India · Education Pathways Reference
Higher Education Entrance Examination Details
A single reference map of India's school, undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and defence entrance examinations — organised by stage, stream and month.
Disclaimer
This information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered official advice, a guarantee of admission, or a substitute for information published by the relevant institution or government authority.
Section A
Master list
The complete stage-by-stage map of exams covered in this reference, from school admission through to doctoral research and defence entry.
School Admission
AISSEE, JNVST, RMS CET, SHRESHTA-NETS, plus key state residential school tests.
Class 10 → Class 11/12 & Diploma
State higher-secondary selection (where applicable), Polytechnic Diploma CETs (state-wise), ITI admission routes, vocational/defence school pathways.
Class 12 → UG largest section
JEE Main/Advanced, BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, MET, COMEDK UGET, State CETs; NEET UG (MBBS/BDS/AYUSH/BVSc), CUET UG (central/participating universities), CLAT UG/AILET/SLAT, IPMAT/JIPMAT, NATA/JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning), NIFT/NID DAT/UCEED (design), NCHM JEE (hotel management), ICAR/CUET-based Agriculture, NDA/Naval Academy (defence after 12), IMU-CET (maritime), ITEP/NCET (teacher education), plus streams for Fine/Performing Arts, Journalism, Psychology, Economics, Biotech, Fisheries, Forestry, Paramedical/Allied Health, Computer Applications, etc.
UG → PG (general)
CUET PG, university/state/institute PG entrances (MA/MSc/MCom/MCA/MS/M.Ed/MPH etc.).
Engineering UG → PG
GATE (M.Tech/ME/MS/Research; also PSU eligibility), plus institute-specific M.Tech routes where applicable.
Management UG → MBA/PGDM
CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT (now via CUET PG route), MICAT, IBSAT, state MBA CETs.
Law UG → PG
CLAT PG, AILET PG, university LLM entrances.
Medical UG → PG
NEET PG, INI-CET (AIIMS/JIPMER/PGI etc.), NEET MDS, NEET SS/INI-SS (super-specialty).
AYUSH UG → PG
AIAPGET (MD/MS in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy).
Pharmacy / Life Sciences / Biotech
GPAT (Pharmacy), GAT-B (Biotech), BET (DBT), university entrances.
Agriculture UG → PG
ICAR AIEEA (PG), state agri PG entrances, university routes.
UG/PG → Teaching/Education
B.Ed entrances (state/university), M.Ed entrances, integrated teacher education (ITEP via NCET).
UG/PG → PhD/Research
UGC-NET, CSIR-UGC NET, GATE, JEST, ICAR, NBHM, DHR-BRET, BET, university PhD entrances; distinction between eligibility/fellowship vs entrance.
Defence pathway
NDA (after 12), CDS (after graduation), plus technical entries; clear separation of education vs officer selection.
Government recruitment not college entrance
UPSC CSE, SSC CGL, Banking (IBPS/SBI), RRB, State PSCs — clearly labelled as recruitment.
State-wise CETs & admissions
Engineering, Medical, Agriculture, Law, MBA, UG/PG university entrances, Polytechnic, Teacher Education — covered for all states/UTs.
University/Institute-specific
IITs/NITs/IIITs (via JEE/GATE), IISc/IISER/NISER (via JEE/NEET/own tests as applicable), AIIMS/JIPMER (via NEET/INI-CET), BITS/VIT/SRM/Manipal (own entrances), DU/JNU/BHU/AMU/JMI/HCU (via CUET or stated routes), NLUs (CLAT), IIMs (CAT etc.).
Section B
School-level entrance exams
| Exam | Full form | Entry stage (class) | Conducting authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| AISSEE | All India Sainik Schools Entrance Exam | Class VI & IX | Sainik Schools Society (via NTA platform) |
| JNVST | Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test | Class VI | Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti |
| RMS CET | Rashtriya Military Schools Common Entrance Test | Class VI | Directorate General of Military Schools (DGMS) |
| SHRESHTA-NETS | National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA scheme (EBC students) | Class VI & IX | NTA (for NETS) + State/Minority bodies for SHRESHTA |
| State Residential School Tests | Varies by state (e.g., Gurukul/Morcha/etc.) | Class V/VI/IX | State Tribal/Education Departments |
Section C
Class 10 → Class 11/12 & Diploma pathways
- Government/State Higher Secondary admissions: Many states use Class 10 marks; some have state selection tests for specific higher-secondary schools (verify per state).
- Polytechnic Diploma (after Class 10): State CETs (names vary: e.g., JEECUP in UP, DCECE in Bihar, PECT in Punjab, etc.). Eligibility: Class 10 pass with minimum marks in PCM; age limits vary by state.
- ITI admissions: State Directorate of Employment & Training (DET) portals; often merit-based on Class 10 marks; some states conduct tests.
- Vocational education: State boards/NSDC-affiliated routes; admission typically via school/ITI/polytechnic notices.
- Defence-oriented school pathways: NDA is after Class 12; at Class 10 stage, focus is on choosing Science (PCM) for future NDA/Naval Academy eligibility.
Section D
Class 12 → UG
The largest section of the master list. Expand a stream below for its exams, eligibility, age limits, pattern and counselling route.
Engineering & Technology 8 exams
| Exam | Courses | Participating institutes | Eligibility (subjects) | Age limit | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | B.E./B.Tech; B.Arch (Paper 2); B.Planning (Paper 2) | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs; also state/private universities accepting JEE Main | 12th with PCM; 75% aggregate (or top 20% in board) for NITs/IIITs/GFTIs | As per brochure (no upper limit in recent years) | CBT; 3 subjects; negative marking | JoSAA (NITs/IIITs/GFTIs); CSAB (GFTIs); state/private counselling |
| JEE Advanced | B.Tech/BS/Integrated M.Tech | IITs, IISc (some programs) | Qualify JEE Main; 12th PCM; age/date-of-birth criteria per year | Yes (DoB window) | CBT + sometimes paper components; negative marking | JoSAA (IITs) |
| BITSAT | B.E./B.Tech; B.Pharm; M.Sc (integrated) | BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad | 12th PCM/PCB; minimum PCM/PCB marks per brochure | No upper limit typically | CBT; no negative marking | BITS counselling |
| VITEEE | B.Tech | VIT Vellore, Chennai, Amaravati, Bhopal | 12th PCM/PCB; minimum marks | No upper limit | CBT | VIT counselling |
| SRMJEEE | B.Tech | SRM Institutes (Kattankulathur, Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Trichy, Sonepat, Gangtok, Haryana, AP) | 12th PCM/PCB | No upper limit | CBT | SRM counselling |
| MET (Manipal Entrance Test) | B.Tech | Manipal Institute of Technology (Manipal, Bengaluru, Jaipur) | 12th PCM | No upper limit | CBT | Manipal counselling |
| COMEDK UGET | B.E./B.Tech | Karnataka private colleges (COMEDK members) | 12th PCM; Karnataka domicile rules for certain quotas | No upper limit | CBT | COMEDK counselling |
| State CETs (examples) | B.E./B.Tech | State government/private colleges | 12th PCM; domicile requirements | Varies | CBT | State counselling (e.g., KEAM, TS EAMCET, AP EAPCET, WBJEE, MHT CET, KCET, etc.) |
Medical & Health Sciences 7 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility (subjects) | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BSMS, BUMS, BVSc & AH, B.Sc Nursing (some states), Allied Health (varies) | Govt & private medical/dental/AYUSH/veterinary/nursing colleges across India | 12th PCB; minimum PCB marks (50% Gen; 40% reserved) | 17+ by 31 Dec of admission year | CBT; negative marking | MCC (AIQ), State counselling, AYUSH counselling, BVSc counselling |
| AIIMS MBBS | Via NEET UG | AIIMS (all) | Same as NEET UG | Same | NEET UG | MCC AIQ |
| JIPMER MBBS | Via NEET UG | JIPMER Puducherry & Karaikal | Same as NEET UG | Same | NEET UG | MCC AIQ |
| State Medical Admissions | MBBS/BDS | State medical colleges | NEET UG qualified; domicile rules | Same | NEET UG | State counselling |
| Nursing (varies) | B.Sc Nursing | Govt & private nursing colleges | 12th PCB; some via NEET, some via state/university tests | Varies | NEET or state test | State/Institute counselling |
| Pharmacy (D.Pharm/B.Pharm) | D.Pharm/B.Pharm | Pharmacy colleges | 12th PCM/PCB; state/university entrances or merit | Varies | State CET / University test | State/Institute counselling |
| Allied Health Sciences | BPT, BOT, B.Sc MLT, Radiography, etc. | Universities/colleges | 12th PCB/PCM; university/state tests | Varies | University/state test | Institute counselling |
Central/General University UG 1 exam
| Exam | Courses | Universities | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUET UG | BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA, integrated programs, etc. | 45+ Central Universities (DU, JNU, BHU, AMU, JMI, HCU, etc.) + many state/deemed/private | 12th pass/appearing; university-specific % requirements | No NTA age limit | CBT; domain subjects + languages | University-wise counselling/admission |
Law 4 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT UG | 5-year BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB | 22 NLUs (NB: NLU Delhi uses AILET) | 12th pass; minimum % (varies by NLU) | No upper limit (check brochure) | CBT; comprehension/legal reasoning | Consortium of NLUs counselling |
| AILET | 5-year BA LLB | NLU Delhi | 12th pass; minimum % | No upper limit | CBT/Pen-paper (check brochure) | NLU Delhi counselling |
| SLAT | 5-year LLB | Symbiosis Law Schools | 12th pass | No upper limit | CBT + PI/WAT | Symbiosis counselling |
| Other law entrances | LLB (3-year after graduation) & integrated | State universities, private | 12th/Graduation | Varies | University test | Institute counselling |
Management (integrated after 12) 4 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPMAT | 5-year BBA+MBA (IIMs) | IIM Rohtak, IIM Indore, IIM Jammu (varies by year) | 12th pass; math requirements vary by IIM | Varies by IIM | CBT + PI/WAT | IIM counselling |
| JIPMAT | 5-year BBA+MBA | IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu | 12th pass | Varies | CBT + PI/WAT | IIM counselling |
| NPAT | BBA | NMIMS & other NMIMS campuses | 12th pass | No upper limit | CBT | NMIMS counselling |
| SET | BBA | Symbiosis | 12th pass | No upper limit | CBT + GE-PI | Symbiosis counselling |
Architecture & Planning 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEE Main Paper 2 | B.Arch, B.Planning | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, some state/private | 12th with Mathematics; additional aptitude/drawing | No upper limit | CBT (Maths, Aptitude, Drawing) | JoSAA/CSAB/State |
| NATA | B.Arch | Most AICTE-recognized architecture colleges | 12th with Mathematics; or 10+3 Diploma with Math | No upper limit | CBT + Drawing test | State/Institute counselling |
| Other architecture entrances | B.Arch/B.Planning | State universities | 12th with Math/Diploma | Varies | State test | State counselling |
Design / Fashion 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIFT Entrance Exam | B.Des, B.F.Tech, B.A. (Fashion) | NIFT campuses | 12th pass; age limits per category | Yes (category-wise) | CAT (CBT) + GAT + Situation Test/PI | NIFT counselling |
| NID DAT | B.Des, M.Des | NID Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, etc. | 12th pass; age criteria per brochure | Yes | DAT Prelims (qualifying) + Mains (Studio + In-Person Sensitivity) | NID counselling |
| UCEED | B.Des | IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Roorkee; IIITDM Jabalpur | 12th pass; age as per brochure | Yes | Part A (CBT) + Part B (Drawing) | Institute counselling |
Hotel Management / Hospitality 2 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCHM JEE | B.Sc Hospitality & Hotel Administration | IHMs (Central/State/Private) | 12th pass (any stream) | Varies | CBT | NCHMCT counselling |
| Institute-specific | B.Sc/BBA in Hospitality | Private hotel management institutes | 12th pass | Varies | Institute test | Institute counselling |
Agriculture 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICAR AIEEA (UG) | B.Sc Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Agri Engg | ICAR-affiliated colleges | 12th PCB/PCM (as per course) | Varies | CBT | ICAR counselling |
| CUET-based Agri | B.Sc Agriculture | Central/State universities offering Agriculture via CUET | 12th PCB/PCM | Varies | CUET UG domain subjects | University counselling |
| State Agri entrances | B.Sc Agriculture | State agricultural universities | 12th PCB/PCM; domicile | Varies | State test | State counselling |
Defence (after Class 12) 2 entries
| Exam | Courses/Entry | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA & NA | Army/Navy/Air Force wings; Naval Academy | NDA Khadakwasla; INA Ezhimala | 12th pass (PCM for Navy/Air Force) | 16.5–19.5 years | UPSC written + SSB interview + Medical | UPSC + SSB + Medical |
| 10+2 Cadet Entry (Navy) | INA | Indian Naval Academy | 12th PCM | As per notification | SSB + Medical | SSB + Medical |
Maritime / Shipping 1 exam
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMU-CET | B.Sc Nautical Science, B.Tech Marine Engg, etc. | IMU campuses & affiliated maritime institutes | 12th PCM/PCB (course-specific) | Varies | CBT | IMU counselling |
Teacher Education (integrated) 1 exam
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Age | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCET (NTA) | 4-year ITEP (Integrated Teacher Education Programme) | Selected universities/colleges | 12th pass | Varies | CBT | University/State counselling |
Other UG categories (selected national routes)
- Fine/Performing Arts, Music, Sports: Mostly institute/university auditions or state university entrances (verify per university).
- Journalism & Mass Communication: University-specific entrances (e.g., IIMC PG, but UG varies by university).
- Social Sciences, Liberal Arts, Psychology, Economics: CUET UG (central universities), plus university tests for private/deemed.
- Biotechnology, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary: NEET UG (BVSc), ICAR/university routes for others.
- Paramedical/Allied Health: State/university entrances.
- Computer Applications (BCA): CUET UG, state CETs, university tests.
Section E
UG → PG (general master's)
| Exam | Courses | Participating institutions | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUET PG | MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MCA, MS, M.Ed, MPH, etc. | Central, state, deemed, private universities | Bachelor's degree (minimum % per university) | CBT; domain papers | University counselling |
| University-specific PG entrances | MA/MSc/MCom/MCA etc. | State/private/deemed universities | Bachelor's degree | Varies | Institute counselling |
Section F
Professional PG entrances
Postgraduate entrances organised by professional field. Expand a field for its exams, eligibility and counselling routes.
Engineering UG → PG 1 exam
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GATE | M.Tech, M.E., MS, Research | IITs, NITs, IIITs, IISc, many state/private | B.E./B.Tech or equivalent; final year allowed | CBT | M.Tech admissions; PSU recruitment; PhD eligibility |
Management UG → MBA/PGDM 11 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Selection steps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | MBA/PGDM | IIMs + many B-schools | Bachelor's degree; minimum % | CBT | CAT + WAT/GD + PI |
| XAT | MBA | XLRI & XAMI members | Bachelor's degree | CBT | XAT + GD + PI |
| CMAT | MBA | AICTE-approved B-schools | Bachelor's degree | CBT | CMAT + PI/WAT |
| MAT | MBA | Many private B-schools | Bachelor's degree | CBT/PBT | MAT + PI |
| GMAT | MBA (global/Indian) | International & Indian B-schools | Bachelor's degree | CBT | GMAT + PI/WAT |
| SNAP | MBA | Symbiosis | Bachelor's degree | CBT | SNAP + GE-PI |
| NMAT | MBA | NMIMS & others | Bachelor's degree | CBT | NMAT + PI |
| IIFT | MBA (International Business) | IIFT (now via CUET PG route) | Bachelor's degree | CUET PG (verify current year) | CUET PG + PI/WAT |
| MICAT | MBA (Creative/Marketing focus) | MICA | Bachelor's degree | CBT + Descriptive + GE-PI | MICAT + GE-PI |
| IBSAT | MBA | ICFAI Business Schools | Bachelor's degree | CBT | IBSAT + PI |
| State MBA CETs | MBA | State B-schools | Bachelor's degree; domicile | CBT | State counselling + PI |
Law UG → PG 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT PG | LLM | NLUs (except NLU Delhi) | LLB degree; minimum % | CBT | Consortium counselling |
| AILET PG | LLM | NLU Delhi | LLB degree | CBT/Pen-paper | NLU Delhi counselling |
| University LLM entrances | LLM | State/private universities | LLB degree | Varies | Institute counselling |
Medical UG → PG 4 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEET PG | MD, MS | Govt & private medical colleges (except INIs) | MBBS degree; internship completion | CBT | MCC/State counselling |
| INI-CET | MD, MS | AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER, NIMHANS | MBBS degree | CBT | INI counselling |
| NEET MDS | MDS | Dental colleges | BDS degree | CBT | MCC/State counselling |
| NEET SS / INI-SS | DM, MCh (super-specialty) | Medical institutes | MD/MS (or equivalent) | CBT | MCC/INI counselling |
AYUSH UG → PG 1 exam
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIAPGET | MD/MS (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Homoeopathy) | AYUSH colleges nationwide | BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS | CBT | AIQ + State counselling |
Pharmacy / Life Sciences / Biotechnology 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPAT | M.Pharm | AICTE-approved pharmacy colleges | B.Pharm | CBT | M.Pharm admissions; some fellowships |
| GAT-B | M.Sc Biotech (DBT-supported) | Participating universities | Bachelor's in relevant field | CBT | M.Sc Biotech admissions |
| BET (DBT) | PhD/Research eligibility in Biotech | Universities/Institutes | M.Sc/M.Tech in Biotech/life sciences | CBT | PhD eligibility/fellowship |
Agriculture UG → PG 2 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICAR AIEEA (PG) | M.Sc Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Fisheries, Agri Engg | ICAR-affiliated universities | B.Sc Agriculture or equivalent | CBT | ICAR counselling |
| State Agri PG entrances | M.Sc Agriculture | State agricultural universities | B.Sc Agriculture | Varies | State counselling |
UG → Teaching / Education 3 exams
| Exam | Courses | Institutes | Eligibility | Pattern | Counselling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Ed entrances | B.Ed | State universities, private colleges | Bachelor's degree; minimum % | State/university test | State/Institute counselling |
| M.Ed entrances | M.Ed | Universities | B.Ed + Bachelor's; minimum % | University test | Institute counselling |
| ITEP (4-year) | Integrated Teacher Education | Selected universities | 12th pass | NCET (NTA) | University counselling |
Section G
PG → PhD / Research
| Exam | Field | Uses | Conducting authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGC-NET | Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Management | Assistant Professor eligibility; JRF; PhD admission (exempt written test in many universities) | NTA |
| CSIR-UGC NET | Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences | JRF; PhD eligibility in science | NTA |
| GATE | Engineering, Technology, Architecture, Science (some papers) | M.Tech admissions; PSU recruitment; PhD eligibility | IITs/IISc (via GATE office) |
| JEST | Theoretical Physics (and related) | PhD admissions (IISc/IITs/others) | JEST Society |
| ICAR AICE (PhD) | Agriculture | PhD admissions in ICAR institutes | ICAR |
| BET (DBT) | Biotechnology | PhD eligibility/fellowship | DBT |
| DHR-BRET | Biomedical Research | PhD eligibility/fellowship | DHR |
| NBHM Doctoral Scholarship | Mathematics | PhD fellowship/eligibility | NBHM |
| University PhD entrances | All fields | PhD admissions | Universities |
Section H
Defence entrance/selection examinations
| Exam | Entry stage | Wings | Eligibility | Age | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDA & NA | After Class 12 | Army, Navy, Air Force; Naval Academy | 12th (PCM for Navy/Air Force) | 16.5–19.5 | UPSC written + SSB + Medical |
| CDS | After Graduation | IMA, INA, AFA, OTA | Bachelor's degree (Engineering for INA; Physics+Math at 12th for AFA) | 19–25 (varies by academy) | UPSC written + SSB + Medical |
| Technical entries (e.g., TGC, SSC Tech) | After B.E./B.Tech | Army/Navy/Air Force technical branches | B.E./B.Tech | Varies | SSB + Medical |
Section J
University / Institute-specific entrances
- IITs: B.Tech via JEE Advanced; M.Tech via GATE; PhD via institute tests/NET/GATE/JRF.
- NITs/IIITs/GFTIs: B.Tech via JEE Main; M.Tech via GATE; PhD via institute tests/NET/GATE.
- IISc: B.Sc (Research)/B.Tech (Mathematics & Computing) via JEE; M.Tech/PhD via GATE/NET/JRF/institute tests.
- IISERs: BS-MS via IAT (IISER Aptitude Test) or JEE/NEET/KVPY (check current year); PhD via institute tests/NET/GATE.
- NISER: Integrated M.Sc via NEST (verify current status) or JEE/NEET routes (check brochure).
- AIIMS/JIPMER/PGIMER/NIMHANS: MBBS via NEET UG; MD/MS via INI-CET; DM/MCh via INI-SS.
- BITS/VIT/SRM/Manipal: Own entrances (BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, MET).
- Delhi University (DU): UG via CUET UG; PG via CUET PG; PhD via university test/NET/GATE.
- JNU: UG/PG via CUET; PhD via university test/NET.
- BHU/AMU/JMI/HCU: UG/PG via CUET (mostly); PhD via university test/NET/GATE.
- NLUs: UG via CLAT (NLU Delhi via AILET); PG via CLAT PG/AILET PG.
- IIMs: MBA via CAT; IPM via IPMAT/JIPMAT.
Section K
Student pathway maps
Engineering pathway
Class 10Class 11–12 (PCM)JEE MainJEE AdvancedIITB.TechGATEM.Tech/MS/PhDR&D/Industry/PSU
Medical pathway
Class 12 (PCB)NEET UGMBBSInternshipNEET PG / INI-CETMD/MSNEET SS / INI-SSDM/MChSuper-specialist
General university pathway
Class 12CUET UGBachelor's (BA/B.Sc/B.Com/etc.)CUET PGMaster'sUGC-NET/CSIR-NET/GATEPhD / Assistant Professor
Law pathway
Class 12CLAT UG (or AILET)5-year LLBCLAT PG (or AILET PG)LLMJudiciary/Corporate Law/LLM specializations
Defence pathway
Class 12 (PCM for Navy/Air Force)NDADefence AcademyCommissioned Officer
OR
GraduationCDSIMA/INA/AFA/OTAOfficer
Management pathway
Class 12IPMAT/JIPMAT5-year BBA+MBA (IIMs)Industry/Entrepreneurship
OR
Bachelor'sCAT/XAT/CMATMBAIndustry
Design pathway
Class 12NIFT/NID DAT/UCEEDB.DesProduct/Communication/Fashion Design careers
Agriculture pathway
Class 12 (PCB/PCM)ICAR AIEEA (UG) / CUET UGB.Sc AgricultureICAR AIEEA (PG)M.Sc AgriculturePhD (ICAR/University)
Section L
Exam calendar
An indicative month-by-month view. Exact dates change every year — always confirm on the official exam website.
January
UCEED; NID DAT Prelims (often Dec–Jan); CUET PG (window varies); university PhD admissions open.
February
CUET PG exam window (varies); state CET applications open.
March–April
State engineering/medical CETs (KEAM, TS EAMCET, AP EAPCET, WBJEE, MHT CET); NDA (I) written.
May
JEE Main (often Apr–May sessions); NEET UG; CUET UG; NCHM JEE.
June
JEE Advanced; CUET UG continuation; university counselling begins.
July
CSIR-NET; UGC-NET (sessions vary); state counselling peaks.
August
AIAPGET; university PG/PhD admissions.
September
NDA (II) written; CUET UG/PG result & counselling; university sessions start.
October–December
CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SNAP, NMAT; NID DAT Mains; university PG applications.