Premier technical institutes, including IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay, have officially opened their MBA application portals for the 2026 academic session. Management aspirants can now submit their forms using CAT 2025 scores, with deadlines for most Indian Institutes of Technology set for late January. Meanwhile, various National Institutes of Technology like NIT Rourkela have also commenced their registration cycles for diverse postgraduate management programmes.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes is officially open across several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). Following the release of the CAT 2025 results in late December, these premier technical institutes have activated their respective admission portals to invite the next batch of management students. While the IITs predominantly utilize CAT scores for shortlisting, many NITs have broadened their criteria to include XAT, MAT, and CMAT scores to ensure a diverse intake for the 2026-28 academic session.

IIT MBA Admission Timeline and Deadlines

The Indian Institutes of Technology have established a relatively tight schedule for their management admissions. IIT Delhi was among the first to open its portal, followed closely by IIT Bombay's Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM) on January 1. Prospective students are advised to monitor the specific deadlines for each department, as they vary slightly across the different campuses.

• IIT Delhi: The deadline for submitting the online application for the MBA and MBA (Telecom) programmes is January 26, 2026.
• IIT Bombay: The application window for SJMSOM remains active until January 31, 2026.
• IIT Madras & IIT Kanpur: Both institutes have set their primary registration cutoff for January 31, 2026.
• IIT Guwahati: The portal for the 2026 batch opened on January 6 and is scheduled to close on February 8, 2026.
• IIT Kharagpur: The Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM) is accepting applications through February 5, 2026.

NIT Management Programme Highlights

National Institutes of Technology are also actively seeking candidates for their specialized management programmes. Unlike the unified approach often seen in engineering, NIT management admissions are handled independently by each institute’s School of Management. NIT Rourkela and NIT Silchar are among the notable names that have already published their 2026 brochures and started the registration process.

• Selection Variety: NIT Rourkela utilizes a 300-mark evaluation system that includes career marks, work experience, and GDPI rounds.
• Seat Matrix: Most NIT management programmes offer between 30 to 75 seats, with reservations applicable as per Government of India norms.
• Eligibility: A minimum of 60% aggregate or 6.5 CGPA in a Bachelor’s degree is a standard requirement across these institutes.

Shortlisting and Interview Process

The transition from application to selection involves a rigorous shortlisting process based on composite scores. After the January deadlines, the institutes will release the names of candidates invited for Personal Interviews (PI) and Group Discussions (GD). For the 2026 cycle, many IITs have scheduled their interviews for March, with final admission offers expected to be rolled out by the first week of May.

• Composite Score Factors: The final merit list typically weights the entrance exam score at 50-75%, with the remainder distributed among academic records and PI performance.
• Interview Windows: IIT Delhi has blocked March 9–13 for interviews, while IIT Bombay will conduct its offline PI rounds from March 5 to March 8.
• Diversity Inclusion: Several institutes, including SJMSOM, have updated their criteria to encourage applicants from non-engineering backgrounds to apply for the MBA.
• Results: Most management programmes aim to conclude their admission process by June to allow for a July commencement of classes.

Conclusion

The current period represents a vital opportunity for aspirants to secure a seat in the prestigious management programmes offered by India's top technical institutes. With the IIT Delhi deadline approaching on January 26 and several NITs keeping their windows open into February, candidates must ensure their CAT and other entrance scores are submitted correctly. The 2026 admission cycle highlights a growing emphasis on holistic profiles, ensuring that the next generation of managers from these institutes possesses both technical grounding and leadership potential.