XAT Exam Date 2026 is January 4, 2026. The XAT registration process is scheduled to start on July 10, 2025. The last date of registration is December 5, 2025. The exam will be held in one single slot, from 2 PM to 5 PM. Hence, no normalization process will be followed in the exam. Some of the other important points to note are:
- There is no sectional time limit in the XAT 2026 exam. You can now move freely between sections during the exam.
- The number of XAT test cities has increased to 109 this year.
- You can choose two preferred test cities when you fill out your application.
- The application fee for XAT remains the same.
Every year, the XAT exam schedule revolves around the first week of January. Last year, the XAT test date was 5th January, 2025. In 2024, the date of XAT exam was 7th January, 2024. Hence, following the trend, this year, the XAT exam date is scheduled for January 4th, 2026. XLRI will announce result tentatively in the last week of January 2026 on the official website. Selection process will start in the month of February 2026 based on the XAT cut off marks released by XLRI for BM and HRM programs.
Also Read
| 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:
|
|---|
What is the Exam Fee of XAT Exam 2026?
You need to pay a XAT registration fee of INR 2200. If you are interested in XLRI program then you will have to pay additional INR 200. There is no relaxation in fees for the reserved candidates. NRI Candidates have to pay INR 5000. Candidates who wnats to apply through GMAT needs to 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/- |
Quick Links for XAT Preparation:
| Chat with Experts & Aspirants, get exclusive insights: Join XAT Exam Community |
| Table of Contents |
When the XAT 2025 Official Notification will Release?
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.
Quick Links:
Want to Check the XAT Exam Dates and XAT Registration Guidelines?
The video by Sarvgyan provides XAT exam dates, eligibility, XAT registration process and many more. The video will share in depth analysis of the process and mistakes that you might make during XAT registration.
Important XAT Exam Date 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 |
XAT Exam Date Trends
Keeping up with the trends for past 6 years, the exam committee conducts the exam on the first Sunday of January. It means the date of XAT exam is Jan 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 |
Also Read
Check the XAT Registration Dates 2026
XAT 2026 Application forms is released on July 10, 2025. Let’s Check the upcoming events
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| Registration Begins | July 10, 2025 |
| Registration Last Date | December 5, 2025 |
XAT 2026 Admit Card Dates
The authority will release the XAT admit Card in the last week of December. It will contain google map of the route to your XAT exam centre.
- Registrants will be able to download their XAT admit cards from official website.
- Admit card will be available for download till the XAT Exam date (January 4, 2026)
- The document will contain the Name of the candidate, Application number, Date of examination, Time of examination, Test Center, Course/ Program Name.
| 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 |
When XAT Answer Key will Release?
XAT Answer Key will be released soon after the conclusion of the exam along with the candidates’ response sheets on the official website- xatonline.in.
- Objection window for answer key will be opened for a short period for the submission of grievances.
- The response sheet will contain all the options entered by candidates during the exam. Candidates can use the answer key to match their responses and calculate their XAT scores.
- Through the answer key, you can calculate raw scores and then predict the chances of getting admission to eligible colleges.
XAT 2026 Result and Counselling Dates: What You Should Know?
The XAT result will release 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 result, 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.
Comments