XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Highlights

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

The XAT eligibility criteria depend on the program chosen by the candidate. Before applying for XAT 2026, candidates should read the eligibility criteria, as only candidates who meet them are permitted to take the exam. The detailed XAT eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Nationality:
  • Candidates holding Indian Citizenship can apply for XAT 2026.
  • Foreign Nationals and NRI can also apply for XAT 2026 through valid GMAT scores.
• Age Limit: There is no specific upper or lower age limit to apply for XAT 2026.
• Academic Qualification:
  • The candidates must have a 3-year bachelor's degree.
  • The students should have no backlogs before applying for XAT 2026.
• Minimum Aggregate Marks:
  • There are no minimum aggregate marks that a candidate needs to score to be eligible for XAT 2026.
  • Students holding a PG degree must enter their PG percentage rather than their graduation percentage in the XAT application form.
• Number of Attempts: There is no limitation on the number of attempts for the XAT exam.

XAT Programme-Wise Eligibility Criteria 2026

The program-wise detailed XAT eligibility criteria are as follows:

• XAT Eligibility Criteria for Human Resource Management
  • A 3-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
  • NRI and Foreign students can apply through their GMAT scores.
• XAT Eligibility Criteria for Business Management 
  • A 3-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
  • NRI and Foreign students can apply through their GMAT scores.
  • No prior work experience is required.
• XAT Eligibility Criteria for General Management Programs
  • A 3-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
  • Managerial/supervisory work experience of 5 years is necessary.
  • Only full-time jobs from recognized institutions will be considered for work experience. Internships or Part-time jobs are not considered.
  • Scores of XAT 2026 and GMAT will be considered.
• XAT Eligibility Criteria for Part-Time Business Management Program 
  • A 3-year bachelor's degree from a recognized institution.
  • Work experience is not mandatory for this course.

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Admission to XLRI Jamshedpur 

Who is not Eligible for XAT 2026? 

Based on the XAT eligibility criteria released by XLRI, the following category of candidates are not eligible to apply for XAT 2026:

• The candidates who graduated in the 1980s with a two-year Bachelor's degree.
• The candidates who fail to pay their XAT application fee within the specified time.
• The candidates who have not appeared for their final year graduation examination by June 10, 2026.
• The candidates who have completed their education from an unrecognized institution.

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: Foreign Nationals/ NRI/ PIO 

Foreign Nationals/ NRI/ PIO can apply through XAT or GMAT scores. The detailed XAT eligibility criteria for candidates belonging to the aforementioned categories are as follows:

• NRI: A candidate is considered an NRI if he/she meets the following conditions: 
  • If they haven't resided in India for nine out of ten preceding years.
  • If they haven't been in India for 730 days or more during the preceding seven years. 
• Persons of Indian Origin: A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is defined as a person with foreign citizenship (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) who does not have "NRI" status but holds a Foreign Passport at the time of XAT Registration, admission, and during the period of study and he/she or anyone/both of their parents or anyone/both of his/her grandparents is (or was) / are (or were) citizen (s) of India under the provisions of the Indian Constitution.
• Foreign National: A Foreign National (FN) is a person who is a citizen of a foreign country (citizens of all countries other than India) and does not have the status of NRI or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO).
• Age and Educational Qualification of candidates belonging to the above-mentioned categories are the same as for the Indian Nationals.

XAT 2026 Reservation Policy 

XLRI doesn't provide relaxation to the candidates belonging to the reserved categories for admission to its various courses as well as the XAT application fees. However, other colleges that provide admission through XAT scores can provide relaxation to the candidates belonging to the reserved categories. 

Also Check:

• XAT Preparation Tips
• XAT Cutoff
• XAT Mock Test

XAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: FAQs