NMAT 2026 notification has been officially released by GMAC on July 11, 2026, announcing the upcoming registration window and testing schedule for MBA admissions at NMIMS and 58 or more participating institutes across India and abroad.
NMAT by GMAC is a national-level management entrance exam known for its flexible multi-window testing format, no-negative-marking structure, and three-attempt policy. With the 2026 notification now live, students can gear up for registration expected to open on August 1, 2026. The exam tests Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning across 108 questions in 120 minutes.
- NMAT 2026 notification released on July 11, 2026, by GMAC on the official portal mba.com/exams/nmat.
- Registration expected to open on August 1, 2026, based on the NMAT 2025 cycle pattern.
- NMAT 2026 testing window expected from November to December 2026 with a late window in January 2027.
- Students can attempt the exam up to 3 times per cycle with a minimum 15-day gap between attempts.
- Registration fee is INR 3,000 plus applicable taxes per attempt.
- The exam has 108 questions in 120 minutes across three sections with no negative marking.
- NMAT 2026 scores are accepted by 58 or more MBA programmes in India, South Africa, Philippines, Nigeria, Morocco and Hungary.
NMAT 2026 Notification Highlights
The table below captures the key details from the NMAT 2026 notification released by GMAC.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NMAT by GMAC 2026 |
| Conducting Body | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) |
| Notification Release Date | July 11, 2026 |
| Official Website | mba.com/exams/nmat |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (Test Centre) |
| Total Questions | 108 |
| Total Duration | 120 Minutes |
| Number of Sections | 3 (Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning) |
| Negative Marking | No |
| Maximum Attempts Per Cycle | 3 (1 Registration + 2 Retakes) |
| Score Scale | 36 to 360 |
| Score Validity | 5 Years |
| Registration Fee | INR 3,000 + Applicable Taxes |
| Participating Institutes | 58+ Programmes in India and Abroad |
NMAT 2026 Exam Dates and Testing Window
NMAT 2026 follows a self-scheduling model where students choose their own exam date, time, and test centre within the testing window. The table below lists expected key dates based on the official notification and the NMAT 2025 cycle pattern.
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 11, 2026 (Confirmed) |
| Registration Opens | August 1, 2026 (Expected) |
| Schedule Selection Begins | August 2026 (Expected) |
| Registration Closes | October 2026 (Expected) |
| NMAT 2026 Testing Window | November to December 2026 (Expected) |
| Late Testing Window | January 2027 (Expected) |
| Score Reporting | Within 48 Hours of Exam |
| Score Validity | 5 Years |
GMAC will publish the confirmed schedule on the official portal once registration opens. Exam slots are filled on a first-come first-served basis so early scheduling is advisable.
NMAT 2026 Registration Process
NMAT 2026 registration is conducted entirely online through the official GMAC portal. Follow the steps below to complete your application.
- Visit mba.com/exams/nmat and sign in to your GMAC account or create a new one if you are registering for the first time.
- Click on Register for NMAT 2026 and fill in your personal, academic, and contact details accurately.
- Select up to five MBA programmes to receive your score reports — these are included in the base registration fee.
- Upload a recent photograph and a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Pay the registration fee of INR 3,000 plus applicable taxes using a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
- After payment, log in again to schedule your preferred exam date, time, and test centre from among 86 locations across 79 Indian cities.
- Download and save your scheduling confirmation — you will need it on exam day.
NMAT 2026 Fee Summary:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration (First Attempt) | INR 3,000 + Applicable Taxes |
| Retake Fee (Per Attempt) | INR 3,000 + Applicable Taxes |
| Rescheduling Fee | INR 1,200 + Applicable Taxes |
| Additional Score Reports (Beyond 5) | INR 400 Per Report + Applicable Taxes |
NMAT 2026 Exam Pattern
NMAT 2026 is a computer-adaptive test with three independently timed sections. Students choose the section order at the start of the exam and cannot return to a section once the time for it expires.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | 36 | 28 |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 |
| Total | 108 | 120 |
Key features of the NMAT 2026 exam pattern:
- No negative marking — incorrect and unattempted questions carry zero penalty.
- Students can choose the section order at the beginning of the exam.
- All three sections carry equal weightage in the final scaled score (36 to 360).
- The exam is computer-adaptive — question difficulty adjusts based on your responses.
- Your score is available to preview immediately on submission and as a downloadable scorecard within 48 hours.
- The best score across all attempts in a cycle is used by most institutes for shortlisting.
- A minimum gap of 15 days is required between two consecutive attempts in the same cycle.
Key Institutes Accepting NMAT 2026 Scores
NMAT 2026 scores are accepted by 58 or more business schools across India and in countries including South Africa, the Philippines, Nigeria, Morocco, and Hungary. The table below lists prominent Indian institutes that accept NMAT scores.
| Institute | Programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| NMIMS Mumbai | MBA (Core and Specialisations) | Mumbai |
| NMIMS Hyderabad | MBA | Hyderabad |
| NMIMS Bengaluru | MBA | Bengaluru |
| NMIMS Navi Mumbai | MBA | Navi Mumbai |
| NMIMS Indore | MBA | Indore |
| ISB Hyderabad | Select Programmes | Hyderabad |
| SPJIMR | PGDM | Mumbai |
| VIT Business School | MBA | Vellore |
| Alliance University | MBA | Bengaluru |
| Woxsen University | MBA | Hyderabad |
The complete and updated list of participating programmes is available on the official portal at mba.com/exams/nmat.
NMAT 2026 Notification FAQs
Ques. When was the NMAT 2026 notification released?
Ans. GMAC released the NMAT 2026 official notification on July 11, 2026, on the portal mba.com/exams/nmat.
Ques. When will NMAT 2026 registration open?
Ans. Based on the NMAT 2025 cycle pattern, registration for NMAT 2026 is expected to open on August 1, 2026. GMAC will confirm the exact date on the official website.
Ques. What is the registration fee for NMAT 2026?
Ans. The NMAT 2026 registration fee is INR 3,000 plus applicable taxes per attempt. Rescheduling costs INR 1,200 plus taxes and additional score reports beyond the first five are INR 400 plus taxes each.
Ques. How many times can I take NMAT 2026?
Ans. You can take NMAT 2026 up to three times in one cycle — one registration plus two retakes. A minimum gap of 15 days between attempts is required and most institutes use your best score for shortlisting.
Ques. Does NMAT 2026 have negative marking?
Ans. No, NMAT 2026 does not have negative marking. Wrong and unattempted answers carry zero penalty so you should attempt all 108 questions.
Ques. Which institutes accept NMAT 2026 scores?
Ans. More than 58 institutes accept NMAT 2026 scores including all NMIMS campuses, ISB Hyderabad, SPJIMR, VIT Business School, and institutes across South Africa, the Philippines, Nigeria and other countries. The full list is on mba.com/exams/nmat.
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