread across months, giving students enough flexibility. Applications are submitted online through the NMIMS portal. The exam usually includes sections on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and English.
| Features | Details |
| Conducting Body | NMIMS University |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Sessions | Multiple |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English, Logical Reasoning |
| Question Type | MCQ
|
Top Engineering Colleges in India
This table gives a quick overview of the major engineering colleges that accept each of the top entrance exams in India. While exams like JEE Main allow admission into the NIT or IIITs, others like BITSAT, VITEEE, or SRMJEEE are institute-specific.
| Entrance Exam | Major Colleges/Universities That Accept the Exam |
| JEE Main | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, DTU, NSUT, JMI, State engineering colleges (various states), and many private universities. |
| JEE Advanced | All IITs, IISER (through JEE Advanced), IIST (in some years), and other centrally funded institutes. |
| BITSAT | BITS Pilani, BITS Goa, BITS Hyderabad, BITS Dubai (optional). |
| VITEEE | VIT Vellore, VIT Chennai, VIT Andhra Pradesh, VIT Bhopal. |
| SRMJEEE | SRM Kattankulathur, SRM Ramapuram, SRM Vadapalani, SRM Delhi-NCR, SRM Amaravati. |
| COMEDK UGET | 190+ engineering colleges in Karnataka, including R.V. College of Engineering, BMSCE, Ramaiah Institute of Technology (varies by year), Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, and more. |
| KIITEE | KIIT University |
| WBJEE | Jadavpur University, IEM, Heritage Institute of Technology, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) colleges, Techno India Group, and other West Bengal colleges. |
| MHT CET | COEP Technological University, VJTI, SPCE, ICT Mumbai, MIT-WPU (for some courses), and nearly all government/private engineering colleges in Maharashtra. |
| NMIMS CET | NMIMS Mukesh Patel School of Technology (Mumbai), NMIMS Shirpur, NMIMS Navi Mumbai, NMIMS Indore, and other NMIMS campuses. |
Wrapping Up
Every year, top engineering exams like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, BITSAT, KIITEE, WBJEE, etc. open many doors for lakhs of students to great opportunities in the engineering field. Whether students are planning for national institutes like IITs or NITs, or private institutes like KIIT, SRM or NMIMS, clearing these exams helps candidates to pursue their dream career in engineering and technology.
