Comprehensive Guide to Various Entrance Exams in Engineering, Medical, Law, Pharmacy, and Other Fields

1. Introduction to Entrance Exams in India

India has a vast array of entrance exams for different fields of higher education, including Engineering, Medical, Law, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences. These exams determine admissions into top government and private universities, ensuring students are placed in institutions that match their academic caliber. The cut-off marks, seat reservations, and quota systems vary across different exams and states.

Engineering Entrance Exams

2. JEE Main & JEE Advanced – The Gateway to IITs & NITs

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is the most widely recognized engineering entrance test, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is required for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The cut-off varies annually but generally falls around 87-90 percentile for General category, with lower cut-offs for OBC, SC, and ST candidates.

Only the top 2.5 lakh rankers in JEE Main qualify for JEE Advanced, which is required for admission to the prestigious IITs. The seat allocation for IITs is conducted through JoSAA counseling, with 15% of seats reserved for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC-NCL, and 10% for EWS candidates.

3. State-Level Engineering Entrance Exams

Apart from JEE, states conduct their own engineering entrance exams, including:

  • WBJEE (West Bengal)
  • MHT CET (Maharashtra)
  • AP EAPCET (Andhra Pradesh)
  • TS EAMCET (Telangana)
  • KCET (Karnataka)
  • KEAM (Kerala)

Most state exams reserve 85% of seats for state domicile students, while 15% of seats are open for students from other states. Private universities in these states also accept national and state-level scores for admissions.

Medical Entrance Exams

4. NEET – The Sole Exam for MBBS, BDS, and Allied Health Sciences

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the only exam for admission into MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BVSc, and allied medical courses in India. Conducted by NTA, NEET is highly competitive, with cut-offs varying yearly. Typically, the cut-off for General category students is around 50th percentile, while it is 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC candidates.

Admission to AIIMS and JIPMER is also done through NEET, and the seat allocation is managed by MCC (Medical Counseling Committee). Government medical colleges reserve 85% of seats for state domicile students, while 15% of seats come under All India Quota (AIQ).

5. AIIMS, JIPMER, and Other Medical Institutes

Although AIIMS and JIPMER admissions are through NEET, these institutes have their own higher cut-offs and additional eligibility criteria. Some universities like CMC Vellore and AFMC Pune conduct their own selection processes after NEET qualification.

Law Entrance Exams

6. CLAT – The National Law University Entrance Test

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the primary entrance exam for NLUs (National Law Universities) across India, offering BA LLB, BBA LLB, and LLM programs. The CLAT cut-off for top NLUs like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad is typically high, requiring a 95+ percentile rank.

The seat reservation policies include:

  • General Category – Open Merit
  • SC (15%) & ST (7.5%)
  • OBC-NCL (27%)
  • EWS (10%)
  • PwD (5%)

Some universities also provide state domicile reservations for candidates from their respective states.

7. Other Law Entrance Exams – AILET, LSAT, and State-Level Tests

Apart from CLAT, other law entrance exams include:

  • AILET (for National Law University, Delhi)
  • LSAT India (accepted by private law colleges like Jindal Global Law School)
  • State-level law exams like MH CET Law (Maharashtra), AP LAWCET, and TS LAWCET

Private law schools also offer direct admissions through management quota in some cases.

Pharmacy Entrance Exams

8. GPAT – The National Exam for M.Pharm

The Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is conducted by NTA for admission to M.Pharm programs in India. The top 10,000 GPAT rankers are eligible for AICTE scholarships. The seat allocation is handled by individual universities through centralized counseling.

9. State-Level Pharmacy Exams & Private University Admissions

Apart from GPAT, states conduct their own pharmacy entrance exams, such as:

  • WBJEE Pharmacy (West Bengal)
  • MHT CET Pharmacy (Maharashtra)
  • AP EAPCET Pharmacy (Andhra Pradesh)
  • TS EAMCET Pharmacy (Telangana)

Private universities like BITS Pilani, Manipal University, and SRM University conduct their own entrance exams or offer direct admission based on NEET or board exam scores.

Allied Health Sciences & Other Entrance Exams

10. BPT, B.Sc. Nursing, and Other Healthcare Exams

For Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT), B.Sc. Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences, admission is through state-level entrance exams like:

  • AIIMS Paramedical Entrance Test
  • JIPMER Allied Health Sciences Exam
  • RUHS Nursing Entrance (Rajasthan)
  • PGIMER Entrance Test (Chandigarh)

Many private universities offer direct admissions based on board marks, while government institutions follow entrance-based selection.

Conclusion

India has multiple entrance exams catering to different academic fields. While NEET is the sole exam for medical admissions, engineering students have options like JEE, state CETs, and private university exams. Law aspirants target CLAT, AILET, and LSAT, whereas pharmacy students rely on GPAT, state CETs, and private university admissions. Understanding the cut-offs, quota systems, and counseling processes is crucial for securing admission into the best institutions.