XAT 2026 Registration, Exam Date, Pattern: XLRI Professor Shares

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) 2026 is set to be conducted on January 4, 2026, with registration currently open at xatonline.in. The process began earlier this month and will continue until December 5, 2025. On Thursday, Dr Rahul Kumar Shukla, Professor at XLRI Jamshedpur, addressed aspirants and shared key details about the exam, eligibility, and preparation strategies.

XAT 2026 Registration Details

• Conducting Body: XLRI Jamshedpur on behalf of XAMI
• Mode: Online application at xatonline.in
• Last Date to Apply: December 5, 2025
• Exam Date: January 4, 2026

Candidates must create an account, provide accurate details, upload documents, and pay the application fee to complete the process.

Eligibility Criteria

• A bachelor’s degree of at least three years from a recognised university is mandatory.
• Final-year students may also apply, provided they complete their degree by June 12, 2026.
• No age restrictions apply.

Courses Offered Through XAT

XAT scores are accepted by over 250 institutes, including XLRI’s flagship programs:

• PGDM-BM (Business Management)
• PGDM-HRM (Human Resource Management)
• PGDM-GM (General Management)
• PGDM-LSCM (Logistics and Supply Chain Management, in collaboration with Rutgers Business School, USA)

XAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The exam will remain computer-based, with no major changes from last year.

• Part 1 (170 minutes): Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation
• Part 2 (10 minutes): General Awareness
• Essay Writing: Not included in 2026

Key Insights from XLRI Professor

Dr Rahul Shukla emphasised that XAT is a test of analytical and decision-making skills, not rote learning. He highlighted the importance of the unique Decision-Making section, which differentiates XAT from CAT.

Preparation Tips Shared

• Build strong fundamentals in QA, DI, VARC, and Decision Making.
• Practice with previous year papers to understand question trends.
• Read newspapers and business magazines regularly for General Awareness.
• Attempt mock tests under timed conditions for better time management.
• Focus on judgment skills for decision-making rather than just formula-based solving.

Difficulty Level Compared to CAT

According to Dr Shukla, XAT is designed to be fair and balanced across academic backgrounds. While it shares some similarities with CAT in quantitative and verbal sections, the Decision-Making component makes XAT unique.

Diversity Encouraged

XAT is open to candidates from all educational backgrounds – engineering, commerce, arts, or science – with or without work experience. XLRI encourages diversity in its classrooms, making it an inclusive entrance exam.