List of Engineering Entrance Exams in India After 12th [2026]

JEE Main Session 1 results dropped on 16 February 2026. Over 13 lakh students now have a number next to their name and if you are one of them, you already know the strange mix of feelings: relief if it went well, a hollow panic if it didn’t. What most students don’t realise at that moment is that the complete list of engineering entrance exams in India after 12th covers over 20 national and state-level exams and a single JEE percentile doesn’t close any of them.

Here’s the thing nobody tells you loudly enough: JEE is not the only path. It is the loudest one, the most talked-about, the one your relatives will ask about at family dinners. But students who treat the full exam landscape strategically, rather than treating everything else as “backup,” consistently end up with better options on the table.

This guide is built around one idea: the Dual-Track Strategy. You run your JEE game in parallel with State CETs, not instead of it. State Common Entrance Tests come with lower competition, home-state seat quotas and a completely different marking structure. For many students, they are not just a consolation prize but also a smarter bet.

Before the strategy, here is the full picture. Most students know three or four exams; the actual list is much longer and knowing what exists is the first step to using it well.

This list covers the exams that have a consistent track record of placing students in colleges with strong outcomes. There are smaller state-level exams beyond this, but the table above represents the full range a serious student should be aware of.

The instinct to treat State CETs as lesser exams is mostly a habit. When you compare them directly, the picture looks quite different.

Not every score opens the same doors and that’s fine. Here is how the broader exam landscape maps to your JEE percentile, so you know exactly where to focus-

This is the part that actually costs students options: not knowing a deadline until it’s gone. The exams below represent what you should be tracking right now.

MHT-CET and JEE Session 2 both close within the next ten days. Everything else gives you a few more weeks, but ‘a few weeks’ disappears fast when you’re also dealing with Boards. Get the urgent ones sorted first.

If you are applying beyond government institutions and exploring strong private universities with industry alignment, Mahindra University deserves a closer look. Unlike many universities that spread across multiple undergraduate streams, the University focuses deeply on its B.Tech programme, offering several specialised pathways. That clarity can be useful if you already know you want to stay within core tech domains.

Some of the specialisations offered under the B.Tech. programme at Mahindra University include, but are not limited to:

• Computer Science & Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Science
• Biotechnology
• VLSI Design and Technology
• Electronics & Computer Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Nanotechnology

These specialisations are structured to combine core engineering fundamentals with emerging technology tracks. For students inclined toward computing domains, options like Computer Science & Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & VLSI Design and Technology allow early specialisation. For those who prefer traditional engineering pathways, Mechanical, Civil, Electronics and Biotechnology provide conventional depth with modern applications.

The list of engineering entrance exams in India after 12th is long because the system, whatever its faults, does offer multiple routes into a good engineering career. JEE is one of them, not the only one.

A 90 percentile in JEE paired with a well-timed MHT-CET application can put you in a state government college with stronger placements than many private institutions. A 97 percentile paired with a BITSAT registration gives you options you’d regret not having. Students who come out of this cycle well are those who treat their score as a starting point, not a verdict.

• What exams should I give after 12th for engineering?
  Target JEE Main for national colleges and State CETs for regional ones. For top private options, apply for BITSAT or consider Mahindra University, which accepts JEE, SAT, or ACT scores.
• What are the top 5 engineering exams other than JEE?
  The best alternatives are BITSAT, VITEEE, MET, and WBJEE. Additionally, institutions like Mahindra University provide a great alternative by accepting SAT/ACT scores alongside JEE for their B.Tech programmes.
• Can I do engineering without JEE?
  Yes. You can take State CETs or private exams like BITSAT. Some elite institutions, such as Mahindra University, also offer admissions based on SAT scores or high 10+2 Board percentages (80%+).
• Is CET or JEE compulsory for engineering?
  Yes, most colleges require a scorecard. While JEE is mandatory for NITs, and CETs for state colleges, universities like Mahindra University offer flexibility by accepting SAT/ACT scores as well.
• Which are the 3 toughest exams in India?
  JEE Advanced is the toughest for engineering. Following it are the UPSC Civil Services and GATE. These exams have the lowest selection rates and require years of intensive preparation.