In India, selecting desirable entrance exam for admission in top engineering college is a crucial step for aspirants. Students face confusion about which engineering entrance exam to choose as there is wide variety of options for aspirants, from national to private level entrance examination.
In this blog, we will provide comprehensive guide for understanding top engineering entrance exams in India, focusing on private engineering entrance exams and covering engineering entrance exams application dates, all these information will help in deciding which entrance exam will suit the candidate’s future goals and aspirations.
Top Engineering Entrance Exams in India
In India, one of the most popular career aspiration is admission in top engineering colleges in India through engineering entrance exams 2026. The highly competitive path of clearing engineering entrance exam is the gateway to prestigious colleges like IIT, IIIT, NIT and DTU.
As 2026 is approaching, it is important to understand the various engineering entrance exams 2026, their application dates, and the advantages of each examination. India is home to several engineering college that requires wide range of engineering entrance exam 2026. Mentioned below are most prominent top government and private engineering entrance exams in India:
1. Joint Entrance Examination Main-JEE Mains
JEE Mains is the most accepted entrance examination among private and government colleges. The exam is organized by NTA National Testing Agency. The sole purpose of the examination is admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and further qualification of JEE advance is for admission in top IITs.
The JEE Main 2026 engineering entrance exams application dates is started on October 31, 2025 and will close on November 27, 2025 for session 1. For session 2 the application form will open during February 2026. The session 1 examination date is Jan 21-30, 2026, and session 2 examination dates April 2-9, 2026.
2. JEE Advanced
JEE advanced is the top engineering exams in India, it is gateway to most prestigious engineering college IITs. This exam is also conducted by NTA. The purpose of the examination is admission to IITs.
The JEE advance application form dates will be announced soon, the expected examination month is May 2026. Candidates who qualify JEE mains entrance examination are only eligible for appearing in JEE advance.
3. Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test-BITSAT
BITSAT is one of the top private engineering entrance exams, which is organized by BITS Pilani. The purpose of BITSAT is admission to BITS Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. The application form filling will start from January 2026. The examination date for session 1 will be on May and for session 2 is June.
4. Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam-VITEEE
VITEEE is the entrance examination, conducted by VIT University. The purpose of the admission is entry to VIT campus. The engineering entrance exams application date will open in November 2025.
VITEE is the most popular private engineering entrance exam. The examination date for entrance exam is expected to be on April 2026.
5. SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam- SRMJEE
SRMJEE is another private engineering entrance exam, which known to offer flexible examination schedules. The purpose of the examination is admission to SRM college. The application form date will open in December 2025 and the entrance exam will be conducted in April for phase 1 and June for phase 2 and 3.
6. State-Level Exams (AP EAMCET, KCET, MHTCET, WBJEE, GUJCET)
The state level entrance exams are essential for admission in state government colleges. Such state level entrance exam will be conducted by state educational board. The engineering entrance exams application date varies as per state. The application form date spans from December 2025-January 2026. The examination date for state level examination ranges from April2026-May 2026.
Engineering Entrance Exams Application Dates
Mostly B.Tech colleges, take admission through entrance examination. Learners, who have given entrance exam and have qualified it, are given priority during the admissions.
The engineering entrance exams application dates is essential for understanding the schedule, to plan timely registration and preparation for the entrance exams. Mentioned below is the summary of major engineering entrance exam application dates:
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Sr.No.
|
Entrance Examination/Entry Form
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Start Date
|
Closing Date
|
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1
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JEE Mains (Joint Entrance Examination)
|
October 31, 2025
|
November 27, 2025
|
|
2
|
JEE Advanced (Joint Entrance Examination)
|
April 2026
|
May 2026
|
|
3
|
CUET (Common University Entrance Test)
|
March 2026
|
March 2026
|
|
4
|
VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination
|
October 24, 2025
|
March 31, 2026
|
|
5
|
Entry form of VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology)
|
October 24, 2025
|
March 31, 2026
|
|
6
|
State Level examination like WBJEE, KCET, OJEE and more
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April (date may vary depending on the state university/college)
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June (date may vary depending on the state university/college)
|
|
7
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Entry form of Delhi University
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May 2026
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June 2026
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8
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Entry form IIIT Delhi (Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi)
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May 2025
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June 2025
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9
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Entry form KCC-ITM (Institute of Technology and Management)
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January 2026
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August 2026
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|
10
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SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination)
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November 2025
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April 2026
|
Above mentioned dates of entrance examination are tentative and subject to change as per college or university. Candidates should always keep a check on the official websites for recent updates.
How to stay informed about engineering entrance exams 2026
Candidates need to stay updated with the B.Tech entrance exam events, like registration date for the application form, examination date and counseling seat allotment dates and finally the commencement of B.Tech class dates/month.
Mentioned below are the ways to stay informed about the important entrance exam dates:
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Keep a check on official website of applied college/university on alternate days.
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If aspirants are aiming for IITs and NITs, it is advisable to regularly check updates on JoSAA official website.
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Students are advised to join online educational groups/pages and channels for timely updates and peer discussion.
How to select desirable engineering entrance exams 2026
On the basis of several factors like career goals, college preference and preparation level, candidates select the best engineering entrance exams 2026. Mentioned below are ways to help candidates to decide:
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Identify the preferred colleges and check the entrance exams which they accept.
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Select the entrance examination that match, candidates current preparation and strengths.
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Select an entrance exam that suits candidates learning approach, according to their exam pattern.
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Engineering entrance exams application date is essential to meet, select the entrance exam application form that prefers candidate’s schedule.
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Seeking guidance and consulting seniors for advice on which entrance examination to prioritize.
Final Takeaway
Most of the B.Tech colleges/universities accepts top engineering entrance exam in India like JEE Mains and Advance, VITEE, SRMJEE and state level entrance exam (CUET/WBJEE). Engineering entrance exams 2026 is about to start, it is essential to keep an check on the application form and start planning exam strategies. Understanding these entrance exams is essential before filling the application form of the same.
The exact date of the commencement of B.Tech engineering entrance exams application dates depends on conducting bodies (NTA) and on private university/college. Learners need to keep themselves updated with these dates for not missing last date of filling the entrance examination form and should start preparing their desired entrance examination.
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FAQs for which entrance exam is best for engineering
Q1. What are the eligibility criteria for engineering entrance exams 2026?
Ans1: Candidates are required to have passed or must be appearing for 12th boards with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) subjects. The minimum 12th PCM aggregate required by the most of the colleges is 50%.
Q2. What is the mode of BTech entrance exams?
Ans2. B.Tech entrance exams like JEE Mains, BITSAT, and VITEEE are in CBT mode, i.e. Computer-based tests online examination.
Q3. Are there negative markings in BTech entrance exams?
Ans3: Yes, most of the national and private exams have negative marking; they deduct one mark for every wrong answer in multiple choice questions.
Q4. Can I appear for multiple BTech entrance exams?
Ans4: Yes, candidates can appear for multiple exams to maximize admission chances in various colleges.