When Engineering Colleges Start Admissions for 2026: Registration, Entrance Exam and Dates

When Engineering Colleges Start Admissions for 2026

Engineering is one of the most popular and sought-after career options for students who have completed their 12th Class from a recognized board in the science stream. Every year, millions of aspirants apply for various engineering entrance exams to secure admission in their desired engineering colleges and courses.

However, the admission process is not the same for all B.Tech colleges. Different colleges and exams have different eligibility criteria, application dates, selection processes, and admission requirements. Therefore, the candidates need to be aware of the admission process for engineering colleges in 2026, so they can plan accordingly.

In this blog, we will provide you with the information on the B.E./B.Tech engineering admission process for 2026, including the list of top engineering entrance exams, their application dates and deadlines, their eligibility criteria, their exam pattern and syllabus, their counselling and seat allotment process, and the list of top engineering colleges in India.

We will also give you some tips on how to prepare for the entrance exams and how to choose the right engineering colleges for admission in B.E./B.Tech program.

List of the Top Engineering Entrance Exams in 2026

Students can choose from a wide range of engineering entrance exams at the national-level, state-level, and university-level for admission to various undergraduate engineering courses. Some of the most popular and prestigious engineering entrance exams in India are:

JEE Main 2026

Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to B.Tech/B.E., B. Arch., and B. Plan, at various engineering colleges like NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and others. JEE Main 2026 is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced 2026, which is the gateway to IITs.

JEE Main is conducted twice a year, in January and April, in online mode. The application process for JEE Main 2026 started on October 31, 2025, and will conclude on November 27, 2025. The exams for both sessions will take place from January 21-30, 2026, and April 2-9, 2026, respectively.

JEE Advanced 2026

Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by one of the IITs on a rotational basis for admission in B.E./B. Tech, B. Arch, and B. Plan, and other courses offered by 23 IITs in India.

JEE Advanced is conducted once a year, usually in May, in online mode. Only the top 2.5 lakh candidates who qualify for JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. The application process for JEE Advanced 2026 is expected to start from May 2026.

BITSAT 2026

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT) is a university-level engineering entrance exam conducted by BITS Pilani, for admission to B.Tech/B.E. courses offered by its campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad, and Dubai.

BITSAT is conducted twice a year, usually in May and June, in online mode. The application process for both sessions of the BITSAT 2026 is set to begin from January 20 to May 26, 2026, and April 18 to June 10, 2026. The exams for both sessions are set to take place from May 26–30, 2026, and June 22–26, 2026, respectively.

VITEEE 2026

Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam (VITEEE) is a university-level engineering entrance exam conducted by VIT University for admission to B.Tech/B.E. courses offered by its campuses in Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal, and Amaravati.

VITEEE is conducted once a year, usually in April and May, in online mode. The application process for VITEEE 2026 began on October 24, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The exams are set to take place from April 28 to May 3, 2026.

SRMJEEE 2026

SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Examination (SRMJEEE) is a university-level engineering entrance exam conducted by SRM University for admission to B.Tech courses offered by its campuses in Kattankulathur, Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Ghaziabad, Sonipat, Amaravati, and Sikkim.

SRMJEEE is conducted three times a year, usually in April, June, and July, in online mode. The application dates for SRMJEEE 2026 for all 3 phases are Oct 30, 2025 – Apr 16, 2026, for session 1, March – June 4, 2026, for Session 2, and May – June 30, 2026, for session 3.

The exams for all 3 sessions are set to take place from:

April 23 to 28, 2026 [Session 1]
June 10 to 15, 2026 [Session 2]
July 4 to 5, 2026 [Session 3]

MET 2026

Manipal Entrance Test (MET) is a university-level engineering entrance exam conducted by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) for admission to B.Tech/B.E. and for other courses too. Offered by its campuses in Manipal, Jaipur, Sikkim, Nepal, Malaysia, Dubai, and Antigua.

MET is conducted twice a year, usually in April or May, in online mode. The application form will be available for Session 1 from September 30, 2025, to March 15, 2026, while for Session 2, the application form is expected to be released in March 2026.

The exams are set to take place in April 2026 for Session 1, and in May 2026 for Session 2.

COMEDK UGET 2026

Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka Under Graduate Entrance Test (COMEDK UGET) is a state-level engineering entrance exam conducted by COMEDK for admission to 190 Engineering colleges in B.Tech/B.E. courses in the Karnataka region.

COMEDK UGET is conducted once a year, usually in May, in online mode. The application period for COMEDK UGET 2026 is expected to start from February 2026 to April 2026, with the exam to take place in the first week of May 2026.

MHT CET 2026

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, for admission to B.Tech/B.E., B.Pharm, D.Pharm, and other UG courses offered by more than 300 pharmacy and engineering colleges in Maharashtra.

MHT CET is conducted twice a year for both PCB and PCM groups, usually in April and May, in online mode. The application process for MHT CET 2026 is expected to begin soon in December 2025 and continue till February 2026. The exam dates for both sessions and groups are:

Session 1: April 21 to 26, 2026 [PCB Group]
Session 2: May 10 and 11, 2026 [PCB Group]
Session 1: April 11 to 19, 2026 [PCM Group]
Session 2: May 14 to 17, 2026 [PCM Group]

WBJEE 2026

West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) for admission to B.Tech/B.E., B.Pharma, and other UG courses offered by more than 100 pharmacy and engineering colleges in West Bengal.

WBJEE is conducted once a year, usually in April, in offline mode. The application process for WBJEE 2026 is expected to start from the third week of January 2026 and continue till the fourth week of February 2026. The exams are expected to take place in April 2026

KCET 2026

Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) for admission to B.Tech/B.E., B. Pharm, D. Pharm, and other UG courses offered by more than 200 pharmacy and engineering colleges in Karnataka.

KCET is conducted once a year, usually in April, in offline mode. The application process for KCET 2026 is expected to start from January 2026 and continue till February 2026. The tentative dates for the exam are April 16 and 17, 2026.

KEAM 2026

Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM) is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examination (CEE), Kerala, for admission to B.Tech/B.E., B.Arch., and other UG courses offered by more than 150 engineering colleges in Kerala.

KEAM is conducted once a year, usually in April, in offline mode. The application process for KEAM 2026 is expected to start in February 2026.

Application Dates and Deadlines for Engineering Entrance Exams in 2026

The application dates and deadlines for the engineering entrance exams vary depending on the exam conducting authority and the exam schedule. However, it is advisable to keep track of the important dates and deadlines for the engineering entrance exams that you are interested in and apply well before the last date to avoid any hassle or penalty.

Here is a tentative table of the application dates and deadlines for some of the top engineering entrance exams in India:

S. No	Exams	Application Dates	Exam Dates
1	JEE Main	October 31 – November 27, 2025	January 21 to 30, 2026 [Session 1] April 2 to 9, 2026 [Session 2]
2	JEE Advanced	Third week of April 2026 to the first week of May 2026	May, 2026
3	CUET UG	1st March – 22 March 2026	May 13 to June 3, 2026
4	BITSAT	Session 1: Jan – April 18, 2026 Session 2: May 26 – June 10, 2026	May third week, 2026 [Session 1] June third week, 2026 [Session 2]
5	VITEEE	October 24, 2025 – March 31, 2026	April 28 to May 3, 2026
6	SRMJEEE	Session 1: Oct 30, 2025 – Apr 16, 2026 Session 2: March – June 4, 2026 Session 3: May – June 2026	April 23 to 28, 2026 [Session 1] June 10 to 15, 2026 [Session 2] July 4 to 5, 2026 [Session 3]
7	COMEDK	Feb – March or April 2026	May first week, 2026
8	KIITEE	Phase 1: Nov 10, 2025 – April 8, 2026 Phase 2: April – May 30, 2026 Phase 3: July 1, 2026	April third week, 2026 [Phase 1] June third week, 2026 [Phase 2] July 5 to 7, 2026 [Phase 2]
9	WBJEE	3rd week of January 2026 - 4th week of February 2026	April last week, 2026
10	MHT CET	December 2025 – February 2026	Session 1: April 21 to 26, 2026 [PCB Group] Session 2: May 10 and 11, 2026 [PCB Group] Session 1: April 11 to 19, 2026 [PCM Group] Session 2: May 14 to 17, 2026 [PCM Group]
11	MET	September 30, 2025 – March 15, 2026 March 2026	April third week, 2026 [Session 1] May third week, 2026 [Session 2]
12	NIMIMS CET	Mid-December 2025 – April 2026.	January to March, 2026 [Session 1] April to June, 2026 [Session 2]
13	KEAM	Feb – Mar 2026	April 2026

Eligibility Criteria for Engineering Entrance Exams in 2026

The eligibility criteria for the engineering entrance exams are the minimum requirements that the candidates must fulfil to be eligible to apply and appear for the exams. However, some of the common eligibility criteria for most of the engineering entrance exams are:

The candidates must have passed or appeared in the 12th standard or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects from a recognized board or university.
There is no minimum percentage required to appear for the JEE Main exam. However, candidates must have obtained a minimum aggregate percentage in the 12^th class to qualify for admission to engineering colleges.
For admission in IITs and NITs in 2026, the candidates must have secured at least 75% marks (65% for SC/ST/PwD) in the JEE Main exam or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
Candidates must have received the cut-off marks to qualify for admission, depending on the institute they apply to.
Candidates with a 3-year diploma in Engineering or a B.Sc. degree (with Mathematics) can apply for lateral entrance into the second year of the B.Tech program. A minimum of 45% marks is normally required.
The candidates must have a valid Aadhaar card or any other identity proof as specified by the exam conducting authority.
The candidates must meet the age limit and nationality criteria as specified by the desired engineering colleges.

Exam Pattern and Syllabus for Engineering Entrance Exams in 2026

Students preparing for the engineering entrance exams should be aware of the exam pattern and syllabus to prepare for the exam. The exam pattern and syllabus may vary depending on the exam conducting authority, the course, and the college.

However, some of the common features of most of the engineering entrance exams are:

The exams are conducted in online mode (except for WBJEE and KCET, which are conducted in offline mode) with multiple choice questions (MCQs) or numerical answer type (NAT) questions.
The exams are divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Some exams may also have additional sections such as Aptitude, English, Logical Reasoning, etc.
The exams have a fixed duration ranging from 2 hours to 3 hours, depending on the exam.
The exams have a fixed number of questions ranging from 75 to 200, depending on the exam.
The exams have a fixed marking scheme with positive marks for correct answers and negative marks for incorrect answers, or no marks for unattempted questions, depending on the exam.
The exams cover the topics from the Class 11 and Class 12 syllabi of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as prescribed by NCERT or CBSE, or other relevant boards.
Some exams may also cover topics from other subjects, such as Biology, Computer Science, etc.

Counselling & Seat Allotment Process for Admission in Engineering Colleges in 2026

The counselling and seat allotment process for engineering colleges is the final step of the admission process. Here are some of the common steps of most of the counselling and seat allotment processes:

The candidates need to register for the counselling and seat allotment process on the official websites of the respective exam conducting authorities or through a common portal such as JoSAA, CSAB, etc.
The candidates need to fill in their choices of colleges and courses of their preference and lock their choices before the deadline.
The candidates need to pay the counselling fee and upload the required documents, such as the rank card, mark sheet, category certificate, etc., for verification.
The candidates are allotted seats based on their rank, preference, availability, and reservation criteria.
The candidates need to download their provisional seat allotment letter and report to the allotted college for confirmation of admission and payment of the admission fee.
The candidates can also participate in subsequent rounds of counselling and seat allotment if they are not satisfied with their allotted seat or if they want to upgrade their seat.

The candidates are advised to check the official websites of the respective exam conducting authorities for the detailed and updated counselling and seat allotment process for the engineering entrance exams.

List of Top Engineering Colleges for Admission in 2026

It is important for the candidates to choose the right engineering college for admission in B.E./B.Tech program that suits their interests, aspirations, and budget.

Here are some of the top engineering colleges in India, as per NIRF ranking, are:

Colleges	Approx. Fees	Avg. Placement CTC
IIT Madras	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹18-22 LPA
IIT Delhi	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹20-25 LPA
IIT Bombay	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹21-26 LPA
IIT Kanpur	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹19-23 LPA
IIT Roorkee	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹18-22 LPA
IIT Kharagpur	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹17-21 LPA
IIT Guwahati	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹17-21 LPA
Anna University	₹2-4 lakhs	₹8-12 LPA
IIT Hyderabad	₹8-10 Lakhs	₹17-21 LPA
National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NIT Trichy)	₹5-6 Lakhs	₹10-12 LPA
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)	₹7-9 Lakhs	₹7-8 LPA
BITS Pilani	₹18-20 Lakhs	₹16-20 LPA
Delhi Technological University (DTU)	₹5-6 Lakhs	₹12-15 LPA

How can I pick the top engineering colleges?

One of the most crucial choices you will make in your career is which engineering college is best for you. The following variables can be considered while comparing several colleges.

Specialisations: The first and essential necessity is to examine whether the specific college offers the specialty you want to study.
Fees: The institute benefits from fees that fall within your budget. Verify the affordability and any related expenses.
Scholarships: Check whether the college offers scholarship opportunities during the course or not. Also, examine what the eligibility criteria are to access those scholarship perks.
Rankings and awards: Determine if the institute has consistently performed at the top of the engineering category. The accreditation and ranking of the college by various agencies, such as NBA, NAAC, NIRF, etc.
Location: Students from all over the nation frequently attend colleges situated in large cities. As a result, students at those universities can have a positive campus experience.
Placement: Students should take a look at the placement record and average salary package offered by their chosen college.
Faculty: Check the faculty quality and student-faculty ratio of the college.
Infrastructure: Check the infrastructure and facilities of the college, such as labs, libraries, hostels, sports, etc.
Curriculum: The curriculum and pedagogy of the college, such as academic flexibility, industry exposure, research opportunities, etc.

Why choose GN Group of Institutes for a Career in Engineering?

Apart from these colleges, GN Group of Institutes is one of the top destinations where students can seek admission in engineering courses in a wide range of specializations.

GN Group of Institutes had an independent department to look after the engineering program. To offer each stream of engineering study, GN Group had two independent colleges, i.e., Greater Noida College and Greater Noida Institute of Technology, offering different programs affiliated with the independent bodies AKTU and GGSIPU.

Greater Noida College, which is affiliated with AKTU, offers a B.Tech program specialization in computer science, artificial intelligence, AI and ML, and Data Science.

Greater Noida Institute of Technology, which is affiliated with GGSIP University, offers a B.Tech program in specializations of AI and ML and computer science.

B.Tech Admission at GN Group of Institutes

Candidates are shortlisted based on their scores in an entrance exam, like JEE Main, CUET UG, BITSAT, or others. Also, students can take admission directly through the management quota seats. They can also apply for lateral entry through the LEET scores.

Conclusion

Preparing for engineering entrance exams and choosing the right engineering college and course can be challenging and stressful for many candidates. However, with proper planning, guidance, and hard work, it can be made easier and enjoyable.

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FAQs for When Engineering Colleges Start Admissions for 2026: Registration, Entrance Exam, Dates

Q1. How much score in JEE Mains is required to get admission in an engineering college?

To get admission in an engineering college, an expected cut-off score is required, which varies within categories, like 94+ for the General category, 55+ to 40+ for SC/ST, and 74+ for EWS.

Q2. Are the Engineering Fees offered is same in all engineering colleges?

Government, state, and central engineering colleges typically have lower fees, while private colleges may charge a higher fee to admit students.

Q3. When does engineering admission start to take place?

The admission process for B.Tech programs at most engineering colleges in India normally begins in March, and it continues till May each year. This may vary from college to college.

Q4. Can a student apply to multiple engineering colleges for admission at the same time?

Yes, students can apply to as many engineering colleges for admission in B.Tech. However, it is up to you to pick one that suits your needs.

Q5. Which engineering college had the lowest engineering fees?

Most of the engineering colleges with low fees belong to the Government category. Private colleges may charge a hefty fee, but they also provide good placement opportunities.

Q6. What are the basic admission requirements for engineering courses?

Students need to have completed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as their core subjects, achieving a minimum aggregate grade point average of 60%. It may vary from college to college.

Q7. Can I take admission in an engineering course with a gap of two years after passing the intermediate class?

Yes, a student can take admission in engineering at any point in time by fulfilling the maximum age criteria and eligibility.

Q8. Are scholarships offered by engineering colleges?

Top engineering colleges like GN Group of Institutes primarily offer scholarships to motivate students and encourage them to perform better and engage in research.

Q9. Do engineering colleges offer education loans?

Primarily, engineering colleges do not provide education loans, but they have close ties with banks to facilitate education loans for students to pay their fees.

Q10. Can I be permitted to withdraw from my admission after getting enrolled?

Yes, you can withdraw from your admission in an engineering college, but the refunds of your fee may take some time with deductions. Withdrawal of admission and fees refund is subject to the college rules and regulations.

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When Engineering Colleges Start Admissions for 2026: Registration, Entrance Exam, Dates