XAT 2027 Exam and Registration Dates Announced: Application Window Closes December 6, 2026

XLRI (Xavier School of Management), on behalf of the Xavier Association of Management Institutes (XAMI), officially announced the XAT 2027 exam and registration dates today, September 9, 2026. Aspiring MBA/PGDM candidates can register for the XAT 2027 examination until December 6, 2026, with the computer-based test scheduled for January 3, 2027, across over 100 test cities in India.

This announcement is crucial for thousands of management aspirants seeking admission to XLRI programmes and other participating institutes. The XAT 2027 notification was initially released on July 15, 2026, marking the commencement of the registration process for one of India’s most competitive MBA entrance examinations.

XAT 2027: Important Dates and Application Fees

The registration window for XAT 2027, which opened on July 15, 2026, will officially close on December 6, 2026. Candidates should note that the XAT 2027 admit card is tentatively scheduled for release on December 20, 2026, ahead of the examination on January 3, 2027. The exam will be conducted from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

The application fee for XAT 2027 is ₹2,300 for all general and reserved category candidates. An additional fee of ₹200 is applicable for each XLRI programme a candidate chooses to apply for. Indian candidates applying for the PGDM(GM) programme through GMAT/GRE are required to pay ₹2,600, while NRI/Foreign/PIO/OCI candidates applying through GMAT will pay ₹5,000 for one or more programmes.

XAT 2027 Exam Pattern and Scoring

The XAT 2027 exam is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) with a duration of 3 hours. The examination comprises 95 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) distributed across four sections: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge. According to the official notification, there is a +1 mark for every correct answer and a -0.25 mark for every incorrect answer.

A penalty of -0.10 marks will be deducted for every unattempted question beyond 8 in the core sections. Notably, the General Knowledge section carries no negative marking and does not contribute to the overall percentile or score, but XLRI uses its performance in the final selection process. The Analytical Essay Writing (AEW) component, previously part of the written exam, has been removed and is now integrated into the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) stages.

XAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for XAT 2027, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final-year students who are awaiting their results are also permitted to apply for XAT 2027. There is no specified age limit for candidates appearing for the XAT 2027 examination, making it accessible to many applicants.

How to Register for XAT 2027?

Candidates interested in applying for XAT 2027 must complete their registration online through the official portal, xatonline.in, before the December 6, 2026 deadline. The process involves several steps to ensure accurate submission of application details and payment of fees.

1. Go to the official website, xatonline.in.
2. Click on the ‘Register’ or ‘New Candidate Registration’ link.
3. Fill in the required personal details to create a unique XAT ID and password.
4. Log in using the generated credentials and complete the application form with academic and personal information.
5. Upload scanned copies of your photograph and signature as per the specified guidelines.
6. Pay the XAT 2027 application fee online through the available payment gateways.
7. Review the application form thoroughly before final submission and print a copy for future reference.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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