Top 30 National and State-Level Engineering Entrance Examinations in India

In India, a career in engineering is highly appreciated. Not only does it bring a good reputation, but it has amazing monetary benefits. This has certainly piqued the interests of students who after passing Class 12^th or graduation aim at getting a seat in the IITs, IIITs, NITs, etc. However, the journey is not that easy. One has to burn the midnight oil to get a seat in these elite institutes. With lakhs of aspirants taking various engineering entrance exams every year, the level of the tests is also getting stringent to more stringent.

Entrance exams have different levels or stages, such as - university level, national level and state level. Such entrance examinations are conducted by various authorities that organise the exam, declare the result and eventually, pave the way for admission to top-notch engineering institutes. Pursuing an engineering course from a reputable institute will also have good job prospects down the line.

If you are one of the aspirants who wish to get into India’s leading engineering institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology, you have got to check the following list, which consists of popular exams like Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and Advance, Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), UPSEE, etc.

Before you prepare for any random entrance exam, better have a look at the list and choose the right examination that leads to the best engineering colleges in India. Listed below are the following top 10 Engineering entrance exams held in India -

1. Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2020:

One of the most sought-after engineering entrance tests in the country is Joint Entrance Examination or JEE. Clearing the exam would get you a seat in the best engineering colleges in India - IITs, IIITs, NITs, CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutes), etc. Candidates can pursue undergraduate courses like B.Tech/B.E and B.Arch/B.Planning. Recently, the National Testing Agency has taken over the duties of managing JEE Main from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). NTA now conducts the exam twice a year.

The JEE Main exam is conducted in online mode. Let’s take a look at the exam dates of NTA JEE Main 2020 –

2. IIT Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2020:

The second stage of the Joint Entrance Exam, JEE Advanced is organised for admission to various B.Tech., Integrated M. Tech. and B.Tech/M.Tech dual degree courses in engineering, architecture, pharmaceuticals and science in all 23 IITs in the country. However, IIT conducts JEE Advanced exam on a rotational basis. This year, the IIT JEE Advanced 2020 will be administered by IIT Delhi.

Candidates after qualifying the JEE Main exam are considered eligible for the Advanced exam. The exam is conducted in online mode and has two papers. Students interested in pursuing B.E/B.Tech can take the Paper 1 exam. Those who wish to take B.Planning/B.Arch can take the Paper 2 exam.

Changes Introduced in JEE Advanced 2020 –

• The IIT JEE Advanced 2020 exam will be conducted in five countries.
• Paper timings have been changed too. Paper I will be conducted from 9 am to Noon. Paper II will be held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

The following table focuses on the important exam dates of IIT JEE Advanced 2020.

3. Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2020:

Another high-profile engineering entrance exam is Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering or GATE. This is a national-level test organised for admission to M.Tech and Ph.D programmes offered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) supported institutes and colleges. The courses students can opt for are engineering, architecture, science and technology. The exam is jointly conducted by IISc and Seven IITs on behalf of NCB (National Coordination Board).

The purpose of the examination is to qualify candidates for PSU recruitment and M.Tech./M.E/ PhD admissions. Both the mode of application and the examination will be conducted online. Students will have to sit for 180 minutes to answer all the 65 questions.

Changes Made in GATE 2020

• GATE 2020 will have 25 papers/ subjetcs. Bio-Medical Engineering (BM), a new paper, has been added in the syllabus.
• Those registered for certification equivalent to B.E/ B.Arch/ B.Tech after 31^st May 2013 from IE, IETE, ICE, AeSI, IIE, IIM, IIChemE, etc. (any of the professional societies) but meet other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply for GATE 2020.

Important Dates:

4. Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam (UPSEE) 2020:

UPSEE is a state-level examination held to select students for admissions in various technical colleges of Uttar Pradesh. UPSEE exam is conducted by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU). After clearing the exam students can get into their favourite technical courses such as B.Tech, B.Arch, B.Pharm, BFAD, MBA, BFA, BHMCT, MAM and MCA. UPSEE UG 2019 will be held on 10^th May.

Here’s an important date chart-drawn for UPSEE 2020 by the Exams Planner experts. Have a look –

5. Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT) 2020:

Conducted by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), BITSAT entrance exam is an online test for admission to various Integrated First Degree courses of BITS Pilani campuses such as Pilani, Hyderabad and Goa. Students looking to get into BITS in B.Tech, M.Sc and B.Pharma courses must qualify the BITSAT 2019 exam. BITSAT applicants need to keep a track of the exam dates and other important details like the official notification, syllabus, exam pattern, admit card, etc.

BITSAT 2020 Exam Schedule

Here’s what you should keep in mind when preparing for one of the popular entrance examinations. Take a look –

Fill the application form on the official website of BITS Pilani (www.bitsadmission.com). Candidates must get well-acquainted with the exam pattern. The computer-based exam will have 150 objective type questions. The duration of the exam is 180 minutes.

6. Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE) 2020:

A university-level examination organised by the Vellore Institute of Technology University, Tamil Nadu, VITEEE 2020 offers admission to four-year B.Tech courses in the Vellore and Chennai campuses. The mode of the engineering exam is online and the questions come in objective-type. The entrance test is conducted to fill 5,000 B.Tech seats. Apart from engineering courses, the varsity carries out various research programmes.

VITEEE 2020 Important Dates

Preparing for VITEEE 2020? Here are some details that you must keep a track of.

7. Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET) 2020:

Administered by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, the IPU CET 2020 is a qualifying entrance exam for admission to various B.Tech courses. Students willing to study at GGSIPU must undergo and qualify the entrance test. The popular B.Tech programmes that the University offer include Computer Science Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation & Control Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Power Engineering, Mechatronics, Bio-Chemical Engineering, Tool Engineering and Information Technology. Apart from engineering programmes, the Varsity offers admission to B.Sc Nursing, BBA, BCA, B.Ed, LLB, MBA, etc. Admissions to GGSIPU and its affiliated colleges are based on the basis of IPU CET scores. The exam is held once a year.

IPU CET 2020 Important Dates -

Fill out the application form online at the official website of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (www.ipu.ac.in). Here’s a sneak peek into the important dates based on the previous years’ trends.

8. Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) 2020:

COMEDK UGET is a state-level exam conducted by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental of Karnataka. The COMEDK exam gives an opportunity to the students of Karnataka to pursue engineering courses in 150 engineering colleges. COMDEK 2020 is expected to be commenced in the second week of May.

COMEDK 2020 Important Dates

9. Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2020:

Also known as Karnataka CET, the Karnataka Common Entrance Test is a state-level examination conducted for admission to engineering, architecture and pharmacy programmes. The Karnataka Examinations Authority is the conducting authority. The score of KCET is accepted by numerous universities and colleges of Karnataka. The exam is held every year. In 2020, the entrance test is going to be held on 22^nd and 23^rd April.

KCET 2020 Important Dates:

As you step in 2020, just be alert and stay in touch with the official website (kea.kar.nic.in) for the release of the application form. The online application form has been released on 5^th February 2020. However, candidates can take a note of the important dates below -

10. Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT CET) 2020:

Those who wish to take admission in the Maharashtra technical colleges must appear for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test. MHT CET 2020 has been scheduled to be held in the month of April. The exam is conducted by the Government of Maharashtra, State Common Entrance Test Cell. Candidates will only be considered eligible for admission in the state technical colleges – both private and government - after clearing the exam. The entrance test is organised for admission in various undergraduate courses in Engineering and other professional degree courses.

MHT CET 2020 Important Dates

11. Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Admission Test for M.Sc (IIT JAM) 2020:

One of the highly-competitive national-level engineering exams, IIT JAM is conducted on a rotation basis by the Indian Institutes of Technology. The Indian Institutes of Technology regulates JAM exam to offer admission to various postgraduate courses. Some of the post-bachelor degree programmes are M.Sc, M.Sc-Ph.D dual degree, Joint M.Sc-Ph.D, etc.

Thinking to apply for IIT JAM 2020? Be alert and stay in touch with the official website for any updates. Let’s take a look at the upcoming time-table of the exam events.

12. Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) 2020:

Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination 2020 will be held in the month of June in two stages – Stage I and Stage II. The First Stage is the qualifying exam for Stage II. Commonly called as BCECE, the exam is the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board. The state-level exam is conducted to allow engineering aspirants to take admission in various technical colleges in the state. Students belonging to states other than Bihar are not eligible for this entrance exam. Moreover, the interested students must produce the 10+2 or equivalent certificate from any recognised board.

Let’s take a glance at the BCECE 2020 important dates –

13. Assam Common Entrance Examination (CEE) 2020:

If you have scored above 50 per cent marks in the 12^th exam and are a resident of Assam, you are eligible for the Assam CEE 2020 exam. Moreover, candidates who are below 21 years of age can submit their application form. Assam CEE exam is regulated by DTE (Directorate of Technical Education). By clearing the exam, the students would get seats in the best engineering institutions within the state of Assam.

Assam CEE 2020 Important Dates:

14. Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM) 2020:

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations, Kerala regulates the Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical Entrance Examination for admission to the engineering courses. KEAM 2020 ensures that the applicants have secured more than 50 per cent in the High Secondary examination with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry subjects. Apart from the Indian citizens, OCI and PIO candidates are eligible for the exam.

KEAM 2020 Important Dates:

The Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical entrance exam is going to be held in the month of April 2020. Stay in touch with the official website of KEAM i.e. https://cee.kerala.gov.in for the latest update.

15. West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) 2020:

The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination Board, commonly known as WEJEEB, controls and manages the state-level West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination. WBJEE 2020 will be held by the Board to filter out eligible students for various undergraduate engineering courses. A candidate will be considered for the engineering courses if he has passed the 12^th or equivalent exam. Besides, he must have Physics and Mathematics along with Computer Application, Chemistry, Computer Science, Biotechnology or Biology (one from the list).

WBJEE 2020 Important Dates