India’s MBA selection process is done in stages, but most schools accept applications in May or June, and classes start in July or August. But the process starts in July or August when people sign up for the MBA entrance test. There are many public and private MBA schools in all of India’s states that people can choose from. The main ways to get into an MBA program are through an application test, a group discussion (GD), and a personal interview (PI). People who want to get an MBA can start filling out the entry forms for the business schools they want to attend so that, once they pass the entrance test, they can submit their applications for admission.
Several business schools are now accepting applications for the 2025 academic year. The XAT 2025 application process began on July 15, 2025, and now students can start applying for seats in the school year 2025. The registration process for CAT 2025, NMAT 2025, and SNAP 2025 began in August 2025.
MBA entrance exam 2025 Important Dates
See below for the due dates for the top MBA entry tests that will take place from November 2025 to January 2025.
| Entrance Exam | Registration Last Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | September 20, 2025 |
| SNAP 2025 | November 22, 2025 |
| SNAP 2025 | October 10, 2025 |
| XAT 2025 | November 30, 2025 |
If someone wants to get an MBA, they should mostly think about which management course they want to take because that will help them get the job they want. The MBA college should be the second factor. To make this choice, you need to learn a lot about each MBA school and the classes it offers. Other important things to think about are whether or not the school is recognized by the government, the admissions process, the tuition fee, the number of dorms, the way the school teaches, the facilities, job placements, and so on. These things should be used to narrow down the list of schools for an MBA or PGDM program.
After making the list, the next step is to find out how they choose students for the MBA program. Many MBA schools choose applicants based on their scores on the standard entrance test, while others choose applicants based on their GPA.
Institutes look at a candidate’s traits that can’t be judged by their grades or how well they did on an entrance test (CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP) through GD/PI. They look at the candidate’s psychological traits, such as their business sense, management skills, leadership abilities, communication skills, confidence, attitude, and other traits that make a good business manager.
These business schools are the most well-known and ranked in India. They are called the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). If you want to get into an IIM, you have to take the CAT 2025 test. It is the only way to get into an IIM for PGP or MBA classes. The other tests you can take are XAT, MAT, SNAP, NMAT, ATMA, and CMAT.
MBA Admissions 2025: Application Deadline
Besides the IIMs, these are some of the most well-known MBA schools that you can try to get into. These schools accept applications online based on scores from the MBA entrance test. So, people who want to get into MBA programs need to choose the college they want to attend and start getting ready for the admissions process, which includes filling out the entrance test form, the college application form, passing the entrance exam, and taking part in the GD/PI. The last day to apply to most business schools for the 2025 class is now over. The time to sign up for 2025 will start in October 2025.
| MBA College | MBA Exam Score Accepted | Application status MBA/PGDM 2025 batch |
|---|---|---|
| Birla Institute of Management Technology, Noida | CAT, GMAT | Open |
| MDI Gurgaon | CAT, GMAT | Open |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | CAT, GMAT | Open |
| JK Business School | CAT, MAT, CMAT | Open |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | CAT, XAT, CMAT | Open |
| Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute Of Management | CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA | Open |
| IPE Hyderabad | CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, MAT | Open |
| IFMR – Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR GSB), Sri City | CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, GRE | Open |
| Fortune Institute of International Business (FIIB) | CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, MAT | Open |
| EMPI Business School | CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA | Open |
| Lloyd Business School Noida | CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT | Open |
| Thiagarajar School of Management | CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT, ATMA | Open |
| International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Open |
| International Management Institute, Kolkata | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Open |
| IMT Ghaziabad | CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT | Open |
| Vijay Patil School of Management | CAT, XAT, GMAT, GRE | Open |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA | Open |
| KIIT SOM | CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT, KIITEE MBA | Open |
| Christ University | CUET | Open |
| Indian School of Business (ISB) | GMAT, GRE | Open |
| Amity Business School | MAT, CMAT, GMAT, NMAT, CAT, XAT | Open |
| Symbiosis International University (Deemed) | SNAP | Open |
| XLRI, Jamshedpur | XAT, GMAT | Open |
| ITM Business School | CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, MAH-CET | Open APPLY NOW |
| Asia-Pacific Institute of Management | CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT | Open APPLY NOW |
| Alliance School of Business, Alliance University | CAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT, SNAP, KMAT, MAT, CMAT, IBSAT, ALLIANCE-AMAT | Open APPLY NOW |
| FMS Delhi University | CAT | To open soon |
| Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune | CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, AIET | To open soon |
| Crescent School of Business | CAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAT, GMAT, TANCET and CSBAT | To open soon |
| IIFT Delhi | IIFT Entrance Exam | To open soon |
MBA Colleges in India: Admission Process & Selection Criteria
When people think of the best MBA schools in India, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the first ones that come to mind. The 21 sites of the best MBA school are the most sought after. They are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode. Over two lakh people who want to get an MBA take the CAT every year. The IIM gives the CAT as a standard entrance exam for people who want to get into MBA, PGDM, or PGP programs. The CAT test and WAT/PI are part of the process for getting into IIMs.
Tests to Get into an MBA Program in 2025
MBA applications for 2025–2027 at some business schools are now open. So, now is the time to apply if you want to get your MBA and plan to do so this year. The following tests can be used to get into an MBA program this session and the next:
- CAT
- XAT
- CMAT
- SNAP
- MAT
- ATMA
- KMAT
- IBSAT
- NMAT
How to Get into IIM in 2025
CAT is used to decide who gets into IIM. As soon as the CAT results are out, the 21 IIMs look at the test takers based on their score and school history. There will be a set CAT cut-off score for each IIM that will be used to choose the best candidates. People who meet the requirements (CAT cut off) are chosen to take the Group Discussion/Written Ability Test (GD/WAT) and the Personal Interview (PI). The final choice is made based on how well the candidate did generally in areas like schoolwork, the CAT test, the GD/WAT-PI, and work experience.
IIM Admissions and Selection Criteria 2025
The following are some of the factors that go into choosing people for IIM WAT/GD-PI:
- CAT score
- Class 10 Marks
- Class 12 Marks
- Graduation Marks
Once the WAT/GD-PI is over, each candidate’s “Composite Score” is found by adding up the points they got on different factors.
How final decisions are made about and she gets into IIM
- CAT score
- Score on the WAT or GD-PI
- Class 10 Marks
- Class 12 Marks
- Graduation Marks
- Gender diversity
- Academic diversity
- Work experience
Each IIM gives each of the above parameters a different amount of weight.
How to Get into India’s Best MBA Schools That Aren’t IIMs
The following top MBA schools all use the same admissions process: an entrance test, a WAT/GD, and a PI. However, they will accept scores from more than one entry exam. There is no uniform counseling for getting into MBA schools, so people who want to get into one have to apply to each one separately.
How to get into and get picked for top MBA programs
As we already said, the process for getting into an MBA program includes an application exam and then a GD/PI. But different MBA schools take various test grades. The list of the best MBA schools and the test scores they accept are shown below in a table. In the table, it is also shown if these schools do GD/PI or not.
| MBA College Name | MBA Entrance Exam | Group Discussion/Personal Interview (GD/PI) |
|---|---|---|
| Management Development Institute, Gurgaon | CAT/GMAT | Yes |
| Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi | CAT | Yes |
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi | CAT/GMAT | Yes |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai | MAH-CET | Yes |
| Narsee Monji Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai | NMAT by GMAC | Yes |
| SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, Mumbai | CAT/XAT/GMAT | Yes |
| XLRI-Xavier School of Management | XAT/GMAT | Yes |
| Institute of Management Technology | CAT/XAT/CMAT/GMAT | Yes |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management | SNAP | Yes |
| Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research | CAT/XAT/ATMA/CMAT/GMAT | Yes |
| IRMA, Anand | CAT/XAT and IRMASAT | Yes |
| MICA, Ahmedabad | CAT/XAT/CMAT and MICAT | Yes |
List of Indian MBA schools ranked by entrance exam
Here is a list of MBA schools in India that accept different scores on qualifying exams. Before you choose a college for your MBA, look at all of them.
What is the process for getting into an MBA program in India?
The usual steps for getting into an MBA program in India are a general entrance test, a Written Ability Test (WAT) or essay writing, a Group Discussion (GD), and a Personal Interview (PI). After the qualifying test, the WAT-PI-GD round takes place. Those who pass the entrance test are the only ones who are invited to the WAT, GD, and PI. The candidate’s final acceptance is based on how well they do in these rounds.
Do I have to take an entrance test to get into an MBA program?
Yes, you need to get a certain number on an entrance exam to get into full-time MBA and Executive MBA programs at Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 MBA institutes. This means that taking an MBA entrance test is necessary to get into a good college. People who want to get in can choose from entrance tests at the national, state, and university levels. They can look up which tests will get them into the MBA school they want and then take those tests after studying.
Which are the best MBA application tests to get into the best schools?
The CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, IIFT, NMAT, SNAP, and ATMA are some of the best in India for getting into MBA programs. People who want to get into a good MBA school can choose to take these tests. These are national tests to get into MBA programs. These are some of the best state-level MBA tests: OJEE, APICET, KMAT Karnataka, KMAT Kerala, KHMAT, and MAH MBA CET. People can take the entrance test for their home state to get into a state university or school.
What does MBA Counselling mean?
Common entrance exams like Mah CET, TSICET, APICET, TANCET, and others are given by state level higher education boards to people who want to get into MBA programs. Candidates are then given seats in state level schools and universities based on their test scores. The act of giving out seats is called “counseling.” This method is only used for applications at the state level. Private business schools and national MBA programs do not take part in state counseling. They have their own rounds of choosing.
How do I choose a good MBA school?
Here are some things to think about when choosing an MBA school:
Rank, Certification, and Area of Expertise
Course Content and Methods of Teaching
Interface with the industry Placement record infrastructure
Course Type: Degree or diploma
Course Fee
Location
How much does it cost to get an MBA?
The cost of an MBA in India is usually between 5 lakh and 40 lakh rupees. When compared to private schools, the fees at government schools and colleges are cheap. You will have to pay the fee in installments, one for each term. A lot of schools offer grants and help with schoolwork through nationalized banks to students who do well.
Is there a difference between how to get into a Full-Time MBA and a Distance MBA?
Yes, the process for getting into a full-time MBA program usually includes an entry test and a GD/WAT-PI. Most institutes that offer distance MBA programs also use the entrance exam and academic profile to decide who gets in. In many schools, the process for getting into a distance MBA program doesn’t even include an application test. Candidates can get straight entry based on their work and school records.
How is GD/PI done now that COVID is over?
Most schools got rid of group discussions during the COVID era and only did personal interviews over video calls. In some cases, writing a college essay that had to be sent via email was also done. Some schools held extempore online. During the height of the COVID era, some schools, like FMS, only looked at the scores on applicants’ entry exams. This year, though, B-Schools are going back to doing GD/PI the way they did before COVID, which means talking to people in person.
Should I go to a private MBA school or a government MBA school?
The MBA school you choose will rely on your grades, entrance test score, job goals, and finances. The cost of an MBA at most private schools ranges from INR 7 to 20 lakh, but they tend to have better facilities and a better track record of getting students jobs than government colleges. The fee is generally less at government schools. But an individual should also think about where the college they want to attend is located. Some students might not have the help they need to stay in a different place while they take the course.
Do all MBA programs have personal interviews and group discussions?
Group discussions and one-on-one interviews are what most private MBA programs do. There are, however, some Tier-3 schools that only accept students based on how well they did on the entrance test. On the other hand, many government colleges choose students through counseling, where candidates are given seats based on their test scores and the schools they want to attend.
When is the last day to apply for an MBA for the class of 2025?
If you want to get an MBA, there is no end date. But the schools are required to finish the admissions process by July at the latest and start classes by August at the latest. Since MBA entrance tests happen all year, you can plan to get into an MBA program at any time and pick an entry exam and colleges based on their schedules.
