XAT Latest Updates
15 Sep, 2025 XAT registration 2026 is ongoing till December 5, 2025, at xatonline.in. Apply Now
The XAT 2026 exam is scheduled for January 4, 2026. The XAT registration process for 2026 began on July 10, 2025, and the last date to apply is December 5, 2025. The XAT exam will be conducted in one session, from 2 PM to 5 PM, in a computer-based format. It will be held in more than 70 cities at designated test centers. Here are some other important details:
- Every year, more than 1 lakh students apply for XAT to get admission into over 800 MBA colleges in India.
- There is no time limit for each section in the XAT 2026 exam, and you can move between sections during the test.
- The number of cities where the XAT exam will be held has increased to 109 this year.
- Candidates can select up to two preferred test cities while submitting their application.
The XAT exam is usually held during the first week of January each year. For example, last year it was on January 5, 2025, and in 2024, it was on January 7, 2024. XLRI is expected to release the XAT 2026 results in the last week of January 2026 on their official website. The selection process for the BM and HRM programs will begin in February 2026, based on the cut-off scores announced by XLRI.
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| Key Summary: XAT exam date is January 4th, 2026. Following the trend, XAT exam date has been scheduled for the first week of January. In this article, we have provided:
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- XAT Admit Card Dates
- Check the XAT Registration Dates 2026
- Important Date of XAT Exam to Remember
3.1 Is XAT conducted twice a year?
3.2 What is the last date for XAT 2025 registration?
3.3 What is the exam fee for XAT 2026?
3.4 When the XAT 2025 Official Notification be released?
- XAT Exam Date Trends
4.1 When will the XAT Answer Key be released?
- XAT 2026 Result and Counselling Dates: What You Should Know?
- XAT Counselling Schedule 2026
XAT Admit Card Dates
The XAT admit card dates will be announced by the authority in the last week of December. It will include a Google map showing the route to your exam center. Registrants can download their admit cards from the official website.
The XAT admit card will be available for download until the XAT exam date, which is January 4, 2026. The XAT admit card will have the candidate's name, application number, exam date, exam time, test center location, and the name of the course or program.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Admit Card Release Date | December 20, 2025 |
| Last Date to Download XAT Admit Card | January 4, 2026 |
| XAT Exam Date | January 4, 2026 |
Check the XAT Registration Dates 2026
XAT 2026 Application form was released on July 10, 2025. Let’s check the upcoming XAT registration dates 2026:
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration Begins | July 10, 2025 |
| Registration Last Date | December 5, 2025 |
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Important Date of XAT Exam to Remember
Here, you will know about XAT Exam date, XAT registration last date, XAT exam schedule and XAT results date.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | January 4, 2026 |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Number of Shifts | 1 |
| Exam Time | 2 PM to 5 PM |
| Last Entry to the Exam Hall | 1:30 PM |
| XAT 2026 answer key release and challenge | Second week of January 2026 |
| XAT 2026 result announcement | Third week of January, 2026 |
Is XAT conducted twice a year?
No, the XAT exam is not held twice a year.
The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), organized by XLRI Jamshedpur, is conducted once a year. The scores from this exam are used for admission to MBA and PGDM programs, not only for XLRI Jamshedpur and other Xavier Associate Management Institutes but also for more than 160 top B-schools across India.
What is the last date for XAT 2025 registration?
The last date to register for the XAT exam is December 5, 2025. The registration process started on July 10, 2025 and is still ongoing. Students who haven't registered yet should apply as soon as possible.
What is the exam fee for XAT 2026?
The registration fee for the XAT exam is INR 2200. If you are applying for an XLRI program, an additional fee of INR 200 is required. There is no concession on the fees for candidates belonging to reserved categories. NRI candidates need to pay INR 5000. Candidates who wish to apply through GMAT should pay INR 2500.
| Description | Fee |
|---|---|
| XAT exam Registration Fees (without late fee) | Rs. 2200/- |
| Additional XAT fees for the XLRI program (per program) | Rs. 200/- |
| Indian candidates applying for PGDM (GM) through GMAT/GRE | Rs. 2500/- |
| NRI/Foreign candidates applying for one or more programs through GMAT | Rs. 5000/- |
When the XAT 2025 Official Notification be released?
XLRI Jamshedpur has released the official notification on the official website- xatonline.in. XAT Official notification includes the XAT exam dates, XAT registration process, fees & dates, and any new details regarding exam pattern and syllabus.
XAT Exam Date Trends
Keeping up with the trends for the past 6 years, the XAT exam committee conducts the exam on the first Sunday of January. It means the date of XAT exam is January 4, 2026.
| Exam Year | Exam Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | January 5, 2025 |
| 2024 | January 7, 2024 |
| 2023 | January 8, 2023 |
| 2022 | January 2, 2022 |
| 2021 | January 3, 2021 |
| 2020 | January 5, 2020 |
| 2019 | January 6, 2019 |
| 2018 | January 7, 2018 |
| 2017 | January 8, 2017 |
When will the XAT Answer Key be released?
The XAT Answer Key is usually released shortly after the exam ends, along with the candidates' response sheets on the official website, xatonline.in.
- There will be a brief period during which candidates can raise objections or submit their concerns regarding the answer key.
- The response sheet includes all the answers that candidates provided during the exam.
- Candidates can use the answer key to compare their answers and figure out their XAT scores.
- By using the answer key, you can calculate your raw score and estimate your chances of getting admission into the colleges you are interested in.
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XAT 2026 Result and Counselling Dates: What You Should Know?
The XAT result will be released within the last week of January 2026. XAT result 2026 will be made available on the official website. Candidates can download their scorecards using their login ID and password.
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| Declaration of Result | Last week of January 2026 |
| Release of Scorecard | Last week of January 2026 |
| XAT Counselling Begins | February 2026 |
XAT Counselling Schedule 2026
XAT Counselling Process will commence after the declaration of results, in February 2026. Each participating institute releases its counselling schedule on the official website.
The counselling procedure will be conducted individually by XLRI and other management institutes accepting XAT Score. Let’s check the steps:
- Registration for Counselling: Candidates need to register for counselling on the official website of the respective institute.
- Selection of Courses: Candidates are required to select the courses for which they want to apply for.
- GD/ PI: Candidates shortlisted on the basis of cut offs will be called to participate in the GD and PI selection rounds.
- Final Merit List and Seat Allotment: The final selection and seat allotment will be done on the basis of GD/ PI rounds and other criteria as specified by the institute.
FAQs
Ques. What is the official website for XAT exam?
Ans. The official website for exam is xatonline.in. XLRI publishes all notifications & updates,exam dates, member institutes, and all other information on this official website.
Ques. When will the result be released ?
Ans. XAT 2026 results will be released in the last week of January 2026 on the official website after the closure of the answer key objection window.
Ques. In case of any error during the application form process, can I get the correction facility from the institute?
Ans. No, the university authority will not provide a correction facility to its candidates in case of any error, thus it is advised to fill the form carefully.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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